No? Just me?

If you know anything about me, you know that although I may not be the most organized person 100% of the time, I love (am borderline obsessed with…) most forms of containers! The only type of container that actually irritates me so much are plastic storage containers to store food in. Can NOT stand them. Yes, they’re useful but I can never find the right lids, they always tumble over (on my head), basically they’re just annoying. I like things that stack nicely within each other, things that just make sense and take the hassle out of simple tasks… such as storing leftovers. So you can only imagine my excitement when I came home and saw a box from Tupperware waiting for me. Tupperware makes sense. They’ve always made sense, they’re one of the most trusted names in housewares. I immediately opened the package and saw an array of vibrantly colored containers along with a couple other goodies!

In the box:

• 1 shallow red FlatOut! Container

• 2 smaller yellow FlatOut! Containers

• 2 medium orange FlatOut! Containers

• 3 Lime Aid Stuffables Storage Containers, mini set

And evidently I need a 360 degree mirror… did not realize my hair was stickin’ out in the back like that

I also had a little photoshoot on my deck so you could get a closer look

The FlatOut! Containers are adjustable and flatten for space-saving storage (huge plus!). They adjust in height to accommodate a variety of foods. And the best part is they’re freezer and dishwasher safe! Perfect for storing leftovers!

The Stuffables Storage Containers take the “guesswork out of knowing which container to use”! The lids expand depending on how much food is stored in the container and they’re perfect for storing odd shaped foods. They’re also microwave safe (the container only, not the lid!), and dishwasher safe.

And like I mention in the video, my favorite part about these containers is every lid in each color fits the container in the same color. In normal people’s terms: every yellow lid will fit on every yellow container. Which I LOOOOOOVE. I find it quite frustrating to fumble around in search of the right lid for a container, so I was so excited to see that Tupperware took this issue into consideration!

Tupperware also, so generously, sent a quickchef and a Quick Shake Container. The quickchef easily chops fruits and veggies and comes with a paddle whisk that helps making whip creams, salad dressings, and dips a complete breeze! The Quick Shake Container is formed to perfectly fit in the palm of your hand, has an easy pour spout, and a removable blending insert that helps to throughly mix ingredients.

Tupperware has a slew of other products that are fun, extremely useful, and will last a lifetime (they have lifetime guarantees!). Which is why I think they’d make the perfect gift for a housewarming party or really, any gift-giving holiday. Such as my birthday in August-family and friends, take note They even have a registry section! I would not mind outfitting my entire home with Tupperware products, would you?

Stuffables® Containers received the prestigious “Good Buy” award from Good Housekeeping-given each year to a select group of products heralded for their innovative problem-solving designs-the remarkable FlatOut!™ Containers are another Good Buy Award winner. -tupperware.com

GIVEAWAY!

Did you think I’d talk you ear off about these products without offering you something? Here’s your chance to win the Stuffables Mini Set in Lime Aid! It includes three containers: 1 cup, 2 cup, and a 3 cup. Just be sure to leave a comment on this post telling us why you think you need these handy storage containers! All comments must be left by Wednesday, June 30th by 11:59pm EST. One lucky winner will be randomly selected! Good Luck!

[Chels]

After trying to decide just how to cook my beef, I settled on a recipe from Mark Bittman for Coconut-Braised Beef. I was having my sister and Adam over for a little bit of a birthday dinner for Adam and since we all love Indian food, I thought this Malaysian-style dish might hit the spot.

Coconut-Braised Beef (serves 4):

• 2 hot dried red chiles (I used 3 fresh… and wish I used more. Or hotter!)
• 3 garlic cloves
• 1 1-inch piece ginger, peeled and roughly chopped
• 1 T chili powder
• Juice and zest of 2 limes (or 2 T rice or other mild vinegar)
• 2 T corn, grapeseed, or other neutral oil
• 1 1/2 lb. beef, preferably chuck, cut into 1-inch cubes
• 2 C coconut milk (I used half regular and half light)
• Salt to taste

Lime, chiles, ginger, and garlic. Does it get any better than that? I think not! Except when you put them on a pretty C&B bamboo cutting board!

After you chop garlic and ginger, put them in the food processor, along with the chilies, chili powder, and lime juice. I used a little bit extra of everything since I had a bit more than 1 1/2 lbs. beef.

