Start with the best!

Whenever I want to prepare an impressive dinner, I shop for the highest quality food possible. What I have learned over the years is that the quality of your ingredients is what makes the meal. Fresh, organic fruits and vegetables that are locally grown are usually where I begin. A cook is no better than her tools and ingredients; you pay for what you get so get the very best.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year Dolls and Dudes! I hope it was filled with magic and all things spectacular. I was thinking about some of my favorite New Year's Eve and New Year's day memories. Some memories were filled with Champagne and sequin and others with warm blankets, good food and fire places. What are some of your favorite New Year memories? Care to share? Did you have black eyed peas and collard grrens for dinner today? Well? Kissses-

Shopping brings forth great ideas

I can get an idea for a new meal simply by doing one of my favorite things. Shopping!! Just the other day, I was at the market and saw a vanilla bean dip that would be perfect for dipping. After reading the ingredients, I decided that I would make it for myself, minus the additives and high fructose cornsyrup. Check out the recipe.

Vanilla Dip

1 8 ounce reduced fat cream cheese softened

1/2 cup low-fat coconut milk vanilla yogurt

3/4-1 cup powdered sugar (adjust amount to taste)

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Combine cream cheese, vanilla yogurt, powdered sugar and vanilla in a large bowl. Mix on high speed with a hand mixer until combined and fluffy. Serve with strawberries.

Old Fashion Breakfast

Whenever I am home or when my mom or granny come to visit me, I have to get them to make one of my favorite breakfast meals, salmon cakes and grits. Whenever I make them for myself or a guest it makes me feel like I am back at the old kitchen table I grew up sitting at. Today I add my own little flavor by adding Parmesan to my grits and fresh dill and sweet onion to my cakes. Also, I serve it with a side of Monkey Bread. It's just one of those old home cooked meals that I adore; my family will be in town for a visit in July and I have high hopes for some Salmon Cakes and Grits... old school style!

Fresh Herbs makes everything better!

There is nothing better in the world to me than freshly prepared food. As some of you may know I have ventured into growing my own herb and vegetable garden right on my patio and from this garden I have been able to have the convinience of adding fresh herbs to make my dishes fabulous on a whim. It has taken some time to cultivate but it has been so worth it. Not only is it fun, fab and most importantly green, it has given me a new cusine weapon to add to my arsenal. Consider it for yourself!

Is your chocolate green?

Every fab and environmentally conscious diva of the twenty first century knows the importance of being fair to all, especially the wonderful farmers who produce yummy things for us to eat like chocolate! Since chocolate should be no exception to the rule of fair trade, I thought I would explain the importance of fair trade for all you dolls who distinctively know that in addition to diamonds, chocolate is a girl's best friend.

So what is fair trade chocolate? In short, fair trade chocolate is chocolate that a fair trade organization looked at and can assure you that it is a product that meets the criteria of trying to make the world a better place.

Fair trade is a concept that basically says products that are labeled fair trade certified products meet standards that promote the following goals:

- They are produced in ways that support eco-friendly practices and sustainable living and farming

- They are farmed by marginalized workers in economically challenged countries. Fair trade organizations look out for these workers by trying to reduce the cut that aggressive middle men take in importing or exporting their goods, and they work with retailers to promote those products.

- The farmers or workers use a certain amount of the profits from their fair trade products to put back into development for their nations and communities.

- The farmers and producers don’t exploit workers or use child labor.

Chocolate companies usually purchase cocoa from farmers at low prices, not allowing them to meet their families’ needs and making them appeal to forced and illegal child workforce. The Fair Trade Chocolate refers to those companies which overcome this fact by obtaining the cocoa at fair prices from the farmers.

Therefore, by purchasing Fair Trade Certified Chocolate, we can help farming families to meet their basic needs, besides helping the environment, as sustainable production methods are required!

Some of my favorites are :

Trader Joe's

Super Dark, 73 percent cocoa

Certifications: Organic and Fair Trade

Price: $2.00/3 oz

Divine Chocolate

Brunch anyone?

