The way to a man's heart, is through his stomach.

Or my heart. But whatever. 

We'll just call these CCMW&B bars. I'm into acronyms. 

Don't be frightened. The whiskey is light (only a tablespoon). And bacon? Holla. 

Recipe here.  

Let me introduce you to our new summer drink. Mason jar, optional.

James Beard-winning chef Art Smith shows how to make his famous sweet tea punch.

Now I'm no vegetarian, BUT.

These mini veggie pizzas from Green Kitchen Stories look amazing.

A Buffet Post, If You Will

Dating — 50 dating rules for smart girls who don't need dating rules. 

Technology — 25 gadgets for globetrotters. 

Jewelry — This designer turns the map of your neighborhood into a necklace. 

Art — 12 months of neon love. 

Interior Design — The sweet pad of Gap Director of Concept, Jane Herman.

Baking — Cheesecake in a jar. Yep, I said that. 

Video — "Happiness Happens: Let It, Don't 'Earn' It"

Pictures — 50 really cool random images for your inspiration.

Song — Na Palm vs. Pretty Lights "Understand Me Now (Remix)"

Photo via: Glitter Guide

A Buffet Post, If You Will

With a little something for everyone...

Cool Find — Diamond lights. No, look. 

I Want — This "Love You" print.

Culture Yourself — The shooting of the TIME 100 honorees.

Wedding — A hanging floral centerpiece.

Guy Fashion — How to layer your clothes in the winter. 

Song — Bei Major "Bout that Life". 

Beauty — Art deco inspired nails (and how to do them!)

Animal Cuteness — Toronto's Polar Bear Club ... and it's newborn. 

Baking Time — Dulce de Leche Banana Bars

Knowledge Worth Knowing

The perfect breakfast potatoes. 

Oh 'fer YUM.

Hommade Hostess Cupcakes. A WDITOT moment. This stands for "Why Didn't I Think Of That". I abbreviated it for my own purposes because it happens, frequently. Somebody patent my acronym. 

Tell me if I'm wrong. Everybody loves Hostess, and Twinkies, and DumDum Ho-Hos ..... or .... whatever the other ones are called .... but noooooobody wants to admit it because they are made out of nothing even close to real food and it's cool to be like, "I like things that are five ingredients or less" and I AM OUTING MYSELF. I LOVE ARTIFICIAL DESSERTS. Do you feel closer to me? 

But these are different. They are homemade. And that makes me feel safe to know that they can be produced in your kitchen and you don't have to buy them from somewhere that also sells spark plugs and icees. No hate on icees though. Plus they are in the form of a cupcake. And we all know how I feel about that. Carrying on. 

Recipe over at 52 kitchen adventures. 

Brownie Popsicles

Oh. You heard me right. 

Read me right. Whatever. 

I'm rebellious in that popsicles don't have a season cut-off for me. 

Look at this. It's like an, "Oh my God. No. You didn't. You didn't. But I'm so glad you did," kind of thing. 

Recipe here. 

Double Chocolate Raspberry Pavlova

Recipe here. 

The Most Simple, Yummy Recipe of Ever

Images via: Shop Sweet Things 

5 Things I Found Today (The October 31st Edition)

• I'm kind of a documentary nerd, always have been. This website, Documentary Heaven, is exactly that. And, they're all free. Pop up the popcorn. 

• Ahhhh BRILLIANT. These Accessory Dots are double-stick tape dots that adhere to bare skin and hold clothing in place. They also secure scarves, shoe straps and falling hems. Aaaaaand add to cart. 

• Oh just your casual townhouse with a living room pool, it's fine. 

• Gojee is like Pandora, but for discovering recipes. 

• The NEW Seven Wonders of the World

Gwyneth Paltrow's "Best Peanut Butter Cookies"

Oh bayyyybeeeeee. 

Find the recipe here. 

Spiced Pumpkin Cupcakes. Do It. I'm Gonna.

Spiced Pumpkin Cupcake Recipe

5 Things I Found Today (September 5th Edition)

• I am saving '25 Gadgets for Globetrotters' because I am convinced I will one day, indeed be, a globetrotter.

• Do you ever wonder what song people are listening to when you pass them? No? Just me? K. Well. I enjoyed this video, "Hey Random New Yorker Person, What Are You Listening To?"

• Ummm, these guys can bust a move like whoa. 

• MUST DOWNLOAD APP OF THE CENTURY. "If you're computer is stolen, Hidden shows you where it is and who has it. When you activate the tracking, Hidden will locate your laptop anywhere on the planet, collect photos of the thief and screen shots of the computer in use." How awkward for them. 

• You know you've been eating a s'more and have thought, "You know what this is missing? Beer." I present to you Beer Marshmallow S'mores. Yeah you read that right. You're welcome for solving life's most challenging issues. 

Photo via: Glitter Guide 

Apple Pie - The Remix

Because it's almost fall.

And I like things a little backwards. 

