Baking for Good is an “online bake sale that supports great causes.”  They offer a variety of treats, ranging from cookies to bars to granola and they all look delicious. Their margarita shortbread, for example, is calling my name.

margarita shortbread from Baking for Good

They even offer gift packs and suites of themed iced sugar cookies. The cookies would be fabulous for a party, a baby or wedding shower, or an engagement party.

iced wedding-themed cookies

How fabulous would it be to share with guests that each bite they take of their sweet treat goes to an even sweeter cause like First Book (one of my favorite non-profits) or The American Cancer Society.

Here’s to all the charitable sweet tooths out there!

This month’s Bon Appetit features a fun “spiked” version of the drink, created by Damon Boelte, bar manager at Prime Meats in Brooklyn. The drink combines gin, jasmine tea, limoncello, lemon juice, and grapefruit juice. Delish!

The "Leland Palmer"; photo by Nigel Cox

Ingredients

1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup hot water
3 cups freshly brewed jasmine tea, cooled
3/4 cup gin
3/4 cup limoncello*
3/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup fresh grapefruit juice
1 cup chilled club soda
Ice cubes
6 lemon slices (for garnish)

Preparation

Stir honey and 1/2 cup hot water in small bowl until honey dissolves. Cool completely. Combine honey water, jasmine tea, gin, limoncello, lemon juice, and grapefruit juice in large pitcher. Add club soda and stir to blend. Fill six 1-pint mason jars or 6 tall glasses with ice cubes. Divide tea mixture among jars; top each with lemon slice.

* Limoncello, a lemon-flavored liqueur, can be found at many supermarkets, at Trader Joe’s markets, and at liquor stores.

The two oldest have recently become aficionados of Star Wars — particularly the Star Wars Lego video game. I’ve played it with them a few times, leaving each game with my tail between my legs, duly humiliated by my lack of hand-eye coordination. My husband, on the other hand, is a worthy opponent for them.

When I spotted these Star Wars cookie cutters from Williams-Sonoma I instantly thought of the kids. How perfect would these be for a birthday party or play date?

To my little friends across the street: may the Force (and yummy cookies) be with you!

Star Wars cookies (cutters available at Williams-Sonoma)

set of four Star Wars cookie cutters from Williams-Sonoma

Orange-Banana Smoothie Pops

The pops feature Greek yogurt which is my favorite type. (Fage is my brand of choice.)

Ingredients

1 container(s) (7-ounce) Greek yogurt
2/3 cup(s) thawed orange juice concentrate
2 large bananas
Zest of 1 lime
1 tablespoon(s) fresh lime juice

I love how they used baking tins instead of regular popsicle molds — they create a more festive pop! French Canele Bordelais Molds might also create a fun alternative. Sur La Table has them as well as Amazon (what doesn’t Amazon have?!)

Mauviel Canele 2-Inch Molds from Amazon

Tops on my itinerary was to hit the organic market at Boulevard Raspail in the 6th Arrondissement. I had read a review of it by Ina Garten and knew I needed to check it out.

We decided to go to the market late morning and pick up some items for a picnic in nearby Jardin du Luxembourg. I salivated over the amazing bread, produce, cheese, and butcher stands. There is something about the freshness of the ingredients in France that doesn’t seem to compare to the U.S. (though we are certainly beginning to hold our own here).

We picked up an amazing baguette, some goat cheese, fresh strawberries, and some jus du pomme and headed to the park. We set up a little picnic on a bench with a lovely view, including active Parisians playing tennis, practicing tai chi, and learning martial arts moves. Just another Sunday in Paris!

I had packed some picnic essentials from home — knives, forks, napkins, cups… — so we were able to have a lovely meal and relax in the park for a while.

Summer picnics are one of my favorite things to do when the weather is nice. It doesn’t take much to create a little feast to enjoy on sunny day with friends: a blanket, some victuals, a few beverages and voila! Al fresco dining!

A great place in DC to picnic is at Wolf Trap. What could be better than reclining in the grass on a breezy summer evening listening to great music?! Here are some ideas for setting up a great picnic at Wolf Trap this summer.

Bon Appetit!

So as you are watch the painstakingly long and often nail-biting process, you may want to invite your friends over to enjoy another kind of “draft”… of the “hops” persuasion.

Instead of bottles and cans at your Draft Day party, why not try a beverage dispenser (or, using a term I haven’t heard since college, a kegerator)?!

The Krups Beertender at $99.00 is a nice, entry level, accessible model. It’s small enough to fit on your countertop and can be easily stored away when you aren’t using it. One downside is that you can only use it with Heineken 5L DraughtKegs. But if you like Heineken, you can’t go wrong. It’s an easy way for guests to serve themselves and it is likely to be a good conversation piece!

Krups Beertender

If this model is too “pedestrian” for you, you can always go for the cadillac of kegerators: Viking’s 24″ Built-in Beverage Dispenser. It can accommodate a half barrel of whatever beer you can order.

Viking's Built-in Beverage Dispenser

After you’ve setup your beverage dispenser, you’ll want to set out some glassware for your guests. Chilled mugs are always appreciated. I particularly love these pint glasses from Sur La Table.

Pallino Ottimista/Pessimista Beer Glasses from Sur La Table

Baccarat and beer seem like an unlikely pairing to me … but, nonetheless, these Baccarat Oenology Pilsner-style beer mugs are beautiful.

Baccarat Oenology Beer Mug, available through Geary's

Finally, I remember traveling in Belgium years ago and being amazed at how each brand and type of beer was served in its own special glass designed specifically by the brewery to ensure optimal flavor.  While not quite to that extent, this collection of glasses follows that line of thinking. The set includes a glass each for pilsners, wheats, ales, and stouts.

Mikasa "Brewmaster's Collection" Varietal Glasses, Set of 4, available at Macy's

With all of our “Draught Day” equipment, I think we are ready to watch Round One and hope for the best for our teams…

Go Patriots! (Skins fans, no taunts or jibes, please!)

Serving “cones” of fries at parties is not a new thing. Caterers often fold parchment or other paper into a cone and present the fries in the cones. That’s easy enough to do at home, as well, but now it’s even easier…

I spotted these wire containers on Crate & Barrel’s site recently… just in time for summer BBQs! I am pretty sure the Truffled French Fries featured on Epicurious would fit very well in one of these!

Bon Appetit!

French Fry Holder & Burger Basket with Liners, from Crate & Barrel

french fries presented in a wire cone with fun paper