YumSugar

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

Surprise Mom with Personalized M&Ms

YumSugar — Thu, 10 May 2007 11:27:29 -0700

M&M's aren't exactly what come to mind when you think of a nice unique, Mother's Day gift. But what if, instead of being stamped with an "m" it was stamped with a personalized message instead? This year the M&M's folks are touting their personalized messages as "the perfect gift to bring a fun and heartfelt connection to mom" and it looks like a few folks are biting, including Blair "I've done a bunch of other things, but you probably remember me as Dr. Leeds from Sex and the City" Underwood. This year Blair will be presenting his mom with personalized messages that say "I Love U XO Blair" and "Thank U Mom." Personally, I think it's a pretty cute and I think moms (and just about anyone) will love the idea. Just don't think this means you don't have to get her something else too.

The custom printed M&Ms come in 17 colors (you choose 2), and you can have 2 messages (one on each color) consisting of 2 lines with 8 characters per line. Prices start at $11.99 per 7oz bag, but you have to order at least 4 bags. There are other gift options to choose from as well. And if you don't think mom will love them, how about using them as a wedding favor?

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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!

YumSugar Gift Guide: Mother's Day Edition

YumSugar — Thu, 07 May 2009 05:50:10 -0700

There are only a handful of days left until Mother's Day - but if you haven't picked anything out for tu madre, don't go running to the store just yet. We've selected a few of our favorite things that you can still purchase with the convenient click of a button. If she has an insatiable craving for chocolate, she'll love this all-chocolate basket with cookie mix, cake mix, hot chocolate mix, and all other things decadent in chocolate.

Or, let her revel in her morning coffee all year long with a subscription to a gourmet coffee of the month club. If she's got a green thumb, she'll savor the sweet addition of a Kadota fig plant to her garden. For more ideas scroll below.

Come Party With Me: Bridal Brunch - Dessert

partysugar — Wed, 06 May 2009 11:30:58 -0700

Brunch is an ideal time to throw a bridal shower. The female-only event is normally hosted by a nonfamily member or the maid of honor. If you're invited to a bridal shower, it's customary to bring a gift. Often the shower will have a gift theme (like all kitchen gear, lingerie, etc.) and games. For Ronda's bridal brunch, we're keeping things simple and sophisticated with a smorgasbord of delicious breakfast foods. After the main course has been devoured, guests can enjoy coffee or tea with a scrumptious cherry breakfast cake. To look at the easy make-ahead recipe that would be welcome on any Mother's Day menu, read more.

Cherry Breakfast Cake
From Everyday with Rachael Ray

Ingredients

4 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 cups firmly packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon salt
3 sticks (12 ounces) unsalted butter, melted
1 large egg
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
Two 10-ounce bags frozen cherries, thawed and drained

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350°. Grease a 9-by-13-inch baking dish.
In a medium bowl, using your fingers, combine 3 cups flour, the brown sugar and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Mix in all but 2 tablespoons butter until large crumbs form; set aside.
In a small bowl, whisk together the remaining 2 tablespoons butter, the egg and the buttermilk.
In a medium bowl, stir together the remaining 1 1/2 cups flour, the granulated sugar, baking powder and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt. Add the egg mixture and stir to form a thick, smooth batter.
Fold about a third of the reserved crumb mixture into the batter; spread evenly into the prepared baking dish.
Scatter the cherries over the batter; sprinkle the remaining crumb mixture on top. Bake the cake until golden brown, 35 to 40 minutes. Transfer to a rack to cool for about 20 minutes before serving.

Serves 8-12.

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Do You Know What's Cooking This Week?

YumSugar — Fri, 08 May 2009 14:30:15 -0700

The fun festivities just don't stop! Our Cinco de Mayo celebration - complete with strawberry salsa and guacamole - was a hit. Then we spent a good bit of the week coming up with breakfast in bed and other great gifts for Mother's Day. Were you paying attention? Take our quiz to find out.

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The Sweet Scoop On Dylan Lauren, Candy Connoisseur

YumSugar — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 09:15:10 -0700

Earlier this week, candy collector Dylan Lauren - the fashionable founder of Dylan's Candy Bar and daughter of designer Ralph Lauren - offered some of her favorite ideas for making weddings a sweet occasion. We caught up with Lauren in person while she was in town at Neiman Marcus promoting her Barbie 50th Anniversary candy line. The candy entrepreneur took some time out of la dolce vita to talk to us about her favorite guilty pleasure and offer more suggestions for bringing candy into the party mix. Find out what they are when you read more.