(....that's what she said.)

Inside Out Apple Pie

Double Chocolate Hazelnut Fudge Brownies

Via What Katie Ate, the best food photography blog known to man. 

6 Things Worth Putting Off Whatever You're Doing (The August 22nd Edition)

• K, people are just awesome. This guy scuba dived into the tsunami to rescue his wife and mother. Read his story. 
• Wonder how that youtube video got over a million hits? The secret behind viral videos is explained. 
• I'm the notorious book nerd among my group of friends, so I always get asked for reading recommendations. The website "What Should I Read Next?" suggests books for you based on past ones you've liked. Nifty. 
• 50 people, one question: where would you like to wake up tomorrow?
• I watched this EFFING AWESOME video like 5 times in a row, it's fine. Some people's brains I tell ya...
• Rocky Road Marshmallow Pops. Oh my deeeeear, how scrumptious do you look?

Whoopie Pies are the New Cupcakes. (Did I Just Say That?)

They're like a cake. That's a sandwich. 

And strawberry milk? Didn't you guys ever have that strawberry Nesquick (or whatever, too lazy to look up the spelling) powder as a kid that you'd stir into your milk? LOVED that stuff. Possibly why I was so drawn to these when I found the recipe over on Sprinkles Bakes. I think I just stared. For a good 10 minutes. 

Strawberry Milk Whoopie Pies

Yield: 30-40 whoopie pie shells

Make the shells: 

2 1/4 cups all purpose flour

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

8 tbsp. white vegetable shortening

1 cup powdered strawberry milk mix - such asNesquick brand.

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 whole egg

1 egg white

1 cup heavy cream

2 tbsp milk

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp white vinegar

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

2. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper

3. In a bowl whisk together flour, salt, and baking powder, set aside.

4. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment, combine vegetable shortening, strawberry milk powder and brown sugar.  Mix until crumbly.

5. Add the egg and egg white, to the mixture and beat well, then add the heavy cream; mix until smooth.

6. In a small condiment cup, combine milk, baking soda and vinegar. Stir well, mixture will foam.

7. Pour baking soda mixture into the batter first and then pour flour mixture in on top.  Mix on low speed until thick and combined.  Scrape down sides and bottom of bowl and mix again until well combined.

8. Transfer mixture to a piping bag or a large zip-top sandwich bag with the corner snipped off. 

9.  Pipe batter into heaped 2" rounds widely spaced on the baking sheet - about 6 cakes to a pan.

10. Bake for 7-10 minutes.  Be careful not to over bake.  Cakes are done when they just start to turn golden around the edges.

Fill the shells:

3 cups confectioners' sugar

1 cup unsalted butter, softened

1 tsp. vanilla extract.

1. Combine all ingredients in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. 

2. Beat on low speed until just combined, then whip at high speed until light and fluffy.

Note: Sweetened whipped cream is also a very good filling for these pies.

Decorate the shells :

2 tbsp. milk

Confectioner's sugar

Sprinkles

1. Pour milk into a small bowl.

2. Add confectioners' sugar a tablespoon at a time while whisking constantly until thickened to piping consistency.

3. Transfer to a piping bag fitted with a plain piping tip.  I used Wilton #4. 

4. Pour sprinkles on a plate and dip decorated cake top in the sprinkles, brushing the excess away - or sprinkle nonpareils over tops of cakes, letting the excess fall in the plate.

Homemade Iced Mocha

Knowing Minnesota, I'm sure we haven't made it out of the woods yet as far as unbearably hot days go. I'm thinking a nice little cool-down chocolately concoction might be just what I need on a day like that. 

HOMEMADE ICED MOCHA
serves 1 (from How Sweet Eats)

5 ounces brewed coffee, cold

1/2 cup milk

1 tablespoon heavy cream

2 tablespoons chocolate syrup

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon brown sugar, not packed

for mocha sugar:

1 tablespoon sugar

1/2 teaspoon instant coffee powder

1 teaspoon cocoa powder

for homemade whipped cream:

1/2 cup heavy cream

1 tablespoon sugar

Brew coffee and let cool – this can work with leftover morning coffee, or I suggest making some at night and once it cools, putting it in the fridge overnight. However you want to do it, as long as you have cold coffee, you are set!

In the bowl of your electric mixer (or using a bowl and an electric hand mixer), add heavy cream and sugar. Beat until peaks form and you have the consistency of whipped cream – about 6 minutes.

On a shallow plate, combine sugar, coffee powder and cocoa and mix. Rim the edge of your glass with water then dip the edge in the mocha sugar mix to coat. Fill the bottom of your glass with one tablespoon of chocolate syrup, then add ice cubes. Pour in coffee, then milk, then vanilla, then heavy cream, then the loose brown sugar. Mix well with a spoon.

Add 1-2 tablespoons of whipped cream on top and another tablespoon of chocolate syrup. Drink up!

Corona Pops

Find the easy recipe here.