YumSugar

Archway Cookies Makes a Comeback, Too

YumSugar — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 09:00:21 -0800

The economy continues to tumble, yet there's no end in sight when it comes to the pattern of reviving extinguished store-bought cookie brands. Following the rebirth of Mother's cookies by Kellogg's, snack company Lance is bailing out Archway, the sister company to Mother's that also collapsed this October. Before its demise, Archway was known nationwide for its soft-batch cookies in various flavors such as oatmeal and nougat. When Archway filed for Chapter 11, nearly 300 workers were left displaced and without jobs. Last week, Lance stunned former employees by giving many of them their old jobs back and presenting each full-time employee with a $1,500 gift card. The Charlotte, NC-based company resumed operations at Archway this week.

I'm glad to hear that these cookies are coming back, and even more thrilled to hear of people getting their jobs back. At a time when layoffs seem to be the only news making headlines, I'm relieved that at least some people are happily returning to their jobs. Are you excited for the return of Archway cookies?

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Mother's Cookies Are Back

YumSugar — Fri, 01 May 2009 13:00:37 -0700

If Mother's Cookies were on your list of discontinued products that you continue to miss, you can cross them off now, because beginning May 4 - just in time for Mother's Day - select Mother's Cookies will return to store shelves in the West.

In October of last year, Mother's unexpectedly closed its doors. Cookie lovers everywhere mourned the loss with farewell t-shirts and by raiding supermarkets for the last of the brand's cookies.

Then, in December, Kellogg's purchased the rights to Mother's Cookies, which is why in a matter of days the snacks will be back in grocery stores where they rightfully belong. To see what varieties will be returning, read more.

Chocolate Chip
Circus Animal
Coconut Cocadas
Double Fudge
English Tea
Iced Lemonade
Iced Oatmeal
Macaroons
Oatmeal
Taffy
Vanilla Crème

Which cookies are you most excited about?

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Come Party With Me: Mother's Day - Music

partysugar — Fri, 11 May 2007 07:05:32 -0700

Mother's Day is only two short days away and I am busy as a bee preparing my mom's brunch. Everything is going along quite smoothly - a party for one is so much easier than a party for 300. I took care of making her a card earlier in the week by turning the mother's day card into a Mother's Day invitation. I'll make an easy breakfast of fruit salad, an egg sandwich, and sweet crepes with a strawberry bellini to wash the whole thing down. A very delicate beautifully set breakfast in bed tray will hold the magnificent meal. On Fridays, I usually talk about what kind of music will play at the party. Quite simply it all depends on your mom. If your mom loves Sting get a copy of his greatest hits for her. If she loves jazz make a compilation of new jazz songs for her. BuzzSugar suggests getting her The Reminder by Feist, a new cd filled with interesting ballads that your mom will love.

However there may be the chance that your mother prefers to watch tv or a new movie or read the paper. If this is the case, then netflix the movie she has been dying to see or order her the new book she has been talking about. The most important thing that you must remember is that Mother's Day is all about making mom feel loved and appreciated. Oftentimes the people we take for granted are the ones we love the most so go out of your way to be honestly nice and genuinely loving. If you do so, I can guarantee that your party will be a success and your guest of honor, your mom, will be unbelievably happy.

Surprise Mom With a Little Dijon

YumSugar — Tue, 06 May 2008 15:15:04 -0700

If you're more like me than PartySugar - and by that I mean a solid procrastinator - I should probably remind you that Mother's Day is this Sunday. If you still don't know what to get for the lady of your life, well calm down, I've got some ideas.

Le Creuset recently announced a new Dijon color set. The bright and bold yellow color is wonderfully Spring friendly and a load of fun. Pots and pans don't sound like the most amazing Mother's day gift, but believe me a new Le Creuset set does. But, if mom ends up hating it, take her to a day spa and keep the Dijon set for yourself!

If you want to spoil her with an entire mustard-yellow theme, then scroll through to see some more bold finds.

