friday links

Oh boy, have you tried the Halloween themed coconut milk bars from So Delicious?
They are so good. Chocolate dipped top with creamsicle bottom.
I ate the whole box in one sitting.
Found at Whole Foods Market.


I cannot get enough of these new protein chips from Quest Nutrition.
And you know even my 'potato chip loving' husband now eats these instead of the greasy alternative.
My favorite is the cheddar-sour cream.
Cheat clean indeed and zero guilt. Can't recommend these enough.


A while back I wanted to see if a cake mix would "muffin". It did.
And now I wanted to see if a cake mix would "bundt" and it did. Well that's a no-brainer really,
but I wanted to see if a cake mix would bundt with a filling in the middle and yes it does.
The filling is cream cheese, an egg and some pecans. I used the Duncan Hines golden butter cake mix--any flavor will do really.


I was asked to try the new cast iron grill pan from Bobby Flay at Kohls.
I'm happy to say I love it, it's square and it fits just perfectly on my stove top.
The handle is far better and the best part? It's not as heavy as other cast iron pans.
It makes the best grilled cheese too!




NY-style pumpkin crumb cake to fill that crumb cake + pumpkin craving.
That's a lot of crumb!  Yes, yes it is.


around the web:

ultra-violet & blue light: protect your eyes!
bad mood be gone with temporal tapping?
nutmeg custard tart
why Starbucks spells your name wrong (LOVE!)
chicken & waffles cake (I am in love with this baker)
spiced pumpkin seeds
greatest cooking tips from Food Network
soft batch frosted pumpkin cookies
baby owl loves the GoPro
alarming new research on perfectionism
gluten detecting service dog?
DIY pumpkin spice latte
chocolate cloud cake
how to make a basic bone broth
the science behind baking your own ideal chocolate chip cookie
should you refrigerate your eggs?
back pain caused by stress?
I am in love with this "adulting" blog
10 ways to clean dirty gadgets
mini pumpkin pie slice cookies
the lizzie borden house: tour the macabre
can honey heal?
the lowdown on fat: we have two types
acupuncture for chronic knee pain? does it work?
manta ray nudges scuba driver for help
where to find haunted places in NH
roast beef with espresso-sriracha sauce
5 things you should never say to people with cancer
Eiffel tower gets new glass floor
brittany maynard fund: dying with dignity (compassion & choices)
broccoli & apple salad (bookmarked!)
facts about ebola that you should know
scientists may have discovered how to stop your peanut allergies
authentic frank lloyd wright house for sale (only
spirulina vs. chlorella: what's the difference?
so someone tested ALL the mascaras at the drugstore
I am in love with this soup!


Have a wonderful weekend!

friday links

Happy Friday!


Wounded Warrior Project--a cause that is very dear to me.
"The greatest causality is being forgotten".
Please help, and if you can't help, please help raise awareness. Thank you.


These two....Just saying 'hello'!

Lobster boat (Lobster Mobster).
Not that I was trying to score some lobster you know.  No, not me.



New apple cider caramels from Lake Champlain chocolates are GOOD.
Made with real cider! So these pack a nice punch of twang flavor.
Found at Whole Foods or at Lake Champlain for other vendors.


Karina Moreira aka #ChicByKarina (fashion blog) has passed.
She was loved by so many here in Massachusetts and across the world.
Only 16 years old, battling her way through bone cancer at Boston's Children's Hospital.
She and Gisele Bundchen became instant friends, made a video together (it was a bucket list wish for Karina).
Please, if you can, help her family with ongoing medical expenses at their gofundme page.
My heart goes out to her family.



And this was in my fortune cookie.


One of my favorite meals: shrimp with honey walnut sauce.
Who has a good recipe for this?


