Desserts 4 Today

Most of you must be familiar with the Bermuda Triangle and its notorious reputation. However, in the realms of luxury tours in India, there exists a term known as the Golden Triangle. Though it does not trap people for centuries and then throw them back out like the Bermuda is believed to, it does have a spellbinding charm of its own. The Golden Triangle consists of travelling to three of the most historically and architecturally significant cities in India. It definitely tops the list of every tour and travel agent in India, especially those in the field of organizing luxury tours to India.

The Golden Triangle tour generally starts off with a trip around Delhi, the capital of India, trailing off to Agra and then Jaipur. Ask any travel junkie in India or abroad, the general consensus would be that this tour is a must-do for anyone who would like a quick peek into the cultural and architectural diversity of India.

Sweetmeat

Beginning from the Capital, the most common features on the itinerary of any Indian luxury tour operator include the Red Fort, Raj Ghat, India Gate, Parliament House, Rashtrapati Bhawan, Qutub Minar and Lotus Temple. Though the Mughal Gardens are generally not part of the typical itinerary, one should try to visit them in case time allows. The variety of plants and flowers here is quite exquisite, and is in full bloom during the months of February and March. The cultural diversity of the Capital is reflected in the variety of food on offer. Right from Mughal delicacies such as 'Biryanis' and 'Kebabs', to Italian wood-fired pizza specialties, Delhi has been aptly called a melting pot of cultures. From the shady corridors of Old Delhi, to the trendy lanes of New Delhi, one can experience a myriad of sights, sounds and aromas, all peculiar of their site.

Next up on the itinerary is Agra, the city perched on the banks of the Yamuna River in the state of Uttar Pradesh, the land of the Taj Mahal. Though the 'Agre Ka Petha' or succulent white pumpkin sweetmeat is more popular within the country, the legend of the Taj transcends borders. People from all across the globe flock to the city to see the white marble, romantic wonder of the Taj Mahal, which was built by Shah Jahan for his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. However, Agra is not just about the Taj, other architectural highlights include the Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri, which can be equally intriguing for the history buff.

Last, but not the least, is Jaipur, the Pink City, the Capital of the City of Kings, Rajasthan. This city is strewn with remarkable architectural remnants of the Mughal and pre-modern era such as the Jantar Mantar, Hawa Mahal, Nahargarh Fort, Jal Mahal and more. Jantar Mantar, which used to be an observatory during the time of King Jai Singh II, now finds itself as part of Wolrd Heritage Sites. Jaipur, the erstwhile residence of the Rajputana royalty, is now home to some of the most outstanding luxury palaces in India. With many royal families turning their palaces into hotels, visitors can have a feel of the way royalty used to live; however, at a price. These luxury palaces in Rajasthan prove to be the perfect abode for those looking forward to an authentic experience, without pulling the strings on their purse too tight.

With such rich insight into the culture, architecture and history of India, it is no wonder then that this tour has been labelled the "Golden Triangle".

Compass India Inc one of the leading travel companies in India, with very own selection of well-educated guides and travel operators. Company duly approved by the Indian Association of Tour Operators, Association Canadian Travel Agencies, Ministry of Tourism Government of India, Association of Domestic Tour Operators of India, American Society of Travel Agents, Australian Federation of Travel Agents and are a member of The International Ecotourism Society. Compass India ensures to offer each of its guests high-end, professional services on everything, from exciting adventure tour packages to relaxing Golden Triangle tour.

Compass India Inc specializes in India luxury tours and India luxury tour packages! Contact Compass India for travel tour to India, holiday packages in India, travel to India from USA, UK, Canada, Spain and all over the world.

If you are looking for an easy dessert recipe, try some Jello cookies. They are quick to make. The cookies turn out light and fluffy, but have the fun colors from your selection of Jello. Make cherry and lime for red and green cookies for the holidays. Use orange, lemon, and lime for spring colors. You are limited only by your imagination and the choices of Jello on your store shelves.

These cookies are great favorites with the kids because of their fun colors. You can always brighten up the colors slightly with a drop or two of food coloring if you wish; the Jello makes a nice pastel color on its own. Make them when you want to cheer someone up; the colorful cookies will bring a smile to their face.

Desserts

This dough holds a shape pretty well. You can roll out the dough and cut the cookies out in shapes using cookie cutters. You can also press them flat with a glass or with a mold that has a pattern. You could also make a pattern on them like you would a peanut butter cookie and use a fork dipped in sugar to make criss cross marks. This recipe also works well in a cookie press. You can make all sorts of fun shapes with a cookie press. The Jello provides the color and a bit of flavor to the dough. You can even choose the colors of Jello to match a theme party if you want. Let your imagination run wild; make pink and blue for a baby shower or match colors with wedding colors for a bridal shower. Green would be perfect for St. Patrick's Day, of course, and orange would work well for Halloween.

Some people like to sprinkle the freshly baked cookies with a little sugar; it sticks better when they are warm. Otherwise, you could sprinkle a little on before you bake them, but you need to watch so the sugar does not burn. You can also frost them when they are cool. Cream cheese frosting works well with most Jello cookies. Garnish with an appropriate fruit or put some colored sprinkles on top.

Recipe for Jello Cookies

Kids love these colorful cookies.

What You Need

• 4 cups flour


• 1 teaspoon baking powder


• 1-1/2 cups butter


• 1 cup sugar


• 1 3-ounce package of Jello, any flavor


• 1 egg


• 1 teaspoon vanilla

How to Make It

Sift the flour and baking powder into a large mixing bowl. In another bowl, cream the butter, and then gradually add the sugar and Jello. Add the egg and vanilla; mix well. Gradually add the flour mixture, making sure it is well incorporated into the batter.

Chill the dough for at least an hour.

Fill a cookie press with the dough and press out cookies onto a baking sheet. Alternatively, you can roll the dough into balls and press them flat with the bottom of a glass.

Bake at 400 degrees F for 13 to 14 minutes.

Makes 60 cookies.

Everyone loves jello. You can make salads, desserts and even a simple cheesecake recipe by using Jello in your recipes. They make quick and easy desserts that bring lots of color to the table. Make some for your family.

JelloRecipes.net - We Don't Make the Products We Just Make Great Desserts with Them!

