Whoever thought of adding a vegetable to dessert to somehow ease the guilty pleasure is a genius! After all, a cake is only a cake, but the addition of carrots provides that distinct flavor that gives the otherwise ordinary cake a delicious twist. Carrot cake is also known as “Passion cake” and using carrots is an age old secret to create sweet cakes since the medieval period. Sweeteners were as valuable as gold and usually very expensive but carrots, with their natural sweetness, were a lot cheaper. The origins of carrot cake can be traced back to Norway, and during WWII it became a rationing staple in Britain when a businessman named George C. Page asked bakers to make use of an overabundance of canned carrots. The idea of a carrot cake worked wonders for creating a demand for the excess canned carrots! The Americans caught the carrot cake bug... Read the Rest →
Cream puffs, profiterole, or as it is known in Japan, “choux cream puffs”, are a gift from the gods! There are so many types of pastries but no other can be as delectable as choux cream puffs. We oftentimes fail to think about just how such a delicious creation has come to pass because we are always enthralled with the burst of scrumptiousness whenever we bite into any pastry, most especially a choux puff. Pastries have been made to intoxicate the senses and it especially affects one’s senses of smell, sight, and taste. The choux cream is no exception. Its origin and the name “profiterole” is ambiguous, but many sources have traced it to North Eastern Italy, and this term has graced man’s lips in English and was borrowed from the French as early as the 16th century. At the time, it was a kind of roll that was baked... Read the Rest →
The beauty industry makes millions of dollars on our obsession for youthful skin. Before the beauty industry women turned to mother nature for their “lotions”. Do you want the curative powers of alpha-hydroxy? Strawberries have the alpha-hydroxy that we desire. Cut a strawberry in half and rub on your skin. It may feel a little sticky, but when you rinse the strawberry juice off your skin will feel wonderful. Make this a habit and watch your skin take on its youthful natural glow once again. Pastry Cream Recipe by CHRISTINIBEANIE at all recipes.com Ingredients 2 cups milk 1/4 cup white sugar 2 egg yolks 1 egg 1/4 cup cornstarch 1/3 cup white sugar 2 tablespoons butter 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Directions In a heavy saucepan, stir together the milk and 1/4 cup of sugar. Bring to a boil over medium heat. In a medium bowl, whisk together the egg yolks... Read the Rest →
I grew up in New Jersery, a mere 8 miles from my Nonna (grandmother), but as anyone from the metropolitan area understands, 8 miles is a world away. And, a summer evening spent at Nonna’s was indeed a different world. I lived in the suburbs. Nonna lived in a city, in a neighborhood that was primarily populated by Italian immigrants and their families. I loved the brownstone homes, some of them attached, some divided ever so slightly by a narrow alley, but all with their windows open, hoping the evening breeze would blow through the lace curtains. In the summer most of the Italian families in the neighborhood transformed their small postage stamp backyards into vegetable garden jungles. Tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, eggplants, basil, parsley were planted and tended to with care. I can still recall the scent of the garden on a hot, humid evening, crickets chirping, lightening bugs glowing.... Read the Rest →
What happens when you receive a package from your dear friend who resides in Tokyo? In my home the entire family gathers to see what has been sent. Marie sends me many fun packages. My husband and boys enjoy the chocolates and candy. And, I receive many wonderful girly things like lip balm, hand gel, soaps, etc. I feel like a kid at Christmas for all the packaging is brightly colored and brilliantly decorated. None of the labeling is in English. All the print is Japanese. Sometimes I have no clue what is in the packaging until I open it to peek at the contents. On one occasion I had left the contents of one of Marie’s care packages on my kitchen table. I was at work one day and my husband called me at work and this is the conversation we had: My Hubby: “Babe, I think some of... Read the Rest →
What happens when you receive a package from your dear friend who resides in Tokyo? In my home the entire family gathers to see what has been sent. Marie sends me many fun packages. My husband and boys enjoy the chocolates and candy. And, I receive many wonderful girly things like lip balm, hand gel, soaps, etc. I feel like a kid at Christmas for all the packaging is brightly colored and brilliantly decorated. None of the labeling is in English. All the print is Japanese. Sometimes I have no clue what is in the packaging until I open it to peek at the contents. On one occasion I had left the contents of one of Marie’s care packages on my kitchen table. I was at work one day and my husband called me at work and this is the conversation we had: My Hubby: “Babe, I think some of... Read the Rest →