Process until minced. If you don’t have a food processor, you can always do this by hand.

Check out the Martha Stewart casserole dish Betolli sent. Swoooon. It is the prettiest color red ever! And I was SO excited to use it (keep reading and maybe, just maybe, one could be yours too!).

I chopped the beef into 1-inch cubes.

Heat the oil over medium-high in the skillet (make sure it can later be covered). Add the spice paste and cook, stirring occasionally until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add beef and cook, stirring occasionally until browned and covered in sauce.

Pour in the coconut milk and bring the mixture to a boil. It was here that I put the cover on the dish and popped it in the oven at 250 degrees for about 2 hours. And then uncovered it and let it cook for another 10-15 minutes. You could also just turn the heat to low and continue cooking on the stove for 1-2 hours.

A meal like this is best served with loved ones. We poured some wine and sat down to a feast.

I also roasted some carrots and cooked some spinach with garlic.

And I served the beef over brown rice.

Whoa, this was good! The meat was so, so tender and incredibly flavorful. Braising beef, I think I’m in love with you. Sure, it was a little bit time-consuming, but it was super duper easy! It just had to sit in the oven for quite a while, getting all tender and melding flavors and all that fun stuff. And I just had to sit there waiting. And drooling.

This was also the evening we had the mint oreo ice cream, making it an all-around awesome food night.

Bertolli Beef Braising Giveaway:

Want to braise your own beef? Trust me, you do. Bertolli is going to send one of our readers a home braising kit, just like they sent us. It’s valued at $125 and is oh, so pretty.

The giveaway is in honor of episode 6 of Into the Heart of Italy. After watching the episode, I had such a huge craving to braise my own beef. I also really wanted to try Bertolli’s Tuscan-Style Braised Beef, but none of my nearby grocery stores carried it. I did try the chicken parmesan and it was quite delicious for those evenings when you just want to collapse and can’t even think about cooking.

If you want to win your own beef braising kit, simply watch the episode (below). I mean, it features Rocco DiSpirito and Marisa Tomei, so you know it’s going to be pretty good. Watch it and let us know what your favorite part is

Leave your comments by Sunday night at 11:59 p.m. and you’ll be entered to win the Bertolli home braising kit.


Oh, and if you tweet about it and/or blog about it, you’ll be given extra entries, just make sure you tell us about it!!

[Sues]

New cupcake shops are doing a good job at spreading out and one place that was in need of a shop was the Brighton area. Now? It’s here! Cherry Bomb Bakery opened last week and I took the 20 minute trek to check it out today. Right now I’m pretty obsessed with Mix Bakery (with a special place always in my heart for Party Favors), but of course I try every single new spot that comes my way.

Cherry Bomb Bakery is in Brighton Center, an area I don’t go to very often. But not because it’s not close; I can easily walk there– there’s just not a whole lot for me to do there. But now that there’s cupcake bakery, I might stop by the area more often, when a craving hits.

The shop is cute and I love their logo!

The inside was nice and spacious. They have free wifi and lots of tables, making it an ideal spot to hang out and do some work. They also have tons of coffees, so it’s not like you’ll have to sit there eating cupcakes all day! Which wouldn’t really be a bad thing.

I mean, check out their coffee menu:

But more importantly, of course, check out their cupcake menu:

Before I went to Cherry Bomb, I checked out their cupcake menu online and was thrilled to see the huge variety of fun flavors.

There were so many choices, it was really, really hard to decide. I really felt that I needed to try every single one.

But I only chose 5 (only!!). I did notice that Cherry Bomb doesn’t have labels on their boxes, which I definitely think they should change. I’m a huge fan of branding, and customized boxes can take your business so far. They also didn’t have bags, which meant I had to walk 20 minutes home in 90 degree weather carrying the big box, praying the cupcakes wouldn’t melt (and that nobody would attack me and steal them)!

After dinner and some American Idol watching (what did you think of the results???), Chris and I dug in.

The Cherry Bomb Signature. This is basically a vanilla cupcake with cherries baked in with cherry frosting. I have to say right now, Cherry Bombs cupcakes were some of the moistest cupcakes I’ve had in a very long time. Each and every one of them was perfectly moist and there was NO hint of dryness anywhere. I loved this cupcake and while the frosting was delicious, it was a little too sweet for me (the older I get, the less I can handle overly-sweet. Gah, I feel old!).

