Buffalo Blue Party Platter - Everything Cream Cheese from Becky's Bites!!!!!

I was asked if I'd be willing to share a post to introduce a new NYC shoppe 

that has

ALL.THINGS.CREAM.CHEESE!

This place is right up my taste bud alley!!!!!!!!!!! 

Take it away Becky....

(OOOO - I love this gal's red hair!) 

Becky’s Bites began one hungry evening in a bite-sized kitchen in Manhattan. Craving just a bite of New York Cheesecake and getting hangrier and hangrier, Becky whipped up her first batch of– and now signature– chocolate dipped cream cheese bites.

And they were BETTER than cheesecake!

Locking herself up in her test kitchen, Becky has perfected recipes for all different flavored spreads, snack dips and bites all based with cream cheese. Named a top choice by Insider Food and Food & Wine.

While most of her lineup focuses primarily on sweets, Becky, herself, has a “sweet spot” for savory too! With the start of Football season, Becky is sharing her go to Sunday dip. Simple, no bake and easy to make!

Buffalo Blue Party Platter

Ingredients

• 1 LB: Cream Cheese (creamy)

• 1 Cup: Blue Cheese

• 1.5 Cups: Buffalo Sauce (Frank’s Red Hot)

Pair with your favorite pretzels or crudité (i.e., celery sticks). Our favorite is Pretzel Crisps (Snack Factory)

Directions

Prep: 5 Minutes

Cook: 0 Minutes

Ready in: 5 Minutes

• Mix Buffalo Sauce, Cream Cheese and Blue Cheese well

• Create platter with Buffalo Blue Dip and your choice of pretzel or crudité

Find other of Becky’s popular cream cheese creations at their existing retail East Village/NYC location, and keep on the look-out for Becky’s Bites as they launch their first commercial cream cheese snackpack!

If you have any friends visiting NYC, be sure to tell them about this delicious new place. 

I'd love it if you'd take the time (1 minute, 39 seconds) to learn more about this lovely inviting shoppe by watching the video below....

NYC Ultimate Cream Cheese Shop



Thanks Becky for sharing with me and my wonderful readers...
I love cream cheese and know the guys in my family will love this treat. 

​

Kitchen Organization Tips (Guest Post)

Erin Vaughan is a blogger, gardener and aspiring homeowner.  She currently resides in Austin, TX where she writes full time for Modernize, with the goal of empowering homeowners with the expert guidance and educational tools they need to take on big home projects with confidence.

2017 Kitchen Organization Tips 

Erin Vaughan 

Good organization never really goes out of style, but this year, there have been a lot of cool new trends rising to the surface that will really whip your kitchen into shape in style!  

Today’s storage options look nice and work hard, which busy bakers will certainly appreciate. Designers have kicked the minimalist, open kitchen to the curb in favor of walk-in pantries and high-functioning cabinets that let you keep all your equipment safely tucked inside—and off countertops. Take a look at some of our favorite new styles, and be prepared to kiss your storage woes goodbye! 

 

Via Decoist 

Get Yourself a Docking Station 

If you’re anything like most modern cooks, you probably rely on your smartphone a lot more than your cookbooks. A proliferation of recipe apps means that digital food prep is now an integral part of the home cooking experience. Keep your phone, tablet, and other devices all charged up and ready to go using a handy-dandy kitchen charging station. This makes a super fun afternoon DIY project, too. Opt for a letter-box-style charging holder, or tuck your digital equipment discretely into a drawer with this easy outlet hack.  

Add Drawer Pull-Outs and Risers 

Baking is a lot easier when you have the right tools for the job. If you don’t believe me, try sifting your flour by hand next time! Add all that extra equipment to your load of day-to-day cookware, though, and you’ll definitely have some major cabinet overflow on your hands. Luckily, there’s a clever way to stretch the space in your cabinets: by purchasing and installing some useful drawer accessories. Risers let you stack plates and pans high to the ceiling, while pull-out shelves help spacious cabinet do double duty. Heck, there’s even a special hide-away for your kitchen garbage, if you want to get it out of sight. How genius is that? 

