Valentine's Day - From Scratch

While I love love love to bake, I have never made a cake or cupcakes from scratch.  (I always figured Betty Crocker had it figured out so while mess with perfection!)

But today I was inspired by the Georgetown Cupcake sisters who appeared on Live! with Kelly, and decided to make cupcakes and buttercream frosting from scratch! I chose to make their vanilla cupcakes with pretzels and mini chocolate chips. 

Hope you have a sweet Valentine's Day!

Click read more below to get the full recipe!

Drink this for a Smaller Waist...

This was the subject of an email I received from RealAge.com today. I have been eating way too many Starbust jelly beans lately so I found this topic very intriguing.

I won't leave you in suspense. If you want to shrink your waist, drink green tea. According to RealAge.com, "research shows that the wonder duo of green tea and exercise may target belly fat better, so it shrinks more easily than with exercise alone. "

Wonder how much green tea you need to drink to see these magical results? About 7 cups a day. And don't forget, drinking the green tea needs to be combined with exercise to see the results you want.

Click here for more details.

Savings on See's Candies

From the turnout on the See's Candies gift card giveaway, I know there are a lot of you out there that would love some See's. While I was at Costco today, I noticed that they have gift certificates for (2) one-pound boxes of chocolate for $22.99. At See's, a one-pound box of chocolates is $16.

So, to do the math, you can save a total of $9 for 2 pounds of chocolate. Or as I like to look at it, you can get a pound of some of the best chocolate for just over 10 bucks $11.50). That's not bad!

Party Leftovers

For some of you, this may be a no-brainer, but I figured out a great way to use the rest of the veggie platter from my daughter's birthday party. Of course, I bought the massive veggie tray from Costco and we hardly made a dent in it since the party was so small.

So what did I make for dinner tonight? Stir-fry, anyone?!?

The vegetables in the Costco tray are perfect...broccoli, carrots, bell peppers, and snap peas make for a great stir fry. I hadn't whipped out the wok in ages. It was fun to try something different for a change. And it was super easy. The veggies were already cut and washed. I simply cut and added the chicken, and voila, yummy stir-fry.

Again, I know this might seem silly to you amazing wives and moms out there. But I was proud of myself for being resourceful with party leftovers.

Now if only I could figure out what to do with pink "1st Birthday Princess" party hats, plates and napkins!

Thursday's Tip: Reheating Refrigerated Breads

To warm biscuits, pancakes, or muffins that were refrigerated, place them in a microwave with a cup of water. The increased moisture will keep the food moist and help it reheat faster.

Thursday's Tip: Bananas

Take your bananas apart when you get home from the store. If you leave them connected at the stem, they ripen faster.

Of course, if you like them ripe and mushy, then keep them connected.

Thursday's Tip: Expanding Frosting

When you buy a container of cake frosting from the store, whip it with your mixer for a few minutes. You can double it in size. You get to frost more cake/cupcakes with the same amount. You also eat less sugar and calories per serving.

Image courtesy of hostessblog.com

Portion Control: How Much Should You Really Eat?

In a society of super-sized portions, it is hard to know how much you really should eat...especially if it is sitting there, staring you in the face. Over the past several years, plates have actually increased in size, which means the amount of food you are eating has increased, too. And research has shown that the larger amount of food we are served, the more we will eat.

Here are some easy guidelines to keep your portion sizes under control:

• A medium apple or orange = a tennis ball
• A medium potato = a computer mouse
• A cup of fruit = a baseball
• 3 oz. of meat or fish = a deck of cards
• 1 oz. of cheese = four dice
• Pancake or waffle = a compact disc
• 1/4 cup of nuts = a golf ball

A simple way to reduce your portion sizes is to reduce your plate, glass, serving bowl and package sizes. Try using salad plates instead of a large dinner plate for your meals.

Information provided by Mayo Clinic Health Solutions

Beech Nut Oatmeal for Babies

Subtle things can make all the difference in the world. Perfect case in point...oatmeal for my 8 month old daughter. I have always bought Gerber oatmeal or rice cereal in the past and get so frustrated with the retractable opening that spills dry cereal all over the counter or table.