The Irish Car Bomb. Again, a really moist cupcake, but I wasn’t a huge fan of the flavor. I mean, there was nothing wrong with it, but Chris made the point that my Guinness cupcakes were much better (and I’m 99.9% sure he wasn’t just saying that). I thought the pretzel was a nice little touch, but the icing was quite boring.

Candied grapefruit. This is one of the most unique cupcakes I’ve ever had! I am a HUGE fan of grapefruit, so I was super excited to try this. And I loved it! I’m not the biggest fan of cream cheese frosting (weird, I know), but if you love it, I really think this frosting will taste absolutely amazing to you. This is one cupcake I would totally eat for breakfast.

Coconut. The girl behind the counter at Cherry Bomb recommended the coconut to me and being a sucker for all things coconut, I couldn’t turn it down. And it was definitely a fave! I just loved that it had tons of real coconut in it and didn’t taste artificial at all.

Peanut Butter. I liked this one too, mainly because it had some type of delicious chocolate fluffy frosting in it. The concoction in the middle is pretty, but it was kind of hard and probably not needed. Just the peanut butter cupcake with the chocolate would have been perfectly fine!

Overall, I think Cherry Bomb Bakery has tons of potential and is a much-needed addition to the Brighton Center area. The cupcake flavors are fun and always-changing, the shop is spacious , and the coffee flowing. Next time I definitely want to try some of their scones, especially the pesto prosciutto scone!

I hope that Cherry Bomb becomes a little more active on Twitter and works to get everyone excited with some marketing/PR. There’s nothing like showing potential customers how excited you are about the cupcakes you make.

I don’t think I’ll be able to resist trying all the other fun flavors, so I’ll most definitely be back! (hello, I’m already wondering how I missed the zucchini mint cake!?).

What’s your all-time favorite cupcake shop? And why is it your fave?

Cherry Bomb Bakery
379 Washington St.
Brighton Center 02135
@CBBakery

[Sues]

Uhhhh, who’s tried this before? I’ve been seeing IZZE Sparking Juice everywhere for a while and have been so curious about it but I typically buy water when I’m out to eat. I met Katie for lunch last week and saw the display of IZZE and figured I’d try something new. I ordered the sparkling grapefruit and it tasted exactly like pure grapefruit juice with a refreshing hint of sparkle. I LOVE grapefruits. Whenever I eat them I literally slurp the extra juice out of the bowl… I can never get enough of it. IZZE comes in all different fruity flavors. I think… better yet I know, I need to try pomegranate, clementine, and blueberry next! And once you finish the drink the glass bottles would make fun little vases

Nancy’s Air Field Cafe

My sister and I took our mom and grandmother to Nancy’s Air Field Cafe  for mother’s day brunch. My parents live in Stow and have been to Nancy’s a few times and really enjoyed it so we figured it would be a great local pick!

The cafe is definitely off the beaten path but very well known to all the locals ,which I love. I dig the hidden places It’s located at the Minute Man air field and serves unique and tasty options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

It was quite a windy day when we were there so there weren’t any planes flying in or out. My mom told us it’s really fun to eat there on a nice day to see all the flights entering and exiting!

Chef and owner Nancy McPherson is not only one of the friendliest people I’ve met in a long time but she’s big into using fresh and local ingredients and even has her own herb garden at the entrance of the restaurant. At the end of our meal she walked us out to give me a little tour of her gardens! I can only imagine how sweet it is to have your own herb garden… especially this size

As we entered the restaurant it was hopping! Apparently everyone and their mom (literally, hehe) decided to eat at Nancy’s this Mother’s day!

I started with a glass of fresh OJ… mmmm.

And we all split the Caprese Antipasto: grape tomatoes, fresh mozzarella & Nancy’s marinated olives in a fresh basil vinaigrette. Hello, tasty goodness! I definitely could have eaten this all by myself And I’d like a jar of these olives, please!

My mom, sister, and grandmother all ordered omelets…

And I ordered the Eggs Benedict. I thought the Hollandaise Sauce looked really thick but it was surprisingly nice and light. I ordered regular bacon instead of Canadian bacon on it as well Go figure!

