Fashionable Ways to Avoid Kitchen Mishaps
{Band-Aid}
designer Cynthia Rowley Dress Up Band-Aids and Transformers.
{cutesy pot-holders}
xo
\’Tis the season to eat at Panera Bread
So guess who has a new celebration going on? Yes, it\’s definitely Panera Bread and the items are out of this world, and perfect for any chilly day.
{French Toast Bagel Breakfast Sandwich}This sandwich even has delicious Vermont white cheddar cheese and natural sausage that has been grilled on Panera\’s signature maple-laced French Toast Bagel. The sandwich is amazing… it\’s sweet, it\’s savory and it\’s all sorts of deliciousness. Definitely a breakfast sandwich you want to try for yourself.
{All-Natural Steak Chili with Cornbread}
{Creamy Tomato with Asiago Cheese Croutons}Most of us can\’t make it through the winter without having a bowl of some delicious tomato soup. This soup is vegetarian and paired with the Asiago Cheese croutons it\’s the perfect soup to warm you up from the brisk winter weather.
\’Tis the season for curling up near a fire or bundled in a blanket with a mug of hot chocolate, but why settle for an ordinary hot chocolate drink, when you can have a Mint hot Cocoa or Mint Mocha.
{Mint Mocha}
{Mint Hot Cocoa}15 gift baskets perfect for the holidays
{Hello Kitty themed gift basket Christmas 2009}The holidays are still more than a month away, but I am not all about waiting in long lines and letting the holiday season slip by because of stress. While people are frantically shopping I will be sipping on hot cocoa while I admire Christmas decorations. My family loves theme baskets, and I think they are a lot of fun to make and receive. So here are 15 ideas for gift baskets this holiday season. I hope this helps make your shopping easier.
{Michigan themed basket Christmas 2009}Movie Night Basket: a DVD, movie theater candy (gummy bears or Junior Mints, anyone?) placed in a popcorn bucket. (My mum makes these for my dad, brother and I every year)
Book Lover Basket: books or magazines related to the book lover\’s interest, large coffee mug, decorative bookmark, bubble bath and candles.
Breakfast Basket: Make your favorite quick bread (on my list is cinnamon spice bread), wrap it in cellophane and tie it with a pretty ribbon. Include a jar of your favorite jam with a mini spoon and knife. (Great for grandparents)
Kids Basket: crayons, coloring books, markers, stickers, play-doh
Sugar Cookie Basket: Make your own vanilla sugar with a vanilla bean and granulated sugar. Place in a pretty jar and include your favorite sugar cookie recipe, as well as a couple of cookie cutters and some decorating supplies such as sprinkles and colored sugars.
Pampered Basket: include some body scrub, body wash, bath bombs and a beauty mask.
Coffee Enthusiast Basket: gourmet coffee, mugs and some flavored syrups.
Wine & Cheese Basket: a bottle of wine, a block of cheese, crackers and some wine glasses
The Wine-o Basket: two bottles of wine, wine glasses and wine glasses markers.
Candle Basket: a variety of candles in different scents including votive and tea lights with holders. (a great hostess basket)
Tea Basket: a variety of teas (bags or loose), infuser, oversized mug, teabag holder and tins to hold tea.
Winter Basket: lip exfoliater, face masque, lotion, WoodWick Candle and hot chocolate. (awesome gift for the college girl in your life)
Cook Basket Chili Theme: fill a pot with assorted cans of beans (kidney, navy, pinto..etc), chili powder, your favorite chili recipe, a ladle and oven mitts.
Chocoholic Basket: hot chocolate mix, chocolate cookies, chocolate ice cream topping, chocolate candies.
Ice Cream Sundae Basket: ice cream scoop, jars of pineapple, butterscotch and strawberry topping, chocolate syrup, sprinkles, maraschino cherries, nuts, ice cream cones and sundae dishes. (my mum gave me this basket one year while I was in college it was a SERIOUS hit!)
{Winter Wonders Theme Basket 2010}xo I hope this helped you!
Coat Check
{DKNY Belted Wool Blend Trench Coat $178.00}
{Betsey Johnson Flounce Hem Three Quarter $140.00}
{Burberry Taffeta Down Puffer Coat $895.00}
{Diane von Furstenberg Simyonette $675.00}
{Miss Sixty $148.00}
{NorthFace denali $180}
Almond Bear Paws
While some people are hooked on William Sonoma ,I am hooked on Sur La Table for those of you who live in the metro Detroit area check Sur La Table out at The Creek… the store is amazing! Like William Sonoma, Sur La Table sells celebrity chef cookbooks as well as has their own cookbooks. I absolutely love baking so it\’s not a surprise that one of my favorite books they make is called The Art and Soul of Baking. This book has taught me so many new baking skills. Including how to make that AMAZING almond filling that you find in bear claws…. HEAVEN! I decided to make some almond bear paws.
For this recipe I made my own croissants however Pillsbury Crescent Rolls will work fabulously for those who are not as adventurous.
Ingredients
Pre-made croissants or Pillsbury Crescent Rolls
Almond Filling
1 cup raw sliced almonds
Almond Filling
(from The Art and Soul of Baking)
Ingredients
4 ounces almond paste
2 tablespoons sugar
1 stick unsalted butter, softened
1 large egg
finely grated zest of 1/2 lemon
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
3 tablespoon all purpose flour.
Directions
Break or cut the almond paste into 12 pieces and put them into a food processor. Add the sugar and process until the almond paste is cut into tiny pieces. Add the butter and process until well blended. Scrape down the food processor bowl and place the contents into a mixing bowl. Add the egg, lemon zest and vanilla extract. Mix until combined. Add the flour and mix until combined.
Assembly
Cut your Croissants into triangles. If using crescent rolls lay out your triangles. Spread the Almond Filling onto the triangles and roll like you would to make crescent dinner rolls. Brush your Bear Paws with an egg wash sprinkle with sliced almonds.
Bake at 375 for 15 minutes or until golden brown.
Fashion meets Food 
