Whole Earth Sweetener Co: A Life Much Sweeter

Oh My, Pie!

Over the weekend, I caught the All American Pie Championship (a couple recipes there!) on The Food Network.  What’s really funny is that I told a friend of mine “I saw the best thing on the Food Network over the weekend!” and she guessed it immediately—because she had watched the same thing!  Pie is one of my favorite desserts, and there’s something very comforting to it in my opinion.  The contest was noticeably dominated by grandmotherly bakers which just heightened the comfort factor even more for me!

If I have to sit and choose my favorite pie…well, I have to break it down my category much like the contest!  In the fruit category—definitely apple.  In the cream/custard catgory—coconut cream, followed closely by lemon meringue.  And then there’s pumpkin, and pecan…two more of my favorites!  I’ve never been a big fan of French silk pie, and I’ve lost interest in blueberry, so I guess there are actually a couple pies I’m not crazy about.  What about you?

Speaking of Sweet Treats...

I thought I had met my match with Chocolate Obsession.  Then I discovered Candy Addict!  This is a tremendously fun blog that covers everything from classic candies, to weird candies, to a personal favorite of mine, the deep fried Snickers. (I tried one for the first time this summer--I really didn't think it was going to be good, but it was delicious.  Luckily, I could only eat half of it because it's so rich!)  Even if you don't have a major sweet tooth (like me, my parents, my grandparents--I was doomed), it's fun to just navigate and learn about all the wacky things people come up with to market candy.  Enjoy!

Oh, My Little Tootsie!

Today I had to work in the downtown office for a change (oh, my life is so hard, I know I know).  I always burn up a lot of energy when I go downtown because...well, downtown Chicago just moves fast. And everyone in the office moves fast.  And the bathroom is on the other side of the building from my department so I am doing laps an awful lot.
Around mid-afternoon, like clockwork, I got a craving for something sweet.  I was overjoyed when I went to the vending machine and discovered they had the great big Tootsie Roll BARS in stock.  Do you know what I mean?  They come in a pack of two and they are Tootsie Rolls inflated to about 3 inches long.  Granted they look a little...well, like something you wouldn't put in your mouth.  But they are soooo chewy and delicous, and when I'm having a hectic day that chewy texture is just wonderful to chomp on.  Of course, the problem I found today is that you need to eat them rather fast because when the phone rings, you could be stuck with a chewy mess in your mouth. 
What's your favorite vending machine treat when the mid-day snackies strike?

Icing on the Cake

This weekend I went to a birthday party for a one year old.  Good times!  I thought the birthday boy looked like he was having a heck of a lot more fun than those of us with forks.
Anyway, it got me thinking about birthday cakes.  Think for a minute about all the birthday cakes you've had in your life.  A little bit of homemade, a little bit of chocolate, a little bit of marble...the sugar-rich frosting, the newer whipped cream stuff...the candy flowers.  Are you a person that wants a corner piece so you can get that much more frosting, or do you take a middle piece and scrape off the extra frosting? 
I'm a junkie for the sugar-ladden frosting, over a marble cake.  And I DO take a corner piece.  Unless it's the whipped cream kind, which I'm not terribly fond of.  Hee hee.  What about you? 

Sweetness, Not Just For Kids

The same day I ordered my pomegranate, I ordered a three-pack of caramel apples.  With sprinkles.  It was hard to narrow down the choices—anymore you can get them with nuts, candy, chocolate…or, the most fantastic combo I got in Florida this summer, caramel AND peanut butter.  Of course, there’s always plain, and then there’s the do-it-yourself kind.  I avoid that particular project, not because of the mess, but because that’s all I would eat all day every day.  Does a caramel apple a day also keep the doctor away?  Hmmm…one can only hope.
Meanwhile, if you ARE the do-it-yourself sort, here’s a great lesson from Epicurious on making your own! 

Freebie Friday Comes a Bit Early

It's two days in advance, but I really couldn't rest easy tonight if I didn't share this wonderful promotion with you.
Tomorrow, late day, Cold Stone Creamery will be giving out samples of a very special flavor, in conjunction with the Make a Wish Foundation.  You get 3oz for free, but it wouldn't hurt to make a donation to a good cause, right?  I hear generosity eliminates cellulite. ;) 
I'll be popping a Lactaid and stopping in to indulge with my friendly neighbors!

Cupcake Intoxication

If you don't live in Chicago, this might be a reason to visit...
This weekend we're apparently having a cupcake crawl.
Hey, no hangovers, and no need to call a cab at the end of the night! 
I'd love to go but I'm hitting the outlet malls on  Saturday with my girl friends.  But believe me, when faced with the choice of cupcakes or shopping, I had to do a lot of soul searching...

The Greatest Oatmeal Cookie of All

I guess it was because of yesterday's post that I found myself very badly craving a great big oatmeal cookie (with raisins) today.  I didn't have time to get to the grocery store, so I didn't know what I was going to do.  I certainly wasn't prepared to bake a batch.
On a whim, I popped into a coffee shop/ice cream place in my neighborhood.  They tend to have yummy cakes and pastries (and of course ice cream) but I didn't remember them ever having cookies.  At the counter, I pondered the options--no cookies in sight--and the person at the counter asked me if I needed help.  Well, I said, I have this really bad craving for a great big oatmeal cookie but I don't see any...
He interupted me by lifting a jar that was tucked carefully between the register and the display case.  It was filled with "Kitchen Sink Oatmeal Cookies."  From what I could tell, they had raisins, nuts, and drizzled frosting on top.  And they weren't huge in diameter, they were huge in THICKNESS.  Yummm!
I asked for two. 
I don't feel the least bit guilty. J

Decadence Upon Decadence

Over on the Culinary Podcast Network, Chef Mark is talking to a pastry chef today, and also interviewed some folks from around the world about their favorite guilt-free indulgences.  When I listened to Tom from Indiana talk about how he and his friends watch movies and delve into a big chocolate cake every Sunday night, I wished I could be invited over this weekend!
It reminded me that Dooce, a very famous blogger, has one of my all-time favorite entries about dessert in her April archives.  No many how many times I read that entry, I'm still wide-eyed and craving a chocolate chip cookie sandwich with ice cream and...well, just follow the photos in that entry.  You'll see what I mean.

Freebie Friday Strikes Again!

You'll never see me blog about ice cream here, unfortunately.  It's not because I consider it a guilt-causing indulgence--more of a pain-causing indulgence.  Yeah,  I'm lactose-intolerant.  That's why I'm usually enjoying frozen yogurt for my sweet frozen treat.
But!  I've been wanting to try the Tofutti line of frozen desserts, and now I can try them for free! (look down the page for the blue circle, click & follow) I hope this is a special treat for my lactose-intolerant/vegan/whatever reason you don't eat ice cream friends out there.

Also, there's now a direct link to try a free sample of Sweet Simplicity, so you don't have to complete a poll or anything to receive it--just sign up!