Thursday, December 11, 2008
This rainy, chilly weather puts me in the mood for one thing- holiday baking. Next week my office is having it's annual "Holiday Cookie Swap", so I wanted to do a trial run of my cookie of choice so I don't have a baking fiasco and show up with a burnt/flat/gross plate of treats to share. I conducted an extensive search online to find something different than the usual sugar or chocolate chip because there's supposed to be about 40 people sharing.
1/2 cup(s) unsalted butter
1 cup(s) packed brown sugar
1 large egg(s)
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup(s) all-purpose flour
3/4 cup(s) whole wheat flour
1/4 tsp table salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
Preheat oven to 400°F.
In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, cream butter, sugar, egg and vanilla extract. Add remaining ingredients and beat thoroughly.
Scrape dough out of bowl and onto a large piece of plastic wrap. Roll dough into a log, about 2 1/2-inches wide; completely wrap dough in plastic and refrigerate until firm, at least 20 minutes or up to overnight.
Cut dough into 1/8-inch-thick slices and arrange on several large ungreased cookies sheets about 1- to 1 1/2-inches apart. Bake until lightly browned around edges, about 8 to 10 minutes.
Allow cookies to cool on cookie sheet for about 1 minute and then remove to a wire rack to cool completely. Yields 1 cookie per serving.
Add some spice to these cookies by sprinkling a pinch of cinnamon and nutmeg into the batter.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Photo source
Today is a holiday I can truly appreciate, National Chocolate Day!
I doubt you need convincing to indulge in chocolate, but in case you want to learn a little bit more about the girl's best friend here are some great choco facts to embrace:
Eating chocolate is (somewhat) healthy! Chocolate contains antioxidants which may help prevent cancer and heart disease. Dark chocolate contains nearly 8 times the number found in strawberries. Chocolate is lower in caffeine than tea, coffee and coca cola. Also, one plain milk chocolate candy bar has more protein than a banana.
The U.S. produces more chocolate than any other country but the Swiss consume the most, followed closely by the English.
Chocolate consumption releases a endorphins and serotonin, the same chemicals that are produced when you are in L-O-V-E.
Despite what your Mom may have told you, chocolate does not cause acne. In fact, you can pay a pretty penny at Spa Newbury in Boston for a Chocolate Body Spa Scrub, a la cocoa Spa Facial, or Chocolate Massage. My personal favorite is the Candy Bar Spa Body Wrap. For $125, "soak in a luxuriously rich chocolate bar candy wrap as you're smothered from head to toe in our chocolaty sweet spa confections. Enjoy the aromas and softer skin with this wonderful chocoholic fixing treatment". Sounds a little over the top to me. I'll stick to the Halloween candy for now.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
You'd think that spending the weekend in NYC with my friend, a former Ralph Lauren employee, would lead to some damaging shopping sprees. But this weekend she only had one apparel free (well, almost) store in mind... Dylan's Candy Bar.
The "bar" is co-founded and owned by Ralph's daughter, Dylan and goes by the theme of "Merging the worlds of art, popular culture and fashion with candy". I couldn't think of four better things to combine myself! I had no idea that such a Willy Wonka haven existed across the street from Bloomingdale's!
The decor is exactly what you'd expect from an over the top candy shop on the Upper East Side, complete with florescent lighting, jumbo lollipops, jelly belly perfumes and a candy brick road inscribed with a cute "May Each Step You Take Be Sweet".
The top floor had an impressive ice cream parlor and cupcake bar. Flavors such as S'Mores and RedVelvet are super trendy, super sized and supplied by Crumbs Bake Shop. We got quite the review from a NYC native, but we passed tasting after being already weighed down by pound candy we stocked up on (We also noticed a party room on this floor and my friend and I are dead serious about having a combined birthday party here).
Other highlights of the store were the custom-flavored Skittles and M&Ms, the Presidential Candidate themed treats (why not eat a chocolate donkey?) and the display of celebrity candy choices and autographs. I'll admit that my $15 purchase didn't take me very far into the afternoon.. but I'll take a trip to Willy Wonka-ville in exchange for a thousand or few calories any day.
http://www.dylanscandybar.com
646-735-0078
1011 Third Ave. New York, NY 10021
with additional locations
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