Chocolate

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Brownies for Swimsuit Season

07/29/2011 in Chocolate, Health, Random Musings by Lindsay | 2 comments

Y’all, these are pretty awesome…

They aren’t quite as “healthy” as 100 calorie packs, but they’re a heck of a lot better than your grandma’s brownies + a tasty way to satisfy your summer sweet tooth!

Here’s the Q+DD on SnackWell’s Rich Vanilla Creme Brownie Bites:
Serving size: 1 package
Calories: 150
Fat: 5g
Carbs: 26g
Protein: 2g

I strongly suggest putting them in the refrigerator.  They are delicious as a cold snack.  One more month of official swimsuit season to go…JUST sayin’.  Pick them up at your nearest grocery.

Happy, happy Friday!

xx, L

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Sugar Lilly Cupcake Jars. You Need These…

07/28/2011 in Chocolate, Guilty Pleasures, Parties, Where we're Eating by Lindsay | 2 comments

Gift giving + fulfilling party needs just got a bit easier.  Johns Creek mobile bakery, Sugar Lilly, turned their delicious cupcake recipes into a treat that will wow your taste buds.  Cupcake Jars are the delicious solution to all your cupcake problems…and you can indulge at your convenience. 

(Here’s a peek at the mouthwateringly INCREDIBLE Sugar Lilly Cupcake Jar that LK + I shared on Tuesday…) 

Cupcake Jars stay fresh for up to five days + have all the perks and goodness of Sugar Lilly’s delicious, signature cupcakes.  Each jar is crafted with slices of gourmet cupcakes, layered with homemade frostings + topped with decadent goodies!

All Sugar Lilly sweets are customized - from the flavors to the personal message.  Sugar Lilly will create a unique flavor combination to satisfy any pallet or compliment any event’s theme.  If you want to keep it simple, stick to a signature flavor combo including, butterfinger, oreo, red velvet, heath bar, lemon, strawberry shortcake, black bottom and many more.  After you have selected the perfect flavor combination, customize your Cupcake Jars with a personal message or logo!

Cupcake Jars are perfect in place of gift bags or get well gifts.  Small Cupcake Jars make excellent party favors for showers, birthday parties, weddings, corporate functions or housewarming parties!  Cupcake Jars, along with other Sugar Lilly decadent desserts, can now be shipped across the country in a matter of days. 

Sugar Lilly also specializes in cupcakes, candy buffets, gift baskets, gourmet chocolate desserts + party favors!  Ordering is available through Sugar Lilly’s Facebook Page.

As I mentioned, LK + I tried a Cupcake Jar the other night and it was absolutely as good as it sounds!  They are delicious cupcakes and the portability of the mason jars makes them SO much easier to enjoy!  Deeeee-lish!  

We heart Sugar Lilly!  :)

xx, L

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Last Minute Valentine’s Day 411

02/11/2011 in Events, Guilty Pleasures, Holidays, Museums, Reminders, Tory Burch, What we're Doing, Where we're Eating, Where we're Shopping by Lindsay | 3 comments

You know what they say about procrastination, don’t you?  It’s the thief of time.  It’s also a surefire way to royaly infuriate your candy-hearts-lovin’ boy/girlfriend who has been very patiently waiting for you to inform him/her about your upcoming Valentine’s Day plans.

Well, you’re in LUCK, aspiring Cupids, because The Q+DD is here to help…

If you’ve waited this long to make a Monday night dinner reservation – you are probably out of luck.  However, you are still welcome to check out the great prix fixe offerings at Fifth Group Restaurants.  Give ‘em a call – you never know who might be breaking up this weekend + canceling their reservation.  (JUST saying…)  Otherwise, I spent V-Day at Apres Diem (last minute reservation) a few years ago + thought it was great!  Could be fun to grab a quick bite there + catch a movie at Midtown Art Cinema? 

Another option is Genki Noodles + Sushi in Buckhead or Sandy Springs for “I Heart Sushi Month.”  Genki will be celebrating “IHSM” for the entire month of February featuring sushi rolls in the shape of a heart for $9.95 + $6 Valentine’s Day inspired cocktails.  I think that is pretty darn adorable!

If Monday doesn’t sound like the ideal day for a celebration, here are some fun V-Day weekend ideas:

Atlanta’s Chocolate Tour
The Atlanta Trolley Tour line is offering Atlanta’s Chocolate Tour just in time for Valentine’s Day.  For $80 per person, you’ll take a three-hour tour of four eating establishments where you will enjoy special chocolate treats.  Tours take place every weekend in February + begin daily at 11:00 a.m.  Information here:  I Love Chocolate!

