From the category archives:

Christmas Shopping

Plush Puffs Gourmet Marshmallows Make Life Tastier: One Hot Chocolate at a Time

by Joi on December 16, 2009

Plush Puffs Gourmet Marshmallows

Oh Joy! Oh Happiness! Oh Unspeakable pleasure! I’m sure you’ve guessed by now that I’m either in the middle of a cup of coffee, a chocolate experience, a delicious cookie, or am currently going one on one with candy of some sort.

I’m actually sort of out-doing myself right now. I just finished my pot of coffee and am losing myself in the best cup of hot chocolate I’ve EVER had. Did you catch that? – - – - EVER!

As always, I made my favorite Hot Chocolate recipe (It’s the one on the back of Kroger’s Baking Cocoa – funny, huh? I’ve tried every hot chocolate recipe known to exist and the best one is on a container of baking cocoa…and a store brand at that! What!?) This recipe always, always, always makes an outstanding cup of hot cocoa. However, I was feeling pretty full of myself this morning, so I kicked it up a notch. Right before I laddled the hot chocolate into our eager holiday mugs (my oldest daughter Emily is always my partner in hot chocolate adventures), I stirred in a little Hershey’s chocolate syrup.

Then, I poured the chocolate, aromatic, liquid Heaven into our cups. I topped hers off with three Chocolate Chipetta Plush Puffs Gourmet Marshmallows – the look on her face was all I needed to tell me that she was in Chocolate Heaven and didn’t want to ever return. I took a sip and I must say – it doesn’t get any chocolate-y-er than this. YUM!

I topped my hot cocoa off with 3 Caramel Swirl Plush Puffs Gourmet Marshmallows. Then, with my intentions clear, I sprinkled on a little Sea Salt. You got it! I was aiming for the effect of Starbuck’s Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate. I honestly, humbly, and with chocolate and marshmallow goo on my face believe I outdid myself. This was a truly remarkable, ridiculously delicious cup of hot chocolate. I’ll just go ahead and say it – it’s even better than the drink Starbucks once made (then heartlessly yanked away!). The delicious caramel flavoring in these marshmallows isn’t just delicious – it’s slap your face delicious.

The same is true of the Chocolate Chipetta Plush Puffs Gourmet Marshmallows. I know my chocolate, and these are premium, first class chocolate marshmallows. They earn the term Gourmet with every single bite.

Plush Puffs Gourmet Marshmallows

I’ve thrown the Chocolate Chipetta Plush Puffs Gourmet Marshmallows on top of a dollop of homemade whipped topping in coffee and highly recommend it! Think about it: Coffee, chocolate, candy… all in one place. It makes a remarkable cup of coffee that tastes like it came from a coffeehouse.

I’ve also tried the Luscious Lemony Meringue Plush Puffs Gourmet Marshmallows. If the amazing smell of these gourmet marshmallows doesn’t knock you out, the flavor will. Heavenly! I toss them on top of hot tea – for those of you who (silly gooses!) who don’t care for green tea, these gourmet marshmallows will make the experience one to remember. You’ll drink every last drop.

The different flavors of gourmet marshmallows are outstanding on smores, too. I just build them and put them in the microwave. Everyone loves them. They’re perfect, beautiful, and delicious snacks for eating during ballgames, holiday specials, reruns of Andy Griffith, or your favorite Food Network show.

Plush Puffs Gourmet Marshmallows

I’ve also toasted them (on the stove) and used them as dips for chocolate and caramel sauces. Amazing… that’s the best word for the experience… amazing!

There are Peppi-Mint, Cinnamon, and Vanilla Bean varieties that I’ve yet to try. I’m especially eager to meet the Peppi-Mint and Vanilla Bean flavors. Oh the plans I have for them!!!

Do yourself (and the people you’d consent to share with) a wonderful favor and head over to Plush Puffs Gourmet Marshmallows to read more and, best of all, to order your own gourmet marshmallows. These are NOT, NOT, NOT like traditional, store-bought marshmallows. It’s like the difference between an eagle and a housefly.

Drat. My mug’s empty. Time to make more!

Plush Puffs Gourmet Marshmallows

Puffs Gourmet Marshmallows on YouTube!

Casserole Dishes Any Casserole Would Be Proud to Call Home

by Joi on December 14, 2009

Remember in the last post (Campbell’s Green Bean Casserole), I told you how much I love green bean casserole? Well, this ought to prove it. I’ve spent the past 30 minutes searching for the perfect casserole dish to serve it in this Christmas! When you shop FOR a favorite recipe, you know it’s not just love – it’s crazy love. Oh well, it isn’t my first, or last, brush with crazy… so I’ll just show you what I’ve found!