Install an Appliance Garage 

Counter space is precious when you’re baking, so if you have a bunch of small kitchen gadgets cluttering up every surface, you’re bound to feel a little claustrophobic. An appliance “garage” fits snugly under your cabinets and has a pull-down door to keep the beaters safely stowed away until it’s time to whip up the frosting. This is a must-have if you’re tired of wiping up crumbs under the toaster. 

 

Via HomedIt 

Or Put Your Appliances on Full Display 

This year’s appliances are some of the prettiest we’ve ever seen. The retro look is back, so you’ll see ovens and refrigerators in colors like blue, red, or pink, and cafe curtains hung in the kitchen—even on arched windows! Fifties-style mixers, toaster ovens, and coffee makers are also making the rounds, too, complete with soft, rounded profiles and shining chrome fixtures. They’re so pretty, you may just want to put them on full display—and moving your baking activities to an island or the kitchen table instead. Either way, we fully embrace the return of vintage into kitchens. Happy days are here again! 

Create an Open Pantry 

Walk-in pantries are all the rage this year with homeowners, who are stuffing theirs full of canned goods, wine, and other modern conveniences. If you’re a frequent baker, you’ll get why today’s cooks appreciate a little extra room in the pantry. But not all of us are lucky enough to own a home large enough for its own walk-in pantry. True, you could have a contractor in to build you your own approximation, but it’s not the only solution. If you need more space, an open-shelf pantry is the only way to go. You can even do it on the cheap using industrial wire shelving purchased from a restaurant supply store—or go whole hog and and create one from some pretty wall-length shelves from a furniture store. The best part? You’ll never have to wonder where you put the yeast again! 

 

Via The New York Times 

Use Your Cabinet Drawers and Kitchen Walls 

Here’s another unlikely spot for some extra storage: your cabinet interiors get all the attention when you’re planning a storage intervention—but your doors have plenty to offer as well. Especially when you install a few hooks on the back of each one. Suddenly you’ve got a place for ladles, measuring spoons, pans, and any number of other baking odds and ends. You can do the same thing on an unused wall—lately, kitchen decor has been centered around cozy, nostalgic items, so a few copper-bottomed pots or mason jars stuffed with cooking utensils brings on the rustic revival like nothing else, while earning you some extra room on your surfaces. After all, if you’re serious about baking, decorating with your equipment lets you declare your love for the kitchen, front-and-center. ​

Guest Post: Crazy Chocolate Cake - Sweet Little Bluebird

So pleased to share this wonderful friend, and co-host at Weekend Potluck...and awesome recipe...with you. Perfect for Valentine's Day...especially for those who have special diets. 

Take it away Mary....

Hi everyone, I'm Mary from the food blog, Sweet Little Bluebird. I live in Colorado, just south of Denver, with my husband, two girls and our dog, Molly. On my blog you will find some of my favorite recipes along with tons of tried and true recipes I love and hope my readers will love too. 

I'm stopping by The Better Baker today to share one of my favorite recipes, Chocolate Crazy Cake! This is an oldie but goodie recipe I think everyone should have in their recipe box.

Crazy Cake, also known as Wacky Cake and Depression Cake (along with many more names), contains no eggs, milk or butter, you don't even need a bowl, you mix everything right in your baking dish. This wonderful cake was created during the Great Depression when eggs, milk and butter were hard to come by, so it's budget friendly. I was given this recipe years ago by a dear friend for my daughter who has a severe egg allergy. This cake is perfect for those suffering with food allergies - it can even be made gluten free. Don't be scared by the missing ingredients, it's moist and super delicious! You don't have to have an allergy to enjoy this cake. This recipe has been cherished for generations.

CHOCOLATE CRAZY CAKE RECIPE (NO EGGS, MILK, BUTTER OR BOWLS)

Ingredients

1 1/2 Cups flour (all-purpose)

3 Tbsp. cocoa (unsweetened)

1 Cup sugar 

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp.  salt

1 tsp. white vinegar

1 tsp. pure vanilla extract

5 Tbsp. vegetable oil 

1 Cup water 

Directions 

For the directions and to print this recipe, please head over to Sweet Little Bluebird. On my blog you will find more flavors I've created from the original - Lemon, Carrot, Chocolate Mint, Spiced and more. I even have a mug cake version! 