V-Day in the Garden
Enjoy cocktails, scrumptious desserts, live entertainment + dancing while experiencing Orchid Daze, the Atlanta Botanical Garden’s annual exhibition of thousands of exotic orchids.  Saturday, February 12 from 7:00 – 11:00 p.m. $30 per person ($25 for garden members).  Information here:  I Love Flowers!

V-Day @ the HIGH Museum
In celebration of the “Toulouse-Lautrec & Friends” exhibition, the HIGH Museum is hosting a special French Cabaret themed Valentine’s Day event.  French inspired food + drinks available for purchase.  Saturday, February 12 from 6:00 – 10:00 p.m. $25 per person, $40 per couple + free for members.  Information here:  I Love French Stuff!

Cupid at the Castle
Couples can have the ceremony of their dreams for a fraction of the cost on Saturday, February 12 at Rhodes Hall, Atlanta’s “Castle on Peachtree.”  Weddings, commitment ceremonies + vow renewals are all available.  Rhodes Hall will provide a romantic setting for these brief, inexpensive ceremonies.  Couples can opt to exchange vows under the magnificent granite arches of the front porch overlooking Peachtree.  The cost per ceremony is $225.  Information here: I Love Ceremonies!

Want to send something to that special someone?  Here are a few ideas you can take advantage of – if you act super fast!

Pinkberry Makes Hearts Swirl
For the first time ever this Valentine’s Day, Pinkberry is introducing Swirly Grams.  Atlantans can celebrate their sweetheart with a beautifully wrapped gift of Pinkberry frozen yogurt hand-delivered free of charge to their loved one’s home or office (in designated delivery areas).  Information here:  I Love Yogurt! 

Send a Panty Gram
Send your hunk something much more memorable than a drugstore greeting card – a Panty Gram!  He’ll receive a lacy red thong with a flirty personalized message from “his secret admirer” that directs him to the Panty Gram website.  Once he logs in, he’ll read whatever message you want to leave for him.  Information here:  I Love Underwear!

And, some last minute V-Day gift ideas:

V-Day Personalized Boxers for Him
There’s no question where his heart belongs with Lovin’ It! Personalized Boxer Shorts!  These classic boxer shorts are custom-made for him alone with a bright red heart + personalized with the name of his significant someone across the front.  100% cotton, machine washable + great for lounging or sleepwear.  (Thank you for this one, Lynn @ www.dlreport.com!)  Information here:  I Love Personalization!

Tory Burch + Kate Spade Heart V-Day
Tory Burch + Kate Spade are both offering some super adorable V-Day gifts!  Check them out online or this weekend at Phipps Mall for Tory or Lenox Mall for Kate. 

A heart-shaped cactus would be pretty rad…  (RIP Felix – miss you, old friend.)

This last idea is kinda off the wall, but worth a mention.  Wax, Atlanta’s wax-only studio in Inman Park, is offering heart-shaped bikini waxes for $59.  To each his/her own.  I promise I’m not judging…  Information here: I can’t think of anything appropriate, so just click on this hyperlink.

that darwin - such a lady killer

With all of that said written, I must admit that a thoughtful home-cooked meal, a single red rose, a bottle of wine + a cuddle can go quite a long way on V-Day.  Sometimes that’s all you really need… 

Happy V-Day weekend, everyone!   :)

xx, L

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Hooray for Pie!

02/06/2011 in Chocolate, Deals + Steals, Holidays, Where we're Eating by Lindsay | No comments

Mark your calendars, lovebirds:

Which is really great news b/c…

xx, L

Willy’s Mexicana Grill – Piedmont Park (my fav.)
1071 Piedmont Ave. NE
Atlanta, GA  30309
404.249.9054
www.willys.com

Willy's Mexicana Grill on Urbanspoon

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Send A Chocomize Surprise!

01/04/2011 in Chocolate, Gifts, Guilty Pleasures, Holidays, Vendors, Where we're Eating by Lindsay | 2 comments

On my way to Kansas City, I was reading the most recent issue of Delta Sky, a magazine I actually really love + think is very well done, when I came across an article about Chocomize.

This business is brilliant – and I’m not the only one who thinks so…  It’s been featured in The Oprah Magazine, USA Today, Brides, The New York Times, etc.  Chocomize’s list of supporters goes on and on and on.  The concept is simple + delicious:  You design.  They create.  They ship right to your doorstep – the most creative chocolate bars you can imagine!

And it arrives in nice packaging, too!

Here’s the Q+DD on Chocomize:

Choose your favorite chocolate base and from more than 100 types of fruit, nuts, herbs + candies to create your very own personalized chocolate bars.  Our Belgian chocolate bars are handmade to order with only the finest ingredients!  More than 30 billion custom chocolate combinations are possible.  You decide which one is perfect for you.  It’s easy, fun + simply delicious.  Also, great for bulk chocolate gifts, corporate gifts and chocolate wedding favors!