These colorful Casserole and Lasagna Dish sets would make STUNNING presentations for Green Bean Casseroles, as well as any other. And can you just picture lasagna served in one of the blues? Wow. Click on your favorite(s) to take a closer look!

But, for Christmas, can you really do any better than red?!?!?….

Adorable Aprons: The Perfect Gift for the Cooks in Your Life!

by Joi on December 11, 2009

Women’s Blue Chocolate Apron

If you are (or know) a cook who’s both a whiz in the kitchen and a real girly girl – a beautiful, flirty little apron would make her bat her lashes wildly. Not only does a great, well-made apron protect our clothes, it allows us to look like the divas we are as we go about our daily work. I am absolutely mad about these aprons, I’m not even kidding. It’s true love. If, like most of us, you still have a little Christmas shopping to finish up – trust me, one of these aprons would be greatly appreciated. They make beautiful, original, and highly thoughtful gifts.

Click through any of the aprons in this post (my personal favorites – especially the ones with dots!) to see the entire collection. There are also aprons for kids and men! So, if you know a man who has an inner Bobby Flay, Alton Brown, or Emeril -you know what an apron would mean, right ladies? You encourage him to keep on keeping on! (We’re always one step ahead of them, aren’t we girls?)

Look at the colors… look at the details… look at the bows!!

Women’s Pink Chocolate Apron

Women’s Frosted Cupcake Apron

Women’s Chic Teal Apron

Now: Let’s Hear it for the Boys!

Men’s “Caution Extremely Hot” Apron (red)

Men’s “I Turn Grills On” Apron (black)

Men’s “Kiss The Cook” (red)

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bites Weds Chocolate Candy and Cookie Dough and I Love Them For It

by Joi on December 8, 2009

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bites

Love chocolate candy? Well, of course you do – you’re on one of my websites, aren’t you? I have an automatic filter on my sites that detects non-chocolate lovers and bans them to a black cyber hole, auto-mat-ically. The way I see it, if you don’t love chocolate, I’ve got nothing for you.

So, you obviously love chocolate candy.

I’m pretty sure you also love chocolate chip cookie dough too – who doesn’t? Now, hold onto something, you’re about to feel a tremor: Someone with a deliciously brilliant mind has blended the two together and the beautiful outcome is pictured above. It’s also right in front of me, but you can’t see that. Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bites are wonderful and you simply must try a box today. The thing is, you’d better buy more than one, because these tend to disappear fast.

When you first pop one into your mouth, you’re instantly hit by the taste of delicious chocolate. The texture and size will remind you of chocolate-covered raisins or peanuts. But when you take a bite… chocolate chip cookie dough – but without the eggs so your mom’s “Don’t eat that, it isn’t good for you!” doesn’t apply.

You can find these scrumptious Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bites in Wal-Mart, Walgreen’s, Best Buy, and K-Mart. I’m certain they’re available in other stores as well, these are simply the places I, myself, have encountered them. And what wonderful encounters they are! They’re the type of encounter that leave you with only one option…. cue the music… you gotta do your happy chocolate dance.

Do the happy chocolate dance!

Word to Santa: These would make killer stocking stuffers.

Ace of Cakes DVDs: Seasons 1, 2, and 3

by Joi on December 4, 2009

If you or someone you know is as hooked on Ace of Cakes as I am, here’s something you have to look into: Food Network Ace of Cakes: Seasons 1-3! Yes, please.

I actually had a major dental procedure yesterday which meant coming home and crashing for the rest of the day. I would have loved to have had a stack of Ace of Cakes episodes to help me recover – watch a few I Love Lucys, then a few Ace of Cakes, then a few Andy Griffiths (oh that Barney)….

From the Website:
If you can dream it, Duff Goldman and his team of artists and bakers Baltimore’s Charm City Cakes can make it into a cake. As Duff says, “this is not your mom’s cake shop.”

Duff’s rock n’ roll spirit and endless creativity makes him one of most wildly inventive culinary artisans you’ll ever meet.

Season 1 Disc One Episode 1: Triple Crown Cake Episode 2: Hell Week Disc Two Episode 3: Wedding Cakes and Headaches Episode 4: Life’s a Zoo Disc Three: Episode 5: Duff Goes to Hollywood Episode 6: Cake Walk

Season 2 Disc One: Episode 1: The Boss is Gone Episode 2: Four Weddings and a Rat Episode 3: Great Scot Episode 4: Monkey Business Disc Two: Episode 5: Tributes and Tribulations Episode 6: Flying High Episode 7: Milestones and Monuments Episode 8: Cake-Tastrophe Disc Three: Episode 9: Shell Shocked Episode 10: Dr. Duff Episode 11: Playing Games Episode 12: The Super Cake

