friday links

Happy Friday!

First off, biz stuff I gotta share, then we can go on to the fun stuff...OK?

I have gotten so many emails from fans telling me they aren't seeing my posts on Facebook.
I realize Facebook has it's own algorithms on what you see.
So here is a couple ideas on how to crack some of those algorithms:
On my vanillasugarblog Facebook page, first make sure you've LIKED the page.
And what I suggest is to UNLIKE the page, then LIKE it again. That worked for me, now on to the next step.
Take your arrow and hover it over the "Liked" button,  a drop-down menu should appear and you'll see "Get Notifications" --make sure this is checked!
Last step you can take to ensure you are seeing my posts is to find a recent of post of mine (any post really), click the LIKE, and leave a comment.
Apparently if you comment on a post, be it a friend or business, Facebook remembers what you like, and what you've commented on, so it will then continue to show you future posts from it.
Now this is what I've heard from other fan pages, so I'm hoping all these steps will work and you'll be all set.
Make sure to do it for the other pages you like on Facebook as well.
AND it has to be done for your friends on Facebook too!

I go to Chipotle a lot. Great food at a reasonable price, plus we finally have one on cape cod!
And I've now figured out a way to have apps and a meal in one burrito bowl.
Next time you order, ask for extra sour cream and cheese on top.
Take your chip bag, dose it with the Chipotle Tabasco sauce and shake bag, repeat again.
Now you have apps on top and a meal on the bottom.  Oh yeah baby!


Gingerbread Twix!
So yeah these are crazy good.
Don't buy them!


I love peppermint taffy.
These are from a local business here in MA Hill Top Candy.
Found theme at Whole Foods in Hingham, MA


We have a new way to get energy!  Through candy! It's like an M&M with caffeine and B-vitamins.
Introducing Energems. Energems supplements are bite-sized, hard-coated gems made with real milk chocolate. They contain caffeine, B-vitamins and a unique energy blend.


If any of you are from Massachusetts or used to live here, you might remember the infamous Jordan Marsh?  Remember the Enchanted Village at Jordan Marsh?
Jordan Marsh had closed it's doors in the late 90's I believe?  And was bought by Macy's.
Not wanting to lose the memory of the enchanted village, the owners of Jordans Furniture purchased the village and now has it on display in their Avon location every year.
I also found the recipe for the INFAMOUS Jordan Marsh Blueberry Muffin!  Remember those?
Here are a few photos of the Enchanted Village that I snapped on my recent visit.



















There is also an indoor fake ice skating rink for the kids. By fake I mean it's not ice, but a plastic composite that gives the illusion of it being ice.


New flavor out for Harmless Harvest: cinnamon & clove.  Have you tried it?


I am in love with this cookbook: Hoosier Mama Book of Pie
Don't know what to get the foodie in the family?
Get this cookbook.  It is stunning!  Have some of the best, and most kicked up pie recipes I've ever
seen.  Right now they are out of stock on Amazon, but you can still order one for later date.
Just a handful of examples: pulled pork pie, corned beef hand pies, cranberry chess pie, vinegar chess pie, hoosier sugar cream pie, orange cream pie..... They include all the sweet pies according to the season, all the cream/custard/curds pies, desperations pies, chess pies, over-the-top pies, turnovers, savory pies, hand pies, etc.. I mean literally every angle of pie AND crust is covered!


Trust me, you will not be disappointed with Hoosier Mama Book of Pie; there is a pie for everyone in here; it's a big book of pie--it'll keep you busy baking all winter long.

Around the web:

triple chocolate donuts (I think we should start off with donuts!)
how long did your ancestors live while eating bacon, lard, whole milk...
balsamic beef soup (sounds so good!)
the self-cleaning brain (hint: it involves sleep)
75 year study: what men need to live a happy life
stomach stretches when you've eaten too much
gluten and schizophrenia?
why you should practice meditation
salted chocolate-rye cookies (printing!)
2013 haters guide to williams sonoma
the ripoff report: consumer reporting, by consumers, for consumers, to file & document complaints about companies or individuals.
peppermint cream thumbprint cookies
sweet potato rounds (excellent & easy appetizer idea!)
william li: can we eat to starve cancer (research is there)
50 ways to use eggnog
how to live a more meaningful life in 7-days
whole foods DIY decorations (some are good, some suck)
man behind the Taco Bell Doritos taco dies at 41
DIY gingerbread marshmallows
the chemistry of cookies
gingerbread muffins
cranberry & pistachio couronne
candy cane mug cake
eggnog macaroons
toxic elements in organic foods?
onions & garlic are anti-cancer foods
OK who has a squatty potty?
bacon bark!! oh my
paleo cheesecake w/ ganache
10 easy christmas paper ornaments
DIY beef pho
chipotle-caramel sauce!!!
acupuncture for depression
inflatable unicorn hat for cats (I know, I know!!)
inside-out buckeye cookies (gluten free)
how to "flood' royal icing
saying 'please' & 'thank you' makes a difference in price at french cafe
can bad weather cause joint ache?
memo sticky roll--yes it's on a roll! brilliant!
chocolate spice-gingerbread
why does my face turn bright red when I work out?
12 days of cookies!
microbiome candy: a probiotic candy to prevent cavities?
cooking with splenda releases cancer causing dioxins
is your olive oil really 'virgin'?
tourtiere biscuits (I've already printed these)