Thank you so much, Marsha, for letting me stop by and share a family favorite recipe.  

And thank YOU Mary for sharing with my readers! OK y'all...now rush to the kitchen to try this one out...I'm guessing you'll want to make it again soon. 

10 Easy Morning Tricks to Help you Stay Healthy - Guest Post

I'm pleased to share this delightful list of 'tricks' by blogger Bryn Huntpalmer of 

Her Own Wings.  These photos are so gorgeous and inviting too. I have 'stalked' her blog some and like what I see there, and can testify that these No-Carb Zucchini Pancakes  were very tasty! 

From Bryn's website:

When I’m not over-sharing on the internet or raising tiny humans, I work as the Senior Content Manager for Modernize.com – a home decor and inspiration website. 

Thanks Bryn for sharing! 

10 Easy Morning Tricks to Help You Stay Healthy

By Bryn Huntpalmer

Via Modernize

Wake up. Drink coffee. Get dressed. Work. Come home. Eat. Sleep. Repeat. Our lives are built around daily rituals, which rarely change and can affect our health in more ways than we know. Whether we realize it or not, our morning habits can shape the rest of the day, for better or for worse. Here are 10 of the easiest ways to kick start your day the healthy way.

1. Rise and shine

Waking up with the sun is tough at first, but it helps get you moving and keeps your own circadian rhythms in check. If the sun doesn’t come up until 8:00 or later (thank you, winter), consider investing in an alarm clock that wakes you up with light rather than jolting buzzers and bells. Your nervous system will thank you.

2. Water first

Before tucking in to your morning cup of coffee, drink a large glass of water to help rehydrate your body. Add lemon and warm the water to help flush out toxins. Even better, ditch the caffeine altogether (as if that were an option) and stick to water, green tea, and fresh fruit smoothies.

3. Get outside

Regardless of the weather, try to step outside for a few minutes to breathe fresh air. Amazingly, it really helps to wake up all the senses and remind you that you’re alive and part of something so much bigger than yourself.

via Modernize

4. Break your fast

We all know that skipping breakfast is a no-no, but we often overload on carbohydrates and bad fats in our morning meal. Stick to fruit, oats, and a little dairy to give your digestive system the start it needs every day.

5. Meditate

Meditation isn’t just for the religious. By sitting calmly and focusing on your breathing, you can feel instantly calmer and ready to tackle your to do list for the day. Try it; it really does work!

 via Modernize

6. Happy music

Listening to upbeat, happy music in the morning helps you to feel lighter and less burdened by the mountain of chores or tasks you have in front of you. Set your alarm to your favorite song or blast a feel-good album in the car on the way to work and you will be on track for a happier, healthier you.

7. Exercise

Exercise and physical health go hand in hand, but this doesn’t necessarily mean you should complete an Insanity DVD every morning before 7:00am. A few good stretches can do wonders for your joints, muscles, and mind.

via Modernize

8. Shower

Showering daily not only helps to keep you physically clean (obviously!) but also helps to wake you up. Use an invigorating citrus shower gel or put a few drops of essential oil in the shower to wake up your senses and clean off your body. Get extra healthy by dry brushing your body and sloughing off all your dead skin cells.

via Modernize

9. Plan your day

Making a to-do list helps keep your brain organized and focused, and a happy brain equals a happier and healthier outlook on life. People who feel good mentally are more likely to feel good physically, too.

10. Affirm

If the idea of meditation makes you uneasy, then affirmation will seem even harder. Keep it simple and try to look yourself in the eye while brushing teeth and repeat a few positive thoughts. You ARE kind, you ARE smart, you ARE important. (Thank you, The Help, for my daily mantra!)

By mixing up your morning routine to include healthy and positive choices, you will be well on your way to a fitter, happier you. Now, if only you could remember where you left those car keys...

Bryn Huntpalmer is a mother of two young children living in Austin, Texas where she currently works as an Editor for Modernize and nurtures her HGTV obsession. In addition to regularly contributing to Home Decor and Design websites around the web, her writing can be found on Lifehacker, About.com and on her personal blog Her Own Wings.