This is SO perfect for me as I view candy within the same terms that I also view creative accessorizing - MORE IS MORE!  And, I love gummy bears in chocolate + that isn’t always easy to find…  Believe me.

Just think!  You could make Beef Jerky Chocolate Bars:

Or an Obama Bar:

The possibilities are endless!  You use their simple Creation Station to choose your chocolate + select your toppings and order away!  Viola!

Folks:  Don’t forget that Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, too.  Personally, I’d much rather receive customized Chocomize chocolate over a generic heart-shaped box of old standbys.

Visit Chocomize: http://www.chocomize.com/

I’m just sayin’…Chocomize is REALLY awesome.  Dark Chocolate + 23 Karat Gold Flakes (+ Gummy Bears?), well, don’t mind if I do!  If they are putting beef + herbs into their chocolate, I seriously doubt anyone’s judging!  :)

xx, L

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Nothing Bundt Cakes

12/29/2010 in Chocolate, Dallas, Entertaining, Gifts, Guilty Pleasures, Holidays, Vendors by Lindsay | 8 comments

If you are like me, when you hear the word “bundt,” you immediately think of My Big Fat Greek Wedding.  “It’s a bundttttt!”

"bundtttttttttttttt"

"there's a hole in this cake..."

Well, no longer!  They are making a comeback.  My little bro’s adorable girlfriend brought over the most gorgeous + delicious bundt cake from Nothing Bundt Cakes to my family’s Chrismukkah celebration + we were all amazed!  It was super moist and really tasty!  We finished off almost the entire cake in a matter of hours.

Just look how beautiful:

Although I first heard about this California-based company a week ago, it’s been around since ’97 + has been franchised throughout the West Coast + Texas.

Here’s what our bundt looked like:

Visit the Nothing Bundt Cakes website here: http://www.nothingbundtcakes.com/

Surprise someone special with a bundt!  NBC ships their creative cakes nationwide + are they just as tasty as they are adorable.  :)

xx, L

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The Perfect Brownie

12/11/2010 in Chocolate, Guilty Pleasures, What we're Cooking by Lindsay | 9 comments

I did it!  On Wednesday night, I made the PERFECT brownie!

viola!

Thanks to the As Seen on TV Perfect Brownie!

Seriously, it was perfect.  Each individual brownie had edges like an end piece + they were perfectly symmetrical. Slick brought them to work + two of his coworkers separately called me to tell me how good they were!  I’m just sayin’…they were the bomb.

xx, L

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Eating Our Feelings…

10/05/2010 in Buckhead, Chocolate, Guilty Pleasures, Where we're Eating by Lindsay | 2 comments

I was in Houston for work last week, but flew back on Saturday just in time to catch the TX/ OU + Florida/ Alabama games.  After Texas lost, I really needed to eat my feelings.  So, Slick and I went out in search of some serious carbohydrates – and we stopped at the new Gigi’s Cupcakes location on Roswell Road in Buckhead.

Slick knew of Gigi’s from Nashville, and he proudly informed me that it was one of the best cupcakes in town!  We were heading over to watch the Florida game at a friend’s house, so instead of stuffing our faces in the store, we decided to order a bunch to share with the group. 

The store, itself, is absolutely precious – very colorful and energizing.  We met the owner who is equally as precious + super-friendly.  :)

And, the location really can’t be beat!  It’s in the shopping center across from Landmark Diner on Roswell Road, which will soon be home to Flip Burger, Zoe’s Kitchen + an upscale liquor store, as well.  (There is another location in Sandy Springs, but as you know, I try to avoid going OTP whenever possible…)

It was really difficult to decide which cupcakes we wanted b/c Gigi’s has so many creative ones to choose from!  Here are some of my favorites:

Scarlet’s Red Velvet

Wedding Cake

Gigi’s Gluten Free  (didn’t try, but was v. impressed that they offered it!)

Kentucky Bourbon Pie

Texas Milk Chocolate

And, here’s what we finally selected:

Tada!  It was nearly impossible not to eat them all in the car, but somehow I successfully restrained myself… 

We thought we were being so cute + creative by bringing cupcakes to a football party, but when we showed up – someone else had had the same exact idea!!  Oh well, two Gigi’s boxes are better than one!

