Fig wedding cake

I'm one of the few people out there who don't like regular cake (are you, too?), so I'm always secretly psyched when people serve alternative desserts at their weddings. Brooklyn couple Rae and Noah served a carrot cake with fresh figs! What a cool (and beautiful) idea, don't you think?

See more of their wedding here.

Jamie Oliver

Have you guys seen the new show, Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution? The British chef wants to completely revamp the United States school lunch programs by serving fresh, real foods, instead of fries and chocolate milk. I watched all three episodes on Hulu this past weekend, and the show is amazing and compelling with such a great mission. (Plus, his accent and rumpled hair are completely adorable.)

Golden Gate Bridge dinner party

Whoa! Our girl Jordan just hosted a four-course dinner party on a beach underneath the Golden Gate Bridge. It must have felt so magical to be eating parsnip soup in the cool breeze beneath the twinkling lights.

Read her full story here.

(Photos by Paul Ferney for Oh Happy Day)

PB&J bar

Oh my goodness, who wants a bite of this PB&J candy bar?!

P.S. Remember this...

Make your own cheese!

Claudia Lucero moved to Portland in search of slower, happier life. She started pickling vegetables and making cheese, and now she runs an etsy shop with DIY cheese kits! You can make the fresh cheeses in your kitchen in under an hour with just a gallon of milk.

I'd LOVE to try these, wouldn't you?

P.S. More on stinky cheeses...

11 Nutella recipes

Today is World Nutella Day, which basically means you can eat as much Nutella as you want and it doesn't count. Here are 11 mouthwatering recipes (which would you pick?)...
Read More >

Cheese wedding cake

Speaking of offbeat weddings, this Australian couple served a cheese wedding cake. Be still my heart.

What kind of dessert will (or did) you serve at your wedding? We went with chocolate-chip cookies.

P.S. More on cheese:)

(Photos by Jonas Peterson)

7 Hostess Gifts That People Will Love

Fancy soaps sit on the bathroom shelf, and potpourri sachets get lost in a drawer. So, instead of bringing traditional hostess gifts when you visit a friend, bust out one of these slam-dunk gifts that people will love (and want to use!) right away.

1. Adorable watchdog doorstop to make them smile, $24.
2. Spanish lavender to make their kitchen smell like summer, $58.
3. Indoor s'more maker, for obvious reasons, $25.
4. Summery ros wine, with a tree wine stopper, $8.
5. Cheeky dish towel, since we've all been there, $16.50.
6. Big Sur room spray to inspire wanderlust, $20.
7. Guilty-pleasure gossip magazines to flip through together.

Thoughts? What do you normally bring as a hostess gift?

P.S. More round-ups, and the first travel week...

(Post by Joanna. Graphic design by Rachel from Elephantine for Cup of Jo.)

intimate handmade wedding dessert table

Intimate + handmade wedding dessert table

wedding pies

Wedding pies :)

For Chocolate Lovers

For Chocolate Lovers everywhere. An easy to make recipe for Individual Lava Cakes that is sure to impress.

GHIRARDELLI INDIVIDUAL CHOCOLATE LAVA CAKES
Centers:1/2 bar (2-oz/60grms) 60% Dark Chocolate Baking Bar
1/4 cup/2dl heavy cream
Cakes:
Nonstick cooking spray
1 bar (4-oz/120grms) 60% Dark Chocolate Baking Bar
1 stick /125grms unsalted butter
2 eggs
2 egg yolks
1/3 cup/40 grms sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/4 cup/30 grms self-raising flour
To make the centers:

• Melt chocolate in cream in the top of a double boiler. Whisk gently to blend well.
• Refrigerate for 2 hours or until firm.
• Form mixture into 6 balls.

To make the cakes:

• Preheat oven to 400 Fahrenheit/200 Celcius.
• Spray 6 small paper custard cups with the nonstick cooking spray or rub with butter or margerine.
• Melt chocolate and butter in top of a double boiler. Whisk the mixture gently to blend.
• With an electric mixer, whisk together eggs, egg yolks, sugar, and vanilla on high for 5 minutes.
• Fold the chocolate mixture and flour into the egg mixture until combined.
• Spoon mixture evenly into the prepared custard cups.
• Place a chocolate ball center in the center of each custard cup of batter.
• Bake 15 minutes or until firm to the touch.
• Let stand 5 minutes before inverting onto dessert plate.