We were all pretty full after our meals but decided dessert was a must since they sounded so good. I thought the Rhubarb Berry Crisp with Nancy’s Lavender Ice Cream was a must! This knocked my socks off! I’m not a big chocolate person at all… I definitely prefer a fruity dessert so this was perfect! The heat from the hot berries combined with the cool fragrant ice cream…. mmmmmm. I’m smiling now just thinking about it!

My mom and sister decided to get the Vanilla Bean Creme Brulee which was also very delicious!

Smiling faces after a fun brunch with our lovely mom and gram

I’m really glad my parents moved out to Stow. I l will always love, love, love our hometown of Andover but Stow is such a sweet little town. It’s so New England and filled with apple orchards and farms, horses wandering and gorgeous views, trails and streams, and genuinely gracious people. It’s the perfect place to escape to and slow things down a bit

What are some of your favorite restaurants that are hidden gems?

Hope you’re all enjoying your weekends!

[Chels]

First of all, we had NO idea Stella was so huge. There’s a really cute, decent-size private space in the back of the restaurant where the event was held. Everything was decorated so nicely, with lots and lots of eggs, of course.

We all got a filled swag bag, which included this little stuffed egg. So cute! It also contained the hugest umbrella I’ve ever seen in my life. AND a bag full of hardboiled eggs. AKA the perfect snack.

The private room in Stella had a bar where they served us bloody mary’s and mimosas. Why? Because this evening was all about breakfast for dinner! As you’re probably already well aware, I am a HUGE fan of breakfast for dinner (especially where bloody mary’s are involved) and this party only made me more passionate about it.

More “egg-celent” table decorations (sorry for my bad egg jokes).

And our table full of bloggers!

We started with a couple salads, including a fruit salad… And Stella’s chop salad with hard boiled egg, of course. Honestly, I could have eaten a huge bowl of this and been totally fine. And I promise I’m not simply saying this, but the hard boiled eggs were SO fresh and delicious. Aren’t they pretty, too?

Then Stella and Eggland’s Best inundated us with egg-filled entrees! My personal favorite was the duck omelet with duck confit, crumbled goat cheese, mushrooms, and baby spinach. I never cook with duck in the home, but I seriously want to try to recreate this dish now.

But the french toast was also delightfully eggy and delicious.

And then we had the most amazing linguini “carbonara” with poached egg, smoked bacon, and parmesan. Another dish I could have eaten an entire bowl of.

And then they brought out even more food! Grilled sirloin steak and eggs. Wow. I wish this hadn’t come out last because I would have loved to eat a platter full of it, but I was already getting stuffed. The sirloin was perfectly cooked, as was the egg.

And then dessert came. Sadly, Chels and I could barely take a couple bites of the chocolate torte with vanilla gelato and chocolate sauce. But this is definitely my kind of dessert.

While we were eating, we learned a ton about Eggland’s Best eggs… Like the fact that they’re fed all-natural, all-vegetarian feed because, you know, what goes in, goes out. Eggland’s Best eggs have more vitamin E, 100 mg Omega 3, 25% less saturated fat, and more goodness that makes them superior to other eggs. They also only have 175 mg of cholesterol, compared to the 215 mg in a regular egg. Those reasons are most definitely enough for me to start buying Eggland’s Best!

This was one of the best events I’ve been to in a long time because so many of our favorite people were there and it was just so fun to have everyone gathered in one place. Here we are with Will from Boston Foodie. It took so long for us to actually meet Will at an event, but now that we have, we see him everywhere!

We had no idea our friends Susan (Transient Travels) and Petey (Petey Pumpkin) were coming to the event, so we were pleasantly surprised!

We posed with our stuffed Eggland’s Best eggs with Petey, Susan, Megan (Delicious Dishings), and Alicia (The Clean Plate Club).

And with the lady of the night, Mary Kate from Kitchen Belle! She has a little one on the way and we’re soo happy for her! And we think she should name the baby Martha if it’s a girl since she had her last sip of wine before finding out she was pregnant at our WANM party

Thank you so much for inviting us, Mary Kate. And a huge thank you to Eggland’s Best for throwing a wonderfully successful event and teaching us all about your beautiful and tasty eggs. And Stella, we’ll definitely be back to try some of your regular menu!

Don’t forget to follow Eggland’s Best on Twitter!

