I Left My Heart (and my chocolate vowels) In Saint Remy

I got these wonderful chocolates little chocolates from southern France.

I thought they were pretty neat cuz they had letters of the alphabet on them based on key ingredients. So I got to thinking of all the fun things I could do/words I could spell/jokes I could play with these little alphabetical wonders.

I guess I thought they were pretty tasty too. While thinking, I started nibbling, got a wee bit ahead of myself and accidentally ate every vowel in the box within minutes. Hugs and kisses was the only communication I could come up with. And for all you smarty pants out there...yes, the 'O's are really upside down 'D's. I ended up giving the sweet sentiment to my lover, G. But he didn't even like them. The chocolates that is.

I Like China Because of Good Treats

Ba da ba ba ba....

I loved it!

So So Good

This new flavor is so so so so delicious and makes me so so so so happy.

But the addition of these nearly blew my boots to outer space. I can't find them in my local grocer mart, so I'm thinking of buying them online in bulk.

Yesterday

Breakfast:

Lunch:



Dinner:

I love sugar, yes, I do
I love sugar,
how 'bout you?

Obviously, I'm one of those people who likes to bake her cake, and eat it too.

Genius Hard At Work

These little lovelies

plus this wonderful contraption

equal heaven:

This is not an April Fools joke. I'm dead serious.

Red Velvet

If ever there was an appropriate time to make red velvet cake. Theme-colored and sinfully delicious, this cake is seductively screaming (not sure how that happens) to be the sweets for your sweet this Valentines Day.

*Just make sure you use a recipe with the right frosting. None of this buttercream or cream cheese frosting nonsense.*

Dainty Desserts

This ice cream scoop and stack is very clever and perfect for making delectable desserts with discs of ice cream that look gorgeous. They would also make it sooper dooper easy to freeze ice cream ahead of time for a dinner party. Plus, they come in fun colors.

Survey Says

So EFFING good.

Had Red Mango for the first time tonight.

I may have it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner tomorrow.

And every other day of my life.

I've had more than my fair share of the new wave fro yos.

Red Mango takes the cake.

30 Ideas For December: Stay Sweet

Oh the weather outside is frightful,

Stay inside---make minty 'mallows!

The recipe is simple and easy, so

let it snow let it snow let it snow!

Sister and I made these and ate a whole whole whole bunch. Then we put some in our cocoa and drank them in all their ooegy gooey glory. Mmmmmm. Yummy to my tummy.

For recipe and more on these delicious mallows get thee over to Your Heart Out.

30 Ideas for December: Spice Things Up

Make a gingerbread house. If you're feeling ambitious (or lonely) make a whole flippin' neighborhood. We recently went to a gingerbread house-making party, and it was loads and loads of fun. Especially when we could use those pre-made kits that keep popping up these days (ours were from Costco). They smell good (but don't necessarily taste as good as they smell), and come with all the fixin's you could possibly imagine. Great great idea. A Holiday tradition made simple. Love it.

30 Ideas For December: Add Some Sparkle

Get Glitterati. The ultimate holiday candy. Idea number 7 is delicate, delicious, dazzling. Sittin' pretty in a dish on the table, don't be surprised if they're mistaken for gems and jewels.

Creepy Crudite Cat

This appetizer for a Halloween party is so so easy and even more clever. Why didn't I think of it?

I suppose you wouldn't have to use black bean dip either. Any dip would do , really. I don't know which part is my favorite...the cherry tomato kneecaps, the carrot phalanges, or the green bean ribs? The only problem I can foresee is replenishment. Perhaps you would have to have 2 trays on the ready so that when one diminishes you can replace it instead of refill. That would take too long.

*via 100 percent cottam*

Piece of Cake

Have you ever made a grooms cake before? I hadn't either. Until a few weeks ago. But when asked to do such things, how does one say no? You don't. You grab it by the buttercream and forge full frosting ahead! It was a delightful experience (and a mighty tasty one too, I might add). One that I would take on again, provided the recipients expectations are marginally low.

