Posts for September 7th 2009

Snacks

Let's Dish: What's Your Before-Bedtime Snack?

Last month, I shared a dark secret with you: I'm reluctant to climb in between the sheets without snuggling up to a glass of red wine and a hunk of chocolate first.

Last month, I shared a dark secret with you: I'm reluctant to climb in between the sheets without snuggling up to a glass of red wine and a hunk of chocolate first. Before I was of drinking age, my favorite way to wind down before bed was with a cup of Blue Bell ice cream or a bowl of chilled, sliced fruit, like watermelon, mango, or papaya.

What do you feel inclined to eat right before you hit the sack?

summer

Give Me a S'more Popsicle

Summer is coming to an end!

Summer is coming to an end! I don't want it to, but there's no way to fight it, so instead, I celebrated by creating a frozen treat inspired by the great camping tradition of s'mores. Only a few days ago, PartySugar made homemade smores, and I decided to try my hand at s'mores popsicles. These easy popsicles only require five ingredients: vanilla ice cream, marshmallows, chocolate chips, graham crackers, and vegetable oil.To mimic the shape of a marshmallow, I made the pops in small juice glasses, although any pop mold or dixie cup would work. While these popsicles are not gooey and warm like the original s'more, they have the same great flavor. The first bite of roasted marshmallow ice cream, crisp chocolate, and crunchy graham crackers will cool down anyone who is basking in the last fiery days of Summer. These popsicles are irresistible to kids and adults, so if you want chilly s'mores, keep reading.

Eco

Go Green! Fashion Your Own Chip Clips

Ever since Party suggested using wine bottles as darling water holders, I've been wanting to share an eco-friendly tip of my own.

Ever since Party suggested using wine bottles as darling water holders, I've been wanting to share an eco-friendly tip of my own. If you're like me, you've got a surplus of plastic clamped clothes hangers sitting in your closet. I often return hangers to the dry cleaners, as a way to recycle them — but I save the ones with clamps, and turn them into chip clips.

It's beyond easy: carefully twist the clips off (or, if they're soft plastic, you can remove them with a sharp knife), and you've got a useful (and completely free!) clip for chips or anything else that needs preserving in your pantry. Have you ever done this before? What other upcycling or eco-friendly tips do you have for keeping a green kitchen?

recipes

7 Happy Trail Mixes For Back to School

Happy Monday and Happy Labor Day Day!
Trail Mix Recipes

Happy Monday and Happy Labor Day Day! Seeing as many kids are heading back to school, I find this the perfect time to celebrate snacking. Trail mix — a combination of fruit, grains, nuts, and sometime chocolate — is a healthful and delicious snack. It's not only ideal for hiking, but also for packing in school (or office) lunches. For a variety of trail mix recipes to experiment with, start clicking.