Do you like LOST?

Then check this out and answer my poll please.

I made a blog button!!

I see all these cute blog buttons and always wanted one, but never took the time to figure out how to make one. Today I was talking with emailing another blogger and she asked if I had a button, and I didn't, I knew I had to take the time to make one. Then today Tessica wrote about how she made one, and linked to A Heart for Home's tutorial. So I spent some time this evening figuring it out! I am super excited now. Grab my button if you would like. I am working on a way to display your buttons too!

Thanks guys for your posts!!

Tomorrow I am making mini batches of the smash cakes for the twin's 1st birthday party, and the cupcakes for the party favors. I have to make sure that they taste good if people are going to be taking them home. I will post pictures of the cakes and cupcakes after the party next weekend!

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Ice Cream

OH MY GOSH.  This was AMAZING. It was so creamy and rich. I loved it.
Matt didn’t enjoy it as much as I did, but that's ok, more for me.
I adapted this recipe from Frugal Creativity

[Printable Recipe]

Ingredients:
1 c. peanut butter
3/4 c. granulated sugar
1tsp vanilla
1 and 1.3 c. heavy cream
1 c. half and half
1 c. mini chocolate chips (maybe more if desired)
Directions:
Combine peanut butter and sugar.

Add half and half

Blend until smooth and dissolved.
Add cream and vanilla and combine

Add to ice cream maker and let run for 30-40 mins.

Add mini chips and mix

Transfer to bowls and freeze.

This is my favorite ice cream recipe so far. YUM


** p.s. Can anyone help me make a button for my blog. I have no idea where to start. Thanks!**

Winner!

The giveaway for the $20 Gift Card to Giant ended tonight. I used random.org to pick the winning comment.

Julie said...

Cinnamon toast Crunch, Pillsbury Crescent Rolls,Green Giant Vegetables lucky Charms (for me ;)

aunteegem@yahoo.com

APRIL 20, 2010 1:28 PM 

Congrats Julie!! Email me by tomorrow night to claim your prize. If I don't hear from you I will pick a new winner Friday.

Hey

Did you enter to win $20 to giant/stop&shop? It couldn't be easier. See the bottom of this post.

General Mills/ Giant Sweepstakes and Giveaway

From April 16 - 29th you could win a 2010 eco-friendly Hybrid car. All you have to do is buy 5 participating General Mills products with your Giant card and use a greenie bag and you will be automatically entered. You can also enter without making a purchase by completing an official entry form at your local Stop & Shop store. 

Now I was looking over the list of participating products and we typically buy at least 5 of those on a shopping trip. 90% of the time we take the greenie bags (those are not the official name of them, but they are my name for them.) Sometimes we will forget, but thats typically when we are running to the store for only a couple things.


I love them, they are tough, and can be filled pretty heavy, which is nice when you live in an apartment and don't want to make a bunch of trips to the car. 


Ok - sorry, I didn't mean to try and sell you on greenie bags. 


So the products: 


Week 1, April 16-22
Cascadian Farms Cereal
Cascadian Farms Frozen Vegetables
Progresso Light, Reduced Sodium and High Fiber Soups
Betty Crocker Specialty Potatoes
Betty Crocker Boxed Muffins
Betty Crocker Cookie Pouch
Nature Valley Crunchy, Sweet & Salty, Trail Mix and Yogurt Bars
Nature Valley Granola Nut Clusters
General Mills Fiber One Chewy Bars
Betty Crocker Gushers, Fruit Shapes, Fruit by the Foot or Fruit Rollups
Green Giant Valley Fresh Steamers
Yo-Pus, Yoplait Fiber One or Yoplait Delights Multi Pack
Yoplait Original, Light, Thick & Creamy, Light Thick & Creamy or Whips
Pillsbury Grands Biscuits
Totino's Pizza Rolls 90 Ct.
Cheerios 18 Oz
Cinnamon Toast Crunch 24.9 Oz
Honey Nut Cheerios 25.25 Oz
Kix 18 Oz
Lucky Charms 24 Oz
Multigrain Cheerios 16.2 Oz
Week 2, April 23-29 
Cascadian Farms Cereal
Green Giant Vegetables
Nature Valley Crunchy or Sweet & Salty Granola Bars
Green Giant Boxed Vegetables or Prepared Vegetables, Simple Steam Seasoned Vegetables or Rices
Green Giant Wanchai Ferry Entrees
Yoplait Frozen Smoothies
Totino's Pizza Rolls
Pillsbury Savorings
Fiber One Muffins
Pillsbury Crescent Rolls
Pillsbury Sweet Rolls
Yoplait Greek Style Yogurt
Yoplait Kid Multi Pack
Cheerios 14 Oz
Cocoa Puffs 16.5 Oz
Honey Nut Cheerios 17 Oz
Lucky Charms 16 oz
Multigrain Cheerios 12.8 Oz
Reeses Peanut Butter Puffs 18 Oz 


