If you’re on the look out for some last minute baking ideas to treat your Valentine, here are a few easy peasy and quick suggestions.

One Strawberry Wonder …(with a bit of  chocolate drizzle and red food coloring) .

Melt Chocolate Ganache and add some raspberries.

Click on Image for one wonderful Chocolate Ganache recipe .

Cut (two cakes) and whah lah..eat to your heart’s content.

Last but certainly not least are chocolate covered Strawberries on skewers and wrapped to go. So decadent and pretty.

This probably doesn’t even need mentioning but… Valentine’s Day is next week . If you have a special someone or even if you don’t…you deserve a bit of indulging to celebrate the day. I’ve sourced a number of yummy heart shaped sensations for you below and I promise that all selections are oh so doable  (read into that easy peasy) and absolutely delish!

Courtesy of the California Strawberry Growers. So easy to do..just cut the top of the strawberry, skewer and dip in chocolate. Seriously simple!

A cup of Lovely Hot Chocolate-Soften four marshmallows and form together to shape a heart…

Two cakes…equals one heart…

Chocolate Shortbread Recipe @ Two Peas in a Pod Click on Image for original recipe

Use store bought pizza Dough..roll out in a heart shape OR use a heart shape cake pan. Top with your favorite additions and whal lah..

For the non sweet eater…How about a little Caprese Salad with buffalo mozzarella cut into heart shapes..

Gluten Free Red Velvet Waffles courtesy of Countrygirlgourmet.com

Recipe courtesy of Country Girl Gourmet.com

Recipe adapted from Allrecipes.com

I’m all about the “pretty” and this cookie  fits the bill perfectly. It’s a take off from my Mother’s Chocolate  Crinkle Cookies that she always had on hand during the Christmas holidays.I combined another recipe to come up with this version that I call Red Velvet Crinkle Cookie.  Enjoy this yummy recipe. I promise your guests will love it.

Xmas Red Velvet Cookies
Yields approx.: 30 cookies
Preheat Oven to 350 degrees

Ingredients

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder*
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 3/4 cup unsalted butter , softened
• 1 1/3 cups granulated sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 1 Tbsp milk or buttermilk
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla bean paste or vanilla
• 2 tsp lemon juice
• 5 tsp red food coloring
• 1 cup white chocolate chips
• 1 cup powdered sugar

In a large bowl whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt for 30 seconds, set aside.

With an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, whip butter and granulated sugar until pale and fluffy.
Mix in eggs 1 at a time, blending until combined after each addition. Mix in milk, vanilla bean paste, lemon juice and red food coloring.
With Mixer set on low speed, slowly add in dry ingredients and mix just until combined. Stir in white chocolate chips. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and chill 2 hours or until firm enough to shape into balls.

Pour powdered sugar into a bowl.
Remove dough from refrigerator, scoop dough out and with buttered hands, shape into medium balls (about 2 1/2 Tbsp each).
Roll cookie dough balls into powdered sugar and evenly coat. Transfer to Silpat or parchment paper lined baking sheets and flatten slightly, then bake in preheated oven 13 – 14 minutes.
Allow to rest on cookie sheet several minutes then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.Store in an airtight container.

****If you want them a little more “chocolatey” you can replace 2 – 3 Tbsp of the flour with 2 – 3 additional Tbsp of cocoa powder

Times a ticking and I’ve been ensconced in sourcing the “best” brand of  Thanksgiving turkeys to purchase before the weekend to beat the holiday rush. If you’re prepping Thanksgiving Dinner, I think it’s best to think ahead. Don’t you? I mean…. why stress over Turkey?!  Getting the whole meal on the table at the same time while still warm is stress inducing enough.

In my sleuthing to suss out the best tasting turkey, I’ve  uncovered a verrrry interesting article on which brand came out on top- (in terms of taste, texture and flavor) . I’m happy to report, that if you are longing to go Organic,  (Farmer Owned) Organic Prairie  is at the tippy top of the list. Sadly and a major surprise-at the BOTTOM of the list …(sit down for this one) was Butterball .  (According to this survey on eatthisnotthat.com.)  

Click on the image below and go directly to the original article for all the results posted. 

