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16 Reasons We Love Dessert

Posted by coolcookie to Baking and Desserts and The Latest Dish on 10 July 2009, with no comments so far.

1. Chocolate never lets us down.

2. Playing with frosting and edible glitter is so much fun.

3. Cupcakes can be edgy, whimsical, kid-friendly, sophisticated–you name it.

4. Portable desserts (pies, cookies, candy) make us popular at potlucks.

5. Strawberry desserts–cakes, pies, sundaes–make us adore summer even more.

6. Ice cream is the sweetest way to beat the summer heat.

7. Cakes are the ultimate way to celebrate birthdays, weddings, and more!

8. Some of the best desserts don’t require baking. Case in point: our strawberry cheesecake and fudgy cookies.

9. You can booze it up, or pair it with cocktails.

10. Lo-cal, low-fat options can be just as delish.

11. Desserts on the grill are the ultimate barbecue treat.

12. You can make a party out of swapping your fave cookies.

13. You don’t have to be a kid to enjoy a Coke Float.

14. The campfire fave–S’Mores–is just as sweet indoors.

15. You can give it an ethnic spin; we adore Viennese Coffee Balls and Sinful Scottish Shortbread.

16. Cold milk and chocolatey brownies–was there ever a more blissful match?

Posted in Baking, Desserts, The Latest Dish | No Comments »

Homemade Spa Treatments

Posted by coolcookie to The Latest Dish on 15 June 2009, with 2 comments so far.

Don’t let the rotten economy ruin your looks. With these easy spa recipes you can maintain a fresh-from-the-spa glow for just pennies.

You’re a spa junkie. We get it–so are we. But spa treatments are pricey, and times are tough. Here’s a new thought: Create your own blissful spa treatments at home using your favorite fruits, veggies, and herbs. By following our recipes, you’ll discover that beauty-boosting produce abounds, and it can do wonders for your hair, skin, and nails. The natural fruit enzymes in strawberries, for example, make a great exfoliant. The fatty acids in avocados make a rich moisturizer for your hair, while vitamins C and E in blueberries fend off fine lines caused by the sun. To start, make a trip to your local farmer’s market. (We’ll give you bonus points for growing your own veggies and fruits–especially if you’re attempting this feat on a rooftop or balcony.) Trust us: You’ll never have more fun playing with your food. Once you’ve done your shopping (or picking), it’s time to kick off your Zen-like spa day. If you love our list of faves as much as we do, let us know!

Fruity Foot Treatment
There are few things that we covet more than a Saturday afternoon pedi. To create your own luxe foot treatment, start by peeling a fresh pineapple or kiwi. Rub the fleshy part of the fruit’s skin along the bottom of each foot for five minutes, focusing on your heels, between your toes, and any calluses. Rinse your feet with warm water and towel-dry before finishing with a moisturizing foot lotion to maintain softness. Time for those strappy sandals!

See Fruity Foot Treatment recipe

Brown Sugar Body Scrub
The ickiest part of summer, in our opinion, is peeling, sunburned skin. The perfect solution? This six-ingredient scrub. Start off by grinding oatmeal in a food processor, then mix it with brown sugar, honey, and a few other ingredients until it resembles a paste. Massage it into your skin, then rinse with warm water. They’ll think your glowing skin is from an expensive facial; you’ll know it came from your pantry.

See Brown Sugar Body Scrub recipe

Banana-Avocado Hair Treatment
Your hair is fried. Instead of a costly moisturizing treatment, try this homemade conditioner. To make it, combine banana and avocado, rub it into dry hair, leave it on for 10 minutes, and rinse. The potassium in bananas and moisturizing fatty acids in avocados soften hair instantly. You’ll look like you just had a shampoo blowout at a pricey salon. Fabulous!

See Banana-Avocado Hair Treatment recipe

Blueberry-Yogurt Skin Treatment
You were lounging by the pool and got a bad sunburn. To feel better fast, turn to your fridge. Simply mash fresh blueberries and stir them into plain yogurt. Spread the mask all over your face; rinse with warm water after 15 minutes. The C and E vitamins in blueberries repair and moisturize skin, while yogurt’s lactic acid helps exfoliate the UV-damaged layers of the epidermis. Easy, right?