Season 3 Disc One: Get ready for more great cakes from the crew at Charm City Cakes. “Wedding Bells and Shotgun Shells”, “Tattoos and Traditions”, “Mary(Alice) Go Round”, and “Challenge Road Trip” are four great episodes that should satisfy your cake cravings. Disc Two: Go into sugar shock with four more delicious episodes. “Wishes Granted”, “Rock & Roll”, “Stadium Games and Eating Brains”, and “Battleships and Birthdays” feature amazing cakes that highlight the incredible creations of Duff and the Charm City Cakes crew. Disc Three: From classic board game cake, to a tank cake, to holiday traditions, Duff and the gang bake up a storm for the final five episodes of the season. “Charms and Charities”, “Uncle Sam Wants Duff”, “Coach Duff”, “Charm City Christmas”, and “Hairspray Premiere” include many memorable creations from the team. Closed captioned for the hearing impaired. Plus, each disc contains exclusive bonus footage! Join Duff and his team on a behind-the-scenes tour of Charm City Cakes, listen to Duff talk about color, the inspiration behind the cakes, living where you work, and more!

If you’ve never had the pleasure of watching Ace of Cakes – buy these DVDs and find out what all the fuss is about. I don’t know how they make a series about cake decorating so addictive, edgy, and fun – but they most certainly do. It’s like chocolate for your brain and I have no intention of ever missing a bite.

Gorgeous Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer in a Blue that Floats My Boat

by Joi on December 4, 2009

Sigh. Is this Refurbished Accolade™ Stand Mixer Juniper Berry not the most breath-taking piece of culinary beautifulness you’ve ever seen? I’m totally weak in the knees and can think of nothing but getting my dough-covered hands all over it.

Features:
High-Performance, 400-watt motor delivers the power to mix everyday household recipes including double batches of batter and cookie dough, quick breads, pizza dough, and basic white bread dough. Includes flat beater, dough hook, stainless steel wire whip. Pouring Shield not included, Pouring Shield sold separately Tilt-head design, Stainless steel bowl with ergonomic handle, Locked rotor protection Soft start mixing feature, Electronic speed sensor, Hinged hub cover for easy use of attachments Dimensions: 14.0″H x 14.5″W x 8.5″D, 22 lbs.

….and it’s UK blue!

On Thanksgiving morning, as a tradition, I make these amazing puff pastries that I fill with a homemade whipped topping. Each year when I make the pastry (as well as the rest of the year when making homemade bread, doughnuts, pizza crust, etc.) I think what a difference a stand alone mixer would make. The dough could be getting all kinds of a beat down while my hands are free to chop, cut, blend, throw chocolate into my mouth… you know, the necessities.

Click through the link above to learn more. These beauties are available in every color you could imagine, making them more than just one of a kitchen’s greatest appliances – they’re killer decor!

I know I don’t have to tell you what wonderful Christmas gifts they’d make. You’d truly light up someone’s world. (Michael, dear, are you listening?…)

Chocolate Art Print That’ll Make Chocoholics Weak in the Knees

by Joi on November 17, 2009

Melted Chocolate Running from a Whisk Photographic Print
Buy at AllPosters.com

A chocoholic such as myself shouldn’t even look at pictures like the one above, but here I sit – drooling and fixated. Fixated and drooling. What I wouldn’t give to plant my entire body (mouth first) beneath that flow of chocolate.

Looks like it’ll be chocolate something or another for our Biggest Loser snack tonight. Sorry, Bob. Sorry, Jillian. Chocolate calls and I must answer.

Gourmet Nutcracker Gift Assortment

by Joi on November 15, 2009

Mrs. Prindable's 12 Days of Christmas

Gorgeous! If you collect nutcrackers or simply or MUST HAVE everything Christmas-related (guilty) or chocolate (guilty guilty), you’re going to love this.

Mrs. Prindable’s 12 Days of Christmas Petite Gift Assortment is almost too beautiful to believe. If you have a nutcracker collector on your Christmas list, you just found the perfect gift. (BTW, Dr. Phil and his wife collect nutcrackers – how cool’s that?)

Click the link above and give someone a Christmas gift they’ll talk about for years to come – even if that someone is you!

Love it. Love it. Love it.

Da Cajn Critter: The Lifestyles, The Rules, and Makin Groceries

by Joi on November 11, 2009

Da Cajn Critter by Pamela D. Lyles

Da Cajn Critter is one of the cutest, funnest cookbooks I’ve seen in ages. I fell in love with it when I first saw the title, but when I saw the actual cookbook, itself, I fell even harder.

I was sort of afraid to look inside – with so much going on for it on the outside, I was afraid it’d be like some great looking Hollywood stars, beautiful on the outside but shallow on the inside. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the real party didn’t actually start until you opened the too-cute-for-its-own-good cover.

