Summer is officially over, kids went back to school despite rising COVID-19 cases, days are getting shorter and colder. It seems like too much to take in after the slow spring and sunny mellow summer. We had to learn how to live  and cope with new environment, adjusting the way we handle things on a day to day basis in a short period of time. It is just normal to feel like we all need a break.
Instead we are getting into next adjusting period - fall. It becomes super  important to stay positive and engage in activities that help us to stay positive. That includes staying socially and physically active, eat well, drink enough water.
I wanted to share my favorite desert: Tres Leches. It is a Mexican desert that translates as three milk cake. It is nutritious, as it has good amount of milk and eggs.

Ingredients:
Cake
4 eggs
120 g sugar
120 g flour
1 tsp. baking powder, 1 tsp. vanilla extract, 1 tsp. freshly grated orange zest

Milk soak
200 ml 3.25% milk
200 ml coconut milk
150 ml boiled 2 hours sweet condensed milk

Cream
300 ml 30% cream
150 g mascarpone

Directions
Preheat oven to 350F, line cake form. Using mixer beat eggs with sugar for 8 min. till doubled in size. Slowly add flour, baking powder, zest, vanilla and mix with spatula. The key word- gently, to keep the volume. Bake for 35-40 min.

My version of the cake is served in tall glasses-see picture above, so I let the cake cool down and tear apart in bite size pieces.
Milk soak-mix three milk ingredients in a saucepan and bring almost to boil. Boiled condensed milk aka dulche leche gives the soak burnt toffee note.

Next we prepare cream by beating together mascarpone with fatty cream.

Now it is time to combine ingredients: soak cake pieces in milk mixture and layer them in a glass (or if you have serving size glass jars) with cream.
The dessert would need to cool off in the fridge for about one hour, the cake will completely absorb milk soak and some cream.
The only problem with Tres Leches- it does not last more than a day. 

If you have not visited Victoria, BC at least once, you have no idea what "Beautiful British Columbia" motto published on each BC licence plate really means. Our trip to Victoria started from Tsawwassen terminal via BC Ferries.
It was a pleasure to see how well organized traffic was within the ferry. Sitting was taped off to allow for physical distancing, washrooms were marked for entry-exit routs, kid's playground was closed. All passengers were asked to wear a mask while on the boat.
​Ferries arrive and depart on time and there is something magical about a ferry ride.

We stayed at Delta Ocean Pointe Resort in Victoria: nice hotel, conveniently located alongside inner harbour, close to downtown.
What is different during pandemic situation: everyone is required to wear a mask in the hotel hallways and there is no room service during stay. We have requested fresh towels and those were dropped off by our room door.

First place we visited upon arrival: Fisherman's Wharf. It is located across the Harbour from Delta hotel and we took a water taxi (it was fun!). There are many interesting places to eat and visit at Fisherman's Wharf, but we love Barb's Fish and Chips. This is a treat once in a few years, so tastes delicious. There was a pet seagull asking for food walking between tables. Sometimes there are sea lions asking for attention on a wharf, but there was none when we were there.
Next place we visited was Chinatown with famous Fan Tan Alley and souvenir shops. Always intriguing and mysterious.

We did a lot of walking around downtown and found interesting places:
1. Dutch Bakery-traditional bakery with roots going back 100 years ago. They make super delicious cakes, cookies, chocolate. I can honestly say their baking is the best in British Columbia. They also serve breakfast for dine in. Highly recommend for a visit.

2. The DOTS- interesting store for a visit.

3. Royal British Columbia Museum- you can no longer walk in, buy tickets and go for a guided/non-guided tour. Due to COVID-19 it is recommended to purchase tickets online in advance. Due to spacing requirements the amount of tickets is limited.
​4. Butterfly garden- there is quite a drive from Victoria downtown, but totally worth it.

Character houses are charming, couldn't stop myself from taking a picture.

I am enchanted by Victoria and want to visit again. There are more reviews under Reviews Tab.