YumSugar: How did your Barbie candy line come about?
Dylan Lauren: I was approached by Mattel to celebrate Barbie's 50th birthday, since we have the same audience: women ages five to 80, who collect Barbie and collect candy. Mattel had personified Barbie, and decided that she likes to shop at Dylan's Candy Bar.

YS: You've traveled a lot. Do you have favorite candies from other countries?
DL: Actually, in November and December, we'll be featuring candies from around the world: Clodhoppers from Canada, and Australian licorice, which is really chewy, and Kinder and Kinder eggs.

Foreign candy looks pretty, but it doesn't taste as good to me - for example, Japanese candy looks pretty but I don't like the way it tastes. I like Swedish Fish, gumballs, Cadbury Creme Eggs, and strawberry licorice laces. I don't like fancy stuff - I like basic basics.

YS: You've said that you're a visual person. How would you use candy as decoration when hosting and entertaining?
DL: Color-coordinate your house with candy. Now that it's Spring, pastels would be a great color scheme. You can also focus on shapes; there's a candy for everything. Our East Hampton candy store is full of ocean-themed candy. We recently did a fashion party where we featured chocolate high heels. Candy crafts - like making candy jewelry or using candy molds - are great activities, too.

YS: What about candy arrangements?
DL: I love to have a vase of jelly beans that have been layered with different rainbow colors, topped off with candy flowers, or lollipops of different sizes. They make great centerpieces!

Do you have any gift recommendations for Mother's Day?
DL: Barbie is mother-daughter themed, and such a collector's item. I also have my Re-Treat bath and body line. Or chocolate tulips and chocolate butterflies.

YS: What's next for you?
DL: I'm coming out with a candy book in the Summer of 2010. It's about celebrating with candy for all occasions.

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Gather Around Your Mother's Table

YumSugar — Wed, 07 May 2008 14:16:02 -0700

We were recently sent a copy of Around My Mother's Table: Stories and Recipes Celebrating Lives Lost to Breast Cancer ($16.95 with some proceeds going to breast cancer initiatives), and thought it might make a great Mother's Day gift. It's a sentimental, if not bitter-sweet book that's been created with lots of love.

Editor and compiler Lisa Burton embarked on the project after losing her own mother to breast cancer. Her journey results in a book mixed with 39 stories and recipes from other daughters and sons who've lost their mothers. Unlike other books like this, it really does seem like a celebration, and if you walk away with a message, it will be to cherish the moment.

If the book seems like a macabre choice, then think of it as an excuse to hang out more often. Order a copy and share it with your mom. Then get together and make the recipes, or write down your own family heirlooms. Something tells me mom won't say no to spending more time with her loved ones.

Valentine's Day Fun Facts

partysugar — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 03:28:12 -0800

You know I couldn't let a holiday pass without giving you some fun facts to spice up the conversation during your day. After the roaring success of my Super Bowl fun facts, I dug deep for lots of fabulous nonsense. Did you know that approximately 1 billion Valentine's Day cards are sent each year? (I believe it - I made and sent out 30!) Or that the Italian city of Verona, where Romeo and Juliet lived, receives over 1000 Valentine's addressed to Juliet each Valentine's day? To know who invented the first box of Valentine's Day chocolate, read more

Richard Cadbury, of Cadbury cream egg fame, invented the first box of Valentine's Day themed chocolates in the 1880s.
3% of pet owners give Valentine's Day gifts to their beloved furry friends.
Over 50 million roses are given on Valentine's Day.

73% of people who buy flowers are men.
In Medieval times people who couldn't write their names signed with an 'X' in front of a witness. The 'X' was then kissed to show sincerity. Many believe this is how the 'X' symbol became synonymous with the kiss.
On average men spend $130 for their dates on Valentine's Day.
Children received 39% of all Valentine's related gifts and candies.
Mothers and wives are the biggest givers on Valentine's Day, providing 33% of all gifts.

More than 36 million heart-shaped boxes of chocolate will be sold for Valentine's Day.
Even if they don’t make the final purchases until the last few days, 75% of men testify that they plan ahead for Valentine’s Day.
On Valentine's Day, women prefer to open their gifts after a nice dinner while men prefer to receive presents first thing in the morning.
The most romantic place to share candy is in front of the fireplace.
In the 1800s physicians commonly advised broken hearted patients to eat chocolate to calm their pining.

Throughout history, chocolate has always been seen as an aphrodisiac: Madame DuBarry served chocolates to all of her suiters, Cassanova consumed chocolate instead of champagne to induce romance, and the ancient Aztec king, Montezuma believed chocolate would make him virile.
8 billion conversation hears will be produced this year, enough candies to stretch from Rome, Italy to Valentine, Arizona 20 times and back again.

Source: Candy USA