One Sweet Cookie..and recipe included:

I posted a recipe on my Facebook page this morning, in answer to my dear friend Mary Uhlich’s,  request to participate in a Christmas Cookie Exchange. The Facebook  response to my recipe has been  so warmly received I thought best to post it on my blog so you won’t miss this yummy dessert addition.  It’s the perfect compliment for Thanksgiving or Christmas, as  this Biscotti is filled with cinnamon and sugar -two ingredients synonymous with the holidays.

This is the perfect  holiday cookie to serve to your guests  and so easy to pack up and go- as a lovely parting gift.

Cinnamon & Spice & Everything Nice! ENJOY!

                      RECIPE

Christmas Cinnamon Roll Biscotti

Enjoy!

I LOVE Fall. How about you? There’s just something so wonderful about the season. The cooler air, the changing leaves and PUMPKINS! I mean seriously, who doesn’t love pumpkins?

Living in LA, we don’t  experience the cool crisp days associated with Fall until sometime in November. (Cold weather climates..Pleeeeezzzz don’t hate me for stating this fact).

That being said, the month of October brings with it a number of lovely fall mementos that one should not ignore but instead partake in …no matter what the official temperature reading is outside.

Here’s the short list of 5 fabulous fall items to enjoy right this very minute….

Number ONE! Decorate with pumpkins..it’s the perfect prop for outdoor decor and transitions perfectly right into Thanksgiving.

Number TWO: Bake or buy some YUMMY pumpkin baked goods…

Healthy Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Muffins

(recipe from https://www.littlebroken.com)

INGREDIENTS

·         1/3 cup coconut oil, in liquid form

·         1/2 cup honey

·         2 eggs

·         1 cup mashed ripe banana, about 2–3 bananas

·         1 cup pure pumpkin puree

·         1/4 cup milk

·         2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice

·         1 tsp. baking soda

·         1 tsp. vanilla extract

·         1/2 tsp. sea salt

·         1 3/4 cups white whole wheat flour

·         1/2 cup chocolate chips, semi-sweet or dark chocolate

INSTRUCTIONS

1.       Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.

2.       Grease 12 cup muffin pan with non-stick cooking spray or if using liners, line with liners.

3.       In a large mixing bowl, whisk coconut oil and honey. Whisk in eggs.

4.       With a wooden spoon, mix in the mashed banana, pumpkin puree, milk, pumpkin pie spice, baking soda, vanilla extract, and salt.

5.       Add the flour and mix just until combined. Fold in the chocolate chips.

6.       Spoon the batter evenly into the prepared pan. You should be able to fill all 12 muffin cups.

7.       Bake for 5 minutes at 425 F degrees, then keeping the muffins in the oven, reduce the oven temperature to 350 F degrees, and bake for additional 17-20 or until toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.

8.       Place the muffin pans on a cooling rack to cool. Store cooled muffins, covered, at room temperature for up to 3-4 days.

Number  Three: Take a walk outside and ENJOY the changing colors of the season.

Number Four: Wear a Turtleneck Sweater…Chic and so stylish!

Pair your classic turtleneck with anything and everything: pants,skirts, jeans…it’s a closet staple that looks good on everyone.

Number Five: ENJOY any number of things that bring you joy! A list to help inspire…

Today it was “Back to School” for many children, and for the rest of us, it was “Back to Work” after the long Labor Day Weekend. In the spirit of back to school and more importantly the topic of children- sadly many of these children will return to their classrooms hungry. I think we can all agree, that no child in this country (or any country for that matter) should ever go hungry. That being said, we all know that this is not the current reality BUT the good news today is…there is something we can do and it is “oh-so-doable”...thanks to the people at Williams Sonoma.

Williams Sonoma is offering celebrity-designed spatulas to raise money for the “No Kid Hungry” campaign to end childhood hunger. Williams Sonoma will donate 30% of the price from each limited-edition spatula + $5000 to No Kid Hungry, on behalf of the designer whose spatula sells out first!