Slip on one of your favorite flirty frocks, toss a little glitter on your décolleté (because you know glitter makes everything fabulous), call up your girlfriends and have an impromptu Sunday brunch.




Oh yeah, and don’t forget to serve the mimosas with this fabulous Brie and Cherry Chutney recipe courtesy of about.com!

Brie with Cherry Chutney


Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup dried cherries

• 1 lb. dark sweet cherries, pitted and chopped

• 3/4 cup brown sugar

• 1 Granny Smith apple, peeled and finely chopped

• 1/2 cup finely chopped onion

• 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar

• 1/4 tsp. allspice

• 1/4 tsp. cinnamon

• 1/2 tsp. salt

• 2 tablespoons cornstarch

• 8 oz. wheel brie or camembert cheese

• Preparation:

• Combine all ingredients except brie in heavy saucepan and stir to mix. Bring to a boil over medium high heat. Reduce heat to medium low and cook gently for 45-50 minutes until thickened, stirring occasionally. Cool at least one hour before serving.

• Heat brie in the microwave on HIGH for 30 seconds to one minute, or until softened. Pour 1 cup cherry chutney over brie and serve with crackers and French bread.

• You can also bake the brie at 350 degrees F for 10-15 minutes until softened.

Spring is coming!!

Spring is coming and one oy my favorite things about Spring (besides the fun dresses in fruity colors and open toe shoes to don your perfectly polished piggies) is the fruits and vegetables! My favorite fruits and vegetables just happen to be in peak during the months of March, April and May. I have comprised a list of all the fruits and veggies that are just ripe for the picking! Hope you enjoy!
Spring:


• Apricots (start)

• Artichokes

• Arugula

• Asparagus

• Beets

• Carrots

• Chard and other greens (particularly in colder regions)

• Cherries (seasons starts some places at the end of spring)
• Fennel
• Garlic scapes/green garlic

• Grapefruit

• Green onions/scallions

• Kumquats (end)

• Leeks (end)

• Lemons

• Lettuce
• Nettles

• Spring onions

• Navel oranges (end)

• Parsley
• Peas (garden, snap, snow, etc.)

• Radishes

• Rhubarb

• Scallions/green onions

• Spinach

• Strawberries

• Turnips

Month of March:
 Broccoli

 Lettuce
 Mangoes
 Pineapple

Healthy Stress Busters: The kind that does'nt put you in rehab

No fabulous girl should ever be bogged down and overwhelmed with stress. But sometimes it happens. My suggestion? Take your sassy self away on an exotic, steamy vacation with a cutie for two weeks. But if you can’t, I hope you will consider some of these healthy stress busters.


Healthy Stress Busters

Yoga- Yoga can help you activate a relaxation response in your body at the same as you strengthen muscles, increase flexibility, and ultimately helping you sleep better at night.

Meditating- our bodies have a fundamental need for silence and inner peace and meditation helps us to switch off from the worries that can plague us through the day and “download”. When we do, we are more relaxed and effective decision makers.

Gardening- Planting a beautiful garden can be a great way to relive stress; you spend time in the wonderful sunlight which can chemically improve your mood. Think about all that vitamin D you’ll be getting.

Aromatherapy-Aromatherapy can reduce the perception of stress, increase contentment, and decrease levels of cortisol, the “stress hormone.”

Laughter/comedy- Yep no joke here. Laughter reduces the level of stress hormones like cortisol, epinephrine (adrenaline), dopamine and growth hormone. It also increases the level of health-enhancing hormones like endorphins, and neurotransmitters

Some other stress busters are Sex, Music, Green tea, and Journaling. And if you can’t seem to get one of these in, just find a sunny spot in your bedroom and take a long nap.

Kisses!

Puppy Cakes!

