August 23, 2009

You won't want to miss out on the September issue of Martha Stewart's whole living body + soul!  Out of all the magazines that I subscribe to, this is one of my favorites. I always find interesting articles, helpful health and fitness tips, and excellent recipes. There is an article in this issue titled “25 Fast, Healthy Recipes” that contains some easy, easy, nutritious recipes. The Heirloom Tomato Sandwich with Herbs and Tofu Spread is going to be the first one that I try!

I didn't realize it before I picked it up, but the September issue features a Going Greener Guidebook that is printed on the flip side of the magazine. It's like getting two magazines for the price of one. 🙂

The guidebook is sponsored by Stonyfield Farms and serves as a resource guide for achieving a greener lifestyle.  Inside the guidebook, you'll find a listing of the 20 best eco web sites and essential tips to live and shop greener.

This issue is jam packed with some awesome information. If you don't subscribe, it's definitely worth picking up!

~LilSis

December 20, 2008

I just LOVE these! Last year, BigSis and I got SisMama some personalized M&Ms and she loved them!

I don't want to mislead you, though. If you do order these now; they won't be under the tree by Christmas. (I should have posted this idea sooner.) BUT, in the past, I have printed out a photo of the gift and wrapped it for opening at Christmas. I don't think anyone minds waiting for something that you took the time to special order! I think it just shows that you put some thought into their gift versus running into Wally Mart for a gift card at the last minute.

You can choose from 22 colors, put personalized text of up to 8 characters on two lines on each M&M, and can even upload a photo to put on the M&M!! Martha Stewart and ‘My M&Ms' have even teamed up. Check out these ideas from Martha for some crafty gifts. You can also choose from a wide variety of creative gifts to go with the personalized M&Ms. You can find something in just about any price range. Here are just a few:

Glass Box Candy Dish

Glass Box Candy Dish for $57.99

Old Fashioned Dispenser

Old Fashioned Dispenser for $89.99

Diamond Ring Flute

This will only set you back $3849.99!

You can even put a Team Logo on them!

Don't tell anyone; but I'm going to get the Little Guys some M&Ms for their birthdays that have their photos on them! They'll get a kick out of eating an M&M with their little faces on them!

~LilSis

December 18, 2008

LilSis, you know that I always accuse you of being too hard on yourself when it comes to baking.  You're a better baker than you give yourself credit for. HOWEVER, having said that, I do know you pretty well and I have to caution you against this cookie.  I think it's a recipe for a stress attack!  I'll tell you why:

1. This is a roll-out cookie so it's fussier than a drop cookie or bar.  That means it'll take more time, and it may stick to your work surface.  I'm not saying it's rocket science; it just takes more time and attention.  Do you even have a rolling pin?
2. Once the cookies are done, they have to be dipped in the white chocolate.  Again, not a difficult process, but a time-consuming and messy one.

All in all, I can't recommend that you make this cookie.  I agree that it looks beautiful, and I love the combo of peppermint and chocolate.  How about this recipe for Peppermint Chocolate Sandwich Cookies from Giada De Laurentis instead?

Peppermint Chocolate Sandwich Cookies

I haven't tried them – I'm on a baking holiday for a couple of days – but they look cute, the flavors sound yummy, they're easy (they use refrigerated sugar cookie dough) and I think you could bake these without needing cocktails.  The directions say to roll out the dough and cut it out with a cutter, but I don't see why you couldn't cut slices from the log, as usual.  What do you think?

~BigSis

December 18, 2008

You may have noticed from my previous post on Christmas Cupcakes and Candy, that I really like peppermint.  There's just something about the little candy canes and the red & white color of the candies that are so festive for decorating Christmas cupcakes, cookies, and candies.

I finally had a few minutes to flip through my Martha Stewart Living December 2008 issue and discovered, to my delight, the Cookie of the Month is Chocolate-Peppermint Cookies.

COOKIE OF THE MONTH

I would really like to make these for some friends, but considering the mess I made of the bark at Halloween, I'm not sure if I'm ready to work with melted chocolate again! I learned the hard way that the different brands of the chocolate discs/wafers definitely melt differently. And microwaving for longer won't make it thinner! “Nuff said”!  This calls for real white chocolate instead of the little disks, so I'm not sure if that'll make it easier or not.

BigSis, would you take a peek at the recipe and let me know if you think I'm getting in over my head!

~LilSis

October 20, 2008

I can't believe it's October already, much less 2/3 of the way through the month!  Before we know it, Thanksgiving will be here, then Christmas, then 2009!  But I'm getting ahead of myself.  Let's not fast-forward to November just yet.

I'm not a Halloween-celebrater myself, but lots of people are, including Martha Stewart.  As with everything else she does, Martha covers every possible aspect of this topic: food, decorating, costumes, pumpkin carving, party ideas, anything you can imagine.  If you need help with Halloween, Martha's your woman!

Do you have a hankering to carve a lacy design on your pumpkins?  No problem.

Are you desperate for costume ideas for the family?  No worries.

Maybe you're dying to make a centerpiece that looks like rotten eggs and worms!  Gotcha covered.

Or perhaps you'd like to make cute decoupaged treat buckets for your little ones?  Here you go.

I think these Ladies Fingers and Men's Toes are hilarious and if I were doing Halloween, this is the kind of thing I'd make.

And these little petit four ghosts are too cute!

People love to bash on Martha, but I for one see nothing bash-worthy about the pursuit of excellence and cuteness in the things you do!  And if you have Halloweenish things to do, check out Martha!  She's got you covered.

~BigSis