Remove paper custard cups.I hope I have converted the american measures correctly. I am not sure how much butter a stick is!!Photo: H. Lacorte / Author: Linda WilsonPosted by Better Living NY in Blog

Tagged: Castello Dal Pozzo, food, Home and Garden, Kitchen and Dining, Wine & Food

sigh so pretty

Sigh… so pretty.

The Best Omelet You'll Ever Have

Imagine this: You have overnight guests, and when they wake up in the morning and drift bleary-eyed down to the kitchen, you whip up French-style omelets (with two secret ingredients!) that blow everyone's minds. Presto! An amazing day has begun, and you're a consummate host in ten minutes flat. Here, Alexandra from Alexandra's Kitchen explains how to do just that...Read More >

BEAUTY BITES

Written by: Sarah St. Lifer, Graphic Design: Eunice Chun

Today is July 3rd, which means all you last-minute party people are stocking up on hot dog buns, burger patties, and ketchup for tomorrow's festivities. And, while we'd never encourage you to ditch the traditional BBQ fare, we thought now would be an appropriate time to introduce you to our latest obsession: the summer salad. This one, which we crafted with all sorts of fruits and veggies, is the perfect dish to pair with all those finger foods you'll be munching on come tomorrow afternoon. Each ingredient works overtime, keeping you full and feeling good. Now, if only that extra helping of mac n cheese had the same effect!

1. Strawberries - Feeling under the weather? Snack on some strawberries! Rich in vitamin C, the delicious fruit doubles as an immunity booster and a fast-acting antioxidant.
2. Grapefruit - Low in calories and high in fiber, grapefruit is an obvious addition to any summer dish. Just in time for swimsuit season, it increases the body's metabolic rate, leaving you feeling fuller for much longer.
3. Cantaloupe - Prone to breakouts from stress and anxiety? Chow down on cantaloupe - since it's packed with potassium (a mineral which normalizes heartbeat and promotes supply of oxygen to the brain) fans of the fruit feel more relaxed and focused.
4. Walnuts - If bad hair days have become the norm, add walnuts to your diet. As an excellent source of biotin, the nutrient strengthens tresses and promotes quicker hair growth.
5. Heirloom Tomatoes - Boasting serious amounts of Lycopene, heirloom tomatoes are known for lowering the risk of cancer. The more colorful, the more Lycopene - so don't be shy.
6. Sugar Snap Peas - A veggie after our own heart! Not only are sugar snap peas fat-free, but they're a good source of folate, a.k.a. a vitamin that helps achieve good heart health.
7. Blueberries - Ranked numero uno in the world of antioidants (blueberries feature anthocyanin, vitamin C, B complex, vitamin E, vitamin A, copper, selenium, zinc, and iron... just to name a few!), there's no denying the fruit's appeal. Did we mention the superfood keeps skin looking super firm?
8. Yogurt Cheese Crumbles - Considering yogurt cheese is more concentrated than a regular cup of yogurt, each serving offers additional relief from dry skin. Sprinkle away!

Underneath all that, don't forget these little guys:

• Avocado - Don't be frightened by the fact that avocados are full of monounsaturated fat - when eaten in moderation, the compounds reduce inflammation, giving you glowing skin.
• Shaved Brussels Sprouts - A great way to add protein to any meal, brussel sprouts help prevent hair loss and restore healthy, vibrant strands.

And make sure to top the whole thing off with:

• Oranges - These guys are an obvious go-to for vitamin C.
• Coconut Oil drizzle - This raises the metabolic rate and therefore helps the body burn fat more effectively.
• Apple Cider Vinegar - When you add this to any dish or drink, you're instantly giving your body a tiny detox by maintaining a healthy alkaline pH level.

Now with all the beauty benefits you're getting from every bite in this salad, you surely won't want to miss out on trying out this healthy summer dish!

so lovely created by sweet cakes by karen

So lovely. | created by Sweet Cakes by Karen

The THANKSGIVING Breakdown (33 Photos)

1

Double Bread Stuffing with Brown Butter, Bacon & Sage.

Midwest Foodie Destinations

WILL Travel FOR Meals: Craving a long drive? These five towns contain it all: great scenery, a great deal of things to do for your family, and-here's what is new-amazing restaurants as well as artisanal foods, brewskies, and wine that will help keep you happy regardless of what you're eager for. Best of all, they're all obtainable by vehicle. Find out who our champions are, shown by long distance from Chicago, il.