Here's a list of helpful hints/life lessons learned while grooms caking:

• No matter how hard (or how many times) you try to replicate it with a homemade version, there is no substitute for store-bought-from-a-box Funfetti cake mix (grooms only request: Funfetti). There just isn't, so forget about it.
  
• Based on the above statement, you'd better not assemble that cake until the last minute (night before or later), because as any good baker could, would, and should know...those bottom box cake layers are gonna get squashed like a pancake in no time flat!


• Even if you must resort to using a box cake, there is absolutely no excuse for store bought frosting. None, I tell you...not one. Homemade it must be!


• Finding just the right color of yellow decoratifs for a grooms cake should not be left until the last minute. Or even the last week. It's hard, yo!


• Itsy bitsy yellow dots, are really just perfect little yellow spheres, ideal for rolling off of the cake and bouncing 'round the floor.


• Even if you sweep, mop, and go so far as to wipe the kitchen floor with a damp paper towel on your hands and knees, you'll still find itsy bitsy yellow dots rolling around on your kitchen floor 3 weeks later.

Canyon Cookout

I dare you to defy these delicious fresh picked peaches coated in butter, brown sugar and cinnamon, about to be doused in vanilla cake batter.

Black & White

Lenny's has the best black & white cookie in all of NYC. As one who regularly consumes fine baked goods, I feel I can say this with certainty. More cake-like than cookie, with just the right amount of frosting. Speaking of frosting, it's so so good. The sugary white side is sweet and the chocolaty black side has just a hint of coffee (of course, to enhance the chocolate flavor). At $1.75, it's a steal of an NYC deal too. One of my favorite treats is to get a Lenny's sandwich (#1 Lenny's Combo or the G3), specialty soda, and cookie on 74th & Columbus, then head over to Central Park for a picnic.

Swoop De Doop

Since the weather has taken a turn for the wetter (Boo!), I've been baking up a storm in my mothers gourmet kitchen. Nothing quite like staying in on a rainy day, the scent of oven-baked goods wafting thru the air.

The greatest joy--for me--is not in the making or the baking, but in the taking. While flitting about the kitchen, I make a mental list of people who need a little sugary sweetness in their lives. This week, I attempted the most manly cupcakes I could muster. One plate for my bestest cousin who graduated from HS, one for my in-laws, and one for dear friends mourning a loss.

I think they turned out quite nicely. I've been practicing my oh so professional cupcake swoop. After making BFF with my local cupcakery's long-running employee of the month, I think I'm finally getting it. He shares his swooping secrets with me, and I adore him for it.

Take The Taste Test Challenge

The 7Up powers that be have recently re-invented Diet 7Up, proclaiming it to be more refreshing, have more natural lime flavor {yum!} and less diet-y tasting. Now, the rest is up to you. They've put together Taste Challenge Kits containing the revamped Diet 7UP, plus 2 other competing diet lemon lime soft drinks. Sign up now to get yours, totally freakin' free. I've always wanted to be a food critic...baby steps, I guess. Up for the challenge? Click here.

From The Vine

One of the {few} healthy indulgences I have. Fresh from the farmers market vine-ripened tomatoes, crumbled cheese, olive oil, balsamic, and a bit of S&P. Yum.

Buzz Buzz Buzz

I can just picture these lil' candy bees buzz buzz buzzing around my kitchen and landing on some springtime cupcakes. Better yet, I could bake a beehive {covered in much more frosting than the one below} to make them feel at home.

Happy Thoughts

Pinkberry. This is what is going to get me through NY summer. If it ever gets here. This is seriously the most amazing stuff. And my new favorite treat. It's not sweet like you might expect. It actually tastes like yogurt---plain or greek maybe. If anyone comes to visit me, I'll take you there...probably twice in the same day!