**Price of each spatula is only $14.95 -like I said… “oh so doable.”

In addition to the spatulas, William Sonoma is also offering an assortment of festive mugs designed specifically for benefiting the No Kid Hungry cause. Appropriately named “Mugs that Matter_the price per mug is $12.95 with many of the selections on sale at 30% off using the code: SAVEMORE. Click on the image below to go directly to the selections available.

No matter what your preference, I urge you to purchase one of these lovely items that benefit the No Kid Hungry cause or make a donation via the WS website. It’s a Tuesday tip that’s not only practical and easy to do but will lift your spirits in helping those less fortunate.

Here’s to a week ahead full of productive and purposeful moments.

All Images Courtesy of William-Sonoma.com

Happy Sunday!

As the long Labor Day weekend comes to a close, you may want to indulge in one last”S’more Sunday” or perhaps a “Monday Soiree” to help celebrate the end of Summer and/or the beginning of back to school, back to work or your regular weekday routine.

If you’re in the mood to put together something with little or no effort and make the evening FUN, might I suggest setting up your very own S’mores bar.

It’s as simple as opening a package (or packages) of graham crackers and marshmallows, setting out your choice of chocolate decadence,and provide a source of heat (melting station) complete with bamboo or branch skewers.

Not only is this Summer dessert delish but so easy to prepare and a perfect ending to the Summer Season.

S’mores are synonymous with Summer and let’s just say I’ve never met anyone yet that can resist a S’more! Enjoy!

Drink UP!!!!

It’s National Ice Cream Day..or as I like to call it Sweet Sunday.

If you LOVE Ice cream (and who doesn’t?) I’ve uncovered a complete list of fabulous ice cream deals courtesy of the lovely folks at Thrillist. If you’re not familiar with Thrillist, it’s a website filled with wonderful and fun things to do, food to partake and activities to enjoy. Check out The Thrillist, in your area and be sure to enjoy a scoop of your favorite ice cream today! https://www.thrillist.com

Free Ice Cream for National Ice Cream Day

Carvel
The deal: It’s BOGO time. Grab a BOGO cup or cone of soft serve in honor of National Ice Cream Day. 
When: July 21

CREAM
The deal: Buy a scoop, get a scoop for free at participating locations.
When: July 21-22

Dippin’ Dots
The deal: Stop in for a free mini cup of Dippin’ Dots at participating locations. Each location will only be serving the offer for two hours, so check with your local shop to find out when you can swing by. 
When: July 21

Potbelly
The deal: Get a free large hand-dipped milkshake with the purchase of any entrée. Just mention National Ice Cream Day at the counter to get the goods. 
When: July 21

Insomnia Cookies
The deal: Bank error in your favor. Make a purchase, get a free scoop of ice cream. 
When: July 21

Dylan’s Candy Bar
The deal: Mention the holiday to get a free scoop of ice cream. No purchase required. 
When: July 21, 2-4pm

Nékter Juice Bar
The deal: Use Nékter’s app to get BOGO orders of Skoop, the shop’s vegan and dairy-free ice cream alternative. 
When: July 21

My/Mo Mochi Ice Cream
The deal: My/Mo is teaming up with UNIQLO to serve free mochi ice cream at UNIQLO locations across the country. The freebies will be dished out at locations in Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, Boston, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington, DC.
When: July 21

Johnny Rockets
The deal: Order an entrée and you’ll be set up with a free milkshake. 
When: July 21

Godiva
The deal: Boutique and cafe locations will be offering a buy-one-get-one 50% off deal on all soft-serve ice cream and parfait orders. 
When: July 21

Your Pie
The deal: Grab a free scoop of gelato with any purchase. 
When: July 21

goPuff
The deal: The convenience store delivery app is offering a free pint of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream with any purchase of at least $20. The service has a flat delivery fee of $1.95.
When: Noon on July 21 through noon on July 22

PetSmart
The deal: Stop into a PetSmart to get some free ice cream for your pooch. You’ll get a free, dog-friendly ice cream with a dog biscuit on top.
When: July 20-21

Pilot Flying J
The deal: It’s not ice cream, but it is a sweet treat. The roadside pit stop just launched a Cinnabon Cookie Frosting Sandwich. Use the Pilot Flying J app to get a BOGO offer on the dessert sandwiches.
When: July 21-28

