One of my favorite things about the Yum Market is checking out all these great whimsical items that make me feel like a kid. En masse, they're a bit "too much," but can you imagine just one of these poking out in a grown up house? Cute little mushroom salt and pepper shakers would look adorable on a formal table. And tea time with butterflies? Oh my! What about whipping up a regal cake with a little ladybug spatula to keep you company? Scroll through the list to discover some of the whimsical things you guys have been bookmarking:

Interested in bookmarking your own items? Be sure to read geeksugar's explanation.

Most people have heard of Nathan's Famous Hot Dogs 4th of July competition - the one where Takeru Kobayashi shoves hot dogs in his mouth at lightening speeds - but did you realize that there are many different kinds of competitive eating contests? If you think shoving 59 hot dogs in your face is wild, how do you feel about pigs' feet and knuckles (the winner recently ate 2.89 pounds of the stuff) or gyoza (212 of them). In fact there are so many competitive eating contests that the folks at Senselist have actually put together a list of their favorite 16 competitive eating contests. Of those 16, my faves include:

• Rhubarb Pie: Winner ate 7.9 pounds of rhubarb pie in eight minutes; North Dakota State Fair, July 2006
• Jalapeno Peppers: Winner ate 247 pickled jalapenos in eight minutes; State Fair of Texas, October 2006
• Strawberry Shortcake: Winner ate 15.25 pounds of strawberry shortcake in eight minutes; Mattituck, NY, June 2007
• Chili Cheese Fries: Winner ate 5.44 pounds of fries; Long Beach, CA, February 2007
• Whole Turkey: Winner ate 4.8 pounds of turkey in 12 minutes; Artie’s Deli, New York, NY, November 2006

Oh and don't forget, Nathan's hot dog eating contest will actually air on ESPN tomorrow at 12pm ET. While you're waiting for your bbq to warm up, you can watch the much anticipated face-off between Kobayashi and Joey Chestnut (aka that guy who broke Kobayashi's record).

Speaking of records, the list of competitive eating records is pretty darn impressive. 7.75 pounds of turduckens in 12 minutes?!?

Source: SenseList and IFOCE

Alright folks, the word is out, making your own butter is incredibly easy. I say we give it a try and enjoy delicious homemade creaminess. - New York Times

No dessert says 4th Of July more than the good old flag cake. A cake decorated to resemble the American flag - with its white frosting, blue and red berries - is the ideal 4th of July dessert. It can be made in the morning before the bbq, kept chilled in the fridge until after dinner, and doubles as a part of the decoration. When sliced into small portions, sheet cakes can easily feed a crowd. To be fair to all of our readers - from the successful baker to the novice apprentice - I've found a recipe a beginner can perfectly execute, as well as a multiple step recipe for the baking expert. Choose which one suits your style, needs, and time, just read more

Last week both YumSugar and I had the pleasure of attending early screenings of the new Disney/Pixar movie Ratatouille . After watching the fabulously fun tale about a rat in a Parisian kitchen, I left the theater craving the show's namesake dish. Ratatouille is a Provençal dish consisting of fresh summer vegetables slowly simmered with fragrant olive oil to form a stew-like meal. It's versatile and can be served warm or cold, or as a side dish, appetizer, or main course. For a little taste of France, and the dish that inspired last weekend's best selling movie, read more

While nobody burned in hell on last night's episode of Hell's Kitchen, there was plenty of the usual mayhem. Dishes were burnt, Gordon was angry, and the Hell's B*tches (the loving nickname to the all-female team) were back in full force. Forgive me if these recaps have started to sound a little like the Hell's Kitchen narrator, but I just can't help it... For the first time in Hell's Kitchen history, the teams cater a wedding as their challenge (hmm... sounds strangely like the first episode of the Next Food Network Star). To see what happened when the contestants created a meal for the most memorable day of one lucky (??) couple's life, read more

I first saw this recipe for a fresh lime chiffon cake last June, but was reminded of it a few months ago when kmcconne79 posted it to the Kitchen Goddess group. Knowing that my sister is a big fan of light, tart cakes, I decided to file it away for her birthday. Fast forward to last weekend and we've got the next installment of 52 Weeks of Baking. The cake is a little complicated and time consuming, however if you're intimidated or pressed for time, you could take the flavor concept, fillings and frosting and substitute the homemade cake with box cake. Also, I added in strawberries, but feel free to use your favorite flavor pairings. To check out the recipe, read more

With the summer high-kicking into full swing, it's about time I highlight some of my must have grilling accessories. My dad is a huge fan of grilling - as am I - and during the summer we use the bbq every night. With the proper tools you can make everything from pizza to quesadillas - including steaks and fish - on the grill. Start with the basics: a good set of tongs, a long headed spatula, and a strong wire grill brush. Before you begin your 4th of July festivities, double check to make sure you have enough propane in your gas grill or enough charcoal briquettes for your regular bbq. Bamboo skewers, a grill rack for vegetables and flaky fishes, and a deluxe basting brush are useful, but not essential accessories. With the help of these practical tools, you'll find that grilling is a cinch. I can't live without these must haves, but how about you? What are your must have grilling accessories?