Le Creuset® Dijon Enameled Cast Iron 6-Piece Set - $549.95	Martha Stewart Collection 3-Piece Yellow Kitchen Towels Set - $9.99
Stockholm Floral Apron - $28.00	Emile Henry Ruffled Auberge Rectangular Bakers, Dijon - $66.00
Potato Print Dishtowel, Yellow - $14.00	Dijon Tropical Flower Apron, Set of 2 Potholders or Set of 4 Napkins - $11.96
Peugeot U-Select Lacquered Salt & Pepper Mills, Dijon - $50.00	Emile Henry Ruffled Auberge Oval Baker, Dijon - $49.00
Le Creuset® Dijon Round Skillets - $119.95	Le Creuset® Dijon Round Braiser - $199.95
Mustard Tableware, Salad Plate - $12.00	LiveStrong Whistling Loop 1.8-Quart Tea Kettle by Chantal - $49.99
Paring Knife Sharpener, Yellow - $18.00	Komachi Sandwich Knife - $24.99
Grapefruit Knife - $5.95	Komachi Bread Knife - $27.00
Canisters - $64.00	Normann Copenhagen Strainer - $62.00
Lizkin Design Egg Pants - $20.00	Hawthorne Belvedere Vase in Yellow - $149.00

Come Party With Me: Mother's Day - Drinks

partysugar — Wed, 09 May 2007 07:57:39 -0700

My mom is a super hard working school teacher. I try to help her out as much as I can because she is always there for me when I need motherly support, but I worry I never help her enough. That's why this Mother's Day, I'm making her a glorious breakfast in bed just for her (ok dad you can have some too!). I already made her a memorable handmade card and surprised her by leaving it underneath the covers of her bed. I came up with a simple yet delicious menu consisting of easy breakfast recipes that I'm positive my mom will devour. Next up on the party plan to do list: the drinks. My mom prefers beer and margaritas, but since those are a little inappropriate for the morning I'll be making her a strawberry bellini. We often order mimosas when we go out to brunch which is why I chose the bellini to make it seem more like a celebration. The only wine she'll drink is sparkling, so the prosecco based bellini is the ideal brunch drink. I've also found a great pomegranate orange juice recipe for all of the mom's out there who don't drink. Nothing beats fresh squeezed oj! Although this time of year the pomegranate juice will have to be from a bottle, but it still tastes absolutely divine. Please, for the recipes read more

Strawberry Bellini
From Mario Batali

1 bottle prosecco (Italian sparkling wine)
2 cups pureed and strained fresh strawberries
Special equipment: Blender, strainer, iced champagne flutes, pitcher and tall "swizzle stirrer" (for the pitcher)

Place 8 Champagne flutes in the freezer for 20 minutes.
Open the prosecco and let it stand in an ice bucket for 5 minutes.
Into a pitcher, pour the 2 cups pureed strawberries. Gently pour in the bottle of prosecco and stir gently to combine.
Divide among Champagne flutes and serve.

Serves 8.

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Pomegranate Orange Juice
From Martha Stewart

1 cup fresh pomegranate juice (fresh or bottled)
5 cups freshly squeezed orange juice

To extract the pomegranate's sweet-tart juice, if using fresh pomegranates, use a juice press, and then combine with freshly squeezed orange juice.

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Come Party With Me: Mother's Day - Invites

partysugar — Mon, 07 May 2007 13:22:16 -0700

I have the best mom ever. Although she doesn't cook, she is unbelievably cool, young beyond her years, and is fabulously patient. I don't want to have kids because I know I could never be as an amazing mom as she is. I like to tell her I love her everyday, but I know sometimes she may feel a little under appreciated. This year I want to do something super special for her and make her a lovely breakfast in bed. She has done so much for me in the last twenty five years (I mean she gave birth to me, that in itself should grant her a lifetime of brunches) and the very least I can do is make her a meal made with 100% love. Since she is the guest of honor - and the only guest - I'll be making her an intimate invitation inspired by the ones you used to make in elementary school. So come party with me: make your mom a handmade card to go along with your homemade meal, read more

Remember when you were little and you made your mom silly little cards and she loved and praised them and placed them on the fridge? Well I wanted to recreate that sentiment in a card with simple text and a photo collage of pictures of me and mom.

To make this card you will need:

cardstock in the color of your choice (I chose a creamy butter)
satin ribbon in an attractive color that matches the cardstock (I chose pale yellow)
single hole punch
scissors
glue
a computer and printer
old photos: I chose one of my mom when she was pregnant with me, one of myself (yes I had a mullet), and one of my mom and me when she was pregnant with my little sister

To assemble this card:

Scan the images into your computer or make color copies of them as you don't want to cut up the original images. Make a collage in photoshop or with scissors and glue. I did mine on photoshop and printed out the image when I was done.