David Venable of QVC's famed "In the Kitchen with David" has his second cookbook out!
Back Around the Table
"....with his first cookbook, In the Kitchen with David: QVC’s Resident Foodie Presents Comfort Foods That Take You Home, David Venable gave us the mouthwatering and memorable recipes that were passed down to him from his mother and grandmothers. Now, the beloved television host invites us back to the warmest room in the house to share inventive spins on traditional dishes that are sure crowd-pleasers in his second book: Back Around the Table.
Laid out with ten easy to follow and love chapters; here are some of the highlights inside:

Mix and Mingle: Transform comfort foods into party fare with Mac ’n’ Cheese Bites, French Onion Soup Dumplings, Chicken Cheesesteak Egg Rolls, and Beef and Bean Tostados.
Brunch and Beyond: Make breakfast the most anticipated meal of the day with Blueberry-Lemon Ricotta Pancakes with Blueberry Syrup, Eggs Benedict Bread Pudding, Hash Brown Breakfast Pizza, & Spiced Bacon Skewers.
Quick and Easy: Use that pressure cooker you’ve got stashed away in the cupboard to make Chili con Carne, Osso Buco, Asian Pulled Pork, and Chicken in a Pot.
Light & Bright: Savor Skinny Fried Chicken, Seven-Layer Taco Salads, and Linguine Carbonara—dishes that not only taste good but are guilt-free.
Smoke & Fire: Start up the grill for Smoked Brisket, Surf and Turf Kebabs, Grilled Scallops with Citrus Marinade, and Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus Bundles.
Sweets & Treats: Finish off your meal with a crowning achievement such as Lemon Cheesecake Bars, Cherry Strudel, Peach Melba Icebox Pie, or Apple-Walnut Rustic Tart...."


Looking for a quick & easy pumpkin snack cake?
Try this one with a pumpkin buttercream.
(the pumpkin buttercream is so good you may not even need a cake for it!)

My pumpkin butter crunch bars were the most downloaded last year during the Fall season.


One of my favorites: gingerbread snack cake w/ molasses glaze


Or maybe you fancy a hamburg & cheddar pizza with fig jam?

around the web:

how about a human hamster wheel as your new desk?
siri vs. starbucks--who spelled it better?
the best way to decorate for Halloween!
specialized gear for commuters to protect against germs
15 wonderful quotes to inspire you
salted toffee-chocolate squares
crying does help relieve stress
chocolate-peanut butter swirl cookies
man takes vow of silence & walks across America
famous personalities & their age of success
Greeks captivated by Alexander-era tomb found
7 tricks to improve your memory
best (and healthiest) cup of coffee?
10 things to help fight body inflammation
fan of Outlander? (I am) There is also an OutlanderKitchen
Survivor is casting now for next season! Who's ready?
bulletproof immune system
2-ingredient pumpkin bisque
the cupcake plunger: does it work?
easiest chocolate tart
does a bad diet cause bad behavior? (yes, duh)
6 natural cough remedies
best stretches for tight hips
can someone be too pretty, too handsome?
what is the alkaline diet & should I care?
why people should listen to jazz
right at 6pm offices vanish into the walls in Holland
the "one trip grip" does it work?
6 best apples for pie
(VERY helpful) neck stretches to help relieve neck & shoulder pain
great list of newsletters that you can look forward to
awesome map reads (trust me, click this & enjoy!)
huckleberry's chocolate chocolate teacake
smartphones and their effect on your eyes
instead of tents they sleep in hammocks above the alps
I am in love with this open air glider video
pig steals beer, gets drunk, gets in fight with cow (I know!)
pumpkin-chai waffles
legal to start a food business in my home?
tips for practicing meditation in the office

Have a wonderful weekend.

friday links

Happy Friday!

Last week I finally got some time to head out and spend time with my surfing buds.
78 degree day with no tourists and full on sun.
Was nice to have that time off.





Using the very last of my large stash of wild maine blueberries in a super-charged smoothie.
I tried the new chocolate flavor of Tera's Whey and I love it!



I received a copy of Baked Occasions, the newest book from the Baked Boys.
And can I tell you this is their best work ever!
This book is jam-packed with a years worth of celebrations! Matt Lewis & Renato Poliafito offer cookies, puddings, whoopie pies, cakes, brownies, and more to commemorate holidays both expected and unexpected. Rum-infused Hair of the Dog Cake for New Year’s Day and Peanut Butter Sheet Cake for Texas Independence Day join Praline Ice Cream Cake for Mardi Gras, Chocolate Pop Tarts for Halloween, and 12 Days of Cookies for Christmastime. With 65 gorgeous photographs and 75 unique recipes, you’ll have everything you need to create a wide range of sweet treats for quirky festivities and traditional holidays all year round.
Seriously, take a small look of what's inside....these guys amaze me!

rainbow icebox cake with homemade chocolate cookies


The book is laid out with monthly dessert celebrations of special days and occasions.