Stella
1525 Washington Street

[Sues]

At every Bliss Spa, instead of serving fruit or veggies to clients, they feature brownies! Our task for the evening was to sample and judge three kinds of brownies from Flour Bakery, Rosie’s Bakery, and the South End Buttery and cast our vote for the one we thought Bliss should serve. There was also wine. And hand and arm massages with delicious Bliss lotions. And more wine. And lots of blogger friends! Really, not a bad way to start your week off at all

The Bliss ladies were so friendly and fun!

Hello, brownie table All of the bakeries had similar guidelines to follow, for example, they weren’t allowed to use chocolate chips in their recipes and the entries in the contest had to be a basic and classic brownie they actually sell in their shops.

Flour’s brownies were so fudgey and rich! Yum!

Rosie’s brownies were my favorite! They tasted like a good old fashioned dessert and I love when the tops are a little bit flaky!

The South End Buttery also served up a delicious brownie and seemed to have a powdered cocoa of sorts on top. With each bite I liked this one even more!

Ballot box! Even after I cast my vote I continued to “sample” the brownies… you know, for research

The tables were fully equipped with Bliss products! Their packaging and marketing materials are so eye-catching and creative, which is what these spas are all about! A lot of more traditional spas have the “hush hush policy” once you enter but at Bliss it’s all about stepping into the spa and having fun!

We loved getting the hand and arm massages! I’m all about the massages We had a few options of lotions we could use and I selected the Vanilla Bergamot. It felt like butter… so smooth! The darling Alicia from The Clean Plate Club was at the event with us too… Love her!

Bliss also offers all kinds of waxing services! I mean… ALL kinds

This was such a fun night and the W Hotel is a gorgeous space. All of us bloggers are excited for the spa (and bliss storefront!) to open this June! In the meantime check out their full menu of spa services, their line of products, and follow them on twitter!

It seems to be a trend that Sues and I are the last to leave places. We tend to always get wrapped up in conversations without realizing time has passed… but last night we wrapped up the evening with some of our other favorite Chatty Kathys, Michelle from Fun and Fearless in Beantown, Christine from CitySearch Boston, and of course Alicia

W Boston
100 Stuart Street
Boston, MA
617.261.8700

[Chels]

I always longed for a job where I could just sit around and read. Which is pretty much exactly why I went to grad school at Emerson College to get my Master’s in Writing and Publishing. And while I do currently do some editing work, I became much more of a writer… and a pleasure reader.

These days, I get most of my recipes off the Internet, but I still say there’s nothing like a good old hardcover (or paperback, really) cookbook. That’s why I’ll continue getting most of Martha Stewart’s cookbooks, even though I can get every single one of the recipes online.

A long time ago, I posted about my parents’ love for cookbooks… And you can clearly see where I got my addiction from:

But I read so, so much more than just cookbooks. And I absolutely love how reading has come to the Internet and social media. People are simply talking about books more online, whether it’s sharing what they’re reading or writing book reviews. I recently joined the social networking site Shelfari, and there are even more book sharing sites, like Good Reads, where you simply share what you’re reading with your friends. I started a “what I’m reading” series on my tumblr, where I just post a photo when I start reading a new book. Like so:

I utilize my library , independent bookstores, and all they have to offer. Boston has a totally beautiful public library, along with tons of branches, making it always easy to get to one (making it somewhat confusing why I’m always paying late fees).

The awesome thing about libraries in this age? You can sit at home and add the books you want to read right from your computer. Since a lot of the books I like to read are in high-demand and are never readily available in the library, I simply request the book and wait until my library emails me to tell me I can come and pick the book up. Does it get any easier than that?

And while I admit I’m Amazon-obsessed (I have an Amazon credit card and have prime membership, 2-day shipping!), I try to shop at my local bookstore when possible. My independent bookstore of choice is Brookline Booksmith and I’ve been known to hang out here whether I’m in the market for a book or not.

My favorite thing about the Booksmith (besides the books!) is the author events they hold. And they get some pretty awesomely, huge authors. Last year Chels and I attended an event with Chris Kimball of Cook’s Illustrated where we got to listen to a presentation and meet Chris Kimball and the cast of America’s Test Kitchen. So, I urge you to check out your local independent bookstore; you never know who’s going to be there! Take advantage of it.