Dogs are not only man's best friend; we bombshells and divas love our loyal lap babies too. And because your little pooch deserves a treat that is just as free-spirited and whimsical as he/she is it is only fitting that you indulge your posh little pup with a puppy cake. Thanksgiving is just days away and everyone else will be throwing down on cakes and pies so why not whip up a little puppy cake. Your pooch will thank you for it! Puppycake.com has two fab flavors, carob and banana cake mix.

http://www.puppycake.com/

And the two became one....

When I first heard about the uniting of red velvet cake and cheesecake I thought "what in the name of Frankincense and Myrrh; why have I not had this before! Darlings, this is not even some new phenomenon so I tell you, some things just slip right by me sometimes. So I have hunted up what I consider to be a relatively easy recipe to try out this holiday season.
The recipe involves the romantic love story of the coming together of the beautiful and sensual red velvet cake and the dashing and "scrumpdelicious" cheesecake. Give it a try too and tell me what you think. Kisses!

Red Velvet Cheese Cake- Courtesy of Southern Living December 2004

Ingredients

  1 1/2 cups chocolate graham cracker crumbs

  1/4 cup butter, melted

  1 tablespoon granulated sugar

  3 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened

  1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

  4 large eggs, lightly beaten

  3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa

 1 cup sour cream

 1/2 cup whole buttermilk

 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

 1 teaspoon distilled white vinegar

  2 (1-ounce) bottles red food coloring

 1 (3-ounce) package cream cheese, softened

  1/4 cup butter, softened

  2 cups powdered sugar

  1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• Preparation

• Stir together graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, and 1 tablespoon granulated sugar; press mixture into bottom of a 9-inch spring form pan.

• Beat 3 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese and 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar at medium-low speed with an electric mixer 1 minute. Add eggs and next 6 ingredients, mixing on low speed just until fully combined. Pour batter into prepared crust.

• Bake at 325° for 10 minutes; reduce heat to 300°, and bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until center is firm. Run knife along outer edge of cheesecake. Turn oven off. Let cheesecake stand in oven 30 minutes. Remove cheesecake from oven; cool in pan on a wire rack 30 minutes. Cover and chill 8 hours.

• Beat 1 (3-ounce) package cream cheese and 1/4 cup butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth; gradually add powdered sugar and vanilla, beating until smooth. Spread evenly over top of cheesecake. Remove sides of spring form pan. Garnish, if desired.

She's baaaaack!!!

Hello Dudes and Divas! I am back! I have been away for a little while but fret no more I am back to deliver you the best in the hottest shoes, food and all things bombshell! There should be no surprise that since the holidays are fast approaching I am on the look out for the best in culinary cuisines and treats that will make our mouths swoon and the best in flirty holiday party wear that we will want to strut our sassy stuff in all season long!
No let's begin with a fabulous Thanksgiving treat that your guests will adore. Milk and Dark Chocolate Caramel apples. An absolutely delightful after dinner indulgence to satisfy even the most insatiable sweet tooth!
http://www.deandeluca.com/chocolates-and-confections/confections/caramel-apples.aspx




“The fact is, sometimes it’s really hard to walk in a single woman’s shoes. That’s why we need really special ones now and then to make the walk a little more fun.” Carrie Bradshaw

Chocolate is a girl's best friend

Whoever said that we can't enjoy rich, decadent chocolates anytime we want without all the calories? And who knew it was right there at our fingertips? Yesterday was the first day of Autum and  Nubar's Chocolate Truffle Collection  has the nail polish to die for with colors that you can strut your sassy self right into the Fall with. With colors like Swiss Chocolate and Rasberry Truffle any diva can live up to the bestowed sentiment of "sugar and spice". I am obsessed with this collection. Check it out at: http://www.bynubar.com/store/products/Chocolate_Truffles_Collection-894-114.html
And did I mention that the polish is vegan and cruelty-free. Love it!