Some customs and traditions are world-widely recognized and accepted, sharing common symbols that identify a season or celebration. Candy canes are listed among those symbols decorating our homes during the winter days.

If you are in search for Christmas Gift Ideas, candy is a traditional present that often is included on the wish list of children and adults. Whether candy canes or hard candy, Christmas is, in addition, a season to explore your creativity.

Candy

Candy can be used for both decorating and eating ideas. Ginger shaped cookies and candy canes are a common Christmas decoration in many homes around the world during this season of the year.

Hard candy is excellent to mold decorative figures or shape them with the aid of a cookie cutter. Browse for old family recipes or ask you mom or grandmother for them. You will be amazed with the artwork that you can create with just candy and imagination.

Creativity is important for developing your own Christmas Gift Ideas, but also if you want to purchase some items already made. Give yourself a day for browsing stores and rediscovering the many faces of candy canes.

Canes are often white and red candy, but there are also those listed in green, usually with a touch of mint, and all of them in different size, soft or hard candy, and even molded with different shapes or covered with chocolate.

If you are planning to invite your friends and family to celebrate Christmas at your home, make sure to create a comfortable, warm climate, and decorate your home with candy canes in various color combinations or purchase some of those popular candy cane ornaments available almost anywhere.

However, if you are going to hang up your candy near the Christmas lights, make sure that you are getting hard candy products or it is possible they will melt being so close to the hot bulbs.

After or during the party, allow your guests to take some of the candy cane hanging ornaments, being an excellent prize if you host a reunion in which people compete or play challenging games.

Christmas Gift Ideas that are more traditional include handmade items and artwork, including scholar projects with candy that might be assigned to your children, but providing excellent ideas and fun for all the family, getting involved in decorating and gift making.

Otherwise, as close as this reading, the Internet is an excellent source for Christmas Gift Ideas, including products that you can purchase such as candy baskets, a snowman molded in hard candy, and countless items based on candy canes.

You have the right of choice, purchase home or factory made-gifts, or do it by yourself. There are candy cane boxes especially decorated with Christmas motifs so you can put a bow and a card on them and your gifts are ready, but even more satisfactory is sewing a little bag to be filled with home-made candy that you can prepare.

Natalie Aranda writes on family and holidays. Some customs and traditions are world-widely recognized and accepted, sharing common symbols that identify a season or celebration. Candy canes are listed among those symbols decorating our homes during the winter days. If you are in search for Christmas Gift Ideas, candy is a traditional present that often is included on the wish list of children and adults. Whether candy canes or hard candy, Christmas is, in addition, a season to explore your creativity.

With the rising costs of weddings every year, couples everywhere are trying to find ways to extend their budget while still planning a wedding and reception of their dreams. Many couples are starting to use other themes for their wedding receptions instead of serving a large dinner, or a cake and punch reception only, and the ideas are getting more and more creative. A dessert reception theme is starting to take off. You may have looked into it without knowing where to start or what to serve. Here are some of the most popular ideas for desserts in your dessert only reception. You can choose to implement only one of these ideas, or several for more variety so that everyone can have their favorite.

1. Make a Cookie Table

Dessert

Many bakeries, caterers, and even grocery stores can make large platters of assorted cookies at an affordable cost. You can either use the platters they come in, or arrange them yourself on the table using the decorations of your choice to dress up the table. An assortment of chocolate chip, peanut butter, oatmeal raisin, snicker doodles, double chocolate, or a special favorite of yours will be sure to grab your guests attention.

2. Rent a Chocolate Fountain

Chocolate fountains are starting to be used more and more at receptions as they can be very beautiful, smell wonderful, and make a great dessert table! They rent relatively cheaply, and then include your favorites in large bowls around the fountain for guests to dip or have drizzled with chocolate. Some favorites include pretzels, marshmallows, strawberries and other fruits, Oreo cookies, graham crackers, and much more!

3. Ice Cream Sundae Bar

Seriously, who doesn't like an ice cream sundae? This usually works best with a caterer since they have the appliances to keep everything cold throughout your reception, but if you can find a way to do it yourself, more power to you! Start out with vanilla or chocolate ice cream and then have bowls set out of different things for your guests to add to their sundaes. Chocolate sauce, sprinkles, nuts, cherries, whipped cream, chocolate chips, and much more! Definitely a reception your guests will not soon forget!

4. Make a Candy Table

Making a candy table at your wedding reception is another idea growing in popularity. This is mainly because it can be doubly used as wedding favors. Put large bowls of your favorite kinds of candy on the table(be sure you have enough), along with little take home boxes and scoops in the candy for each guest to help themselves to their favorite and take home for later.

5. Wedding Cake

Duh. Seriously, you still want to have your wedding cake, and most everyone is going to want to try it. Have one of your dessert tables at your reception include both wedding cakes, and have someone slice up your cake so that each guest can come by and have a piece of your beautiful wedding cake.

Not everyone will be able to handle a dessert reception with sugar filled snacks only. Be sure to include some sugar free snacks and candy for anyone with diabetes. You will need something for your guests to drink, and the most popular refreshments for a dessert reception is coffee, tea, and of course, milk!

This wedding help site will get you off to the right start. Finding great ideas for planning a dessert reception are just one of many articles, tips and tricks to make your wedding perfect.

Christmas, the most magical time of the year - the season of merriment is here again! The season of new beginnings, where forgotten vows are renewed and love fills the air around us that transcends above all. Especially children who wait in much anticipation for their favourite guy - Ole' Santa Claus! Don't you just love the growing merriment and excitement filling the air as the big day draws near? Breathe in...ah, how can you not love the aroma of delicious gingerbread, cakes and cookies baking and other food which are specially prepared only during the Christmas season?

Time for parties and celebrations and you are probably scratching your head for ideas or small little parties for family and friends. This can be a challenge especially if you are looking at coming up with something fresh and new. Some tips here if you plan to hold a party at home:

Dessert

• Firstly, have the right mix of music. Have lively Christmas music to create the right festive mood of party cheer as your guests enjoy the food and laughter. Can you picture your guests having fun with Silent Night playing in the background?


• Next, decorate your house with traditional Christmas decorations to set the right atmosphere. Don't forget Christmas stockings, mistletoes and Christmas ribbons. Have plenty of lightings, especially outdoors. Pay special attention to the Christmas Tree. Make it sparklingly grand!