Have a wonderful weekend!

friday links

Happy Friday!

Are we still eating?
I am!
I managed to keep eating well after 10pm.
I did good right?
My last meal at 10pm was a slice of my gooey Nutella stuffed chocolate chips bars, which I
PROMISE to post the end of next week.

Coming up Tuesday, we have an interview with Greg Henry of Sippity Sup to talk about his TWO cookbooks: Savory Pies and Savory Cocktails.
And Greg has decided to donate THREE cookbooks for the giveaway!
Come back on Tuesday to read all about it.

My "crunchy" pumpkin bread bundt.
And by crunchy I mean 'sugar & nut coated crunch!'
When I posted this on Instagram, you all wanted the recipe NOW.
Easy peasy.
Take one Trader Joe's pumpkin bread mix; make as per box directions; grease up a bundt pan;
pour in half the bread batter; sprinkle on chopped walnuts or pecans in middle; pour on rest of bread batter; then top with more nuts AND coarse sugar (I used Sugar in The Raw).
Bake a little less time than what box directions say as bundt bakes up faster.

The light from the sunrises and sunsets on cape cod have been magical.

I was sent a copy of the cookbook Good Stock: Life on a Low Simmer by Sanford D'Amato.
And I do love a good cookbook that has a story to go along with it; not just recipes, but a lifetime of cooking/learning and teaching stories. "....Sanford D'Amato, the restaurant D'Amato opened in 1989 and sold to his longtime chef de cuisine in December 2012, has been one of the highest-rated restaurants in America over the past 20 years, earning accolades from Bon Appétit, Gourmet, Food & Wine, Esquire, Wine Spectator, Zagat Guide, and the James Beard Foundation. D'Amato has cooked for the Dalai Lama and the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics, and was one of 12 chefs chosen by Julia Child herself to cook for her 80th birthday celebration. The story of Sanford and Sandy D'Amato is in part the story of America's embrace of fine dining and its acceptance of chefs as master craftsmen....."
So if you weren't able to visit his restaurant, now you can partake in his personal recipes with Good Stock: Life on a Low Simmer


Tarte fine aux pommes (Apple Tart) pg. 231

Ginger Snap Cannoli w/ dried cherry mascarpone cream pg. 349

Steak au Poivre pg. 239

Around the Web:

just put the f**king turkey in the oven
how can you look more "photogenic" in photos
nordic diet an alternative to Mediterranean diet?
researchers find drug that could halt kidney failure
stocking stuffers: I want them ALL!
clean your arteries with pomegranate? (true or false?)
DIY adjust your outside motion detectors (very helpful!)
little drummer girl--her talent is unbelievable (last 30 seconds she KILLS it)
eat more potassium
apple pie (paleo, gluten, grain free)
ryan gosling coloring book is here
rainbow pencils (I'll take some)
who's into this tinybook stuff?
meals for good skin
honeybee's can be trained to detect cancer
temporary tattoo's: brilliant
TRUE GMO dangers; stuff the media will never cover
3 productivity tips for small business owners
11 secrets to choosing the right perfume
DIY snowy gingerbread village in a jar (love!)
what to eat when you're broke
sweet potato-ginger cookie
9 whole foods for healthy, gorgeous hair
cheesecake pan for 2 (want!)
10 inflammatory foods to avoid like the plague
DIY bone broth (the good for you kind)
the divine: now online
how to fill the emptiness in your life
DIY: anchor a towel rack permanently
how to photograph snowflakes +incredible photos
WONDERFUL summary of what is insulin
why squinting helps you see better
overrated health supplements
creamy slowcooker chicken soup
fancy & gorgeous cakes to whip up when you're short on time (bookmarked!)
happy & sad Jack after his wisdom teeth removal
holiday cookie contest with craftsy!
8 helpful tips for your next Skype job interview
10 tips India teaches the world about living well
how to choose gratitude over stress
saturated fat isn't as bad as we once thought? Hmmm
healthy peanut butter recipes
magnesium for migraines?
healthier pumpkin pie smoothies
pressure cooker veal osso bucco

Have a wonderful weekend!

friday links

Happy Friday!


