NEDFM Challenge Day 11: Ice Cream “Bon-Bombes”

The following is a faithful account of my rather tenuous encounter with airport security as I was flying back to school last holiday season.

I was armed with your standard wayfarer airline-approved duffel bag, a bunch of frozen Lunar New Year bamboo-wrapped glutinous rice bundles (if you have no idea what I’m talking about, it’s this), and some not-so-common-sense.


Security guy (holding up my duffel from the x-ray machine): Miss, is this your bag?

Me: Oh. Yeah, that’s mine.

SG: What’s in here?

Me: My clothes, some books I brought from home.

SG: Is that all?

Me: Yeah.… Read more

NEDFM Challenge Day 10: S’mores

What happened to National Rice Pudding Day? Er, I’ll get back to you on that one. In the meantime, why not enjoy this huge, indoorsy distraction of s’more goodness?

It’s the tenth day of National Eat Dessert First! Month, an entire 31 days dedicated to a different themed dessert but, more importantly, getting those desserts onto our plates and palates! Each day will feature a new guest chef’s photos and recipes for each theme. If you’re interested in joining in for a dessert-tastic month, read the details at the Dessert Month Challenge post. It’s never too late to start!Read more

NEDFM Challenge Day 8: Molten Lava Cake with Vanilla Frozen Custard

What do Katy Perry and my dinner tonight share in common?

I’ll give you a hint:

You’re hot then you’re cold, you’re yes then you’re no…

Only with this molten lava cake topped with creamy frozen custard, there only sounds I heard around the table were, yes, yes, yes!

If you’re at all like me and just can’t choose, this dessert is a perfect way to celebrate the joy of indecision.

This dessert is probably not good for:

a: People who like getting what they want, the way they want it.

b: People who don’t like really delicious desserts.  It’s … Read more

National Eat Dessert First Month Challenge Days 6 and 7: Root Beer Floats, and Raspberries & Cream!

I missed Day 6, which was National Root Beer Float Day, because I forgot that we didn’t have a Day 6 entry. Oops.

Quick remedy? Here are some ways you can celebrate (belatedly) this decadent holiday!

THE CLASSIC: Root beer, your choice of ice cream.

THE SHIRLEY TEMPLE SODA FLOAT: Strawberry or cherry soda, vanilla ice cream, and a cherry on top.

THE CAFFEINE CRUNCHER: Coke, mocha almond fudge ice cream, and a square of dark cacao chocolate.

THE GOLD MINER: Sprite, butter pecan or caramel ice cream, pralines or caramel candy

THE CALIFORNIA CRUSH: Orange soda, orange sherbert and … Read more

Creamy Homemade Cookie Butter

So I have a fun news update and a confession.

News: I got a brand spankin’ new mini food processor as an early birthday present that I’m over the moon in love with.

Confession: I’m kind of scared of it. Like, kind of really scared.

Apparently only 50 to 70 people get  wounded in shark attacks every year.

Meanwhile, with a food processor, you have a mean, angry blade sitting in front of you. It’s got that machine drive, literally. All that separates you from that whirring 100 rpm blade is a thin sheet of plastic that you’re betting big … Read more

National Eat Dessert First Month Challenge Day 5: Ice Cream Sundae

It’s the fifth day of National Eat Dessert First! Month, an entire 31 days dedicated to a different themed dessert but, more importantly, getting those desserts onto our plates and palates! Each day will feature a new guest chef’s photos and recipes for each theme. If you’re interested in joining in for a dessert-tastic month, read the details at the Dessert Month Challenge post. It’s never too late to start!

Our wonderful Day 5 entry features a mouth-watering, refreshing ice cream sundae from Alicia (a.k.a. karasumaa). Doesn’t it look fantastic? Leave a thought!

THEMED ENTRY #5: ICE Read more

National Eat Dessert First Month Challenge Day 4: National Chocolate Chip Day

It’s the third day of National Eat Dessert First! Month, an entire 31 days dedicated to a different themed dessert but, more importantly, getting those desserts onto our plates and palates! Each day will feature a new guest chef’s photos and recipes for each theme. If you’re interested in joining in for a dessert-tastic month, read the details at the Dessert Month Challenge post. It’s never too late to start!

Our delectable Day 4 entry features mavinmaverick, who has whipped up an absolutely fantastic and classic banana chocolate chip bread recipe in honor of this staple ingredient’s day.Read more

National Eat Dessert First Month Challenge Day 3: National Watermelon Day

Have you had your watermelon today? No? Well, what are you waiting for? Go out and get some, because it’s national watermelon day! And it’s probably one of the only guilt-free desserts you’re going to be getting this month, so better make the most of it. I subscribe heavily to the “negation effect theory”–according to this theory, even if you eat a 5-pound cheesecake with caramel and hot fudge topping, as long as you eat a 5-pound watermelon…cheesecake negated!

If only that’s how it worked.

It’s the third day of National Eat Dessert First! Month, an entire 31 days dedicated Read more

Frozen Treats Galore! Cookie Butter Chunk ‘n Swirl Cinnamon Ice Cream, Coffee Dark Chocolate Chunk Ice Cream, and Ice Cream Sammy Bon Bons (A.k.a. National Eat Dessert First Month Day 2 Theme Post)

If you’ve ever heard a holiday song–and I’m talking winter holidays here–blaring from some sacrilegious corner of the bus in the middle of August, chances are that one of your eyebrows will quirk up. You’ll probably roll your eyes as you try to ignore the strains of “Last Christmas” wafting in on the public transportation air behind you. After two choruses and a bridge, when the song reaches that really annoying part where the singers are warbling the title over and over again with as much grace as a shrieking fence-posted cat, you’ll most likely sigh really loud to let … Read more

National Eat Dessert First Month Challenge Day 1: Raspberry Cream Pie

On the first day of August, my bakers gave to me…

Two really stellar entries! Like, really stellar.

That’s right, folks–we’re kicking off the first day of National Eat Dessert First! Month, an entire 31 days dedicated to a different themed dessert but, more importantly, getting those desserts onto our plates and palates! Each day will feature a new guest chef’s photos and recipes for each theme. If you’re interested in joining in for a dessert-tastic month, read the details at the Dessert Month Challenge post. It’s never too late to start!

National Eat Dessert First Month Challenge Day Read more