See Blueberry-Yogurt Skin Treatment recipe

Tea Hair Treatment
You have a date in an hour, and your hair is a dull wreck. Add shine fast with a bag of tea. Steep two tea bags–chamomile if you’re blonde, rooibos if you’re a redhead, and black if you’re a brunette–for 10 minutes. Refrigerate the liquid until it cools, then pour it over wet hair. Rinse, wash, and condition hair to seal in the silky results. Tea lowers your hair’s PH, closing the cuticles for extra shine, softness, and manageability. Voila! Date-worthy hair in no time at all.

See Tea Hair Treatment recipe

Posted in The Latest Dish | 2 Comments »

A Girl’s Guide to Grilling with Beer

Posted by coolcookie to Grilling and Holidays & Entertaining and The Latest Dish on 4 June 2009, with 4 comments so far.

It happens every summer. Your guy breaks out the spatula and goes into king-of-the-grill mode. He won’t even let you light the charcoal. This year, you’re putting your foot down–why should guys have all the fun? Sure, he knows how to fire up some saucy ribs and juicy burgers, but so do you. So take back the tongs and spatula and get ready to grill up a summertime feast featuring his favorite ingredient: beer. After all, beer is a great marinade and tenderizer, and it adds an amazing amount of flavor to meat. Beer is also cheap. Our greatest hits resemble guy food at its finest (but you’ll love it, too). Tempt his taste buds with these delish eats, and he’ll get over sharing his grill master status. We promise.

Beer-Marinated Pork Chops with Cheese Topping

Some people think flavored beers are lame. They’re wrong, and these pork chops marinated in honey wheat beer prove it. The beer makes them extra tender, and the irresistible topping of walnuts and cheese makes them fancy enough for a summertime get-together or special dinner for two.

See Beer-Marinated Pork Chops with Cheese Topping recipe

Lone Star BBQ Ribs

Texans sure know how to make finger-lickin’ ribs. These beefy ribs are extra-delish thanks to a sweet and spicy glaze made from beer, hoisin sauce, and balsamic vinegar. They’re so good you’ll make them all summer long. Don’t forget the ranch dipping sauce. Yum!

See Lone Star BBQ Ribs recipe

Super Spicy Ribeye Steaks

Holy habanero! You’ll need a kegger to mellow the heat in this fiery recipe. Smothered in a sauce of light beer, chopped chipotles, and hot pepper sauce, this steak recipe is as hot as it gets. Can you take the heat? Try this spicy recipe to find out.

See Super Spicy Ribeye Steaks

Beery Beef Burgers

Few of us can resist the combo of salty and sweet. It’s what makes this burger recipe, which blends the crunch of crushed pretzels, the tang of beer and pickle relish, and the sweetness of roasted red peppers and onions into a new classic.

See Beery Beef Burgers Recipes

Beer Can Chicken

As gross as it seems, sticking a beer can up a chicken’s butt leads to a dynamite dinner. You drink half the beer, add some spices to the can, and then perch the bird on it on the grill rack (using its wings to help it balance). A sweet and spicy rub (brown sugar, paprika, and garlic) does the rest. The result: a tender, flavorful chicken everyone will love.

See Beer Can Chicken

Easy Beer Brats

Nothing will impress him more than these crispy brats, soaked in brewski. Beer, which is naturally bitter because of the hops, is a great complement to any kind of fatty sausage. When you add grilled onions or peppers, it’s impossible to have just one.

See Easy Beer Brats

Spicy Beer-Brined Ribs

It’s doesn’t get much better than this. Pork ribs are soaked in a foamy, salty brine, then brushed during cooking with an irresistible honey-beer barbecue sauce. Triple or quadruple the recipe; you’ll want plenty on hand for late-night munchies.

See Spicy Beer-Brined Ribs recipe

Posted in Grilling, Holidays & Entertaining, The Latest Dish | 4 Comments »

On the Menu this Summer? Cupcakes and Cocktails

Posted by coolcookie to Baking and Desserts and Food & Wine Pairings and Holidays & Entertaining and The Latest Dish on 29 May 2009, with 4 comments so far.

Bye-bye, boring eats. For a soiree that dazzles, serve our exquisite cupcake and cocktail pairings.

Everyone knows that wine and chocolate are fabulous together. But if you crave a dessert-and-drink pairing that’s a bit more exquisite, here’s a fresher idea for summertime entertaining: cupcakes and cocktails. Think ganache-filled vanilla cupcakes with syrupy tawny port, pineapple-and-coconut cupcakes with frothy piña coladas, and PB&J cupcakes with creamy chocolate martinis. Of course, these couplings are just for starters; there are millions of ways to pair luscious mini cakes with your favorite cocktails. To get your imagination going, we’re offering some of our tried-and-true favorites, all with plenty of flair. We also have tips on the ideal parties for each pairing. Try them out, and then share your own creative matches on MixingBowl.com’s Cupcakes Take the Cake group.