The future? I’m at the point now where I have way more books than I can handle. I’ve lived in the same apartment for 5 years… One of the reasons? How the heck will I ever move all my books with me? But, even now I don’t have enough room for all of them and they’re scattered all around my apartment:

School books have been sent to a storage bin. I’ll likely never read most of them again and should probably just sell or donate.

And this is exactly why I’ve been doing my best to utilize the library more. Someday I’ll have a house with a room like this (Ladders are a MUST!):

But for now, I’ve forced myself to only buy the books I need and to borrow all the others. Tomorrow, I’ll be the lucky owner of an iPad 3G (thanks to my amazing boyfriend, Chris!) which has me seriously thinking about tablet books. I’ve always been pretty against them (there’s nothing like holding a real book in your hands!), but I’ll definitely be giving them a try. And of course, I’ll report back.

I’ll also certainly be pulling up tons of recipes and uploading lots of cooking apps on the iPad and bringing it into the kitchen with me (don’t worry, Chris, I will keep the case on and won’t let oil splatter on it… Sheesh). Check out how Helen of Foodista is using hers in the kitchen:

Of course, I’ll continue buying the cookbooks I really want to have in my library. But this is going to be pretty awesome, too. I’ve heard really fabulous things about the Epicurious app and can’t wait to check it out.

How have you changed your reading style over the last few years? And more importantly, what cookbooks do I absolutely need to own? And what novel should I read next?

[Sues]

There are few things in life that make me really happy where I can’t control my excitement. Which, now that I’ve just typed that confession, is sort of sad. But bacon is one of those things that makes me absolutely giddy. When we first heard about the 2010 Boston Bacon and Beer Festival hosted by @eatboston and SoWa Sundays, we immediately bought our tickets. Between my love (err, obsession) with bacon and Chris’ knowledge and love of good beer, we knew it was going to be an event made in Food and Adult Beverage Heaven! Plus the event logo made me crack up so I wanted to support it It was being held in the Historic SoWa Power Station (The Trolley Barn) in the South End of Boston, one of my favorite parts of the city. All of the proceeds went to Community Servings, Share our Strength, South End Youth Baseball, and The Juniper Fund. There was much anticipation leading up to Saturday. I couldn’t stop wondering what kinds of bacony goodness nearly 30 of Boston’s most creative chefs would create! To me, it felt like the night before Christmas when you can’t sleep because you’re waiting to see if you can hear Santa! mmmm, bacon.

As I met Sues and Chris at our T station the first thing they said to me was “awww, I can’t believe you didn’t wear your bacon t-shirt!” Grrrr. Why didn’t I think of that?! I dwelled on it for a while (probably too long) and was so tempted to head back home to get it. Guess I’ll have to wear it next year!

The Trolley Barn is a great space. It’s pretty much a covered warehouse with lots of opened windows, which on a nice day, creates a nice little breeze throughout the whole building. Thankfully, Saturday was a nice day… not a cloud in the sky. We’re also thankful for the good weather because we waited in a line that wrapped around the building approximately 12,000 times! Kidding. But the line was long and proved to me that the people of Boston do not mess around when it comes to bacon… or beer.

As we entered the space we were welcomed by the sweet and soulful sounds of East Coast Soul. I highly recommend them if you’re getting married! They got the crowd moving, dancing, and singing. Or maybe that was the beer, but either way, East Coast Soul sounded wonderfully funky and were so much fun! We couldn’t help but shake our groove thang with them!

We started with “The Snack” by The Gallows, which is opening soon in the South End. It was a chex-mix with freshly popped popcorn and bacon… and I think there was some mention that it included bacon fat, too! There’s really nothing wrong with that at all

The Whole Foods table featured Black Forest Bacon, In-Store Made Southern Pimiento Cheese served with peppered chips. The Pimiento Cheese was divine… I can’t wait to get my hands on some!

Garden at the Cellar had Bacon-Wrapped Dates with goat cheese…

Yeah. By this point my head was about to explode.

Oh wait, no… my head was about to explode when I saw this huge bowl of bacon. Rocca Kitchen & Bar had Bacon “Chips” with Narragansett “Dip”. Ahhh.

Chef Tiffani Faison fishing around for some more bacon. Whistling while she works, like any happy chef should do

Rialto had a very springy display and was serving Fried Oyster, Braised Bacon and Kimchi Sandwich.

