How cute are these organic alphabet pasta shapes from Trader Joe’s?! I’m 28 years old and I still couldn’t resist adding the package to my cart. I’m trying to decide what scrumptious dish I should make with them. So many possibilities…so little time. So what do you guys think? Any special recipe suggestions for the most adorable pasta shapes to ever grace my kitchen?
The brilliant Bodega Party in a Box kit arrived today. The Neighbors Project seriously out did themselves in the categories of overall functionality and cuteness. I am so excited to have a Bodega Party, especially when there’s one literally steps from our apartment. Honestly, the first time I went inside our neighborhood bodega I was floored by the variety of items they offered, everything from fresh veggies and fruits to deli meats, beer and wine. Emphasis on the beer and wine, because as anyone whose spent any time in Massachusetts knows, it’s rare for even fully functioning grocery stores to carry liquor.
The kit comes neatly packaged in a produce bag and includes: invitations, a shopping bag, cookbook, and funky flag party decorations. Rachel, from the blog Coconut and Lime, even has a pasta recipe featured in the collection. You can order your kit directly from The Neighbors Project for $35. Proceeds from the sales of this product go to the Food and Liquor Project, which encourages people to buy from local corner, bodega, and liquor stores.
So who’s coming to my party and what are we going to make?!
As I mentioned previously my good friend Meghan is having a baby girl next month. Last weekend I attended her baby shower and I have to say I agonized over what to get her. I knew she would receive oodles of pretty pastel clothes, blankets, and toys so my goal was to find gifts for her that were unique, functional, and hopefully memorable. In the end I decided on the following items:
I fell in love with these adorable MooMe bibs, packaged to resemble baby food jars, and had such a hard time deciding between the fruit and veggie versions that I ended up just buying both. In addition to being so darn cute the bibs also made of 100% organic cotton.
Future foodie babies need to start young so I couldn’t resist stocking baby Emily’s bookshelf with two timeless food filled storybooks: Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs and Pickles to Pittsburgh.
Feeding Meghan’s baby is obviously my ultimate goal, and until she’s old enough to enjoy ice cream sandwiches and Pistachio Rocket Pops, her mom will be able to whip up healthy and wholesome meals for her with the assistance of the So Easy Baby Food kit and the First Meals cookbook. All of this undoubtedly delicious food can than be served on a whimsical La Mer ocean themed dinnerware set. Finally, just for fun, I included this ingenious Baby Owner’s Starter Kit, which comes with: The Baby Owner’s Manual, a growth chart with stickers for marking baby’s progress, a diaper changing Instructional poster (I could use this since I’ve honestly never changed a diaper in my life), a babysitter’s memo pad, and a decorative magnet.
Now we just have to wait for Baby Emily to make her grand debut so we can all begin her foodie education.
For the record I have been so incredibly impressed with all of the Tovolo products I’ve been using over the last few weeks. The molds I used for Popsicle Week were all distributed by Tovolo and the ice cream sandwich molds I tested for this post were no exception. With the assistance of these cute contraptions making ice cream sandwiches becomes incredibly easy. You begin by baking your favorite soft and chewy cookie recipe. I made a batch of Thick and Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies, of course. Next, you allow them to cool slightly before cutting out the cookies with whichever shape you decide to use. This kit comes with a heart, star, and a squircle. I’m not making that up. They actually refer to the odd shaped mold as a “squircle.” There’s also a kit that comes with animal shapes (a chicken, cow, and pig) if that’s more your style. After cutting out your cookie shapes let them cool completely on a wire rack. Finally, assemble the cookies by placing one cookie in the mold, adding a scoop of ice cream, topping with an additional cookie, and firmly applying pressure with the cookie press. Voila! A cute ice cream sandwich is born. If you aren’t going to eat the treats immediately you’ll definitely want to place them in the freezer as they start to melt quickly.
I can definitely imagine using something like this for a child’s slumber party, birthday party, or even as an interactive end to a grown-up dinner party. Just bake the cookie shapes ahead of time and set out the molds, ice cream, and bowls of sprinkles for your guests to use.
Note: There’s actually an “xoxo” engraved on the cookie press. I was really excited about this because it made me think of that show Gossip Girl. It’s hard to see in my photos, probably because of the type of cookie I baked, but I believe if you used a lighter colored sugar cookie or peanut butter cookie you’d be able to see the detail much more clearly.
PS: Many thanks to Anna D for giving me these as a birthday gift last month! Do my friends know me well, or what?
My name is Erin and I’m addicted to social media. Think I’m kidding? Guess again! I belong to all of the following and I’d love to have you join me in the fun:
Did I miss anything? Am I not a member of your favorite site? Let me know and I’ll sign-up.
If social media isn’t your thing than maybe you’ll get excited about the fact that The Cheesecake Factory is going to be selling their amazing slices of Cheesecake for only $1.50 to celebrate their 30th anniversary. So stop by on Wednesday, July 30th when they turn back the clocks to 1978, and stuff you face like a pro for a fraction of the price. Personally I’m partial to the Banana Cream Cheesecake and whatever one comes smothered in peanut butter cups. The naughty cheesecake makers will also be offering a special edition Chocolate Cake Cheesecake throughout the year. If you select that scrumptious sounding choice 25 cents from each sale will be donated to America’s Second Harvest. Calories for charity: it sounds like a great idea to me! [Thanks to Shannon from Zeer for the link].
I can’t even begin to count the number of times I took Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs out of my local library. Yes, even way back then I was obsessed with images of food, and perhaps a closet glutton. Needless to say the combination of a favorite childhood story mixed with 3-D technology means I will be at the theater on opening day. I can’t wait for meatballs and pancakes to fly in front of my face while I’m sporting those hideous plastic glasses!
There’s an eye raising comparison between the Poland Spring logo and that of a company called Palm Spring over at Newlywed in Dubai. Let’s just say that someone in that art department is going to get fired…
My favorite “green gossip” blog, Ecorazzi, has an amusing shot of Jennifer Garner exiting a grocery store with a Virgil’s All Natural Root Beer clutched in her hand. Obviously this means that she and I should be best friends since I used that brand of root beer to make the Root Beer Float Pops. Jennifer! Call me! I’m dying to know what it was like to kiss Mark Ruffalo.
My very good friend Erin has recently undertaken a new venture called Plum Pear Apple Designs and is, as we speak, working her fingers to the bone making absolutely adorable superhero capes for little boys and girls to save the day in. To celebrate the opening of her online store she’s having a contest. You have until midnight MST on Tuesday, July 15, 2008 (yikes! that’s tonight!) to enter the contest. All you have to do is leave a comment so I expect you to go on over there right now.
PS: In case you didn’t get a chance to see it, the lovely Marilyn at Simmer Till Done posted an interview with me during which I revealed all of my deep, dark foodie secrets and bad habits. Please check it out!
