When I was younger, I dreamed of having a mother who would have icy, cold lemonade and fresh, baked chocolate chip cookies waiting for me when I got home from school. Alas, my mom worked instead of baked and felt a snack of chocolate chip cookies was a bad one. In that respect, I've grown to think that the best afternoon snacks are those that combine a little bit of sweet, with a little bit of healthy. These cinnamon and sugar tostadas come together in minutes and pair nicely with fresh cut fruit, making them an ideal after school snack. Kids can help by mixing and sprinkling the cinnamon sugar on the whole wheat tortillas. Want the super easy recipe? Just read more

Just wanted to give a quick shoutout to TeamSugar member ALSW. She was our top commenter for the month of August!

Congrats ALSW! You'll be receiving a YumSugar T-shirt in the mail soon!

Want your own YumSugar swag? Then come out of hiding and start leaving comments! The person who leaves the most comments during September will also be rewarded a YumSugar shirt, so start talking! You must be a TeamSugar member to comment, so if you're not a member, please register here for an account.

If you're feeling a bit shy you can always order your own. I've put some of my favorites — like the apron and bib — below, but there's lots more to choose from.

A few weeks ago we mentioned Mario Batali's new show with Gwyneth Paltrow. If you recall, the show of them road-tripping through the Spanish countryside will be aired on PBS, not Food Network. At the time, I wondered why that was the case, but assumed it might have something to do with it being in conjunction with Spanish television. However it turns out it might actually have something to do with Mario Batali splitting up with Food Network. That's right, after an eleven year run on FN, Batali is hanging up his FN chef's coat.

Sources say the network told Mario that his multiple shows would not be renewed.

"He said that if his shows weren't going to be renewed, then he wasn't going to do 'Iron Chef,' " said a network insider. "And then they essentially said 'ciao'"

So no more Molto Mario and no more Iron Chef Batali — which sort of explains why they are looking for the Next Iron Chef.

Batali has been with the network since 1996. There's no word on whether or not his show will air in repeats.

What do you guys think about this? Do you think it's a mistake?

Source: New York Post
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I'm not exactly sure why, but I usually avoid Rieslings when I'm shopping for white wine. I can never remember if it's pronounced re or ree, and worry that each bottle is going to be sickeningly sweet. However all of these fears and insecurities were blown out the door when I tried Wolf Blass's 2006 Yellow Label Riesling. Produced in Southern Australia, this wine is beautifully crisp and very citrusy. I shared it with the girls in the office and we were all wonderfully surprised and appreciative. It's a dry Riesling that will pair wonderfully with spicy seafood, raw shellfish, or a light pasta. With its affordable price (under $12) this bargain wine is one you will definitely want to try.

As we all know, limited edition candy is all the rage these days. For a while everything came with a coating of dark chocolate or a layer of creamy peanut butter. However right now, the trend seems to be the addition of fruit flavors and pink hues.

This weekend I had the opportunity to try both the limited edition Razzberry M&Ms that I told you about a few weeks ago, as well as the new-ish Strawberry Milkshake flavored Whoppers. The limited edition M&Ms were definitely the preferred option, but to check out what I thought of each, read more

• Do you pass on chicken at restaurants? It might be time to order the right bird and discover what you've been missing out on. Plus don't miss this great video tutorial on how to cut up a chicken. - San Francisco Chronicle
• Remember the edible strips I told you about last week? Turns out that the new TV show Cane is using them in their ad campaign. - BuzzSugar



• Going to New York? Check out this upcoming restaurant guide. Also, Bittman has a recipe for a simple but grand paella. - New York Times
• Forget the new Apple announcements, I'm more interested in these adorable Mac icon cupcakes. - Geeksugar




• Chef Bill Kim heads to Korea for a little bit of Seoul searching and tangy inspiration. - Chicago Tribune
• Who says PB & J is only for kids? Whether you're a brown-bagging preschooler or a culinary commando, here's ways you can spread the love. - Boston Globe
• This time of year, Santa Barbara is the place to be. There's great restaurants, beautiful scenery and five great vineyards to keep your eye on. - Los Angeles Times



• If you're looking to spend $12 on a cake mix, give the new Martha Stewart line a try. - Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune
• In a budget- conscious challenge, a trio of cooking teachers make meals for four for under $50 at the farmer's market. - Washington Post
• The classic ice cream float is getting a designer makeover with the addition of sparkling wines, premium ice cream and stylish glassware. - Houston Chronicle

As crazy as it may seem, I always make my own birthday cake. I know most people like it when someone else makes them a super special birthday cake, but I love making cakes so it's a pleasure to make my own. For the cocktail party I'm hosting, I want a classic cake with beautiful presentation. Right now, I've settled on this recipe for a golden cake with sour cream chocolate frosting, but you never know, I may decide I want to make a different one by the time the actual party comes around! To see how this gorgeous cake is made, read more

A few weeks ago YumSugar and I were lucky enough to speak with Food Network's newest star, the Latino sensation Ingrid Hoffmann. Born in Colombia and based out of Miami, Hoffmann is the Shakira of the culinary world — she's the first Spanish speaking celebrity chef to make the cross over and currently she has shows on both Food Network and Univision — making her the first person to have shows aired in both English and Spanish.

Like a breath of breezy ocean air, Ingrid is personable, likable, and ready to party. She has a certain flavor and spice that is apparent in both her cooking and her personality. To learn a little bit more about Ingrid and find out what her hectic schedule is like, read more