Whenever I'm up in the mountains at my vacation house - as I am now - my mother and I spend every afternoon lying by the pool, indulging in a cocktail (or 2) at happy hour. Usually I order piña coladas, but since this week was the 4th, I've been ordering strawberry daiquiris instead. With such a beautiful vibrant red color, and the sweet/sour taste combination of pureed strawberries and fresh squeezed lime juice, how could one not look exceptionally chic sipping this by the pool? It may be frou-frou, but sometimes a gal needs frou-frou when on vacation! If you're lounging by the pool with a quench for something tropical, or are just bored at your house, treat yourself to a batch of strawberry daiquiris. Find the recipe, just read more

Let's face it, some nights there's barely enough time to make a main dish, let alone dessert - especially if you're pulling together an impromptu dinner party. In a pinch, you've probably picked up a bakery cake or pie and said, "that'll do." However, now that the weather's warmer, I suggest a dessert that's just as simple and wonderfully seasonal: ice cream sandwiches. Everyone loves them and are always amazed by the effort. If you use completely store-bought ingredients (like Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream and and Pepperidge Farm cookies) the entire dessert comes together in about 2 minutes. I won't tell your guests if you don't!

To read a few tips on flavor pairings, how to choose the right cookies and how to keep your sandwiches firm, read more

• Looks like Disney's cashing in on Ratatouille by launching their own branded wines and cheese platters. - Serious Eats



• Cooking hot dogs just got a little bit cuter thanks to the barking hot dog cooker. - Baking Bites
• PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) has given the title of "sexiest vegetarian" to Carrie Underwood and Kevin Eubanks. - Slashfood
• I love sushi, but even I might think twice about horse meat sushi. - Chow
• If you're interested, here's a list of restaurants where this season's Top Chef contestants worked. - Zagat
• Harold McGee's amazing On Food and Cooking is now fully indexed online. - Apartment Therapy Kitchen
• Three new Chinese cookbooks will let you bring authentic recipes home. - Culinate
• If you're planning a trip and want to take your own chopsticks, here are six sets of travel chopsticks to choose from. - NotCot

In the summer, I use natural basil almost everyday. It's deliciously fragrant and adds an incredible freshness to almost every dish. In tonight's quick and simple dinner, the basil plays a key role in flavoring and coloring a creamy risotto. Be sure to grill a few extra chicken breasts the next time you cook, because you can use it in this recipe instead of purchasing a rotisserie chicken. Sliced tomatoes topped with oil and vinegar make a healthy side, as does a chunk of crusty Italian bread. For the recipe please read more

My older brother, who is learning his way around a kitchen, is always emailing and calling for recipes. He lives in LA and hosts a lot of pool parties, so most of the time he grills something on the BBQ. His birthday is coming up and I asked you to help him - and me - out by finding a great grilling cookbook. You looked for easy to understand grilling cookbooks with lots of pictures and saved your books in the Yum Market on TeamSugar with the keyword tag Grilling Cookbook.

The book that I am going to get him is the one that Scarrie found. Entitled, How to Grill: The Complete Illustrated Book of Barbecue Techniques, there is a picture for each recipe perfect for my short attention spanned brother. Apparently her husband has the book and absolutely loves it! I'll definitely be sure to tell my bro that she suggests he make the super scrumptious chicken wings. Thanks to those who helped me find him a gift!

GeekSugar has created a quick read explanation on how TeamSugar's fun bookmarking feature works so check it out if you are feeling confused.

I don't know if all of you can remember back to the summer of 1985, but if you can, you might recall that Prince's Raspberry Beret was the number one song in the US. When I discovered that fact, I knew I had to hunt for a drink with the same name. The one I found is a delicious frozen treat that is one part raspberry liqueur, one part Irish cream, one part vodka and all parts delicious. So put on the song, mix up a batch and hit the dance floor! To check out the recipe, read more