satisfying a sweet tooth

This blog post is designed specifically to make you salivate. These Rice Krispie treats (pictured left) from The Crispery are available for order only in the U.S. (boo!) but they look so yummy, I had to share! They come in a variety of individual flavours like: Caramel and Marshmallow, Peanut Butter, Coconut and Chocolate Dipped Crispy to name a few. Mmmm! It’s not like my hometown of Toronto doesn’t have its own fair share of bakeries that make mouthwatering treats. This blogto.com blog post lists the best cupcakes in Toronto, for example. And Rice Krispie squares are easy enough to make at home (though The Crispery certainly adds an original twist to an old favourite!) If you’re interested in making your own squares at home, here are a few recipes from Canadian Living: Cocoa frosted Rice Krispies peanut squares, Rice Krispies fruit and nut granola bars.

Anyway, I’m just feeling mighty hungry now. If you’ve got an insatiable sweet tooth and are looking for more ideas, check out our Food & Entertaining section, full of easy recipes for delicious desserts! The weekend is the perfect time to try your hand at a new recipe.

Here are a few of my faves (pictured above):

Chocolate dream scone with mascarpone spread
Cranberry pistachio biscotti
Baby butter and jam sandwiches

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williams-sonoma: the great cupcake pan

One of the great things about Facebook, besides reconnecting with long lost friends (and maybe a few you’d rather have remained estranged from), is being able to check out your friends’ latest and greatest pictures. Thanks to Facebook, I’m able to stay in touch with friends in a way that we just didn’t seem to have time for before the rise of social networking. I can get instant updates on their travel plans, see every angle of their newborn’s smile and check out what they were up to on the weekend. It’s great fun and while nothing replaces the necessity of face-to-face contact over drinks, it’s a pretty decent alternative when you’re busy. Anyhow … all of this is by way of explanation for how I stumbled upon this fab new find! Whilst snooping, I mean … casually perusing a friend’s photos of a baby shower she’d recently attended, I spied the loveliest, cupcake-shaped cake adorning the buffet table. Love at first sight! Where, oh where did she get the pan to make this, I wondered? But I wondered only momentarily because, in perfect Facebook fashion, everything I needed to know was right there in the comments section with a list of retailers for curious gals like myself. So I hunted it down at Williams-Sonoma and now I’m sharing it with you. Drum roll, please! I give you … The Great Cupcake Pan!

Available at: Williams-Sonoma
Price: $36

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mighty leaf teas

Nothing says rest and relaxation more to me than cozying up with a hot cup of tea and as the weekend approaches, I welcome the chance to sit down and unwind. Wrapping my hands around a hot cuppa and inhaling the fresh aroma of a perfectly brewed cup of tea seems to melt my stress away. This tea set from Mighty Leaf is a sweet treat for the tea lover and comes with an assortment of tasty teas to try: Breakfast Americana, Organic Earl Grey, Bombay Chai, Orange Dulce and Vanilla Bean. Mmm! I can just feel myself starting relax! Once you’ve got your mug in hand, start a new tradition with styleathome.com’s guide to teatime etiquette, plus find tips for brewing the perfect cup of tea.

Available online at: mightyleaf.ca

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enter to win!

I love the sleek design of this fab Hamilton Beach Liquid Blu blender. Not only will it whip up amazing treats (smoothies are my favourite!), it’ll look stunning perched on your kitchen counter.

Click here for your chance to win one of two of these great blenders!

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hermes teacups

Bold, brilliant, beautiful. These Hermes teacups and saucers are gorgeous, featuring painted scroll patterns inspired by the intricate ironwork found on Spanish balconies …. who would have thought? I just love the boldness of the red on the delicate porcelain of these cups and saucers.

Available at: bluefly.com
Price: $198 for set of 2 teacups and saucers (left), $252 for set of 2 teacups and saucers (right)

Afternoon tea, anyone? Start a new tradition with our guide to teatime etiquette.

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Celebrity chef: Nigella Lawson

Who doesn’t have a little bit of a crush on Nigella Lawson? I mean, it’s kind of hard not to. That long, dark hair. That cute accent. Oh, and the way she’s made domestic tasks appealing, tempting almost. Yes, I guess you could say that Nigella’s brought sexy back … into the kitchen.

She’s a busy girl, that Nigella. She’s launched various television shows, her own cookware collection and a growing assortment of highly popular cookbooks, all the while being mother to her two children. Her most recent book, Nigella Express (Knopf Canada, 2007, $50) is about cooking good food fast. “I call it real food,” she explains. “Not fast food. It’s not a book about showing you fast ways to cook foods that actually should be slow cooked. It’s a book that shows you how to cook flavourful, interesting meals in a pinch – with step-by-step instructions to make it easier.”

Interested in learning a little bit more? Styleathome.com got the chance to catch up with the queen of quick cuisine, recently. Check out the full interview here:

Celebrity chef: Nigella Lawson
Nigella Lawson, the queen of quick cuisine, dishes on entertaining a crowd.

PLUS, click here for your chance to win a copy of Nigella Express from styleathome.com! We’ve got five copies to give away.

Or, click here to buy the book.

Want more great recipes? Check out styleathome.com’s collection of easy and elegant recipes for everything from everyday cooking to posh party food.

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crazy for cupcakes

Hungry yet? How beautiful are these designs from The Cupcake Shoppe, based in Toronto? These cupcake creations are so pretty, they look good enough to eat … and luckily, you can do just that! Go ahead, devour a dozen! I won’t breathe a word.

Available at: The Cupcake Shoppe; visit thecupcakeshoppe.ca for more information
Price: depends how hungry you are

Want to make your own cupcakes at home? Try these two recipes from styleathome.com:

Double fudge chocolate cupcakes

Cappuccino cupcakes

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