That is why I was thrilled when I saw at the store that Beech Nut Oatmeal Cereal now comes in an easy pour package. Simply put, it has a twist off cap - similar to cartons of orange juice.

I know this sounds silly but this container has made my daughter's feeding time that much more enjoyable for me. Why? Because I have one less mess to clean up when feeding time is over. And if that isn't a huge win, I don't know what is!!!

3 Reasons To Eat Watermelon

Watermelon is a summertime staple for any barbecue or party. Besides its yummy deliciousness, there are 3 reasons from RealAge.com why you should eat watermelon.

Here goes:

1. Watermelon is loaded with lycopene, which is great news for your body because early research has shown that lycopene may be a cancer crusher.


2. Watermelon can make your skin pretty because it is loaded with a key compound credited with helping skin's healing and regenerative processes.


3. It is practically calorie-free! Watermelon contains less than 50 calories in every cup. It also has a whopping 141 grams of water per cubed cup, which will keep you hydrated, too.

Plus, a recent study showed watermelon can have Viagra-like affect on men...interesting!!!

And here's some extra watermelon trivia for you. Whole watermelons that are stored at room temperature deliver more cell-protecting antioxidants (specifically lycopene and beta carotene) than refrigerated melons.

After watermelon is picked, it continues to ripen and build up antioxidants. However, if you chill the melon, it seems to cut this antioxidant build up process short. Your body will be best served if you keep the watermelon on the counter until you are ready to cut it. Of course, after the watermelon is cut, you should store it in the refrigerator for safety reasons.

Festive and Fun Ideas for the 4th

Sure, it is the day before your 4th of July party, and you are still looking for something to make your shindig special...

Well look no further than Hostess with the Mostess for fantastic 4th of July decorations, food, and my favorite, cocktails. (How great would those watermelon stars be at your party!?!)

Happy 4th of July! (An, of course, if you are going to drink, drink responsibly!)

Where Should Things Go in the Fridge?

Ever wonder where to store food in your fridge for optimal freshness?

Here are some tips courtesy of American Baby magazine:

• Produce: Store fruit in one crisper and your vegetables in another. Green veggies require more humidity, so set drawers accordingly. Apples can cause other fruits to rot so seal them in plastic.


• Cheese and Butter: Keep in the deli drawer since cool air routed to this drawer keeps these foods very cold without freezing them.


• Milk: Dairy will spoil faster on the fridge door where it is warmer so keep milk on a lower shelf.


• Eggs: Store these protein filled beauties on a cooler lower shelf and keep them in the carton so they won't absorb other food odors.


• Meat, poultry, and seafood: Place in a sealed container to prevent raw juices from contaminating other foods. Store on the bottom shelf in case of drips.

With summer's heat in full swing, these tips will keep your food at its best!

Honey: Should it Stay or Should it Go?

Have you ever thought about how long that honey bear has been sitting in your cupboard? Probably years, right? Well, when are you supposed to get rid of honey?

There is actually an old story about honey being found in the tomb of an ancient Egyptian king, as good as new ... and it's actually true. A jar of honey stored at a pretty consistent temperature can last for centuries.

Something in the makeup of honey prevents mold growth. If it's been in and out of different temperatures, it could darken or crystallize or lose its flavor, but it never technically rots or spoils.

So unless it tastes or looks funky, your honey is fine!

Tip for Introducing Baby Foods

Transitioning a baby from exclusively milk to baby food can be fun and exciting, and yet a chore at the same time. Here is a quick tip I learned from my pediatrician that worked like a charm for my 3-year old and so far is going well for my 6 month old.

Most doctors will encourage you to start with rice cereal first. (Bonus tip: if your baby becomes constipated from rice cereal, which many babies do, you can also feed him/her oatmeal - in the baby section at the grocery store - and this seems to help your baby go!)

When you start introducing foods other than cereal, start with green vegetables first. As much as you are going to be tempted and excited to feed your baby applesauce and pears, save that until they have firmly established a palette for veggies (green vegetables, in particular). Obviously, 99.9% of us would say that fruits taste better than vegetables. But a baby doesn't know that. If you start with fruit first, you may never get your baby to like vegetables, and you will have an uphill battle the rest of his/her life.