• Kids will be at your party? Arrange special activities to occupy them and ensure sufficient supervision of them. Leave the tv on with Christmas cartoons or movies.


• And most importantly, some Christmas dessert ideas if you're planning to serve your guests.


• Prepare a wide spread of food and desserts, in other words, something for everyone. Dress desserts up with pretty traditional Christmas colours. Include cream cheese desserts, chocolate desserts and the traditional Christmas cake or puddings and even homemade candies for kids. Prepare great fruit punches so that everyone can enjoy them. Always prepare more than expected. That's the spirit of Christmas - giving and abundance.

Easy chocolate desserts work best as they are a favourite with most folks, so you will almost never go wrong. You can also easily find many favourite Christmas dessert recipes that are available online or from recipe books if you are keen on making your own homemade cakes, cookies or pies. Again, easy is the keyword here, as you will want time to mingle around.

I have a simple recipe for you too - it's called the Delicious Yuletide Fruit Cake which took me less than 30 minutes to prepare so you'll have plenty of time for your guests too.

Ingredients :

1/2 cup Self-raising Flour; sifted

1 can Condensed Milk

1 tsp Vanilla Essence

1 1/2 cups Dessicated Coconut

2 1/2 cups Pecans; coarsely chopped

1 cup Dried Apricots; chopped into small bits

1 1/2 cups Dates; coarsely chopped

300 g Candied Cherries; red and green; chopped

2 tbsp Icing Sugar; for decoration

Method:

Mix chopped pecans, apricots bits, dates and cherries together. Drizzle condensed milk over fruit mixture and keep stirring. Add in vanilla essence. Now add in dessicated coconut. Fold in sifted flour until no more flour lumps.

Spoon cake mixture into greased tube pan. Bake in preheated oven at 150°C for 20 minutes before upping heat to 170°C and bake for another 30 minutes.

Allow cake to cool a little before removing from pan. Dust cake lightly with icing sugar. Keep cake in air-tight container.

Sarah Chew

Website: http://www.best-dessert-recipes.com

If you're looking for more Christmas dessert recipes or some chocolate dessert recipes for the coming Christmas, visit http://www.best-dessert-recipes.com and surprise your family and friends.

Simple and quick! These sweet treats are especially great for Valentines Day!

1. Celebration Cake -- EASY, EASY! Looks beautiful and NO cooking at all!

Sweetmeat

You'll need: 1 prepared angel food cake, 1 can pie filling and 1 tub prepared cream cheese frosting. Place cake on a cake plate. Frost it! Pour the pie filling in the hole in the middle of the cake. Serve slices of the cake topped with some pie filling. Decorate with added coconut, nuts, or candies! Cherry pie filling is perfect for Valentines Day!

2. Love Cakes -- Extremely beautiful, yet simple to make!

NO cooking! You'll need 1 prepared pound cake, 1 tub prepared vanilla frosting, some red food coloring, 1 tube chocolate decorative frosting with a plain tip for writing, 1 (14 oz) bag M&M'S Milk Chocolate Candies for Valentine's Day.

Line a cookie sheet with waxed paper and top with a wire cooling rack; set aside. Cut pound cake into 1-inch thick slices. Using a heart-shaped cookie cutter, cut out cake using cookie cutter. Place the heart-shaped cake pieces

on the wire cooling rack. Spoon 1/4 cup of vanilla frosting into a zipper-seal plastic bag and set aside. Tint the remaining frosting to a light shade of pink using food color and spoon it into a glass-measuring cup. Heat the pink frosting in the microwave for 5 to 10 seconds, or until it can be poured. DO NOT OVERHEAT. Pour the pink frosting over the heart-shaped cake pieces, covering the tops and the sides. Reuse the drippings and reheat, if necessary.

Refrigerate until set (about 30 minutes). Fill a zipper-seal plastic bag with frosting, then snip a tiny corner of the bag and use it to pipe lacy designs on the tops and sides of the heart-shaped cake pieces. Add candies to make different designs, then pipe messages on the tops with the decorative chocolate frosting.

3. Flavorageous Crispy Treats -- Kid Tested!

5 T butter or margarine

9 C miniature marshmallows (16 oz)

1 envelope Kool-Aid, any flavor**

9 C Crispy rice cereal

Grease a 10x15x1" pan. Melt butter; about 45 seconds on high in the microwave. Add marshmallows; toss to coat with butter. Microwave on high 2 1/2 minutes or until smooth; stirring every minute. Stir in drink mix. Immediately add cereal, mix lightly until well coated. Using greased spatula or wax paper, press into prepared pan. Cool. Cut into desired shapes with cookie cutters or cut into squares.

**Favorite Kool-Aid Flavors are Fruit Punch and Cherry

Leslie Sausage lives with her husband in rural Texas. She is the mom of four grown children, a freelance writer and an elementary school teacher! She is the author of several eBooks. For creative, practical and fun ideas please visit her web site at http://www.heart4home.net

Making a candy bar card to mark a special occasion can be a novel and memorable way to make someone's day. All it takes is a little thought and a few simple materials, plus a few chocolates of course. This way your project winds up being a sweet gift as well as a greeting card.

Here is How to Make Your Card

Candy

First think about the reason you want to make the card. Is it to mark a special birthday or anniversary? Has someone achieved a goal? Do you want to mark the beginning (a wedding?) or an end (retirement?) of something?

With your occasion in mind, the next step is to take a trip to the local supermarket and to browse the confectionery aisles. Look for candy bars with names that suit your theme or message. Purchase your chocolates. You may choose small candy bars or individually wrapped chocolates, for example. You just need to be able to read the name of the treat and the sweet needs to be a suitable size for attaching to your card with pins or adhesive.

Now look for some cardboard or thin Styrofoam to make the backing for your card. The bigger the backing, the easier it will be for a group of people to read your message, and the more chocolates you can fit into your message. Make sure your backing is strong enough to support the weight of your chocolates as well.

The next step is to head home to lay out the chocolates in front of the computer. I spend some time brainstorming ways to make a message for my friend or family member, using the chocolates to help spell out my message.

When I have a message in mind, I type it into a word document. Then I format the font (I like Verdana) to be about the same size as the words on my chocolates. I leave some space between my lines of text so I can cut the words of the message apart when I print them out. If you would rather write out your message by hand or spell it out with alphas, paint or even words cut from magazines, of course you can.