This promotion is open to residents of MA, RI, CT, NH, NJ, NY, MD, DE, VA or DC and individuals at least 18 years old. For details about the sweepstakes, see in-store for complete rules. 


So exciting news: I get to offer one of you a chance to win a $20 Giant card! All you have to do is leave me a comment telling me what products you think you would buy as your entry into the sweepstakes.  On 4/21/2010 at 8PM I will chose a winner by random.org. Good luck friends!


Disclosure:  All information has been provided to me by General Mills and Giant, through MyBlogSpark.  I received a gift card to Giant for the review of this promotion.

New York Yummies

Our trip to NYC was a lot of fun, and we did some cool things. But I since this is a baking blog, I think I will talk about some of the important things we did. We ATE!

We got off the bus, headed to the upper east side and dropped off our bags at Nana's apartment building. She was out so we decided to head two blocks up the street to a NYC landmark.

Papaya King

These hot dogs are GOOD. I don't mind hot dogs in general, but they aren't typically my first choice. These are SO GOOD. 

So our first meal was super unhealthy, but super good.

We walked over to Central Park and walked around, then sat and watched people, then walked back home. 

Now dinner I started looking forward to before we even booked our bus tickets.

Nicola's

Matt's family has been eating here on every single trip they make up. When I first went there I was so happy with my meal. It is one of the best chicken parms I have ever eaten(and biggest). Matt's spaghetti bolognese is really good too. Best I think I have ever had too. I could eat there every night we visit I think.

Thursday:

We had tickets for a NBC tour at 1, so we needed a quick lunch. We used urban spoon on our phone and found the 53rd Street Gourmet Deli

This place was really good. I read a review on the way there that the cooks were intimidating and didn't like if you didn't know what you wanted. It was a little busy, but we ordered with not much problem and they were nice to us, so that was good. I had a chicken quesadilla, Matt had a turkey sub. I liked this place, and I would go back for sure. My food was good. There selection was HUGE. It is also open 24 hours so it would be a good place to hit up after a show.

We walked up 5th ave, and I made Matt go with me to find a Crumbs Bake Shop so I could get a red velvet cupcake. I got a small red velvet cupcake and a homemade lemon-lime soda.
The soda was different, but really good. The cupcake...VERY GOOD.

My homemade lemon-lime soda

YUM!

Attractive - and that was a SMALL CUPCAKE!

That didn't last long (I did let Matt have a little)

Thursday night for dinner it looked like rain so we ordered in.
Chinese food from Our Place.  They have some really good spare ribs. I am not even a big fan of them but these are good. Matt and I shared a chicken lo mein, and we also ate some of Nana's chicken fried rice. So yummy, and even better Saturday for Linner.

We got Pinkberry for dessert. Now I love me some frozen yogurt, and I have always wanted to see what the hype was with pinkberry. They have a very smart system there. You place your order, size and flavor and give your name. Then it prints on a little sticker and they call your name and allow you to put as many toppings on the yogurt that will fit.  I got a little chocolate and a little vanilla. I had chocolate chips, kiwi and strawberry for my toppings. So good. Lived up to the hype in my opinion. Lucky for me there is a similar place here. Shew

Friday for lunch we met a friend at a local favorite. The Shake Shack. I didn't get a shake, but my burger was yummy, and the fries were really good too. Super crowded, but what isn't in NYC.

Friday night we went to the west village and met friends for dinner. We ate at this little Italian place, Malatesta. The food was really good. Matt got gnoucchi that was really good and I got some type of pasta in a wonderful meat sauce. It was really great. The place was a tight squeeze, but it had a funky and yet cozy feel to it. I really enjoyed our dinner there.

We hit up a bar for a little while after to catch up, then Matt and his friend (also Matt) went and got a slice of pizza from Joe's Pizza. I snuck a bite from Matt. Very good. But I am not sure I could eat a whole piece unless I was super hungry. It was pretty big.

