Chocolate Cupcakes with Flaming Strawberries Call me easily amused, but these little torch-topped cupcakes delight me. Besides being a cute novelty item for a party, I think they would add a little drama to the end of a romantic meal. I've been looking for something different to serve for Valentine's dessert, and this is definitely different. The strawberries are hollowed out and filled with a bit of liquor, then ignited with a match. For the cake portion, I chose a One Bowl Chocolate Cupcake recipe because 1. it's quick 2. it is easy, and 3. it fits my prerequisite for a light ending on date night. I should say, a light ending provided you don't eat too many. The cakes are just sweet enough, and have a light, fluffy crumb - the perfect vehicle for rich chocolate buttercream. Notes for flaming strawberries:Any alcohol below 80 proof will not ignite well. Shaina made a margarita version of this on Babble Food. Chocolate Cupcakes with Flaming Strawberries Yield: About 20 cupcakes [click to print]Cupcakes: Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
5 Skin Care Mistakes You Do Not Want to Make - StumbleUpon Posted on 11th Oct 2011 @ 11:38 PM Skin Care regimens can quickly get complicated and confusing when using multiple products. Be sure you are not making one of these five common mistakes that can make you look old before your time. 1.) Most people think of the face when you mention anti-aging products, but neglecting your neck is a sure-fire way to show your age before you're ready. 2.) In addition to topical creams and serums, the optimum anti-aging skin care regimen includes nourishing the skin from within. 3.) You've heard it many times before: no single product can do more to prevent the signs of aging than sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher. 4.) Next to your face, your hands are probably the most visible parts of your body and will show the earliest signs of aging. 5.) It doesn't matter how many topical preparations you slather on your skin, if you aren't using a micro-needle roller you aren't maximizing your skin care dollar or the effects of your favorite products.
Backpack Europe on Budget--Backpacking and travel info for budget travelers. 12 Best Free Summer Events New Yorkers Know About that Tourists Don't If you want a true New York summer experience, join the locals, who mark their calendars as soon as dates are set for these free not-to-be-missed events. Picnic provisions are essential for park entertainment, and in a city where real estate seems to always be at a premium, people will arrive more than an hour in advance to throw down a blanket to claim space. 1. Central Park's SummerStage It's the 20th anniversary of this series, best-known for drawing top names to its home at Rumpsey Playfield. The events are generally free, although tickets are required for some of the big-name benefit concerts. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12.
50 Smoothies : Recipes and Cooking : Food Network - StumbleUpon 1. Banana Blend 2 bananas, 1/2 cup each vanilla yogurt and milk, 2 teaspoons honey, a pinch of cinnamon and 1 cup ice. 2. Strawberry-Banana Blend 1 banana, 1 cup strawberries, 1/2 cup each vanilla yogurt and milk, 2 teaspoons honey, a pinch of cinnamon and 1 cup ice. 3. Strawberry Shortcake Blend 2 cups strawberries, 1 cup crumbled pound cake, 1 1/2 cups each milk and ice, and sugar to taste. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
space-rock-impact-could-have-caused-ancient-cooldown-new-evidence-says from... About 13,000 years ago, a chunk of a comet or asteroid hurtled into the atmosphere at a shallow angle, superheating the atmosphere around it as it careened toward the surface. The air grew hot enough to ignite plant material and melt rock below the object's flight path. Within a few microseconds, atmospheric oxygen was consumed and the freed carbon atoms condensed into nanodiamond crystals. An air shock followed several seconds later, lofting these nanodiamonds and other carbon particles into the atmosphere, spreading them around. Mega mammals starved, unable to forage on the scorched earth, and human populations dwindled. The shock on the atmosphere was enough to lower global temperatures for a thousand years. This is according to a new study of ancient Mexican nanodiamonds, and it's another salvo in a longstanding ancient-climate dispute. Paleo-climatologists have been arguing about the genesis of this period for half a decade now.
