summer

We Scream For An Ice Cream Sundae Contest!

August 3, 2010 at 11:36 am , by Kelsey Mirando

Here at LHJ, we started our morning on a super sweet note thanks to a visit from famed cookbook author and pastry chef Gale Gand! Gale has teamed up with Breyers Ice Cream for its Sundae Scoop-Off Contest, and she swung by LHJ to tell us more about it and to share some of her favorite cold creations with us.

The person that submits the most unique, yummy and appealing sundae in 10 or fewer ingredients takes the cake – well, the ice cream in this case – and wins the grand prize of $10,000, a trip for four to Chicago for a private cooking lesson with Gale and one year’s supply of Breyers ice cream. Nine others will win a “Super Sundae Prize Package” (one year of free Breyers ice cream, $500 and sundae making supplies). Talk about a sweet deal!

Gale also shared her own spins on the classic sundae with us. Indulging both our sophisticated sweet tooth and the kid in us all, we sampled her mini coffee sundaes and ice cream lollipops – perfect desserts for family fun or your next dinner party.

“An embellished ice cream dish is the perfect way to end a meal,” Gale said. She recommends thinking about contrast when dreaming up your dessert like a combination of crunchy and smooth textures in a sundae. Try crumbling a shortbread cookie over your ice cream and fruit, she said.

Make the most of your cool-off treats this summer by checking out Gale’s other sundae-making tips and recipes and enlist the help of your kiddos to come up with the grand-prize-worthy sundae. Or make the yummy ice cream desserts we enjoyed!

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Summer Wine Guide

June 24, 2010 at 10:38 am , by enelson

Summer is officially here! Translation: BBQs, picnics and beach weekends. And  who doesn’t love to get together with close friends? We all do of course; it can be intimidating, however, when the time comes to pick the wine to compliment your party. Summer lends itself to light, crisp and refreshing wines, but what goes best with the food you’re serving?

The good news is that  you can’t go wrong. Your friends love you and will love anything you give them. The better news is that we’ve put together a list of some fun wines that are perfect as gifts or for guests this summer. My favorite is the 2008 Masianco Pinot Grigio and Verduzzo ($17.95); take a look at the rest of our fave wines on The Dish page on lhj.com, and see some recipe ideas for food pairings.

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My Summer Countdown: DIY Herb Garden

March 25, 2010 at 5:11 pm , by nicole

Late March to mid-April is the best time to start thinking about your summer herb garden. Here, on the east coast, the weather just started to get warm after several snow day-worthy storms. There’s still a bit of frost in the air, so starting to grow seedlings indoors is a good idea to get a head start.  Homemade caprese salad isn’t as far away as you think.

A few herbs that are easy to grow include parsley, thyme, mint and basil.  Even you notorious plant killers with limited space shouldn’t be alarmed.  You can buy different varieties of seeds at a local gardening shop, and plant them in containers you find around the house — old pots, kitchenware and even cleaned olive oil cans poked with a few holes in the bottom for drainage work great.  Deborah Schneebeli-Morrell, author of Grow Your Own Herbs in Pots, suggests placing the growing plants near windows with plenty of light and moving them outside (in their containers) once the weather permits.  She notes that it’s important to transition the plants slowly to avoid overexposing them to the sun and causing them to dry out.

Read more

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Extend Your Summer: Sweet Tea Cocktail

September 10, 2009 at 9:48 am , by Arpita Joshi

Hi there! I’m Arpita, Associate Editor here at LHJ.com and I’ll be blogging about food—so check back weekly for my favorite recipes, tips on cooking and eating, product reviews, food photos, commentary on delish dishes, drinks, and much more.

Now I’m aware that Labor Day weekend just passed by (and very quickly I might add), which marks the unofficial end of summer…but if you’re like me and you’re having a hard time saying goodbye to the picnics, parties, barbecues, and general deliciousness that is summer, then you’ll need a little something to tide you over until next year. Nothing says summer like a cool, sweet cocktail, and a glass of Firefly sweet tea vodka will take you right back to the season of poolside parties and popsicles. Pour it into a glass of ice and add a slice of lemon if you feel like it—you won’t need any other mixers—the vodka taste isn’t overbearing. This drink is a perfect, low-maintenance refresher if you’re having friends over, throwing a low-key party, or just want to have a taste of summer after it’s long gone. Firefly makes a few different flavors of this genius tea-infused vodka—you can buy your own.

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