After printing my message and cutting out the phrases or words, I start pinning the message to the board or backing sheet.

Work out the middle of your message and lay the words on the middle of the backing sheet. Do they fit where you want them? Can you fit your chocolate words in too? If everything fits, start pinning or adhering the words and chocolates to your backing sheet.

It should not take long to finish making the candy bar card once you know what you want to say.

A Message Idea for Your Candy Bar Card:

To get you started, here is a message I made up for a Father's Day candy bar card:

I would have to go to MARS to find a Dad like you. Ever since I was a BABE (Ruth) you always TAKE 5 to BOOST me up when I am down. You are a TOP DECK kind of Dad!

I trust you will be inspired to make your own special candy bar card now, but be warned. If you are anything like me, there is a hazard involved in making this type of card. It is the temptation to eat the chocolates before they reach their intended recipient!

Would you like to see an example of a candy bar card? I have one here: http://www.papercraftcentral.com/candy-bar-card.html

At http://PaperCraftCentral.com/subscribe.html you will also find step-by-step guides for making many beautiful paper craft projects. You can ask questions about paper crafting, submit your own work and subscribe to Paper Twists, a newsletter all about papercrafts, for free!

(Copyright: you may freely republish this article, provided the text, author credit, the active links and this copyright notice remain intact).

Every February 14th, we observed the Valentines Day in many countries. It is the day that we show love to our love partners. Traditionally, we send flowers, gift, greeting cards, or treats. In many cases, we give the gift of puppy. Let us show how to find to name the puppy. A puppy is a cute gift for Valentines Day. Naturally, you may want a good dog names that relates to Valentines Day. It was a special day. And, you want to cherish the memorable day.

When you think of Valentines Day, you may think of a few things. For example, chocolates, love, red, flowers, romance, and romantic dinner are a few things that comes in mind. With the list, you can find the best dog name for the puppy.

Confection

From all the confections, the chocolate is given the most for the special day. The chocolate is a great name for brown or dark dogs. Roasting the cacao beans, the chocolate maker creates a delicious and sweet confection. Depending on the amount of cacao, the chocolate is the range between light brown to dark brown.

Red is the color of Valentines Day. The cards, gifts, flowers, and decorations have some red in it. Admon, Clancy, Crimson, Griffin, Griffith, Hong, Miaka, Rouge, and Ruby are dog names meaning red on their origin. From the list, Hong and Miaka are from exotic origin. Hong is Chinese dog name, while Miaka is Japanese dog name. The rest are English origin except for Admon, Rouge, and Ruby. It is a dog name from Hebrew, French, and Latin origin respectively.

There are many more English dog names that are derived from the word red. Here are some examples. Redd, Reed, and Reid are derived from the word red. Some dog breeds may not be exactly red color, but the fur color may be close enough to red. The choices are Arun, Aruna, Broderick, Griffin, Griffith, Kapila, Radleigh, and Raleigh. Arun, Aruna, and Kapila that are Sanskrit or Indian origin means rust colored or reddish brown. Broderick, Griffin, and Griffith are from Welsh origin. The names mean reddish. Now, Radleigh and Raleigh are English dog names meaning red wood.

The fruit that is tantamount with Valentines are apple, strawberry, cherry, and raspberry. Apparently, they are red fruits. Thus, it can be ideal name for dog names. The guys like to give flowers in Valentines Day. The favorite flowers are three red roses. Flora means flower in Latin. Thus, Flora is a Latin origin dog names which means flower. The variations of Flora are Flor, Floria, Florian, and Florrie. The names have variations in different origin too. Hana (Japanese), Florella (Italian), Mali (Thai), and Prasoon (Indian) are example of the variations from another origin.

In many languages, there is a word for love. Therefore, the word has become dog names for many dog owners. For example, Agape literally means love in Greek. Here are some dog names that literally means love in different origin. Ai (Japanese), Amor (Latin), Asta (Norwegian), Ife (African), and Manoj (Sanskrit) means love in another origin.

Valentines Day is one of the happiest days that we observed every year. As you can see, the day numerously served as inspiration for dog names. There are many more, but we run out of space to write.

Dennis is a free lance web developer. He owns and operate the Chinese dog name, and Japanese dog name websites.

There's no better way to cap off a hearty Filipino meal than with something light and sweet for dessert. No, not ice cream or milkshakes, although those are great too-we're talking about native Filipino desserts. If you think sweets have no place in Filipino cuisine, you can't be further from the truth. From simple sugar-raised doughnuts to elaborate cakes, there's always a sweet Filipino food that's sure to satisfy that sweet tooth.

But one dessert that deserves a mention is the Filipino pastry. Although not as popular as our kakanin or rice cakes, Filipino pastries are a steady favorite in many regions. They're also a great start if you want to bake your own Filipino desserts recipes. They don't require as much attention as kakanin, but they give you just the same sweetness. Here are some of the most popular pastries in Filipino cuisine, plus some recipes to help you get started.

Sweets

Buko Pie

It's hardly surprising that one of our favorite desserts comes from our top fruit export. Outside the country, buko pie is sold in pre-packed frozen slices, so we're lucky to get it here fresh and hot, not to mention cheap. It is a popular pasalubong for people who go south of Luzon, particularly to Laguna, Quezon, and Batangas. The filling is made from young coconut flesh mixed with macapuno, coconut milk, cream, and sometimes caramel. Most bakeries carry a cheaper version of the pie made from sweetened coconut juice and flour. If you feel like making your own, here's an easy recipe you can try.

Buko Pie

Ingredients:

2 c all-purpose flour

2/3 c shortening

1 egg yolk

¼ c cold water

1 tsp salt

1 tsp vinegar

4 c shredded coconut meat

300ml condensed milk

2/3 c cornstarch

1 c coconut water

Procedure: Preheat your oven to about 435oF. In a bowl, combine the salt and flour and cut in the shortening until they form pea-sized pieces. In a separate bowl, mix the egg yolk, water and vinegar, then add to the flour mixture. Mix until the dough is soft and pliable. Split the dough into two balls, one part a bit bigger. Roll out the bigger dough until it's slightly bigger than your pie plate. Fit into the plate and let hang over the sides. Roll out the smaller dough, then set aside.