Once you have the collage done, create a new document in word on your computer. Type out a nice note in a fun font (I used Lucida Handwriting in size 12) for your mom. Here's what mine said:

Dearest Mom,
Without your loving care and undying support I would be lost.
To celebrate your absolute wonderfulness I will be making you a special-private mother/daughter brunch.
Please set aside Sunday morning for me.
I love you,
PartySugar

Print out on a plain sheet of paper. If you are statisfied with the layout and wording, print out on the colored cardstock.

Cut the collage down to size with no edge.

Glue to the back of the text. I glued mine at an angle because this is an invite that is not about perfection.
With the single hole punch, punch holes, roughly 1 inch apart.

Thread the satin ribbon between the holes and tie in a bow at the top on the text side.

Voila your invitation is done! I'm going to place it on her pillow so it will surprise her when she goes to bed tonight. What will you do for mom (or the person who you're celebrating) on Mother's Day? Tell me your party plans below!

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Come Party With Me: Mother's Day - The Look

partysugar — Thu, 10 May 2007 06:57:32 -0700

Mother's Day is this Sunday - if you didn't know, there is still time to send a card and have it arrive by Saturday! - and I am making a very special brunch to celebrate my wonderful mom. She got all teary eyed when she saw the beautiful card I made her inviting her to the brunch. As this is breakfast in bed, no over the top decorations are necessary. However a spotless house is a must and after you make the meal don't forget to clean the kitchen. The last thing your mom needs is to come downstairs from a luxurious breakfast in bed to a messy kitchen. Place the fruit salad in a silver bowl, the egg sandwich on a clean white plate, and the crepes on a separate small plate. Place all three on a beautiful old fashioned breakfast tray. Give her a big linen napkin to ensure that her bedspread does not get dirty, as well as several smaller paper napkins to wipe her fingers on. Use your good silverware and a chic fluted champagne glass for the bellini. Don't forget to place a napkin underneath the plates and glass to prevent them from sliding around on the walk from the kitchen to the bedroom. A small vase with your mom's favorite flowers will complete the look.

Mother's Day Gift Guide: Personalized Recipe Box, French Wine & Rose Cupcakes

YumSugar — Wed, 09 May 2007 15:45:32 -0700

Yesterday I brought you the first part of our Mother's Day gift guide and today I'm finishing it off with a few more great ideas. This first one is for the mom with all the recipes in her head. Don't you think it would be a nice gift for her (and you) if you helped her get them put on paper? The personalized recipe gift set from William-Sonoma will help you do that in a classy and personal way. The set comes with a personalized wood box and embosser ("Kitchen of Mom's Name") as well as 100 cards (the box holds 500). It'll be lovely now, but can you imagine it getting passed down through the generations? Available for $69.

Two more gift ideas (including a great wine set and a cute cupcake idea), so read more

If your mom dreams of visiting the French countryside, but you can't yet afford to fly her out there, why don't you bring the countryside to her? The Tour of Provence Wine Set contains three must-have selections from the South of France, as well as Patricia Wells' At Home in Provence Cookbook. Available for $49.99.

If mom is a baker (or if you are) surprise her with a dozen cupcake roses. This Rose Bundt Cupcake pan from Nordic Ware allows you to create a dozen roses. I'm imagining strawberry cupcakes with lemon icing, talk about a cute gift! Available for $31.95.

Mother's Day Gift Guide: 86 Recipes, Herbs & Tea

YumSugar — Tue, 08 May 2007 15:51:55 -0700

If the person you call "Mom" is a foodie at heart, here are some great gift ideas that will be sure to wow her this Mother's Day.

My favorite pick works well for moms who love to travel and eat out, or moms who like to stay in and cook. A new collection called 86 Recipes is a series of recipe boxes that contain (you got it) 86 recipes each. However these aren't just any recipes, these are recipes from some of the best restaurants in the country. Available in a New York or San Francisco edition (New Orleans is launching this summer), each box contains 86 recipes with tips on presentation, wine pairings, plus a photo, map and contact info of each restaurant. Where else can you get 86 practically-famous recipes (SF - Gary Danko, Tartine Bakery, Chez Panisse; NY - Daniel, Aquavit, Prune) in one place? Oh and why 86? That's restaurant slang to indicate that a popular item has been sold out. However each box also comes with a bunch of other origins for the name "86" - but you'll just have to get it to find out. SF edition is $19.99, NY edition is $24.99. Pick one up for mom, and pick up the other for yourself. Oh and if you're lucky, maybe you'll win a trip to NY or SF for mom too!