Because dessert should be just as pretty as it is delicious

Because dessert should be just as pretty as it is delicious think about treating yourself or that special someone with chocolates from Golden Edibles or The Chocolate Covered Company. It's decadent and so indulging (hint, they have 23 Karat edible chocolate covered strawberries).
Can someone say Fabulous?
http://www.goldenedibles.com/?__store=goldenedibles&SID=jebmhkk0j90s1uvvf282sdj9e3

  “Life is uncertain. Eat dessert first.”-Ernestine Ulmer

Football 101 for the Ladies

As I was enjoying my free preview of NFL Ticket last Sunday with my pick of several games to watch (I ended up flipping between Falcons and Steelers and Miami and Buffalo) and it cocured to me, that football season has started and ladies you may find yourselves sitting on the couch next to your man trying to watch a football game with him and are totally bored and have no clue what's going on, you may need a little football 101.

I know I have said this before but football is not just for the guys. It’s totally a girl’s game too (hot men in tights and all that macho testosterone, yummy), you just have to know the game. Now I am lucky, I learned the game pretty early (at age 6) by Mr. Elliot Orie (thanks grandpa!) but all YOU have to do is get the basics of the game down and you will be sitting next to your cute boy in your skinny jeans and team tee, calling plays and impressing your cute boy in no time…. Which is exactly the amount of time you  have because the season started last Sunday. So here goes!
First things first, the game will start with a kickoff and the team who wins the pre-game coin toss decides who will kick and who will receive. The receiving team lines up at the opposite end of the field from the kicker and waits for the ball to go airborne. The receiving team has three options: Catch the ball and attempt to run it down the field toward the opposite end zone, signal a "fair catch" and stop play at the location of the catch, or signal a "touchback."
All the touchback means is that the kicked ball has landed in the receiving team's end zone.(Hint The kicker's goal is to kick a touchback every time, because it means that the receiving team will not have a chance to advance the ball). Anyway, when there is a touchback, play stops, and when it resumes the ball is placed on the receiving team's 20-yard line. Are you still with me so far????
The goal of the offense is to move the ball into the opposing team's end zone to score points. This is accomplished by making a series of plays to move the ball down the field. When the a team moves the ball into the opposition's end zone it's called a touchdown and the team  is rewarded six points.
You don't need to worry about how to call a play when you see one unless you want to take it to the next level. If so, ask your sweetie to teach you about plays and defensive strategies; he will be happy to.
The plays are directed by the QB or quarterback (Romo, Ryan, Manning, Favre, Brady), just some names you may here your man calling out) who is the on-field team leader.
The quarterback usually runs the plays selected by the coaches, but if he sees something on the field that dictates a need for change, he can call an "audible" and change the play. An audible is a new play called by the quarterback at the line of scrimmage that's diffrent from what was decided in the huddle. He can do that because he is the team leader remember. Anyway, the area around the quarterback is called the "pocket."
The ball is put into play by the center. The center bends over and snaps the ball through his legs so the quarterback can catch it. (The QB takes the snap from center, then either hands the football off to a running back, passes to a receiver or runs with the ball himself).The center is at the center of the offensive line. There is a guard on either side of the center, and a tackle flanks or is beside each guard. Some plays will use a tight end on one end of the offensive line, and others will use two tight ends on opposite ends of the offensive line.
The offensive line's job is to block for and protect the quarterback so he can run the offense, and to open up holes for the running backs to run through. When a defender gets past the offensive line and tackles the quarterback, it is called a "sack." A sack simply means that the quarterback was tackled behind the line of scrimmage before a pass was attempted.
The wide receivers flank the quarterback. Their job is to move (pretty quickly) down the field toward the end zone and make themselves open to receive a pass.
The running backs are positioned behind the quarterback. Some plays use one running back; others use two or three. Sometimes the quarterback will hand the ball off to a running back (my favorite, nice and sneaky), or may pass (throw) it once the running back has moved downfield.
For each offensive team member, there is a corresponding defensive team member. In a man-coverage defense, defensive tackles and defensive ends cover the offensive line, linebackers defend the pass and the run, cornerbacks cover the wide receivers, the strong safety covers the tight end and the free safety stops anyone who might get past him. In a zone-coverage defense, each defensive team member is assigned a zone and stops anyone who enters it.
Important to know: The offensive team has four downs (or tries), to move the ball 10 yards for a first down before needing to punt.This process repeats until the offense scores (when they score it's a touchdown) or is forced to turn the ball over. The teams will then switch between offense and defense and the process repeats. FYI: Each game consists of four quarters. Each quarter is 15 minutes.