In a saucepan, combine the remaining ingredients and cook until thick. Let it cook for about 15 minutes, then pour into the crust. Cover with the smaller dough, seal the edges, and bake for about one hour.

Boat tarts

For a quick, cheap sugar fix, boat tarts are your best option. These are small, open pastries with a filling of caramel, ­langka (jackfruit), mango, or some other sweetened fruit. You can find them pre-packed in most groceries and cafeterias. They are a popular dessert for school lunches, mainly because they are fairly cheap and go well with most Filipino food recipes. If you can pull off a simple cake, boat tarts shouldn't be a problem.

Pili Nut Tarts

Ingredients:

1 kg all-purpose flour

½ kg ground pili nuts

1 cup butter

1 cup sugar

1 cup condensed milk

1 cup ice water

Procedure: Mix the flour and sugar, and cut in the butter until they form small pea-sized balls. Slowly add in the water, stirring along the sides to help the dough hold together. Form the dough into small balls, then roll out about 1/8 inch thick. Press into tart molds and prick the sides and base with a fork. Bake the dough for about 20 minutes. Meanwhile, mix the condensed milk, sugar, and ground nuts. Pour into the baked crusts and top with pili slices. Return to the oven and bake until the filling turns golden brown.

Macaroons

Filipino macaroons are made with coconut shavings, which make them chewier than flour-based American ones. It's actually one of the easiest Filipino cooking recipes, so it's a great starter recipe for beginners. This one puts an unusual twist on the basic recipe.

Pandan Macaroons

Ingredients :

1 cup desiccated coconut

½ cup coconut cream powder

1 tsp pandan extract

¼ cup melted butter

1 ¼ cup sugar

¼ cup bread crumbs

3 eggs, separated

1 ¼ cup warm water

green food color

salt to taste

Procedure: Preheat your oven to 320oF. Grease a baking pan with butter and sprinkle a little flour to coat. In a bowl, mix the water and coconut cream powder, then set aside. Beat egg whites until they get foamy, then beat in the yolks. Combine the bread crumbs, desiccated coconut, sugar, salt, and butter. Add in the egg mixture, dissolved coconut cream, food color, and pandan extract. Mix well and pour into the pan. Spread evenly and shake down to compact the batter. Bake for about 20 minutes or until the sides are browned.

Carlo Villamayor is the owner and co-author of the Filipino food [http://www.kusina.ph/] blog, Kusina.ph. A devoted cook, he makes it his personal mission to spread the joy of Filipino recipes [http://www.kusina.ph/low-fat-filipino-desserts-recipes/] with food lovers the world over. Bon appetit!

Fruitcake has become somewhat of a holiday joke to many people. Yet how many have actually tried a piece of truly delicious, moist fruitcake? Instead of passing a fruitcake on to someone else or saving it as an annual joke, why not make some yourself and help dispel the old myth?

The traditional fruitcake can trace its history back to the English plum cake, which came from plum pudding. These puddings were allowed to ripen in the cupboard for months, becoming hard and dry. Before being eaten, they were steamed to add moisture. After awhile, cooks found that if they saturated the cake in liquor, the cake would be preserved and it would keep it moist.

Dessert

An old holiday tradition was baking small trinkets into the fruitcake. A coin indicated wealth, a thimble thrift and a ship meant travel.

Recipe for Old Fashioned Fruitcake

Enjoy this rich cake full of tradition.

What You Need

• 3 cups dried figs, chopped


• 2 cups pitted dates, chopped


• 2 cups golden raisins


• 2 cups dark seedless raisins


• 2 cups dried currants


• 1-1/2 cups candied citron, diced


• 1 cup candied pineapple, diced


• 1 cup candied cherries, chopped


• 1 cup candied orange peel, diced


• 1 cup brandy


• 3 cups all purpose flour


• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon


• 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice


• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves


• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda


• 2 cups butter, softened


• 1 pound dark brown sugar


• 6 large eggs


• 1/3 cup dark molasses


• 2/3 cup milk


• 5 cups pecans

In a large mixing bowl, combine dates, figs, raisins, currants, pineapple, citron, cherries, orange peel, and brandy. Cover the bowl and let it sit overnight, stirring several times while soaking.

Preheat your oven to 275 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease a dozen mini loaf pans. Line the bottom of each tin with waxed paper and grease the paper.

In a medium sized bowl, mix the flour, cinnamon, allspice, baking soda, and cloves.

In a large bowl, use your mixer to beat the butter and brown sugar until well blended. Increase the speed to medium high and continue mixing until the batter is fluffy and light. This should take about 5 minutes. Scrape the sides frequently. Reduce the mixer speed to medium. Add eggs one at a time, mixing them into the batter completely. Add molasses and mix. Reduce speed to low. Add flour mixture a bit at a time, alternating with the milk. You should start and end with the flour mixture. Blend well.

Pour batter into larger bowl and add fruit mixture, any brandy that was not absorbed by the fruit and the pecans. Mix.

Spoon batter into the mini loaf pans, spreading evenly. Bake in the oven until a toothpick stuck in the center comes out clean. This takes about 1 hour 30 minutes. Let the fruitcakes cool in the pans on wire racks for 15 minutes. Run a thin knife around the edge of each cake and invert onto wire racks. Turn cakes upright and let them cool completely. Remove the waxed paper. Wrap cooled cakes in plastic wrap and then in a layer of foil. Keep in a cool place. They can keep in the refrigerator for up to a month before serving. Recipe makes 12 mini cakes.

Traditional Mexican food can trace some of its origins back hundreds of years. Following tradition is important in Mexican cuisine. Why not try some when you choose your Cinco de Mayo food in celebration of this rich culture?

MexicanDessertRecipes.net The Sweet Side of Mexican Food.

Homemade chocolate frosting tastes so much better than that ready made kind you buy in a can, although that is good when you don't have time, but really, it's pretty easy to whip up some frosting of your own with this recipe.

1/4 cup butter, melted

Confection

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1/3 cup milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon salt

3 cups confectioners' sugar

Directions

In a large bowl, combine butter and cocoa; beat until well mixed. Add in the milk, vanilla and salt; beat until smooth. Gradually beat in the confectioners' sugar until frosting is smooth and creamy. Add more milk if you want a thinner consistency.

