Fresh berries and cream have to be one of the oldest and most classic desserts. The fruit, complemented by the sweet cream, creates a timeless and highly sophisticated dessert that beautifully finishes any meal. Smooth goat cheese is an unexpected ingredient, making for a subtle surprise. To make this delectable and simple dessert before the season's berries have disappeared, read more

As much as I love reading a cookbook, I often enjoy reading novels about chefs, caterers, or culinary personas that have exciting adventures and delicious romances. Whenever I crave one of these culinary novels, I turn to Diane Mott Davidson, author of 14 foodie mysteries. In her latest novel, Sweet Revenge, her recurring heroine Goldy Schultz — a Nancy Drew meets Martha Stewart character — finds herself in the middle of yet another murder mystery. You'll be sitting on the edge of your seat, hungry for each page.

Davidson's prose is delectably descriptive and she even provides a recipe or two for some of Goldy's delicious dishes. However the real bonus is that Davidson doesn't take herself too seriously — she even names her characters after famous dishes (ex. Drew Wellington) — which makes for a refreshing and fabulous read.

Thanks to everyone who participated in the Breville Espresso Machine contest. With over 1900 entries, we had to get the geeks to work their magic random number spells, and as much as I would love to give one to everyone, there can only be one winner. So who's the new owner? This time the lucky gal is vilas79! Congrats!

Thanks again to everyone who entered. Maybe next time I'll be able to congratulate you!

A few weeks ago, a wonderful chap named Ben stopped by the office to drop off a few bottles of wine for me to sample. It was hot and I was disappointed with his offerings of all red wines. However, when I tasted the Project 3000 Syrah on a cold, San Francisco night, I was instantly delighted. With its deep purple hues and fresh pepper aromas, this wine was both bold and subtle at the same time. The second glass was better than the first, as the bottle had time to breathe. I paired it with a delicious dinner salad filled with grilled chicken and fragrant lemon basil, but this would work wonderfully with grilled meats and gourmet sausages.

TeamSugar member TNgirl discovered that Ragu is giving away free copies of their Soccer Mom Shortcuts. If someone gets a copy, let us know what's inside! - Ragu

Every year, on the last Wednesday in August (which happens to be today), the folks of the Spanish town of Bunol get together for the annual tomato throwing festival. That's right, the town citizens, along with tens of thousands of tourists, get together for a giant tomato food fight called La Tomatina.

For exactly one hour (11am-noon), 117 tons of plum tomatoes were hurled into the air, at folks, into the streets, everywhere. At noon a rocket was shot into the air signaling the end of the fight. Once it was over, residents used garden hoses to spray down the town.

There were no reports of injuries this year, mostly because everyone seemed to respect the rules: Only throw tomatoes, don't throw tomatoes that are green (meaning that they're hard), squeeze the tomatoes first to make them burst easier (easing the sting).

So how did the event begin?

Local legend claims the event began in the mid-1940s after a group of youngsters waged a food fight near a vegetable stand on the town square. They met again the next year and pelted each other — and passers-by — creating the annual tradition.

Sounds pretty wild, but from the look of things, it sounds like a lot of fun. Maybe I should book a hotel for next year...

Source: International Herald Tribune
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This week YumJimmy asked if I could bake something that he would like. In other words, he wanted to know if I could bake something containing a lot of chocolate and not much else. Initially I thought I'd make cupcakes, but have already baked great chocolate ones this year. So after about two seconds more of thought, I decided to treat him to a batch of super-rich brownies. To check out the simple, stove-top recipe — and you really should, it makes the best brownies — read more

• With laws, parents and schools cracking down on junk food, what's left for a kid to eat? Plus, be sure to check out this recipe for the perfect plum cake. - San Francisco Chronicle



• Two men. One car. 16 clam shacks. Will they ever find the plump juicy clams of their youth? Also, don't miss this interesting article on edible films — like Listerine strips, only with food. - New York Times
• Just what are the best wines for sushi? - Dallas News
• Still looking for Labor Day ideas? Try these haute dogs and s'mores galore. - The Oregonian
• Who says street vendors have to sell just hot dogs? The DC street scene is expanding with shawarmas, pizza, waffles and more. If you're headed that way, be sure to bring along this street vendor map. - The Washington Post
• This weekend forget everything you learned in college. Translation: Don't go for a cheap keg when you can have an elegant one instead. - Los Angeles Times
• Join in on the Janmashtami celebration with an offering of sweet, savory Indian dishes — including salt seedai, and rava kesari (a dense spongy cake). - Houston Chronicle
• I love lemons. I love cake. I love pudding. Therefore I should definitely love this long-lost recipe for lemon cake pudding. Plus, flashback to another long-lost favorite: the strawberry aspic. - The Sacramento Bee

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A scrumptious fruit pie is the perfect conclusion to an end of summer barbeque. As guests may expect a cold ice cream dessert, a perfect pie can be a pleasant surprise. It can be made the day before the party and becomes a spectacular centerpiece during the event. Enjoy the pie when the sun is setting and everyone is lazy from the main course. This recipe is for blueberry pie, but feel free to substitute your favorite summer fruit — peaches, raspberries, and blackberries all make for absolutely delicious pies. To see the recipe, read more