I hope you have fun. And don't forget to serve the wings!
Now you can officially launch potential football conversations with cute boys! You can thank me later girls!

Hello Princess

Just because you lack a title doesn't mean that you are not deserving of donning a tiara whenever you get ready or having access to the most fabulous jewelry and accessories.
Let your fingers do the typing and surf on over to Princess Purse for the best deals in wholesale handbags and accessories. You can thank me anytime. Kisses Dolls!
http://www.princesspurse.com/

“It is the unseen, unforgettable, ultimate accessory of fashion that heralds your arrival and prolongs your departure.” Coco Chanel

Life is....

sitting around the house in your boyfriends shirt and you’re your sexiest pair of undies, eating ambrosia, getting a foot massage (from him of course) and watching old black and white movies with classic Bombshells like Dorothy Dandridge, Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn. Hey, he will be happy to oblige, I am sure you cuddled with him, ate wings and watched the Lakers and Celtics play offs right?
Check this recipe for Ambrosia (a favorite of most glamour girls)
Glamour Girl Ambrosia

Ingredients:
1 can (20 oz. size) pineapple chunks, drained
1 can (11 oz. size) mandarin oranges; drained
 1/2 cup maraschino cherries (drained)
1 cup flaked coconut
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1 tablespoon sugar
3/4 cup vanilla yogurt (I prefer coconut milk yougurt)
Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Serve immediately or chill several hours.

"A wise girl kisses but doesn't love, listens but doesn't believe, and leaves before she is left."


— Marilyn Monroe

Hello Dolls!

Do something fabulous for yourself today! Pamper yourself by making an appointment at the best spa in town and indulging in a full body massage and facial. Or treat yourself to a ridiculously expensive bag or shoes. You can even spontaneously pop into a fabulous hotel for a luxurious overnight stay (be sure to have a cocktail at the bar wearing your best pair of heels).Whatever you do, make sure it's crazy, big and fab!

As so fabulously said by Marilyn Monroe, “it’s better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring”
Kisses from Christina!

Being Famished is not Fabulous

Because no girl should ever leave home without a snack that is as light and free spririted as she is; I was first introduced to the Larabar at one of my girl's night in parties by my girlfriend Wendy. The Larabar is Gluten free, Soy Free and Kosher. It's combined with dates and nuts giving you a perfect balance for energy for that last haul of shopping with the girls. So toss one in your Snakeskin Prada bag ladies before leaving the ol hacienda. My personal Larabar fav is German Chocolate- Coconut,Pecans,Almonds,Cocoa all rolled up into one low calorie bar of goodness!
Check out some other healthy snacks at http://www.healthysnackstore.com/

Nuts about you!

No glamour girl should have to waist her precious time picking out the uncanvassed nuts out of her trail mix and thanks to My Mixed Nuts we no longer have to. You can create your own and put in the treats that you enjoy and they are always fresh and made to order! Ahh the good life…
http://www.mymixednuts.com/

Smoldering weekend temperatures coming up….

Forgo your weekend plans and grab the arm of your sweet guy and hit the park for a lover’s picnic complete with wine, cheese and French baguettes.

Make sure there are plenty of flowers for admiration and chocolates for your total indulgence.