=> Chocolate Cake Frosting Recipe: Chocolate Fudge Frosting Recipe

Here's a good chocolate fudge icing recipe that goes great with chocolate cake.

3 squares baking chocolate

5 tablespoons butter

3 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar

7 tablespoons milk

Dash of salt

1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions

In a saucepan, combine the chocolate and the butter; cook on low heat until both are melted. Remove from heat. In a large bowl, add the sugar and stir in the milk, salt and vanilla. Slowly stir in the chocolate mixture and beat until frosting is smooth and easy to spread.

=> Easy Chocolate Frosting Recipe: Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

Recipe

Here's an easy frosting recipe that spreads creamy and smooth on your homemade cake.

2-2/3 cups confectioners' sugar

3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa

6 tablespoons butter

5-6 tablespoons milk

1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions

In a small bowl, combine the sugar and cocoa. In another small bowl, add 1/2 cup of cocoa mixture and the butter; beat well. Alternately add in the remaining cocoa mixture and the milk; beat until mixture is smooth and creamy. Stir in the vanilla.

=> Easy Chocolate Frosting Recipe: Chocolate Chip Frosting

If you're a chocolate chip lover, this is quick way to make some homemade chocolate frosting.

1/4 cup butter

1 cup sugar

1/4 cup milk

1/2 cup chocolate chips

1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions

In a saucepan, combine butter, sugar and milk; bring to a boil. Stir in chocolate chips and the vanilla. Remove from heat. Beat frosting until cool and is a spreading consistency.

=> Easy Chocolate Frosting Recipe: Chocolate Peanut Butter Frosting Recipe

The wonderful flavors of chocolate and peanut butter make a nice frosting to use on cupcakes.

1/2 cup peanut butter

1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa

2-2/3 cup confectioners' sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 cup cream or evaporated milk

In a large bowl, combine the peanut butter and cocoa; stir until well blended. Stir in the sugar, salt and vanilla. Add in the cream until the desired consistency is reached.

=> German Chocolate Frosting Recipe: German Chocolate Cake Frosting Recipe

Here's a great German chocolate frosting recipe that features coconut and pecans.

1 cup sugar

3 egg yolks

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup pecans, chopped

1 stick butter

1 can condensed milk

1 tablespoon cornstarch

1 can coconut

Directions

In a saucepan, combine all ingredients and cook over low heat; stir constantly until frosting reaches a thick consistency (about 12 minutes). Stir in the pecans and coconut.

=> Chocolate Cream Frosting Recipe: Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

This makes a rich chocolate frosting that goes great on brownies and cupcakes.

4 squares unsweetened chocolate

1 (8 oz.) package cream cheese (room temperature)

4 cups confectioners' sugar

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

1/8 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons evaporated milk

Directions

In a saucepan or double boiler, melt chocolate over low heat.

In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese until it has a fluffy consistency. Stir in the melted chocolate; with an electric mixer, mix on medium speed until well blended. Mix in the vanilla and salt. Slowly blend in the sugar.

Increase mixer speed to medium high. Gradually add in the milk and beat until the frosting is a smooth consistency.

Brownies, Cheesecake, Fudge and more

[http://www.best-brownie-recipes.com]

When the candy canes come out, it's a sure sign that the holidays are near. Unlike nowadays, there used to be just one type of Christmas candy. These candies, colored red and white striped and peppermint flavored, are always a wonderful holiday treat.

More so than being delicious, candy canes were also hung on the Christmas tree and eaten when the job of opening presents was done. Now this Christmas treat has become decorations for many other places, and are much more than just tasty snacks. Listed below are eight of the best ways we have seen to decorate with candy canes.

Candy

1) Design a wreath made of candy. If you're looking for a change from the usual green boughs and red ribbons, make a peppermint candy wreath for your front door of your home or office. Small peppermint canes are the best choice for this as they can be bunched and hooked together to form a circle. Our favorite peppermint treats are always a nice addition to a traditional wreath made with almost any material.

2) Use them as a centerpiece! The vivid colors of candy canes make them fine decorations for any table or desk. A nice jar with a few treats sticking out would make a fine holiday centerpiece. You'll have a few disappear, so have some spares around.

3) Add decorations to the candy canes - they are the basis for many Christmas craft projects; turn them into reindeer with a pipe cleaner, some felt, some glue, and googly eyes and they'll fit in just about anywhere!

4) Create a holiday tree garland. Candy canes can go onto your tree in many ways, not just hanging from the branches. Several candy sticks and some ribbon will make a wonderful garland for your Christmas tree.

5) Candy canes are a great for "Santa's sleigh" made of gingerbread. They have the right shape to make great runners for St. Nick's sleigh

6) They can also make good aisle markers. Candy canes are available in different flavors and in various sizes. Purchase two in the largest size available, and they can become posts for an entranceway, a path, or a hallway.

7) Candy canes can be great parts of a gingerbread village. They have many uses when they are included in a gingerbread village. They are also ideal for making lamp posts, fences, trees, or even road borders.

8) Make a "Welcome Bowl". At the office, remember to have the welcoming bowl of small Christmas treats. Everyone loves the peppermint taste, and the sweets bowl helps remind people of the giving spirit of the season.

There are so many different ways to use candy canes throughout the season. This list barely covers the possibilities! Sweet delicacies like these are also a major part of any decorating plans for the holidays.

The candy man Christopher Pratt is President of Candywarehouse.com, a premier online bulk candy store, has stocked up on several varieties of yummy christmas candy canes, starlight mints, and other christmas candy for the season.

If you're thinking of opening a candy store, there are quite a few pieces of equipment you'll need to display your candy in the most convenient, attractive, and effective ways.

Plastic Containers

Candy

If you really think about it, it might actually be impossible - or, at least, extremely difficult - to operate a candy store without plastic containers. From wrapped candies like Tootsie Rolls and Jawbreakers to unwrapped candies like gumballs and Lemon Drops, these containers are perfect for virtually every kind of candy.

Not only are plastic containers are quite durable, which makes them ideal for fast-paced stores that often have children as customers, but they're also rather versatile. You can:

• Find clear plastic containers and colored acrylic containers to match your candy store's décor and create attractive candy displays.