(And those babies definitely were eaten, after a room of Florida fans had to watch their team get destroyed by Alabama…)

Gigi’s cupcakes are incredibly D-E-L-I-S-H, and their creative flavors + mile-high stacked icing is so much fun!  Stop by Gigi’s today – or wait until you need to eat your feelings…  It worked for me!  :)

xx, L

Gigi’s Cupcakes – Buckhead
3655 Roswell Road Ste. #218
Atlanta, GA  30342
404.846.4400
http://www.gigiscupcakesusa.com/atlantabuckheadgeorgia

Gigi's Cupcakes on Urbanspoon

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Cooking with L+L: Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Muffins

08/17/2010 in What we're Cooking by Lauren | 4 comments

I don’t know what got into me on Sunday night, but I actually cooked dinner – my mom’s famous pounded parmesan chicken complete with salad + homemade lemon vinaigrette. (To my great surprise it came out fantastic – but I’m convinced it was a fluke.)

While in the grocery store, teeming with culinary ambition, I also decided to take on making muffins from scratch for G and his roomies to have on hand for breakfast this week.  (Who AM I?)  Since, obviously, I had no idea how to start this endeavor, I used my new “All-Recipes Dinner Spinner” iPhone app

and selected BREAKFAST – GRAIN – UNDER 45 Minutes*
(*Sidebar:  there is no “under 5 minutes” option or believe me, I would have selected it.)

It did it’s magic and spit out the following recipe: Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Muffins - they were delish and SUPER easy!
Here’s what you need:

1 ¼ c quick cooking oats
1 ¼ c milk
1 egg
½ c vegetable oil
¾ c packed brown sugar
¾ c semisweet chocolate chips
1 c chopped pecans
1 ¼ c all-purpose flour (I used ½ wheat flour and ½ white)
4 teaspoons baking powder
1 tsp salt
1tsp vanilla extract

Here’s what you do:

1.    Combine oats and milk and allow to stand 15 minutes
2.    Preheat oven to 400 degrees F and either grease your muffin tin or line ‘em.
3.    Stir egg, oil, ½ c of the brown sugar, chocolate chips, and ½ c of the pecans into the oat and milk mixture (keep up, kids – that means you’re reserving ¼ c of brown sugar and ½ c of the pecans)
4.   Try not to eat the rest of the chocolate chips.
 5.    Combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Add oat mixture to the flour mixture and stir till everything is m-o-i-s-t (hate that word.)
6.    Fill your muffin cups 2/3 full and sprinkle the remaining brown sugar and pecans on top
7.    Bake at 400 degrees F for 20-25 min
8.    Let cool and enjoy!

I’m totally the blonde Giada.

Eat your heart out, lady

xx, L

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Bean to Bar

06/17/2010 in Chocolate, Gifts, Westside, Where we're Eating by Lauren | 3 comments

Farm to table?  Psssht, old news! Now, I’m all about Bean to Bar! The other day, whilst lunching at Star Provisions, Julie, Dana, and I were lucky enough to stumble upon an Olive + Sinclair CHOCOLATE tasting!


Ok, here’s the Q+DD on Olive and Sinclair: O+S is a “bean-to-bar” chocolate maker based in Nashville, TN. Per their blog, “our Chocolate is made with select single origin cacao beans, slow roasted, stone ground with only Pure brown sugar for a robust flavor unique to Southern Artisan Chocolate™”

Scott Witherow, the “Founder – Owner – Maker” at Olive and Sinclair was there handing out bites of his seriously delicious and VERY unique chocolates

I tasted the Sea Salt, the Coffee Bean and the Salt and Pepper and while each one was better than the last…(and while Julie and Dana couldn’t get over the Salt and Pepper) my FAVORITE definitely the Cinnamon Chili (“Mexican style”) chocolate.  I am begging you to run over to Star Provisions and try this chocolate.  It blew. my. mind.  Fact.

Listen, there is just no way to describe how good this stuff is, but I can tell you that each of us left with a bag FULL of bars of all varieties.   Not only are they outrageously amazing but they are dressed really well, too !  Witness:

They make really cool and memorable gifts! Julie doled them out as host and hostess presents and I’m bringing a stack of them tied with a simple piece of twine home with me (along with a bottle of Square One vodka) to Birmingham this weekend to give to DK for Father’s day…I know Pops will be THRILLED.  (Not to worry: My dad reads this blog quarterly- I’m not giving anything away!)

Plus, I LOVE that it’s a southern product made by nice, down-to-earth folks. Scott couldn’t have been sweeter (pun intended) or more gracious and, well, you know how I feel about things named Olive!

(even though we had her boyfriend Oscar in tow instead that day!)

Go, give them a whirl, then become a fan on Facebook by clicking HERE, follow them on Twitter – @OliveSinclair, and check out their blog by clicking here and enjoy!

DOUBLE DANG!

xx, L

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