All it takes is a little extra touch...

...to turn a single scoop of ice cream into a very special dessert.  I like ice cream as much as anyone, but I don't find the super-size Blizzards and triple scoop sundaes very satisfying.  It's just too much; too, too much.  But after being in Switzerland, I discovered the Swiss know how to make a single scoop of ice cream feel like a special dessert.  Please note in the picture above ~ just a single scoop of Pistachio ice cream, a bit of fruit garnish, in this case it's a slice of red apple and a slice of kiwi, with a single little cookie across the top.  The dish is set on top of a doily covered plate and served to you with a special ice cream spoon. Add a mint leaf and, voila!  Really very simple, but oh, so much more satisfying than an oversized fast foot concoction.  I'm going to try this one at home.  Easy & elegant.

They're Back.....

Vanilla Tootsie Rolls!  A bit of luscious chewy goodness.  Creamy vanilla flavor.  Just a little treat.  The problem is they are only offered a few times during the year.  I found them recently in the Halloween candy aisle at Target, and hoping they will be back again in the Christmas treats section in a few months.

Na-Na-Na-Na-Naan!

My new favorite for a light lunch ~ a fresh juicy peach or some white cherries, a little bit of hummus (roasted garlic or roasted red pepper) and a piece of this Stonefire Naan.  I picked this up at Super Wal-Mart, but if I remember correctly, I think I have also gotten it at Target a few times.  Anyway, I like to put the tiniest bit of olive oil on the top, give it a sprinkle of California style garlic salt and pop it in the oven for just a couple of minutes.  When warm, tear off a piece and dip it into your favorite hummus.  Yummus!

A Bowlful of Summer!

Met a friend for lunch last week at Panera and had the Strawberry Poppyseed Salad, it was so good, I bribed Jake into going there to lunch with me again today so I could get another one!  It tastes like a bowl full of summer!  Fresh strawberries - fresh blueberries - fresh pineapple - not so fresh, but still sweet and juicy mandarin oranges - toasted pecans - and a peppery grilled chicken - all tossed up in a light poppy seed dressing.  And the entire big bowl has only 340 calories!  For real!  This could become a weekly habit.

Long Live the Queen!

Queen Anne Cherries, that is!  I love, love, love these white-flesh cherries, available only for a short time each year.  Mmm, so sweet and juicy.   I've been lucky the last few years to be able to find them at our local Sam's club - a big plus because they cost a big more than the standard sweet cherry.  I've also seen the same type of cherry labeled as "Ranier".  I'm guessing it's a different variety of white cherry - and it's just as sweet and juicy as the Queen Anne.  Try either one, you won't be disappointed!

Fast Food Favorites - Part 2

I guess it couldn't be Fast Food Favorites without adding something from McDonalds - the master of fast food.  My pick from Micky D's is the 3/$1.00 Oatmeal Cookies.  You can mix and match the 3/$1.00 price with the Chocolate Chip Cookies, but I usually go all out for the almost-homemade taste of the oatmeal.   Big enough to share an order with a friend, and the price is right.

Fast Food Favorites

I don't like to eat fast food any more than I have to, but when I do, I look for a Steak 'n Shake and pick up one of their Snack Paks.  You can't beat the price - just $2.89 - for a single Steakburger, small order of their famous skinny French Fries and a small drink.   Really, that's all you need for a quick lunch on the go.

White Peach / Red Mango

We stopped in at Red Mango last night after the band concert.  One of their featured flavors was White Peach.  I was speechless.  Tthe best tasting fresh peach flavor ever!  Topped with some fresh strawberries and blueberries - what a refreshing dessert.  Mmmm.....

Peanut Butter, Not Peeps!

When it comes to Easter candy, my favorite by a long shot is the Reese's Peanut Butter Egg.  It is peanut butter perfection ~ the perfect proportion of peanut butter and chocolate.  The regular size Reese's peanut butter cup is close, the miniatures - yech, not quite right, but the there is just something about the size, shape and chocolate to peanut butter ratio in the egg that makes it perfect.  Those fluorescent marshmallow chicks don't tempt me a bit, but I can't let Easter pass without a perfect peanut butter treat ~ a Reese's egg.

McAlister's Does Tea Right!

The best thing is at McAlister's Deli is not the Havarti Sweet Chipotle Chicken Panini (Delicious!) or the Southwest Roasted Corn Soup (Mmmmm!) but their really BIG glasses of Iced Tea and the servers who come around about half way through your lunch and offer to get you a refill.  I like to get mine unsweetened and sweeten it up myself with a couple of pink packets, but the Sweet Tea is a favorite of many.  Always perfectly brewed and always perfectly refreshing - in a really big glass - McAlister's Iced Tea.

Perfect Movie Night

For the perfect movie night, pick up a back of Popcorn, Indiana Kettlecorn Popcorn.  Of the brands that we've tried, we think this is the best combination of salty and sweet.  Crispy, Crunchy, Delicious!  And the ingredient list could not be any simpler - popcorn, sugar, canola oil, salt - no high-tech, whacked  out chemicals.   Mmmm, love it!