• Choose from an assortment of sizes to work best with the candy you want to sell and the space you have to work with.


• Add accessories like lids and candy scoops to keep your candy safe and clean.


• Refill your plastic containers with candy once they're empty, or use them for an entirely different purpose like organizing merchandise in your stockroom or displaying non-edible items your candy store might also sell.

Glass containers function in many of the same ways as plastic containers do. You can find them in a variety of shapes and sizes, and pair them with useful accessories like lids and scoops.

However, when you compare glass candy containers with plastic ones, you'll find two major differences:

• Glass containers are heavier and more easily broken, so they're not always the best choices for candy stores that usually keep a regular stream of young children coming in and out of the store.


• Glass containers add an elegant charm that plastic containers can't always achieve, so they're great for displaying gourmet candies in more upscale establishments.

Unless you plan to display all your candy within plastic or glass containers situated on your store's countertop, you're going to need a few display racks.

Candy store display racks are available in numerous styles, shapes, and sizes, the most common and versatile of which include wire display racks and wooden display racks designed for either floor or countertop displays. Unsurprisingly, wooden display racks work best with wooden baskets, and you can use wire display racks to showcase bags of candy that are able to stand alone or fill plastic containers with pieces of candy and then arrange the containers on the wire rack's shelves.

Pre-Filled Candy Displays

Pre-filled candy displays are great for candy stores that are just getting started as well as those that stay quite busy and can't always find the time to restock their displays.

Look for pre-filled candy displays in the following forms:

• Gumball machines designed for floor displays or countertop displays with as few as one head or as many as eight heads. You can also find gumball machines filled with other kinds of loose, unwrapped candies like Skittles and M&Ms.


• Lollipop trees tall enough to display on your floor or compact enough to situate on your countertop.


• Candy filled display racks complete with traditional, novelty, or gourmet kinds of candies. You can find these racks small enough for your countertop, tall enough to act as floor displays, and large enough to essentially act as aisles in your candy store.

From plastic containers and wire display racks to gumball machines and lollipop trees, you can find all the tools you need to start your candy store at http://www.candyconceptsinc.com

When Halloween approaches, you know that face painting season is kicking into high gear. Try these easy, but immensely child-pleasing Halloween "cheek art" designs at class parties, fall festivals and homecoming carnivals.

Begin with good quality, water-based face paints. You can find them online or in some theatrical stores. A palette of six, good-quality face paints is priced around .00 and includes enough paint for 70 or more cheek art designs. Water-based face paints apply as easily as watercolors and remove cleanly with a paper towel and water.

Candy

For a small gathering of children, two or three small to medium sized paint brushes will be sufficient. A bowl of water to rinse the brushes and a roll of paper towels conclude the list of basic supplies.

In my opinion, the simplest design to paint is that of a ghost. The basic shape of the ghost is that of a triangle. With a brush loaded with white paint, paint a loose triangle by creating a wavy line to outline the ghost. Fill in with more white paint, dot on black eyes and a smile and the ghost is complete.

Nothing is "sweeter" than a face dotted with painted candy corn. The basic shape is a pyramid, with yellow on the bottom third, orange on the middle third and white at the peak. You can create a candy corn crown by painting the candies in succession along the forehead.

To paint a jack-o-lantern, begin with a circle or oval of orange paint. When the orange paint dries, add small triangles in black paint for the eyes and nose and paint a toothy smile in black as well. Add a green stem and your jack-o-lantern is complete.

The most important thing to remember when face painting is to have fun and keep it simple! Children aren't expecting a Picasso to be painted on their face. They simply love to celebrate the occasion and face painting is the perfect way to light up the face of any child.

JoAnne Westcott is the author of the downloadable e-book, Easy Face Painting: How You Can Get Professional Results Even If You've Never Picked Up A Paintbrush. You can learn more about face painting and how to acquire the simple skills to get started by visiting http://www.easyfacepainting.com

Pecan Praline Candy is a kind of confection found in almost every specialty shop in New Orleans. At some point you can even bump into shops which make this kind of candy right before your eyes.

For those who love sweets but are not good in the kitchen or not good in cooking, you still have the chance to make your homemade Pecan Praline Candy.

Confection

The cooking process is somewhat tricky. If you are to cook it traditionally, you must use a thermometer upon cooking the sugary mixture. The standard temperature of the thermostat must be exactly 238 degrees also known as the soft-ball stage. You must also stir the mixture constantly so as to avoid having terrible results.

You might think it is impossible to make your own homemade Pecan Praline. But, you are wrong. As they say, nothing is impossible! I have an alternative procedure in making this yummy candy. I call it Microwave Pecan Praline Candy Recipe. Say goodbye to your candy thermometer and start making your own Pecan Praline Candy with no hassle. Check out my recipe.

Ingredients:

1 cup whipping cream

1 pound light brown sugar

2 cups pecans, coarsely chopped

2 tablespoons margarine, softened

Directions:

Mix cream and sugar.

Microwave the mixture on high for 13 minutes.

When it's done, remove it from the microwave then add margarine and pecans.

Stir it quickly.

Drop it to the waxed paper using a tablespoon.

Let cool then serve.

Of course the traditional way of cooking this delicious candy would give you different result, too. However, this alternative recipe I am sharing to you is the closest thing you can get to enjoying Pecan Praline Candy the easy way. Something that will help you achieve a recipe with the use of simple ingredients at a quick spun of time. It can actually serve as a beginner step for all of those cooking enthusiast.

Visit: Candy Recipes To Get The Best Candy Bar Recipes Now!

Are you looking to replace your old (rather primitive) microwave oven with a new one? Perhaps, you may also invest some bucks to buy a new microwave oven for the first time. The first thing that you have to decide is whether to go for a convection or conventional microwave oven. Therefore, first decide the range of model and you will be clear about the deciding factors before going for a microwave oven. In this brief article, let us discuss some of the differences between convection and conventional microwave ovens.

A magnetron tube powers a basic microwave oven and that emits microwaves which pass through glass containers & plastic containers and are taken up the food. A microwave convection oven makes use of a newer form of technology that integrates basic microwave technology with heat energy that allows you to brown, roast and grill your favourite food. These types of oven also have a heating element besides a fan that helps in the circulation of heated air.