How to See the World: Art of Travel; European and World Backpacking; On $25 a Day or Less Top 20 Island Destinations An island getaway is often the best solution to revive one's sense, to forget one's worries and problems. For some, selecting the best choices amongst the various destination can seem like an overwhelming task. For others, it brings joy and excitement. One thing is for sure, spending time on an white-sand beach on a far-away island is pure luxury. The 2011 Top 20 Island Destination according to the 2011 Conde Nast Readers Travel Award are. 1 Greek Islands 2 Maldives 3 Bali (Variety of Attractions) 4 Barbados (Best Climate) 5 Mauritius 6 Balearic Islands 7 Zanzibar (Best Beaches and Lush) 8 St Lucia 9 Seychelles (Most Appealing Scenery) 10 Phuket (Luxury-On-A-Budget and Friednly Wlecome) 11 Sicily 12 Antigua 13 Sardinia 14 Cuba 15 Fiji 16 Corsica 17 Madeira 18 Bahamas 19 Malta 20 Great Barrier Reef
The Ultimate Strawberry Lemonade One of the first times I ever realized that – HEY! I can cook for myself! – was when I first learned to make lemonade. I magically found the refrigerated lemon juice at our house and followed the directions to make my own lemonade. I stirred and stirred and stirred again until that sugar was finally dissolved. Speaking of which, what gives sugar?! Sorry for the detour. Anyway, there was a summer there where I made my own lemonade every single day, making sure to rub it in my sister’s face that I knew how to and she didn’t. The key to this being the ultimate lemonade is that you blend it up with the lemon rind in there. And any time of day for that matter. (makes 2 pint-glass servings with ice) 3/4 cup sugar2 large lemons, microwaved for 30 seconds2 cups water1 cup of frozen strawberries, microwaved for 1 minute (you could use fresh, but I think the frozen works better here) In a blender squeeze the lemons and add the rest of the lemon, rind and all.
Natural Relief for Upset Stomachs - YouBeauty.com - StumbleUpon Caraway This popular cooking spice native to Europe and western Asia has been used to treat gastrointestinal issues since as early as 1500 BC. Recent studies have shown that when taken with peppermint, as much as 95 percent of people suffering from dyspepsia experienced improvement in symptoms. MORE: The Science of Digestion Read More Caraway appears to help to inhibit smooth muscle contractions, which may reduce diarrhea. Peppermint Peppermint and other members of the same plant family, including spearmint, were used to treat upset stomachs in ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome. MORE: Eat to Beat Abdominal Distress Peppermint oil is an ingredient in most chewing gum, so you might try popping a piece at the onset of indigestion, or brewing a cup of peppermint tea. Ginger A 2011 Taiwanese study found that this popular home remedy helps move food through the digestive tract quickly. Ginger may be more effective for symptoms when paired with peppermint. GALLERY: Why You Can't Stand Certain Foods
Mystical, Magical & Magnificent Monasteries in Meteora (20 Pics) The caves in Meteora, Greece, had inhabitants for fifty millennia, but due to raids, “hermit monks” moved to the safety of sandstone rock pinnacles in the 9th century and began building monasteries. More monks and nuns came, building more monasteries perched high upon the cliffs. Wikipedia reports, “Access to the monasteries was originally (and deliberately) difficult, requiring either long ladders lashed together or large nets used to haul up both goods and people. A view of Meteora monasteries in Greece. The Holy Monastery of Varlaam is the second largest monastery in Meteora, Greece. Meteora – The nunnery of Roussanou was built during the 16th century and remodeled and decorated as recently as 1560. Photo #5 by Gabriele Quaglia The Holy Monastery of St. The Holy Monastery of Varlaam in Meteora. Meteora – jumping from one high clifftop to another. Another shot, a different angle of the Holy Monastery of St Nicholas Anapausas in Meteora. Approaching Meteora under moonlight.
Places to stay for more than a week... by yesikalopez Mar 6