Lovely Luau

Your idea of the ultimate summer party: a luau. Next to the roast pig and grilled veggies on the buffet table: irresistible cupcakes. Topped with a luxurious cream cheese frosting (dyed vibrant hues of pink and yellow), these moist vanilla cupcakes feature hints of pineapple and banana. Finish with shredded coconut, fresh fruit, and a festive little umbrella. Serve with: Pineapple-infused vodka

See Island Drink Cupcakes recipe

Porch Party Perfection

You’re hosting a casual potluck party on your porch, which means you could serve a typical summer dessert like ice cream. But why be boring? Shake things up with these root beer float-inspired cupcakes, which feature a fluffy vanilla frosting and tender root beer-infused cake. Serve with: A spicy Pinot Noir

See Rootbeer Float Cupcakes recipe

Swanky Soiree

Forget boring cocktail party eats. A luscious chocolaty dessert, such as these ultra-decadent cupcakes, paired with a rich tawny port, is much more fabulous. Featuring swirled vanilla bean and chocolate buttercream frosting, these spiced chocolate cupcakes taste as exquisite as they look. Serve with: A 10-year tawny port

See Chili Cacao Mayan Cupcakes with Vanilla Bean Icing recipe

Retro-Chic Loft Party

Kick it old school with a sweet spin on your fave childhood sandwich. The creamy peanut butter frosting, swirled with your favorite jelly, is so simple to make. We like this recipe best with vanilla cupcakes, but chocolate will work, too. A luscious jelly filling makes it impossible to stop at just one. Serve with: creamy chocolate martinis

See PB&J Cupcakes recipe

Art Gallery Affair

You’re throwing a chic party in an art gallery. Your dessert needs to be equally striking, and these Maple-Walnut Cupcakes are just the ticket. Luscious vanilla cupcakes spiced with cinnamon are topped with candied walnuts and creamy maple frosting. Serve with: A crisp sparkling wine; we love Prosecco

See Maple-Walnut Cupcakes with Candied Walnuts recipe

Modern Dinner Party

Your in-laws are coming for dinner, and you’re a novice in the kitchen. Luckily, you don’t have to be an expert baker to pull off these delish cupcakes. They’re filled with a sugary mixture of bourbon-spiced apples and topped with a creamy bourbon-buttercream filling that’s hard to resist. We dare you to eat only one. Serve with: Ginger and Apple Hot Toddies

See Bourbon Apple Pie Cupcakes recipe

See Ginger and Apple Hot Toddy recipe

Whimsical Garden Gathering

Flowers are blooming, so why not celebrate with a garden party? We’re thinking a light luncheon of chicken salad, mixed greens, and watermelon-infused lemonade. For dessert, try these easy vanilla cupcakes topped with a cinnamon-honey buttercream frosting. Be a real show-off by topping each one with a pretty edible butterfly. Serve with: A fruity sparkling rosé

See Butterfly Cupcakes recipe

Wonderful Wedding Shower

Classic, elegant–red velvet is a surefire crowd-pleaser. With these mini cakes, each guest gets a decadent dessert all to herself. Moreover, this recipe goes beyond red velvet bliss with a luscious cream cheese frosting coated in rich chocolate. Scrumptious! Serve with: A spicy Syrah

See Red Velvet High-Hats recipe

Bachelorette Bash

All the goodness of the popular, potent American drink is tucked into a delicious cupcake. Featuring Jameson’s and Bailey’s, this sinful sweet could be mistaken for one of the shots you’ll toss back at your best girlfriend’s bachelorette party. But in this case, we’re talking about a dessert that comes with a wickedly sugary, boozy frosting. Serve with: Irish Coffee

See Irish Car Bomb Cupcake recipe

Beachy Affair

Nothing says summer like a frothy piña colada. Make this tropical cocktail even more fabulous by serving it with a cupcake featuring the same flavor notes as the beachy drink. Topped with an easy-to-make coconut-rum icing, these cupcakes start with a vanilla cake mix and get a tropical punch from pineapple juice. They’re so easy to make, anyone can mix them up. Serve with: Frothy Piña Coladas

See Piña Colada Cupcakes recipe

See Piña Colada recipe