\

The Wicked Kickin’ savory cheesecakes were creative and tasty. Oh my. There were two different Bacon Cheesecakes with mushrooms, scallions, loads of cheese and lots of other mix-ins. These would be perfect to purchase for an appetizer at a party. Each mouthful bursted with more flavor.

Check out the crowd!

Little bits of bacon from Happy Pig Salumi. They deliver fresh sausage, bacon, and dry-cured meats. Between the new MixBakery and Happy Pig Salumi I could probably sit on my couch and just have my favorite foods delivered to me for the rest of my life, hehe.

The South End Buttery had Bacon and Beer Cupcakes with Black Chocolate Stout Cream Cheese Frosting. I obviously nibbled on that piece of bacon first.

We visited our friends from The Fireplace, who were serving Crispy New Hampshire Bacon over Hot Mash and Cool Succotash. Mmmm… this was like a little meal and it, of course, did not disappoint. The Fireplace definitely had the most elaborate set-up, too! We were impressed but not surprised at all cause they’re our favorites!

Something we found to be very interesting was the Bacon Hot Sauce. It had a nice little kick to it but not overwhelming at all. It would be a wonderful addition to eggs! Might need to purchase some for myself!

Personally, I was more interested in the bacon goodies (are you surprised?), but Chris and Sues sampled a good amount of beers from Brooklyn Brewery (Brooklyn Dark Matter was real good!), Cape Ann Brewing Company, Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, Pretty Things Beer to name a few.

We bumped into some of our favorite blogging buddies, too! Peter is a riot, extremely fashionable, and was sun-kissed from his recent trip to Miami so we caught up with him a bit We also saw Pam of Cave Cibum but didn’t snap a picture with her. She’s a lovely blogger who we’ve known for a while and she makes some meaaaan candied bacon!

Peter snapped a photo of us with the man himself, Mr. BostonTweet. Apparently, we’re all amused by something?

Us with the one and only Julie!

This is what a day filled with bacon and beer does to us… makes us loco!

I’m actually thinking this event needs to happen every month (or every day?) because I’m not sure I can wait an entire year for it to happen again. We had an insane amount of fun! And knowing all of the proceeds went to charity made every bite of bacon and sip of beer taste that much better.

We decided to walk back to Copley to catch the train and had to snap some photos of the tulips out in front of Trinity Church. I had bacon and Spring has sprung in Boston which makes me, quite simply… happy

[Chels]

“As a community of savvy consumers and responsible businesses, we can effect major change. And that’s what D2E is all about. Our sponsors, exhibitors and advisory board are committed to exploring how we can live well for ourselves and our planet.” (www.d2eboston.com)

We attended the Friday night session of the expo which is called Local Bites. It features many green certified restaurants offering samples of some of their most delicious foods.

Boloco, which is one of my favorite burrito spots in Boston, was in attendance and they shared their newest creation… a mini burrito! Which was still quite filling!

The Yucca Gnocci with Braised Lamb Ragu, from Taranta in the North End was also another favorite!

We spotted some extremely unique and creative gifts and homegoods as well. Two of our favorites were Shara Porter, who hand paints found objects and sold a slew of wonderful clutches, wallets, and handbags, and Acero Studio, who has been featured on Design Sponge and the front page of Etsy over 36 times in the last year!

Sues bought Chris one of the bee mugs, which are adorable and quite sturdy!

I loved the “everything is going to be okay” mug and was tempted to purchase it buuuuut I own an excess number of mugs already, so I held off But please feel free to buy it for me, though And definitely check out Shara Porter and Acero Studios websites if you’re in the market for a unique gift!

Another very popular little product we saw throughout the expo were these snack and sandwich pouches. My favorites were by ReSnackIt, they were created by moms! Apparently they’re all the rage! It’s a reusable and washable cloth sack of sorts, that comes in a variety of designs, patterns, and colors. It’s a great idea if you bring a lunch to school or work everyday. Instead of tossing a paper bag or a plastic baggie after every meal you can bring this home and wash it or wipe it out as needed. No lead, BPA, phthalates, or PVC. I’m in!

My favorite beverage last year was by Flavrz Drink Mix, and this year it is Honest Tea. YUM! Last summer I got a free one while I was walking around Boston and I’ve been hooked ever since. They’re so refreshing and come in a bunch of different flavors, too. So tasty

Obviously Cabot Cheese was in the house! One of our favorites, always! As I type this I’m actually gnawing on Cabot’s Seriously Sharp Cheddar.