What's yours?


A Massachusetts native came up with "Mensch on a Bench" after he and his son were shopping
in Bloomingdales son asked if he could have the "Elf on a Shelf" and he replied "no, we're Jewish". Confused, son asked what do we have, and Dad being quick-witted said we have "a Mensch on a, um, a, bench!"  And so began the creation.  So very clever.  And so popular that they are already sold out for 2013, taking orders only for 2014.


I was asked to try out the Fruttare Fruit Bars.
I only wish I had found these this summer.
They are so good.  Fruit and milk frozen treats, almost like a fruit-cremesicle.
I loved the banana and peach.
But they have a whole line of other flavors: strawberry, coconut, lime, mango, lime.


So this happened this week, and it was quite good!


My dear friend, Meagan Micozzi of Scarletta Bakes has her first cookbook out: The New Southwest.
I am so proud of you girl!
If you love southwest cooking, then you'll love this with southwest flavors in a modern twist.



The New Southwest by Meagan Micozzi: "...when Meagan Micozzi relocated to the desert of Arizona, she literally felt like a fish out of water. Finding comfort and inspiration in local foods, flavors and ingredients, Micozzi soon had a new mission: interview native home cooks, research recipes, and then perfect techniques until she had them just right. She launched the Scarletta Bakes blog in 2011 to document her adventures in the kitchen. Since then, thousands of readers have sought out the blog for its innovative approach to southwestern food...."

If you can believe it, my friends are still surfing!
I think we all get together just to "be & watch the beauty of the surf" (a surf thing), but yesterday the swell was decent and the sun was bright.
I didn't go in, don't have a winter wetsuit...yet.  Hope to get one soon.
But isn't this photo stunning?
It was a good day.


Do you need a few ideas for holiday gifts?
Why not make homemade candy?
Candy has a better shelf life than a cake, cookie or bread. And who doesn't love a creative. homemade candy all wrapped up in a nice pretty box?  I know I would love it.
Here are a few ideas:

Espresso Buttercreams


cookie butter-cream cheese trufles


My favorite: white chocolate-mint Nestle Crunch Bars


coconut-cream truffles


homemade peanut butter cups


ginger-peanut chews


Around the web:

Polenta pizza (looks so easy)
DIY mini fondant figures
sweet potato & bacon tots w/ creamy mustard sauce
can turmeric ease arthritis?
a review of Lay's Chocolate covered potato chips
how the flu escapes immunity
I really, really, really want these long fingerless gloves from Ibex.
DIY homemade bacon (yes it's that easy!)
Attention espresso lovers! coffee may help perk up your blood vessels!  
5 obvious things you must do to be healthy
LOVE this -----> map of the modern writer's mind
a very easy gingerbread cookie recipe
newest fragrance love: Turquatic by MAC. Get the rollerball!
how to make 8 grilled cheese sandwiches at once
gingerbread-almond butter
the differences between men & women (funny!)
vegan baking guide
wonderful! how to temper chocolate
the no sleep podcast: for those who LOVE horror stories
top neurologist says grains are bad for your brain (agree/disagree?)
science of cake baking: 6 common baking pitfalls to avoid
roasted cinnamon-date bars
ugly christmas sweater cookie kit
how to make kanafeh (sweet cheese pastry)
waffle maker hash browns
DIY novelty print cotton dress (so cute!)
watch a crab climb out of its shell
nut consumption linked to reduced death rate
have kids on a time out?  use this DIY "relax bottle/time out timer"
canadians rescue a shark choking on a moose
how to de-seed a pomegranate in 3-seconds
DIY homemade white chocolate
how to take panoramic photos
Gabriella Miller (2003 - 2013) talks about the need for constant awareness of childhood cancer

landfill dogs.org 
   These are not just cute pictures of dogs. These are dogs who have been homeless for at least two weeks, and now face euthanasia if they do not find a home. Each week for 18 months (late 2012–early 2014) I bring one dog from the county animal shelter and photograph him/her at the local landfill.

   The landfill site is used for two reasons. First, this is where the dogs will end up if they do not find a home. Their bodies will be buried deep in the landfill among our trash. These photographs offer the last opportunity for the dogs to find homes.