Da Cajn Critter really is more than a cookbook, it’s sort of a handbook for completely enjoying food again – making it, serving it, and eating it.

Think about it, meals used to be a major part of everyone’s day. Everyone looked forward to the home cooked meal they’d enjoy at the end of the day just as much as the cook, herself/himself, looked forward to cooking it. Unfortunately, so many people have fallen into the fast food or meal in a box traps… pop it in the microwave, hit 6 minutes… voila! Supper! So many have forgotten the joy and fun of cooking and serving something you’ve really made with your own two hands. A while back, The Food Network helped to reawaken this love in one generation while instilling it in another. Everyone was talking about Emeril, Rachael Ray, Bobby Flay, Tyler Florence, Jamie Oliver, and of course, Alton Brown.

However, things have cooled off a little bit. Not to get on my soapbox…. she says while stepping up on it…. Food Network has gotten a little off kilter. All of the food competitions and touring restaurants are fun, but they don’t exactly encourage generations of people to get in the kitchen and have fun with cooking. Hopefully, my beloved Food Network will get back to what made them a phenomenon in the first place. Celebrate the joy of cooking!

That is precisely what author Pamela D. Lyles does in her outstanding book, Da Cajn Critter. Pamela grew up in New Orleans and spent hours in her own family’s kitchen as well as her grandmother’s kitchen. She saw, firsthand, that cooking is something to be enjoyed and shared.

Personally, I think that if cooking seems like a chore, you’re doing it wrong!

Da Cajn Critter is the ideal book for any cook – old, new, reluctant… It would also make a perfect, perfect, perfect gift for the cooks on your Christmas list.

I think cooking is about so much more than preparing food. It’s about people relaxing, having fun, and connecting with one another. Every one of our lives is like an old family recipe. It is filled with different ingredients and experiences that over time create a unique and distinctive flavor. – Pamela D. Lyles, Da Cajn Critter Page 7

Some of the Recipes You’ll Find in Da Cajn Critter:

Tomato Bruschetta
Jalapeno Cheese
Oysters DiNapoli
Cool Crab Meat on Artichokes
Pumpkin Bread
Cheese Grits
Baked Potato Soup
Creole Egg Salad
Classic Tuna Salad
Barbecue Beef Ribs and Sauce
Classic Lasagna
Sweet-and-Sour Cabbage Rolls
Honey-Glazed Pork Chops
Grilled Redfish Fillets
Crawfish Boil
Shrimp Po’ Boys
Shrimp Scampi
Jambalaya
Fried Trout
Baked Beans (with a vegetarian option)
Ice Cream with Homemade Fudge Sauce
Peppermint Shake
Buttermilk Pound Cake
Indoor Super S’mores
Red Velvet Cake
Cream Cheese Brownies
Caramel Brownies
Brownies with Double Chocolate Icing (Yes, please.)

After the recipes, there’s a very enjoyable bonus section. There are tips, tidbits, and a lot of things you just wouldn’t expect. I don’t want to give away the fun, because I honestly want you to enjoy your own copy.

Dawlin’, this is one fantastic cookbook and you need to order a copy pronto. Click the following link to read more – then order a few copies right away. Sweet Potato Casserole, Dirty Rice Dressing, Spinach Noodle Bake, Pecan Pie, Cajun Fried Turkey – all of these recipes are perfect for Thanksgiving! There’s even a recipe for “After Thanksgiving Gumbo!”

As for Christmas, Red Velvet Cake, Jack’s Fudge, Pomegranate Salad, Peppermint Shakes, Fruit Salad with Citrus Dressing, Spiced Tea, and Toni and Eddie’s Ham are ready to rock around the Christmas Tree, and Cheese Grits would be the perfect Christmas morning breakfast. You need this ~~cookbook~~ celebration of cooking: Da Cajn Critter

It’s Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas

by Joi on November 7, 2009

Looking for extra-cute Christmas gifts for the cooks on your list? Or maybe your looking for cute, new Christmas lovelies for your own home (I’m with you all the way!). You might want to check out Avon.com. They have an adorable Polar Bear (Bernard) they feature on lots of great items – from gift bags to spreader sets. I happen to collect polar bears, so you can imagine how badly I’m flipping out.

Click through any of the items below to learn more – also be sure to look around at all of the other Christmas decorations just waiting to be bought.

Bernard the Polar Bear and Friends Spreader Set

Bernard the Polar Bear Holiday Door Mat

The More the Merrier Figural Salt and Pepper Set

More the Merrier Platter

* By the way, I fixed the screwed up link under my “Follow Me on Twitter” – Many, many thanks to the wonderful person who took the time to let me know it was bonking!!!

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