As a bonus, hold yourselves up in a candle filled bedroom for the entire weekend with some sexy love games on the agenda. Now that’s what I call a hot weekend.
All you need:

Votive candles
Freshly steamed shrimp from your local market
Great wine
Cubed cheeses
French baguettes from your local bakery
Fresh strawberries and whipped cream

Snack Cake Fever

I am not ashamed of the fact that I occasionally indulge in a little junk food from time to time. I think its because of the nostalgic feelings that I get from it. Memories of foods like chocolate pudding in small flip top cans, Nehi grape sodas, or Nabisco Giggles cookies make an eighties baby like me swoon. Now that my palette has matured a little I look for a little more sophistication in my junk food. But just for the fun of it, here is a recipe for Little Debbie Swiss Roll Kabobs. Oh and take this snack cake quiz and tell me how you did. Kisses!
1.What year did Hostess add the "squiggle" and cream filling to the Hostess Cupcake?

A.1950

B.1982

C.1920

D.1974

2. Which Hostess product turned 72 years old in 2002?

A.Ring Ding

B.Twinkie

C.Apple Pie

D.Cherry Pie

3. What was the original name given to "Twinkies" back in the 1930s?

A.Twinkle Toes

B.Twinkle Puffs

C.Creamy Fingers

D.Twinkle Fingers

4. In 1917 the Chattanooga Bakery, in Chattanooga Tennessee introduced which Southern treat?

A.MoonPie

B.Smores Bar

C.CreamPie

D.Devil Dog

5. "Fruitpie the Magician" has touted many of the Hostess Company's fruit pies. Which has NOT been a flavor of the fruit pie family?

A.peach

B.banana

C.pineapple

D.blackberry

6. Which Little Debbie snack was the first to be introduced?

A.Oatmeal Creme Pie
B.Nutty Wafer Bars

C.Swiss Cake Roll

D.Fudge Brownie

7. What Philadelphia based company boasts such products as "Krimpets", Snak Bars", & "KandyKakes"?

A.Hostess

B.Dolly Madison

C.Drakes

D.Tastykake

8. In the late 1950's, Frank Sinatra used to call the Bay Shore bakery to place weekly orders for which Entenmann's snack cake?

A.iced honey bun

B.fudge brownie

C.marble cake

D.crumb coffee cake

9. Which company located in Wayne, New Jersey, manufactures snack cakes such as Funny Bones, Yodels, Sunny Doodles, and Devil Dogs?

A.Drake

B.Dolly Madison

C.Bluebird

D.Hostess

10. Which best describes a "Chocodile"?

A.Chocolate covered Devil Dog

B.Chocolate covered Zinger

C.Chocolate covered Twinkie

D.Chocolate covered Suzy Q


1.  1950 
All of the cupcakes have 7 "squiggles" on the top according to the company

2. Twinkie
The famous Twinkie was born on April 6,1930.

3.Twinkle Fingers
Twinkies were originally filled with a banana flavored cream, but it was changed due to a banana shortage during WWII.

4.MoonPie
(The 2 graham cracker cookies, layered with marshmallow, dipped in chocolate were created as a snack for coal miners to put in their lunch pails. It was created to be solid and filling and to be "as big as the moon")

5.banana
Since the pies debuted in 1962, Hostess has filled their pies with other flavors such as apple, French apple, strawberry, cherry, and blueberry).

6.Oatmeal Creme Pie
The Oatmeal Creme pie was introduced in 1960 by the founder of the company, O.D. McKee. He named the company after his 4 year old granddaughter, Debbie, and the pie itself sold over 14 million within the first ten months of production. The ever popular Swiss Cake Roll wasn't invented until 1964.

7. Tastykake
The company was founded by a Pittsburgh baker and a Boston egg salesman. The two created a company that revolutionized the idea of "grab 'n go" with their individualized snack cakes.

8. crumb coffee cake
Entenmann's first bakery opened in Brooklyn, New York in 1898, by the company's founder William Entenmann. Entenmann's Bakeries are proud to boast their clever invention of the "see-through" box. The box was developed in 1959 to persuade consumers to buy their tasty looking products.