Two more great gift ideas for your mom, just read more

Imagine growing fresh herbs all year long. Oh and did I mention that it would be dirt and weed free? If the mom you know is into fresh herbs, but lacks a green thumb, get her an Aerogarden and watch things grow. Available for $149.99.

If mom would rather sit in the living room with a good book and a pot of tea, why don't you get her a Flowering Tea Set from Numi. This deluxe set comes packaged in a hand-made bamboo case that houses a glass teapot and a bin of Numi's hand-sewn flowering teas. The glass teapot is perfect for viewing the blooming tea, and I'm sure it will brighten mom's day. Available for $34.95.

Need more ideas? Be sure to check back tomorrow for part 2!

Come Party With Me: Mother's Day - Menu (Part 3)

partysugar — Tue, 08 May 2007 14:28:59 -0700

Recently I went to brunch with my family and ordered some amazing cheese and berry crepes. Ever since, I have been searching for a reason to make my own version and this week I've finally found one: Mother's Day! I'm whipping up a super special brunch for my mama, complete with a homemade card, fruit salad, and egg sandwich (my mom's an old fashioned kind of girl and likes her food simple and scrumptious). I've already covered the savory section of the breakfast and while the fruit is slightly sweetened, I want a decadent finish. Crepes filled with a sweet marscarpone cream cheese mixture, topped with a bright strawberry sauce, will be a perfectly sweet ending to the meal. You know the drill: for the recipe, read more

Strawberry Mascarpone Crepes
Modified from Emeril Lagasse

8 ounces mascarpone cheese
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
3 tablespoons sugar
2 large egg yolks
1 1/2 teaspoons finely grated orange zest
1 teaspoon fresh orange juice
1 teaspoon Grand Marnier liqueur
Pinch salt
12 crepes, recipe follows
1 pint blueberries
Strawberry Sauce, recipe follows
Confectioners' sugar, garnish

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Lightly grease a large glass baking dish.
In a medium bowl, beat together the mascarpone, cream cheese, sugar, egg yolks, zest, juice, Grand Marnier, and salt until smooth.
Place the crepes flat on a work surface. One at a time, spoon 2 tablespoons of the filling down the center, and top with a few fresh strawberries. Roll the sides of the crepe up and over the filling and place in the baking dish, seam side down.
Bake until the filling is warmed through and slightly puffed, 10 minutes.
Spoon the sauce over the crepes and return to the oven and hot, 2 to 4 minutes.
Remove and arrange 3 crepes on each of plates. Dust with confectioners' sugar and serve immediately.

Serves 4.

Strawberry Sauce:
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups water
1/2 cup fresh-squeezed orange juice
2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons Grand Marnier liqueur
1 1/2 teaspoons finely grated orange zest
1 3/4 cups strawberries, picked over, chopped and rinsed
1 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter

In a small saucepan combine the sugar, water, orange juice, cornstarch, Grand Marnier, and orange zest, and stir well.
Cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 5 minutes.
Stir in 1 1/2 cups of the strawberries and simmer the mixture, stirring occasionally, until the berries burst and the sauce thickens, about 5 minutes. Add the butter and remaining 1/4 cup of strawberries and stir until the butter is melted and the berries are warmed through, 1 minute.
Remove from heat and cover to keep warm until ready to use.

Makes 3 cups

Crepes:
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
3 large eggs, beaten
3/4 cup plus 3 tablespoons whole milk
1 tablespoon sugar
Pinch salt
6 teaspoons melted unsalted butter

Whisk together the flour, eggs, milk, sugar, salt, and 4 1/2 teaspoons of the butter to form a smooth, thin batter. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before proceeding.
Heat a heavy 6-inch skillet or crepe pan over medium-high heat. When hot, brush with a light coating of the remaining butter.
Ladle about 1/4 cup of crepe batter into the pan, tilting the skillet to evenly coat the pan with batter. Cook until golden brown on the bottom and the top begins to look dry, 1 to 2 minutes.
Using a spatula, carefully turn the crepe and cook on the second side just until the bottom colors slightly, about 30 seconds.
Transfer to a plate and cover loosely to keep warm. Repeat with remaining batter.

To make ahead: when cool, layer between sheets of waxed paper and wrap tightly in plastic wrap. Refrigerate until ready to use, up to 3 days.)

Makes 12 (6-inch) crepes.

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