   The second reason for the landfill location is because the county animal shelter falls under the same management as the landfill. This government structure reflects a societal value: homeless cats and dogs are just another waste stream. However, this landscape offers a metaphor of hope. It is a place of trash that has been transformed into a place of beauty. I hope the viewer also sees the beauty in these homeless, unloved creatures.

   As part of this photographic process, each dog receives a car ride, a walk, treats, and about 2 hours of much-needed individual attention. My goal is to offer an individual face to the souls that are lost because of animal overpopulation, and give these animals one last chance. This project will continue for one year, so that we can see the landscape change while the constant stream of dogs remains the same.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

friday links

Happy Friday!


Have you tried the new gourmet line of natural flavored icings by Amoretti?
They are found at Williams Sonoma
Come in these flavors: banana, blueberry, bubble gum, bulgarian rose, chocolate, coconut cream, cotton candy, eggnog, espresso, fudge brownie, gingerbread, hazelnut, key lime, lemon, maple bacon, orange cream, passion fruit, peanut praline, pecan praline, peppermint, pineapple, pistachio, pistachio praline, pumpkin pie, raspberry, red velvet, salted caramel, tiramisu, vanilla bean, wild strawberry and plain.
You can find Amoretti products (and these icings) at their online store.
I can't wait to make some pop tarts and try the icing on the top.

I recently splurged and bought one of these pricey, very pricey candy bars.
Yes it was very good, but at over $2.00 per small bar?  OUCH

Can you see this person?
He was running, ok running, on a treadmill while texting!!!
I don't know if he's talented or stupid.
Every time I tried to look over and watch, I would get dizzy on my own treadmill where I HAVE to hang on with both hands!

Hilarious!

My favorite snack from Trader Joe's

This was really good, and I'm super fussy over Trader Joe's salads.

I saw this at Trader Joe's and put it back on the shelf!  lol

They're baaaaack!

Man these sound good!

If I bought these?....They would be gone before I got home.  Anyone tried them?

Wow, these were good.  I hope the Ginger People send me some samples and/or have a giveaway for
my fans!  Seriously tasty.  Just like a gum drop, yet with a nice layer of gentle heat.  Good for you too!

I was sent a sample of Nicciolata Organic Hazelnut Spread.
And they have seriously taken great pride and craftsmanship into creating something this tasty that is literally all natural, organic, made with hazelnuts, cocoa, sugar cane and milk.
Like a Nutella but far stronger, richer, smoother, and more satisfying.  Very rich.
You can find this in Whole Foods and most all natural food stores as well as gourmet food stores.
I put a little bit in my morning espresso--so good!

Attention chocoholics!
This cookbook is for you!
Now this would make an awesome Christmas gift for a die-hard chocolate fan.
Crazy About Chocolate by Krystina Castella is the kicked up/creative book of all things chocolate
recipes.  Very creative indeed.
Here are a few examples of what you can find inside the book:
chocolate cream cheese king cake, chocolate carrot cupcakes, cocoa spiced turkey chili, black forest brownie bites.....over 200 recipes--all chocolate!  Sweet AND savory!
Here is a sample recipe from the book: the chocolate carrot cupcakes!



Around the web:

the man who invented the calendar
for homesteaders: winterizing your flock
best leg workouts for women (love the ballet reference)
THIS is on my bucket list--I want to fly!
butternut squash blondies! YUM
DIY glittery, snowy playdough
7 immune boosters you might have overlooked
quite possibly the most terrible real estate photos ever!
DIY vanilla extract (crazy easy)
french silk pie on a stick
how to bounce back after a bad night's sleep
crazy john claude van damme is at it again
the long road to nashville +fried chicken (from one of my favorite writers)
bacon jam & brie filled pretzel rolls
santa hates you christmas cards! (very cute)
homemade st. john chutney (bookmarked indeed)
making "neo-classic" genoise
modernist cuisine is now in an app (FINALLY!)
japanese photographer wraps couples in vacuumed sealed plastic bags 
DIY list of 24 homemade holiday gifts for the home
peanut butter cheesecake cookies
handyman tip: increase entry door security
this man has set nearly 400 guinness world records
peanut butter pretzel bon bons
snowflake fudge (so pretty)
little girl walking on ice---gah!
7 apps to ease holiday shopping (let me know if they help)
I've fallen in love with this blog: burr's bar method blog (I LOVE deep stretching became addicted to it after my physical therapy for my knees. Deep stretching helps tremendously with  leaner, stronger legs).
an open letter to paleo-diet enthusiasts (hilarious, might offend some...)
money saving tips for holiday shopping

Have a wonderful weekend!