9.Drake

In 1998, the Interstate Bakeries Corporation(IBC) acquired Drake's. IBC is the largest wholesale bakery and distributor of baked and sweet goods. Drake's bakeries have been producing sweet goods for over 110 years and the company was founded by Newman E. Drake.

10. Chocolate covered Twinkie
The once popular "Chocodile" is trying to make a comeback. According to the Hostess company, there are only 3 bakeries who produce them, St. Louis, Denver, and Los Angeles. They distribute them to a few surrounding areas, but currently not on the East Coast. There is even a petition (petitiononline.com) circulating to widen distribution on the product. The mascot for the snack cake is "Chauncey Choco-Dile".

Swiss Roll Kebabs
Ingredients:


12 Swiss Cake Rolls
1 Pint Fresh Strawberries
6 - 8 Kiwi
12 Wooden Skewers
Fresh or Canned Chunk Pineapple
Directions:
1. Place carton of cakes in freezer for one hour. Freezing the cakes makes them easier to slice.
2. Wash and slice (or drain if you have canned pineapple) all fruit and set aside.
3. After cakes have had time to freeze, slice and skewer alternating with different fruits.
Makes 12 Desserts

How well do you know your Kitchen Utensils?

1. Every good chef needs an assortment of knives at his disposal. What type of knife would be best suited for slicing up a loaf of sour dough?
A. Serrated knife

B. Paring knife

C. Chef's knife

D. Fillet knife

2. This special utensil is commonly used to remove the top part of the skin from fruit like oranges and lemons.

A. Peeler

B. Zester

C.Scoop

D. Grater

3. Which of the following items listed below does not fit with the others?

A. Colander

B. Sieve

C. Ricer

D. Strainer

4. One very specialized tool found in the kitchen drawer has the singular purpose of cutting out small balls of fruit. It is called a ________ baller.

A. Pineapple

B. Jackie

C. Cantaloupe

D. Melon

5. A bain-marie can be used in the kitchen to melt chocolate or make custards and sauces. What is it more commonly known as?

A. Pressure cooker

B. Crockpot

C. Double boiler

D. Browning tray

6. This interesting kitchen aid is a perforated pot with a hand turned scraper. It sits on top of a bowl and is great for crushing fruit and removing seeds as well as mashing a variety of solids. What is the name of this item that is commonly referred to by its original manufacturer’s name?

A. Dutch pan

B. Master's pot

C.Foley mill

D. Kimble pan



7. Typically when a chef needs to chop up small amounts of vegetables and herbs a simple knife does the job. However, there is another choice to perform this job but it requires both hands as it has two handles. What is it?

A. Mezzaluna

B. Mandoline

C. Chinois

D. Double cutter

8. This unique knife, originating in Japan, has become more common in the U.S. of recent. It is differentiated from other kitchen knives because of its shape and overall look, which often incorporates a Granton edge to keep materials from sticking to the blade during chopping.

A. Santoku

B. Panko

C. Aonori

D. Makisu

9. Crème brulee -- dessert custard topped with hard caramel -- is typically served in a small glazed ceramic serving bowl. What is the name of this bowl?

A. Ramadan

B. Ramen

C. Ramekin

D. Rameses

10. You've just returned from the market with a beautiful loaf of bread. The crust has been split on purpose on the top to let the bread "bloom" while baking. What utensil is used to score the dough before sticking it in the oven?

A. Tamis

B. Chimta

C. Banneton

D. Lame

1 .The correct answer is Serrated knife

While you could chop through bread with any of these, a serrated knife would work the best. The edge of a serrated knife is notched like a saw and that allows it to easily cut items which have a hard outer surface and a soft interior, like bread and tomatoes. These knives come in all sizes and the largest is also commonly known as a bread knife.

2. The correct answer is Zester

The "zest" is the top portion of the peel from a citrus fruit. This tool allows for the easy removal of the aromatic, oily zest from the bitter pith of the peel. The zest is used for flavoring dishes or as a nice garnish for drinks.