Best of GFS - part 3 of 3

And now,  the highly anticipated final installment of the Best of GFS.... GFS Sweet Yeast Dinner Rolls!  You will find these fully baked but frozen dinner rolls in the freezer section of GFS Marketplace.  Just pop them in a 350 degree oven for about 5-7 minutes to warm and lightly brown them up just a bit.  I like to keep a bag of these slightly sweet dinner rolls in my freezer to fill out a meal - perfect with a hearty soup and a nice change from garlic bread with pasta.  They are delicious!

Rosle, Rosle

If the cutting board and chef's knife is already out, it's usually just quicker and easier to mince a clove of garlic with the knife.  But other times, like tonight when the recipe called for 9 cloves of minced garlic, I turn to this gadget.  It's a Rosle Garlic Press from Williams Sonoma.  And let me tell you, this little guy can really press the garlic.  The first time I used it, after struggling with an inferior brand for several years, I applied the usual amount of pressure and Woohoo! , the garlic went flying out and splattered all across the back splash.  I soon learned that you don't need a lot of pressure to use this style.  Just aim carefully and give it a gentle squeeze.  When you're done, you can flip the screen up for easy cleaning or toss it in the dish washer.  Yes, it's a bit more expensive than some brands, but it is quite possibly the last garlic press you will ever buy!

Crackers? hmmm... Flatbread? YUM!

I mixed up some home made chicken salad from some left over rotisserie chicken for lunch today.  A little bit of onion, some celery, dried sour cherries, salt, pepper and lite mayo all stirred in with the leftover chicken and mmm, makes a great lunch.  But what made this so good today - new Flatbread Crisps from Town House in the Sea Salt & Olive Oil flavor.  Crispy, crunchy and the perfect blend of seasonings.  Much better than the usual wheat toast or traditional cracker.  I think these would be wonderful with many kinds of dips, spreads or cheese - or even just a small handful with a glass of wine.

Pretzel M&M's - Two favorites combined!

Look what's new in the candy aisle.... Pretzel M&M's!  M&M's has done it - combined two of my favorites into the perfect little bite size candy.  Sweet and salty, smooth and crunchy, and colorful, too!  My daughter tells me these were test marketed in Columbus, Ohio.  Apparently they passed the test because I have seen them both in CVS and Wal-Mart.  Enjoy!

Mmmm - a little sweet treat!

I have to admit, the first time I saw this little white bonbon sitting in front of my place at a friend's house in Germany, I was a little bit nervous to take a bite thinking there would probably be a hazelnut hidden inside and hazelnuts are not my favorites.  But what a nice surprise....coconut, vanilla cream, and an almond!   Now if you've read this blog for awhile, you know I am nutty for almonds, but this might be the best yet ~ Fererro Rocher Raffaello's.  You can find these sweet treats at Walgreens and some Walmart stores.  Best savored slowly - just one for a sweet little treat.

Upgrade your Tomato Soup

I first saw this a few years ago at Trader Joe's and it was love at first bite! Actually, at Trader Joe's it is packaged under their own private label, but I discovered this same soup available at Super Target and now at my own local Marsh grocery under the Pacific brand. It's the same creamy tomato goodness you are used to, but with the addition of a hint of roasted red pepper. The red pepper flavor is not overpowering, but accents the tomato perfectly. Serve this with a Havarti and Tomato Panini and you have the adult version of the childhood favorite - Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup.

Creme Brulee Almonds

If you are nutty for almonds like I am, then run, don't walk, to your nearest Sam's Club for some Creme Brulee Almonds. They are heavenly! Toasted almonds with a sweet cream layer, dusted in a thin layer of carmelized sugar. What's not to like? If you are not a Sam's Club member, google them and "Squirrel Brand" should pop up, which can be ordered from Amazon. These are soooo good!

A Fall Favorite - Pumpkin Cake

This recipe is a family favorite - and quite easy to make, too.

Pumpkin Cake

1 x 18oz yellow cake mix

1 tsps cinnamon

1 tsp baking soda

1 x 15oz can pumpkin

3 eggs

1/2 c oil

Preheat oven to 350. Blend all ingredients together. Pour into greased Bundt pan. Bake approximately 45-50.

You could frost it with a creme cheese icing, but it is so good and moist, I usually just dust it with a little powdered sugar.

Enjoy!

My friend Laura tipped me off on these Reisenthel Market Baskets. They are lightweight, roomy, modern, and come in a wide assortment of colors and patterns. And the best part - just pull out the plastic side bars and the basket collapses for storage. Although I must say, I use mine so often, it is rarely in storage! It's a must for the Farmers' Market, and handy when taking a meal to a friend with a new baby or toting supplies to a meeting. It's an updated alternative to the traditional wicker basket.