Bouvet Island is our next destination in our tastily touring series. Bouvet Island is an uninhabited, Antarctic islet. It is one of the world’s most isolated islands and lies almost 1500 miles south west of the Cape of Good Hope (Southern Africa) and about 1000 miles north or Antarctica. The center of Bouvet Island is an ice-filled crater of an inactive volcano. Because of its volcanic origin the island is rocky with cliffs surrounding the coast. Ice covered and rocky make landing on Bouvet Island challenging. Bouvet Island is a dependent territory of Norway and is not subject to the Antarctic Treaty, which is basically an agreement first established in 1961. The treaty has been signed by 49 nations that agree to keep Antarctica as a scientific preserve, banning military activity on the continent. The French navigator Jean-Baptist-Charles Bouvet de Lozier discovered the island in 1739. Expeditions by the Germans... Read the Rest →
Bouvet Island is our next destination in our tastily touring series. Bouvet Island is an uninhabited, Antarctic islet. It is one of the world’s most isolated islands and lies almost 1500 miles south west of the Cape of Good Hope (Southern Africa) and about 1000 miles north or Antarctica. The center of Bouvet Island is an ice-filled crater of an inactive volcano. Because of its volcanic origin the island is rocky with cliffs surrounding the coast. Ice covered and rocky make landing on Bouvet Island challenging. Bouvet Island is a dependent territory of Norway and is not subject to the Antarctic Treaty, which is basically an agreement first established in 1961. The treaty has been signed by 49 nations that agree to keep Antarctica as a scientific preserve, banning military activity on the continent. The French navigator Jean-Baptist-Charles Bouvet de Lozier discovered the island in 1739. Expeditions by the Germans... Read the Rest →
The Loch Ness Monster, commonly referred to as Nessie is well known throughout the world. The legend of Nessie’s existence dates back almost 1500 years ago. But, it is on May 2, 1933 that the legend takes on a life of its own. A sighting is reported by a local Scottish Highland couple. The story, reported in the Inverness Courier, is picked up by London papers and, as we say today, it went viral. Those who study the history of the Loch Ness Monster find many references to Nessie that date back to 500 AD. Stones in the area of Loch Ness, the largest body of fresh water in Great Britain, reveal carvings, possibly made by the Picts, of a strange water beast. In the 7th century a note made regarding Nessie can be found in the biography of Saint Columba, who saved a man who was about to be... Read the Rest →
What could be cuter than these adorable cupcake pops? They are an easy treat to make and will bring a little whimsy to any event. Use the cupcake mold to create these treats without fuss. Cupcake Pops Ingredients 9-by-13-inch Midnight Chocolate Cake (See below) 2 cups Chocolate Frosting (see below) 1 package chocolate melts 1 package white chocolate melts 1 package pink candy melts Sprinkles and/or colored sugars Candy Red Hots or mini red M&M’s Lollypop sticks Directions 1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside. Trim about 1/2 inch from edges of the cake. Working in batches, crumble cake into a large bowl. Make sure the cake is fine, with no substantial pieces. 2. Add frosting until well combined. 3. Place the mixture into the refrigerator for about 2 hours. 4. When mixture is chilled throughout begin to form the cupcakes by placing a small amount of... Read the Rest →
What could be cuter than these adorable cupcake pops? They are an easy treat to make and will bring a little whimsy to any event. Use the cupcake mold to create these treats without fuss. Cupcake Pops Ingredients 9-by-13-inch Midnight Chocolate Cake (See below) 2 cups Chocolate Frosting (see below) 1 package chocolate melts 1 package white chocolate melts 1 package pink candy melts Sprinkles and/or colored sugars Candy Red Hots or mini red M&M’s Lollypop sticks Directions 1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside. Trim about 1/2 inch from edges of the cake. Working in batches, crumble cake into a large bowl. Make sure the cake is fine, with no substantial pieces. 2. Add frosting until well combined. 3. Place the mixture into the refrigerator for about 2 hours. 4. When mixture is chilled throughout begin to form the cupcakes by placing a small amount of... Read the Rest →
Lucille Ball made millions of people laugh. She was an outstanding comedienne who made her mark in television, but also was a film, stage and radio actress. She blazed the way for today’s comediennes. On April 26, 1989 the legendary Lucille Ball passed away at the age of 78, leaving behind a body of work that has brought joy to many generations. I Love Lucy, probably her most famous endeavor is one of our favorite TV show. However, Lucille Ball had an impressive career that did not start with that television series. She began modeling in 1929 and worked on Broadway during the same period. She was a radio actress and also had roles in many “B” movies; so many that she was called “Queen of the B’S”. Ever flexible, Ball transitioned to television and became a star. She continued to work in television and film, even becoming the first... Read the Rest →