Olivia’s Organic was also in attendance and they shared their newest product line of pre-made salads. Don’t forget to download your coupon!

We also met a wonderful woman by the name of Lisa, who owns a sole (sustainable, seasonal, organic, local, ethical) food catering company called joie de vivre cuisine. We chatted for quite a bit and learned she even teaches some classes. We’re hoping to take a knife skills course with her!

Upon exiting the expo we saw a gorgeous installation in the hallway. We walked up to get a closer look and to talk to the artist, Christine Destrempes. From a distance it looked like thousands of white shells, but as you got closer, they were clear bottle caps. The artist explained that the total number of clear bottle caps (13,699) represents the people who die every day from unsafe water. Viewers are encouraged to take a step inside of the structure to take get a better look. The piece is appropriately titled 13,699.

Doesn’t this just blow you away?!

Happy Earth Day to everyone! Are you doing anything special to celebrate?

What are some of your favorite green products, restaurants, or companies?

The Hip Hostess Apron Giveaway results:

CONGRATULATIONS to Erica of Itzy’s Kitchen who won the giveaway! Erica, please contact us with your shipping information and the definite apron you’d love to own

[Chels]

The duo started when daughter Andrea, a new bride, was looking for that perfect apron to wear as a newlywed hostess. Let’s be honest, some aprons can be rather frump-a-licious. Luckily, for the fashionable Andrea, her mother Debbie, is the “queen of creativity” and was able to make her a few “trendy numbers”. Once people saw the aprons Andrea had, they naturally asked where they were from and wanted their own. Soon, requests started pouring in and with Andrea’s enthusiasm and support, so began The Hip Hostess.

From their Web site: “Now we find ourselves on a mission: combine simple, contemporary style with fabulous fabrics to create a “couture in the kitchen” look that today’s modern woman will want and actually wear. After lots of researching, designing, and brainstorming… not to mention wishing & hoping and planning & dreaming VOILA! We think we’ve got it and hope you’ll love it!”

And love it, we do! I’m not one to always wear aprons when I’m just at home cooking for myself, but when I’m having company over and attempting to get all of my timing down the conversation in my head (and often times out loud) goes a little something like this: “When should I put this in the oven. When should I wash the dishes, oh, but wait, I still have to shower and do my makeup, and figure out what I’m wearing. But what if guests start showing up!? Should I just run and shower now even though guests are arriving in 2.2 minutes. What if they come while I’m still in the shower?! Well then, that’ll just be awkward.” This is where a Hip Hostess apron comes into play. Shower, get dressed, do your makeup, take care of your business, toss a pretty apron on, and proceed with whatever it is you have to do around the house. And when your guests arrive, you’ll look divine. Hey, you can even skip the shower and toss one of these aprons on as your outfit and you’ll still look great

The Hip Hostess offers Sheath Style Aprons, Demi Style Aprons, and Cafe Style Aprons in really fun, bright, and beautiful prints and all are machine washable. Some of my favorites:

Meri Mixers … Is this not perfect? I love the retro feel of it!

Chery Me!

Pink Sorbet

Melon Splash

The Hip Hostess also offers a variety of children’s aprons aka Sweet Petites! Help! I can’t handle all the cuteness!

With Mother’s Day, which is Sunday, May 9th… you’re welcome , bridal showers, wedding season, and all the other glorious events that come along with Spring, these aprons make the perfectly original and thoughtful gift. After all, that’s what gift-giving is all about.

THE HIP HOSTESS GIVEAWAY:

Leave a comment on this post by Sunday, April 18th, 2010 by 11:59pm EST, telling us, if chosen, which apron you’d love to win (visit their Web site to see the full product line-up). One lucky reader will be chosen at random and announced at the beginning of next week!

But, here’s the thing, everyone is a winner in a sense for this giveaway. Andrea and Debbie are so kindly offering a Promo Code to all We are not Martha readers! It expires May 1, 2010 (just in time for Mother’s Day!). When checking out on their site, enter NOTMARTHA to receive an additional 20% off your purchase!

Good Luck!

And a big thank you Debbie and Andrea!

[Chels and Sues]