Confection

Microwave ovens can also be entrusted upon the task of cooking depending upon the type of food you want to cook. A microwave convection oven is also known as speed-cook model that can also be used to prepare crustier pizzas and juicier pot roasts. Some models also has units that come with a pan used to cook bacon and crisp bread.

Microwave convection ovens are known for their versatility because of their ability to allow consumers to make use of the microwave and heat functions in tandem, but both as separate function. Multiple cooking modes or options in a single wave oven are quickly catching up as a definite trend in microwave oven technology and it is continuously improving to make cooking experience better.

It is a still a matter of personal preference that dictates one whether to go for a conventional microwave or a microwave convection oven though one can expect microwave oven with convection features to be lot more expensive.

Another popular form of heating method integrates microwave with light energy of higher intensity from a quartz halogen bulb as its source to roast food. This method can add colour and taste to meat at the same time accelerating the time taken for cooking.

You can check best models on Convection Microwaves and read reviews on LG, Neff, Sharp, Whirlpool and Samsung Microwave Reviews. You can find best buys, latest models and cheapest prices at exclusive websites for microwave ovens.

So what is the best time to eat carbs? If you already know what carbs are for then you can probably answer that question already. This is not just about carbs it is mainly about all foods that give you energy. It also depends on how your schedule looks.

If you are only trying to lose some weight and are not the athletic type then I would suggest you cut back on the foods with a lot of complex carbs. Complex carbs are the good kind that gives your body energy. It is ideal to have them early in the day. For example a great breakfast would include oatmeal or toast. You will feel more energetic throughout the day this way. The complex kind are stored in the body as energy as opposed to simple sugars from sweets. Think of it like fueling your body up for physical activity.

Sweets

That does not mean you have to avoid anything with an ounce of carbs at night time. You can have something light like a slice of watermelon. Fruit is great at night because it settles your dessert craving. There is nothing better than having a fruit salad with whipped cream when trying to avoid the chocolate ice cream. Try to avoid having carb sources like pasta at night time. Unless you are going for a morning run the next morning it should be avoided starchy foods and save them for breakfast or lunch time. It is best to have mostly protein and fats for dinner. A great example would be 5 ounces of salmon with asparagus.

If you go to the gym on a regular basis then it would be a good idea to have carbs before and after a workout. The reason why is because your muscles need carbs as well as protein for maximum growth. By doing this your body is in turn burning more fat. Stick to starchy foods like pasta, whole grain bread, and sweet potatoes. Even if you workout at night time you should have some of these kinds of foods around the time you work out.

Fruits are OK at night time mainly because they are light whole foods. They are rich with simple carbs but they are natural when compared to processed foods like white bread, ice cream, and sodas. Eating fruit at night time is actually known to promote fat loss so go nuts. Just avoid any sweets and you will be good. Having sweets at night time is like asking to gain more weight.

So in conclusion you should save the starchy kinds of foods like oatmeal and sweet potatoes for earlier in the day for breakfast or lunch. That way you give your body energy to take on the day. Avoid sweets especially at night time when you are the least active. Fruits are an excellent replacement. Also try having more carbs before and after a workout. This actually boosts your metabolism.

There is a great diet program that I have recently started and have succeeded with called strip that fat. If you are interested and want to read my review click on this link. ---> Strip that Fat Scam

Chocolate is unquestionably the number one comfort food. Worldwide, no other word excites our hearts and minds, yes, even our palates to action. It can be obtained in many forms. There is hot chocolate, cold chocolate, and spicy chocolate. If your passion is rich, dark, bittersweet, or milky sweet it can be easily satisfied. There is even white chocolate for those who fancy a light, creamy taste without the flavor that the alternatives deliver. What is it about chocolate that so permeates our subconscious until we ultimately indulge our craving?

If you look at all the characteristics that this confection is noted for you will undeniably find the list lacking nothing. The very first few that come to my mind are:

Confection

1. Sweet or bittersweet taste


2. Rich, creamy indulgence


3. Warm, inviting, comfort food


4. Nothing quite smells like chocolate

And that is just for starters. However, its features are not what we crave. We crave it for what it does for us. As I ponder this subject, to better focus on the answers to these questions, I can think of no other chocolaty indulgence that I would rather have than My Little Taste of Italy's sinfully, sensual, rich and luscious cappuccino brownies. They are so well known, on both coasts of America and in between, that they have been dubbed, "Orgasmic!"

Mama Gloria and Liz have discovered the key to satisfy the most discerning palate. Their tasty treats include chocolate biscotti that are to die for fabulous. Did I tell you their treats are known all across America? Well, that isn't quite accurate. They are also ship their goodies overseas to our armed forces, but this is another tale for another time.

So, what is it that Mama Gloria and Liz have discovered that has enthralled the world? They have figured out that we cannot live without chocolate and have used that knowledge to capture our appetites and our hearts. When we look at what chocolate does for us, and what makes the desire so strong that we cannot ignore it, we discover the essence of true marketing potential. What is it that My Little Taste of Italy's Cappuccino Brownies do for the lucky soul Let's uncover their secret.

What chocolate does for the consumer is summed up in how it makes them feel. Some of these benefits are:

1. Satisfies our senses


2. Soothes our nerves


3. Makes us feel good about ourselves


4. Provides health benefits

It is a well known fact that chocolate increases our endorphins, actively producing a sense of well being, and serotonin, which acts as an anti-depressant. Recently I discovered that it is also beneficial to smokers. "It has shown promise in that it may reverse some of their smoking-related impairment in blood vessel function," according to a study in the Oct. 4, 2005, issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

But what does all of this have to do with marketing? The answer is simple, EVERYTHING! Think of it, if you could harness the benefits of chocolate in your advertising you would ensure your business' success. If you simply find a way to make your product or service compelling to your consumer you will seldom loose a sale. Sit down right now and create a list of all of your product or service's features. Then from that you will be able to build the list that will clearly define the benefits to your customers. With that knowledge firmly in hand you will have the key to the best marketing plan that you have ever prepared.

Ginger Marks and Kim Emerson are co-owners of Nibroc Marketing Solutions http://www.nibrocmarketing.com Ginger is also the author of "Presentational Skills for the Next Generation" available through her company website at http://www.DocUmeant.net . My Little Taste of Italy can be found at [http://www.mylittletasteofitaly.com/].