Sensodyne
The deal: Yeah, the toothpaste people. It’s taking advantage of National Ice Cream Day with a giveaway. Tweet #SensodyneforIceCream with an ice cream cone emoji and they’ll give a whole lot of people same-day delivery of a pint of ice cream, toothpaste, soft pack cooler, and an insulated tumbler. You have to be in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, or Philadelphia to take advantage of the offer. 
When: July 21

Nutella Cafe
The deal: Locations in New York and Chicago will give the first 50 customers a free Frozen Nutella Pop. Everyone after the first 50 will get a complimentary scoop of gelato. 
When: July 21

Chill-N Nitrogen Ice Cream
The deal: The Florida-based chain is serving up BOGO ice cream at participating locations. 
When: July 21, 1-6pm

Ice Cream Deals on National Ice Cream Day

Baskin-Robbins
The deal: Grab two pre-packaged pints of ice cream for just $7.99. 
When: July 21

Whole Foods
The deal: If you’re a Prime member, you can get 35% off ice cream and frozen novelties for the rest of the month, including favorites like Talenti and Halo Top. 
When: July 17-30

LongHorn Steakhouse
The deal: For a limited time, the steakhouse is serving a Steak & Bourbon Ice Cream. It’s a bit tongue in cheek — á la Wendy’s — because LongHorn is saying this is the only time its steaks will ever be frozen. The ice cream is seasoned with the restaurant’s Char seaoning and includes bits of steak and swirls of bourbon caramel. It’s $3.99 and only available at restaurants in New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Nashville, Houston, Cleveland, Miami, and Tampa. 
When: Ongoing

Nékter Juice Bar
The deal: Use Nékter’s app to get BOGO orders of Skoop, the shop’s vegan and dairy-free ice cream alternative. 
When: July 21

Cumberland Farms
The deal: Text “SCOOPS” to 64827 to get a buck off any pint of Ultimate Scoops. The deal will be texted to you on July 21
When: July 21-28

Graeter’s Ice Cream
The deal: To celebrate its 149th birthday, you can get a cone for $1.49. 
When: July 21

Instacart
The deal: Buy $15 worth of select Ben & Jerry’s, Breyers, and/or Talenti products to get $5 off your order or free delivery. 
When: Through July 28

Instacart
The deal: Pick up $15 worth of select combos of Haagen-Dazs, Edy’s, Deyer’s, or Outshine to get $5 off your order or free delivery. 
When: Through August 4

Baskin-Robbins
The deal: Get free delivery through DoorDash on orders of $10 or more. 
When: Through July 31

Local Deals on National Ice Cream Day

ATRIO Wine Bar & Restaurant – New York, New York
The deal: The restaurant at Conrad New York Downtown will offer BOGO gelato bowls all day. 
When: July 21

Beckon Ice Cream – Boston, Massachusetts 
The deal: Head to the Ink Block Whole Foods in Boston to sample all of Beckon’s flavors. 
When: July 21

Black Tap and Ample Hills Creamery – New York, New York
The deal: Both shops have a BOGO deal for the holiday. Order a State Fair Shake or sundae and get a shake or sundae for free. 
When: July 21

Bennett’s Ice Cream – Los Angeles, California
The deal: Take $1 off any ice cream item from the team that still makes its on ice cream on site. 
When: July 21, 12-7pm

BIVE – New York, New York
The deal: The ice cream shop that mixes superfoods into the sweetness is offering a free extra scoop or cone upgrade for the holiday. 
When: July 21

Cantina Laredo – Bloomington, Minnesota 
The deal: Get a free scoop with the purchase of any kids’ entrèe. 
When: July 21

Chloe’s Soft Serve Fruit Shop – New York, New York
The deal: Load up on free toppings with any order of soft serve for National Ice Cream Day. 
When: July 21

Pinstripes – Cleveland, Ohio
The deal: To celebrate a full year in Cleveland, Pinstripes is offering any guest who mentions the anniversary a $1 glass of wine or a $1 scoop of gelato. 
When: Through July 31

Trejo’s Coffee & Donuts – Los Angeles, California
The deal: Buy a Trejo Coneado and get one free at Machete’s shop in LA. 
When: July 21