Homemade Treats and Eats

Check this out: It’s called Foodzie and it’s like Etsy for food (homemade treats sold online)! They have tons of really yummy things, like the beautiful chocolates above.

Made Me Smile..

I really love DQ — reminds me of home (via SwissMiss)

Healthy Treats on the LES

Or has the war just begun?? I was very sad when I found out Chubo, one of my beloved LES restaurants, had closed shop. It was my go-to spot when my parents were in town: a nice restaurant, with good (but not too weird) food, and it wasn’t loud or sceney. (Btw, if you can name anywhere like this on the LES please let me know for the next parental visit.) But according to Strong Buzz, the former Chubo space is going to become Luxee, a new dessert cafe run by an all-Japanese staff from Tokyo. They use natural and organic ingredients to create desserts that are healthy and good for your body. Interesting… and right across the street from Cocoa Bar. (Um… and next door-ish to Clinton Street Baking Company.) I smell a baking war!

Photo via.

Ode to the Chocolate Chip Cookie

I feel like this article in the NY Times is basically a love letter to chocolate chip cookies. And I love all the little tips they provide: let your dough sit for 36 hours and you’ll get a better baked and yummier cookie. Who knew? That must be why patience is a virtue. But I was also happy to see the mini-tip about adding sea salt as a garnish. When Jo the MasterBaker and I made our (kinda small and falling apart) Giant Cupcake, we made a salted caramel icing and then sprinkled sea salt on top. LOVE that sweet-salty combo. I think I’m going to try this a lot more often when baking.

Don’t Drink Your Calories

I’ve heard this advice all the time—it’s what people and health magazines say to get you to drink water instead of Coke or sugary fruit juice. And usually I say pshaw! I like liquid calories almost better than solid ones. But the Baskin Robbin’s Large Heath Bar Shake (32 oz) really puts that advice into a whole new world. Check out the nutrition facts:
2,310 calories
266 g sugar
108 g fat (64 g saturated)

So, as Cluster Flock says, “Should I eat 60 slices of bacon or get a Heath Shake?” Oh, gluttony.

A Sunday at the Flea

I’ve been dying to go to the Brooklyn Flea since it opened, but it’s pretty much rained every Sunday for the past few weeks (or I’ve been away for a wedding). This Sunday’s forecast? Sunny and in the 70s. And, after seeing this article about the Flea in the NY Times, I’m even more amped to go. Mostly, I’m dying to check out the Whimsy & Spice goodies that I read about all the time on Sweet, Fine, Day. Everything they make looks so darn delicious! There’s also news that the Red Hook vendors are setting up satellite stands at the Flea—and let’s face it, if I didn’t make it out to Red Hook last year, what are the chances this year? I’m not so into the artsy, crafty stuff that will probably be there, but I can use it to convince others to come with me. I think Dachsies wants to go; and I can probably get Johnny in. Who wants to join?

Cake Pan-apalooza

I know a thing or two about clever, creative cake pans—they’re all the rage at the office. But I do like this Wilton Ice Cream Cone Cupcake Pan that I spotted on Coveiter. Would be cute and funny to serve them with a scoop of ice cream in a cupcake/muffin wrapper on the side.

Play With Your Food

A very good friend introduced me to the joy that is Dominos this summer. It’s such a great beach game. But it might be even more fun with these yummy looking brownie-Dominos. Would make a fun party game with a milk-inspired cocktail.

Ready for a Three Way?

I’ve tried to order late-night from Insomnia Cookies before (yes… there are some times at 11pm that you just desperately need cookies and can’t even fathom walking to the corner deli). But, neither J nor I live within their delivery zone—from Broome St. to 14th St, and Ave. A to Washington Ave. But, according to Grub Street, they’ve opened a daytime restaurant on 8th St near MacDougal (obviously trying to capitalize on NYU dollars). And now I can try the glorious cookie pictured above aptly titled the “ménage à trois.”

What to Do with Leftover Peeps

I’m sorry, but how genius is this? It’s a Peeps S’more! Amazing. I want one right now. Check out Cakespy for their list of 5 things to with leftover Easter candy.

St. Patrick’s Day Shake

When I lived in London with Jo the MasterBaker, she introduced me to the very delicious Shamrock Shake from McDonalds. But this one looks even better (via YumSugar)! Celebrate St. Patty’s day with a shake instead of a beer!

Giant Cupcake Cakes

OK… Giant is an exaggeration, but they are pretty big. They’re also absolutely beautifully crafted. I can’t believe someone has the skills to create a cake with so much detail. We got a sample of these sent to the office the other day—the chocolate cake inside is a little too rich for me, and the price tag of $90 is definitely too rich for me, but I’m still happy to admire the beauty.

Wanna P-L-A-Y?

I’ve recently become obsessed with Scrabulous—though I haven’t won a game yet! Maybe some chocolate will help?

How Delish Does This Look?

Just another reason to love Barcelona, one of my favorite cities in the world. These beautiful parfaits from Bubo are (from left to right):

• Strawberry Cream, Cheese Mousse, Rhubarb Compote and Strawberry Gelatin
• Bittersweet Chocolate Cream, Lime Gel, Macadamia Nut Streussel and Praline Mousse
• Light Lychee Cream and Brilliance of Strawberry and Raspberry A La Vanilla

Yums, right? Link thanks to Oh Joy!

The Gingerbread Man Alludes Me… Blast!

I desperately wanted to make these cookies for my bosses—and I was going to personalize them and write things like, “Don’t let Molly lick me” (Molly’s a dog, who I love). But I couldn’t find a Gingerbread Man cookie cutter ANYWHERE in NYC. I tried all the regular venues: supermarket, Duane Reade, Whole Foods. And then I even tried Sur La Table. But nothing! This entire city is sold-out of gingerbread men AND red sprinkles. Why?!?! I will get you next year, Gingerbread Man!

I ended up making simple, circle gingerbread and sugar cookies, and then I just used a bottle of Wilton icing (in what looks like a glue bottle) to write their names and make cute designs. They still tasted good, at least.