If you're anything like us, just thinking about taxes has your heart beating a tad faster. It's no coincidence that April is Stress Awareness Month. But taxes aside, it's always wise to take a breather and reevaluate your well-being... especially now that we're almost a third (how did time go so fast!) through 2019.
We believe mindful eating is key to maintaining good health, and we find that sweets can be part of a happy diet. We’re not talking about sweets loaded with high fructose syrup or preservatives, but fresh, high-quality confections. Our ingredients (fresh eggs, fine Japanese flour, imported green tea powder, and California pistachios among them) are sourced with our own families in mind. Because of this, we never feel guilty or like we've overindulged after a slice of our cake... especially if it includes an extra dose of fresh fruit.
There are certain cakes that we gravitate to during stressful times. At the top of our list? Strawberry Shortcake.
Strawberry Shortcake This is like our comfort food of cakes. The sponge cake is so plush and cheerful. The whipped cream is whipped just right so that it's more light than heavy, with sweet strawberries suspended between the layers. It's easy to love, so comforting. While on the richer side, we have Very Berry, available only in NYC. Filled with a rich, flavorful almond cream, it's topped with vanilla custard and a rainbow of blackberries, raspberries, and blueberries.
Photo Credit: @foodgressing This is a relatively new cake and very special to us as it was inspired by our travels to Hawaii, where passion fruit is known as lilikoi. The fruit is grown in abundance throughout the islands. You can spot passion fruit occasionally in NYC at specialty markets (where they cost a fortune), but you'll see them at every market in Hawaii. However, the real locals know that there's always a friend/neighbor/relative/co-worker with a passion fruit tree who is happy to share the wealth.
Photo Credit: @lauracali In that vein, one of our top recommendations for de-stressing this month is to spend quality time with loved ones. In the hustle and bustle of the cities we call home, it's easy to forget that sharing carefree moments of happiness is most rewarding. And we smile a little wider whenever you share those special moments with us.
