lemon

Lemongrass, a root that looks like a tougher scallion, is widely used in Asian cuisine. It's named after the citrus fruit, thanks to its lemon-like scent — but how do the two stack up when placed side by side? To find out, Brad Farmerie, executive chef of The Thomas restaurant in Napa, CA, and member of the Lean Cuisine Culinary Roundtable, put both ingredients to a sensory test.

Find out what the results were — and how to conduct a similar test yourself — when you read on.

After eating my way through the cupcake craze, I'm ready to put my muffin tins away and dust off the cake pans that have been sitting at the back of my cupboards.

Don't get me wrong: I love a tiny handheld treat. But there's something very satisfying slicing into — and serving — a full-sized cake.

This time of year, I want something that goes well with a cup of tea or a scoop of fresh berries, something that makes me feel like a real hostess when friends drop in. So when I came across a recipe for a glazed lemon buttermilk cake, I knew I had found the perfect match.

The cake is moist and tangy, thanks to the addition of vegetable oil and buttermilk, but it's the lemon glaze that gives it a real lemony kick. It's great as a dessert, but I enjoy it most as a midafternoon excuse to put off doing laundry for just a little bit longer! For the recipe, just keep reading.

Although I try to eat a well-balanced healthy diet, I often feel a little lacking in the veggie department — do you? Bland foods bore my palate and I find some veggies a little on the dull side. If the lack of flavor is your issue, here are some easy, clever ways to spruce up your veggies for snacks or mealtime.

Keep reading to learn how.

If you think tequila is only good in margaritas, think again! The Mexican spirit is a wonderful base for all sorts of cocktails. In this recipe, tequila is paired with sweet strawberries, tart lemons, and fragrant mint. The method is adaptable: if you prefer a strong drink, use more tequila, and if you're partial to weak beverages, add more club soda. This refreshing cooler is the perfect way to kick-start your weekend. Ready to toast with tequila? Get the recipe now.

If you've read any of my past candle reviews, you probably know that as much as I'm a candle fanatic, I'm also quite picky about what I light up in my home. The latest candle to come under my scrutiny is Tocca's Bianca Candle ($38). I've had good experiences with the luxury brand's beauty products in the past, but had never tried Tocca home fragrances.

To begin, let's just say that Bianca had me at hello. The 10.6-oz. candle is elegantly packaged in a Tiffany-blue box with the brand's chic, gilded logo. The candle itself arrives in a luxe, milk-white glass vessel, which suits any interior and can be reused with tea lights or even as a small vase. In other words, the packaging is perfection.

Now, on to the scent . . . Bianca's primary notes are of green tea, lemon, and a dash of sugar. It smells herbal with a subtle sweetness, but it's not overwhelming or heavy. It has a truly beautiful fragrance that's light, airy, and transitional. It's perfect year-round, for daytime and evening occasions, but I see myself mostly pairing with a long bath, a cup of tea, a good book, and maybe a glass of red wine.

The candle has a 60-hour approximate burning time, which ranks up there with the best of them. Anything burning over 40 hours gets a high five from me. As single wick candles tend to do, if at the end this one burns too deeply, it'll be a perfect contender to be salvaged in such a beautiful jar. But mind you, this one's made of paraffin wax, so it's not as eco-friendly as its soy-wax counterparts. As for the price, this one is no bargain; I do have some favorites that clock in around $15-$30. But the scent is elegant and understated, so it's a foolproof alternative to pricier Dipytque candles, which cost an arm and a leg at $60.

You can check out a range of Tocca's other scents at Sephora, if you want to sniff before you buy! I'm excited to try more Tocca scents; I think I may be on my way to finding my favorite!

Instead of serving a spirits-based specialty cocktail at my Californian Thanksgiving, I'll be pouring a wine-based drink that's garnished with icy grapes. The recipe is somewhat like sangria, but without the addition of liqueur. White wine is infused with fresh rosemary, mint, and lemon zest. It sits overnight until the wine has an aromatic herbal quality. It's a light, refreshing, and fruity start that will offset the heavy and rich meal perfectly. Don't skip the frozen grape step; it's a festive presentation and they end up looking like floating jewels in the infused white wine.

Keep reading for the easy, make-ahead recipe.

Marie Veronique Nadeau is the kind of woman you want to chat up for hours. Not only is the former chemistry teacher practically (and naturally) wrinkle-free in her early 60s, but she's also a licensed esthetician and founder of Marie Veronique Organics, an eco-friendly line free of toxins, nanoparticles, and petroleum-based ingredients. And when I asked Marie for a few quick, easy, and natural masks to do at home, she delivered. Find out two great recipes when you read more.

Like us, YumSugar member thehungrytexan is trying to hold onto Summer. Case in point: she recently savored a lemon ice box pie.

I'm still not ready to dive into Fall baking just yet, it's not near cold enough here! I made this lemon ice box pie to satisfy my sweet craving. Minimum baking required (or none at all if you use a premade crust!). Cool and creamy with lots of lemon tang, easy to make too.

What delicious desserts have you been diving into lately? Share by uploading your food photos in the Savory Sights group in our YumSugar Community!

Normally, for a special occasion party like a bridal shower, I like to serve a specialty cocktail. But for my friend Melissa's upcoming shower, I'm making a specialty mocktail instead. Several of the guests are pregnant, and to include them in the fun I'll offer these berry-lemon sparklers. They consist of muddled berries with fresh lemon juice and a splash of seltzer for effervescence. For those who prefer to sip something potent, I'll pour sparkling wine. I plan on picking up a case of my favorite girlie bottle, Sofia Blanc de Blancs by Francis Ford Coppola.

I'll also have white wine on ice in case anyone wants to imbibe that. To look at the mocktail recipe I'm going to use, keep reading.