3. The correct answer is Ricer

While all of these utensils have small holes to process food through, only the ricer requires that the chef actually force the food by applying pressure. A ricer can be used to make various types of noodles and dumplings among other dishes.

4. The correct answer is Melon

The melon baller cuts out roughly 1" or so sized balls from fruits like cantaloupe, watermelon, honeydew, etc. (I suppose you could fill a bowl with ice cream using it too, but you'd be there a while!)

5. The correct answer is Double boiler

It is essentially a pot over another pot filled with water. The water is brought to a boil which then causes the upper pot to stabilize at a high temperature without the risk of scalding or burning its contents.

6. The correct answer is Foley mill

The original Foley food mill was known for its quality and versatility. Made from stainless steel and extremely durable, these are especially popular with people who do canning, make jellies and jams, or make other goods with fresh fruits and vegetables.

7. The correct answer is Mezzaluna

The mezzaluna ("half moon") is constructed of either one or two curved blades with vertical handles at each end. An efficient rocking motion is used to cut up produce for use. Also referred to as a crescent knife, this utensil can take a little practice to master.

8. The correct answer is Santoku

Santoku translates from Japanese essentially as "three virtues." This is because the knife is so well suited for chopping, dicing and mincing. It looks like a cross between a cleaver and a large chef's knife and is a great tool to have in the kitchen.

9. the correct answer is Ramekin

A ramekin can also be used to serve dishes like soufflés or to individually present a garnish or condiment. Since the ramekin is typically a ceramic dish it has the added feature of being able to be put directly in the oven.

10. The correct answer is Lame

A lame (pronounced "lahm") is a utensil with a razor sharp double sided blade attached to a long handle. The blade can be curved and it is very thin in order to give the bread maker more control over the scoring and, hence, final appearance of the bread.

Hello Beautiful

You know I have talked about Ciao Bella Sorbets and Gelatos before and so now I am back at it again. Imagine I am browsing through the freezer section at my local Fresh Market Pantry and what do my eyes see, Ciao Bella Key Lime Graham Gelato Squares

Its just like an ice cream sandwich but with a sexy mature twists for those of us who have acquired a much more sophisticated pallate since our childhood. These have to be the best "ice cream snadwiches" that I have ever eatened. It was like having a religious experience! Not only that, Gelato is a little more figure friendly; it has less butterfat and air than American ice cream! Way to go Ciao Bella, it just keeps getting better and better.

The top ten World’s Sexiest foods according to Christina

1. Cherries-You can drive any man wild with a cherry in your mouth and it makes any woman look sexy!
2. Frozen bananas on a stick dipped in chocolate- You don’t even need a recipe…
3. Brie with honey- melt a wedge of Brie with some honey drizzled on it and serve the melted Brie with apples and grapes. Makes feeding each other a lot of fun!
4. Chocolate covered strawberries and whipped cream- A classic!
5. Cinnamon Buns- Finger licking can be so sweet and sexy….
6. Pineapple- It’s sweet and juicy and you will have so much fun licking the juice that’s inevitably running down your forearm. Soak some pineapples rings in Rum if you so dare.
7. Chocolate fondue- Chocolate releases the same chemicals as sex… Do I need to say anymore about that?
8. Artichokes- An artichoke that has been rubbed with lemon and steamed to tenderness is quiet erotic. Enjoy by plucking each warm leaf from the bud, dipping it in melted butter, place it on your tongue, and close your teeth upon it; slide the succulent morsel between your clenched teeth and savor it.
9. Ice Cream Cones-Yes, ice cream cones, its old fashion and romantic; and think about how sexy it is to see your partner licking all of that luscious cream dripping down the sides. I always check out how a man licks an ice cream cone…. Moving on along
10. Anything you can eat with your fingers – Think Moroccan or Middle-Eastern dishes