Saturday we got up and went to get bagels from H and H for brunch. There is a great bagel debate between those who live in NYC as to who has the best bagels. Matt wanted to try these this time. I thought they were pretty good, but I am not a bagel snob, so what do I know.

This trip was super laid back, we just woke up and decided what we would do that am. Stress free. We didn't do Times Square or other touristy things this time. We did a lot of that on other trips. We ate a lot of good food. I only ran once while there. We did do a good bit of walking, but man, NYC has some good eats!

CSN Review Sneak Preview

I am so excited that I was contacted by a representative from CSN to do a review.

If you haven't checked out CSN you really should. They have anything and everything for your home and kitchen. I have spent a lot of time looking at all the kitchen gadgets, and looking at furniture and other home products. I saw these counter stools there. We have a little bar, but not enough to benefit from counter stools. One day I hope that I can have a house with a nice island that I can put these nice stools around it.

CSN has so many different stores, over 200! Amazing! You can find anything for your house there! Love it.

In a couple weeks I will be getting to review these mini spring form pans, which means, mini cheesecakes!!! YAY! Off to research a cheesecake recipe to try!

Passover Recipe Round 2 – Matzo Brittle

This stuff is like crack. I couldn’t stop munching on it, neither could the mom’s at playgroup, or my boss. (I made a lot, and then someone else brought some too- so I brought A LOT home)
This stuff is so good, and so easy to make. This could be made anytime of the year I think and it would still be good. I think saltines could be substituted for Matzo and it would be just fine. Matzo is basically like a saltine cracker.
I got this recipe from Nosh With Me
Matzo Brittle


[Printable Recipe]

Ingredients:
Matzo (also spelled Matzah)
2 sticks of butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 small bag chocolate chips
chopped pecans (optional)

Directions:
Line a cookie sheet with foil ( I used a disposable foil cookie sheet and I am glad I did)
Line cookie sheet with matzo, breaking them so they fit

Melt butter and add brown sugar, bring to a boil.


Pour over matzo

Bake at 375 degrees for 7 mins.
Take out and cover with chocolate chips

Put it back in for another min or 2 to help melt the chocolate
Spread the melted chocolate out even (add chopped nuts if you are going to use them)
 
Put in fridge and chill.

Break apart and eat.


SO GOOD. Try it!

Passover goodies round 1

Oh blog, how I have missed you so. I have so much to tell you, it will be so hard to break it up into smaller posts. But I will, because no one will read past this paragraph if I don’t. I have 2 YUMMY Kosher for Passover desserts to share with you. I also want to share my trip to NYC with you, but only the important parts, the food :-D. I also need to teach you how to make the best ice cream ever. OK see, my mind is going to explode with things that need to be blogged. So here I go.
So we were invited to a 1st night Seder, and it was potluck, so I signed up for dessert of course. Then I realized, Passover needs to be a special recipe. Not being Jewish, I was nervous I would screw it up and I knew most people there would be keeping kosher.  So I searched the internet for a recipe, and I would follow it perfectly, so I didn’t screw anything up.
I still hadn’t decided on anything until we were on the bus to NYC and I was catching up with my Google Reader. Smitten Kitchen posted a blog with a recipe for hazelnut thumbprint cookies filled with chocolate. I starred it, I found my recipe.
These did not disappoint.

Hazelnut Thumbprint Cookies
from Smitten Kitchen

[Printable Recipe]

Ingredients:
1 cup hazelnuts, toasted and cooled, skin removed
2/3 c. sugar
2/3 c. Matzo cake meal 

1/4 tsp salt
1 stick butter melted and cooled slightly
1 egg, beaten
1 tsp vanilla extract
chocolate wafers


Directions:
Put Hazelnuts, sugar, cake meal and salt into your mom’s hideous 80’s food processor and pulse until finely ground.
 

Transfer to bowl and add butter, egg and vanilla, combine.

Chill dough (I chilled for about an hour the recipe called for 30 mins)

Roll 1 inch balls and place on a cookie sheet (I lined with parchment paper to make the process easier and clean up simple)

Press a wafer into the middle of the ball, flattening the balls (they will crack, you can leave them or try to shape them a little)

Bake for 14 mins at 350 degrees.


These cookies were amazing. I wasn’t used to the fact that they don’t spread out like other cookies. They took a little longer to cook for me than the recipe said. These tasted almost exactly like Ferrero Rocher yummies.
There is a flour version of the recipe at smitten kitchen.
You have to try these. Seriously.