So there's my feeding tip...please share your tips, too!

How do You Pick Out Fruit at the Supermarket?

Everyone has an opinion on how to pick out the perfect fruit. To be honest, all I really care about are the fruits you can't see. You know, like cantaloupe or watermelon. Some people say you have to feel it, others say you can pick the best fruit by it's smell. I have been resorting to asking the man who works in the produce department, and lately, he has been picking out some lousy watermelon!

What do I do?

Well, first I found some tips for picking out ripe fruit...of course watermelon is not on the list, but there are some helpful hints for other fruits.

After digging a little deeper, I found a great resource that tells you what to pick, what to avoid, and how best to use your fruit. Click here for the full chart of fruits from A to Z courtesy of Cook'n Newsletter.

And, here is also a great segment on fruits and veggies from 10news.com in San Diego. Did you know that you are not supposed to put your tomatoes in the fridge?

What do you think? Do you have any sure fire ways of picking the perfect watermelon...or any other fruit for that matter? Please, please, please share if you do!

Eat This, Not That!

Last week, while I was watching Ellen (a luxury while #1 is napping), I saw a great book that I definitely want to run out and buy (perhaps while #2 is strapped to me in the Baby Bjorn because that is where she always seems to be these days).

The book is called Eat This Not That: Thousands of Simple Food Swaps That Can Save You 10, 20, 30 Pounds-or More!. It is written by an editor from Men's Fitness magazine and he basically writes about different options you have at restaurants and at home. He shows you what you are best off eating.

Here are a few examples:

At Dunkin' Donuts:
Ham, egg and cheese english muffin - 310 calories, 10grams of fat,
Multigrain bagel with 2oz. of lite cream cheese - 500 calories, 15 grams of fat!!!

Oscar Meyer turkey bacon and regular bacon both have 70 calories 6 grams of fat. But regular bacon contains 290mg of sodium while turkey bacon has 380mg of sodium...isn't that crazy?!?!

At Ruby Tuesdays:
Top sirloin steak with green beans and mushrooms - 464 calories, 24 grams of fat
Veggie Burger - 953 calories, 52 grams of fat

Starbucks:
Venti Strawberries and Creme Frappuccino - 750 calories, 120 grams of sugar
White Chocolate Mocha Frappuccino Lite - 280 calories, 40 grams of sugar

This book sounds like the guide we have always wanted. I mean, come on, something that tells us to eat regular bacon instead of turkey bacon!) Check it out to see what other surprises they found...

Happy Super Bowl

Having a get together for the Super Bowl? Be sure to check out Hostess With the Mostess for tons of cute food and decoration ideas!

Halloween Party Pops

With Halloween less than a week away, it's time to think about tricks and treats. Here is a treat kids of all ages are bound to love...Halloween Party Pops. Check out Pillsbury.com for this and many other ghoulish recipes!

4th of July Desserts

Here is a fun dessert that you can make for the 4th of July that is cool and light for the summer heat, and patriotically festive at the same time. Click here to see the recipe for the Berry Bliss Cake.

And if you are feeling really festive, you can try the American Flag Tart featured on MarthaStewart.com. For all the recipe details, click here.

Or you can keep it simple, and show off your 4th of July spirit with the Patriotic Cupcakes.

Happy 4th of July!

Sweet Display!!!

I would like to congratulate our friends, Chris and Sarah, who got married this past weekend. Thanks for a great wedding and a great blog post. Their wedding was an intimate gathering and they had a display that could make anyone's sweet tooth sweeter.


As you can see from the photos, many different types of sweets were used including, M&M's, Oreos, Red Vines, Tootsie Roll lollipops, chocolate covered pretzels, caramel corn, and candy kabobs using a variety of sour candies.
After seeing this display, I thought this would be great at many types of events. And after seeing how much of it was gone at the end of the wedding, I knew it was a big hit with other guests, too.

As with this display, you can choose to keep a color scheme or you can make it full of lively colors. The key is all the different containers at different levels and heights. The most important thing...have fun with it!