Blood orange tiramisu, black velvet conversation heart cakes, gonzo cake...


easter coconut sheet cake
I cannot recommend Baked Occasions enough.  There is over 75 recipes, very easy to follow instructions. Nothing is too fancy pants to make, all recipes are easy to make, easy to follow along with. If you are looking for THE cookbook for your foodie friend this is it!
I will be making something soon.
I'll leave it up to you to decide, choose one & tell me in the comments below:

- Baked Ultimate Birthday Cake
- Buttery Pound Cake with Salty Caramel Glaze
- Chocolate Pop Tarts with PB & Jam Filling
- Pistachio White Chocolate Cheesecake

around the web:

chewy peanut butter-apple granola bars
smuckers has a wonderful kitchen makeover giveaway #spreadalittlesunshine
apple pie cake
DIY football cupcake toppers
twizzlers caramel-apple filled twists
20-minute sweet & sour chicken
is there arsenic in rice?
pumpkin magic cake
4 ways to manage depression naturally
the amount of caffeine in Starbuck drinks! (ut oh)
"worry about yourself!" (well said August)
how to froth milk in the microwave?
is pea protein really the best all-around protein supplement?
wait your turn at the new swing playground in Boston
melatonin for more sleep & better bones
pumpkin cheesecake ice cream from Ben & Jerry's is here
pumpkin spice peanut butter cookies
best brunch recipes from Martha Stewart
3 steps to perk up your posture
how to make proper scottish shortbread
the ramen donut is here
want to boost your willpower? sip lemonade
frustrated restaurant owner posts stupid sign
soy consumption linked to tumor growth in breast cancer
always hungry? this could be why
study links potassium to fewer strokes in women
one yoga pose to do no matter how busy you are
5 healthy food pairings to supercharge health & diet
slow cooker italian pot roast w/ sun-dried tomatoes & kalamata olives
woman gets 3rd boob--why?
gorgeous photography of trey ratcliff
5-year old with autism paints stunning masterpieces
strangest playgrounds

Have a wonderful weekend!

friday links

Happy Friday!

It's cold out!
As I type this post, we have 47 degrees at 9am here on cape cod.
I guess I won't be going for my nightly swim in the ocean today.
Actually I have been going every night now that the beaches are empty and enjoyable again.
Believe it or not the ocean temp is about 66 degrees when the sun is out and it's not too bad.


Have you started baking with pumpkin?
I haven't -- I know bad right? You are expecting new pumpkin creations from me?
I'll get on that this weekend; maybe if I pass a bottle of pumpkin spice under my nose it will
inspire me?
Hubby asked for these pumpkin oreo's I made last year at this time.
These are good, and I made them into icebox cookies, easy, just slice and bake!



Speaking of pumpkin....the pumpkin pie macarons have arrived at Whole Foods!


I wanted these to suck, but they didn't, they were really tasty and I am not a fan of white chocolate.


So I asked him what he was looking at (the man in the maroon had a big ass camera), he said
the mansion on the cliff (the right side).  Boring.  Here I was hoping it was a whale or something.


Is there anything better than a bag of fried scallops? Perks of living on cape cod.

Seafood bisque


Oh the joys of food blogging when one of your favorite pastry books just magically shows up
at your door. The book Pastry by Nick Malgieri is THE book, the guide for all things pastry.
This is the definitive guide for pastry making.  Can't tell you enough how much this one book
will teach you about pastry making.
Pastry by Nick Malgieri is the pastry bible.


"Cooks eager to stretch their skills will find Mr. Malgieri an inspiring coach." ~The New York Times

around the web:

11 health benefits of green tea
butterscotch-peach pie!  Hello!
how to undue the damage of a desk job
enormous group of migrating rays
early symptoms of parkinson's disease
this face mug & it holds cookies!
the best list to have for Fall: The Best Apples for Baking & Cooking
pumpkin spice cake balls
tiny hamsters eating tiny burritos (my year is complete)
what you should know about ebola (from CDC)
romantic photos in motion
have you seen this house built on a cliff?
the movie The Skeleton Twins preview (can't wait to see it!)
MIT is hosting a breast pump hackathon?
pets stuck in odd places
what is orthorexia?
breakfast from around the world
foods for vibrant hair
BBQ chicken french breads
vietnamese shredded chicken salad
mini cinnamon sugar-pumpkin muffins
history of candy corn
jalapeño popper pull apart bread
chocolate chip cookies made with bisquick
NY'ers eating alone isn't as depressing as it sounds
madame sherri's castle ruins (haunted?)
meet Hello, another modern day alarm clock
horror farm themed cakes for Halloween (warning, it's scary!)
jacques pepin explains how to make people happy
10 fun ways to reduce your cortisol
slow cooker chicken pho
how to cook pasta in 60 seconds
passenger shaming on Instagram
tiny plastic beads in your toothpaste?
prudent diet to prevent prostrate cancer
30 pick your own apple farms near/around Boston
class held in Boston to help Bostonians lose their accent
hot fudge peanut butter pie
actor Kevin Spacey stalker goes to jail for 2 years
chewy apple-peanut butter granola bars
4 ways to manage depression naturally
happy national butterscotch pudding day!
pumpkin spice & chocolate muffins (bookmarked!)



Have a wonderful weekend!

friday links

Happy Friday!

I'm really trying hard to pretend that summer is still here and that it's not 60 degrees outside.
Ok it's sunny and I should be thankful, but we had such a great summer weather-wise and it's really hard to let it go. It's like September came in with real Fall temps, normally we get a September with summer temps and it's lovely because we get more summer!
Looking ahead at the weather, we are having 40 degree nights next week?
No.
No, no, not ready. It was just 80 degrees, humid and we were all having a wonderful swim in the ocean.
And with that said, I have more recent ocean photos for you, I know you love these and always ask me for more.  Enjoy!


south yarmouth, ma


Enjoying the ocean one more time before the real chill of fall sets in. Dennis, MA


Dennis, MA

Macarons are so pretty (and tasty). From Whole Foods in Hyannis, MA.


The new Hello Kitty Baking Book is out!
And it's so cute.  I mean seriously, the cutest cookbook I've seen.
By Michele Chen Chock a self-taught baker and the creator of I Heart Baking: a popular baking blog with a heavy dose of Hello Kitty desserts. She is also the original creator of the Hello Kitty macaron. Her work has appeared online for publications such as Glamour, Wedding Bells, and The Huffington Post. She lives in California with her husband and three young kids.




The light of summer is changing :-(


Never seen a black heirloom--have you?


The new Tory Burch backpack bag is out. And she's gorgeous (and pricey).


Yoga frogs. I seriously almost bought these but was held back by the price.
But I could have my morning coffee with these two everyday, couldn't you?


Three foot Buddha.  Yes please.


Have you seen the new Duncan Hines fall baking lineup?
The caramel-apple cupcakes are pretty good.
Plus they are so easy to make into whoopie pies too (recipe on the side of the box).
Just follow the directions and add a pinch of salt to the frosting, and a handful
of chopped pecans to the cake batter.
I also baked them a bit longer to get crispy edges.

around the web:

how to eat sushi
linking 'natural mutants' and evolution
travel habits of americans: almost half didn't take a day off this summer
airline seating experts: true cost of the "knee defender"
french bread taco pizza
11 secrets supermarkets don't want you to know
a little cookie business brings very sweet success
how to keep raccoons out of your yard
pumpkin coffee cake donuts
facebook for toddlers
creme brulee cheesecake bars
35 genius life hacks (these are really good!)
and the selfie brush is here
zombie ice molds for your halloween party!
how you eat on instagram vs. real life
peppermint patty tart
homemade salted oreo popcorn
animals being jerks
3-ingredient pineapple whip
new test for early detection of pancreatic cancer
12 signs you need to eat more protein
handy baking ingredient substitution chart
must have breakfast gadgets
this serious respiratory illness has me worried
love these 'twist & detox' yoga moves
chorizo cheese puffs!
homemade apple cider donuts (this is the only thing I like about Fall)
how to make paris brest
peanut butter chocolate bundt cake (this is being made Saturday--can't wait!)
smokey roasted chickpeas
pumpkin spice Oreo is coming!
how to bake perfectly round cookies
homemade chocolate hazelnut spread
sweetened condensed coconut milk
healthy fruit/veggie smoothie for good skin
how do you grow giant pumpkins?
savory tomato-thyme shortbread crackers


Have a wonderful weekend!