RATE IT! Travel Destinations for a Sugar Rush

Travel and eating go hand-in-hand ... well, in MY world they do...so it seemed only natural for my latest article to be about 10 Destinations to Indulge Your Sweet Tooth. 

Dig in to my latest piece for Reader's Digest.ca. Best of all? No calories!

RATE IT! Gingerdead Men Cookie Cutters

A little too late for Halloween, but early for Christmas, this comedic take on holiday nibbles has bite. GingerDEAD Men ... why not? Ghoulishly presented by the gang at Perpetual Kid.

RATE IT! Sprinkles

Last month when I wasn't following in Ferris Bueller's footsteps in Chicago, I was swooning over a new crush. 


Sprinkles. Where have you been all my life?


Sprinkles is an American cupcake powerhouse. Who knew that such delights awaited me in Chicagoland? I feel like I'm the last person on earth to discover this yummy indulgence. So much time wasted. So many cupcakes not eaten...


Candace Nelson created Sprinkles a few years ago in California and now her delicious enterprise has shops in several U.S. cities including New York City, Beverly Hills, Washington D.C., Dallas and of course, Chicago. Their cupcakes are moist, mouthwatering bundles of joy made fresh on the premises. I kid you not. Sprinkles take cupcakes seriously - and their dedication is palatable (literally!). 


Here's just a sampling of their flavours: dark chocolate, peanut butter chocolate, red velvet, lemon coconut, black and white, cinnamon sugar, carrot...to name but a few. And if you want to attempt to recreate the Sprinkles experience at home, you can purchase cupcake mixes in store. Genius!


The Sprinkles shops are all immaculate, uncluttered and simple in design - IT WORKS! The focus is on the cupcakes and let me tell you, it is love at first sight! Each cake is perfectly formed, not sloppy -- so unlike my first (and only!) visit to the famous Magnolia Bakery (yes, the very cupcake place featured in Sex and the City) in Manhattan. Sprinkles easily trumps Magnolia. There, I said it. 


For now, my crush will have to be an unrequited one. My memories - so vivid that I could almost taste them - will have to carry me through until I can be reunited with my love. Sprinkles has yet to open shop in Canada. They hope to bring their sweet offerings here soon and possibly to other cities... Boston, London! When they do arrive in Toronto, I will be first in line waiting to place my order for a vanilla milk chocolate, peanut butter chip and chocolate marshmallow!


(photos by: Jackie Middleton - cupcakes shown: chocolate marshmallow, vanilla milk chocolate)

RATE IT! Yummy Keychains

Any excuse to celebrate the happiness that is dessert is a 'rate it' in my world. 



Kid Robot - thank you SO MUCH for creating this taste-tempting array of dessert keychains. S'mores, jelly mould, smiling ice cream sandwiches, popsicles, bundt cake, chocolate dipped strawberries... 


I'm having a sugar rush just thinking about this delicious bounty!

RATE IT! Ice Cream Sandwich Pillow

You can keep your House and Garden ultra-trendy home decor. Instead, I'll gladly take this nifty ice cream sandwich pillow into my abode. It's cute, looks comfy and never takes itself too seriously. 

I think I've finally found the perfect match for the cupcake pillow. 

RATE IT! Brownie Batter Joy!

IT'S BAAAACKKKKK!


Yes, Dairy Queen's Brownie Batter Blizzard is making new friends across the country! Those of us already familiar with the creamy double-fudge brownie batter concoction are almost speechless about its return. 


We're too busy enjoying the brownie chunks intermingled with the vanilla soft serve to even contemplate much of...well, anything. 


Live in the moment. With a Brownie Batter Blizzard, that's really not a problem! The only question that remains: when can I have another one?

RATE IT! Celebrity Cookbooks

Who doesn't like to eat? 


Well, by looking at some Hollywood stars it appears that they don't have the most healthy of appetites. Surprisingly, some do! Celebrity cookbooks are all the rage and with new collections from Sheryl Crow and Gwyneth Paltrow, there's much to digest.


Take a look at my Top 10 Celebrity Cookbooks article for Slice.ca, and I dare to come away without hunger pains!

RATE IT! Milk & Cookies

I don't think that I really have to explain why this book would be considered a 'rate it.' The subject matter pretty much speaks for itself. Cookies are a dietary staple for me. Some people struggle with their caffeine fix, while others partake in a sneaky cigarette between 9-5 meetings. For me, I'd rather enjoy a decadent, gooey chocolate chip cookie any day. Actually, scratch that..."a" cookie should be revised to "many" cookies. That's just how I roll - literally!


This drool-enticing cookbook, 'Milk & Cookies: 89 Heirloom Recipes from New York's Milk & Cookies Bakery' contains enough recipe delights to keep me busy for some time. And the next time I'm in NYC, I'm definitely visiting the bakery that spawned this book! 

RATE IT! Popcorn Popper

Remember the good ol' days of Jiffypop popcorn? It was that magical foil pan that you shook across your stove's burner while the corn inside exploded into piece upon piece of yummy, salty popcorn. The foil dome that grew as the kernels popped was half the fun!


Jiffypop is now a relic of the past, but you can still have a neat-o popcorn experience with this nifty device from Vat19. Instead of using the stove, you employ your microwave. 


Just dump some kernels into the container - it's made of laboratory glass by the way, dishwasher safe too - add butter in the lid, and place the entire contraption in your microwave. Two minutes later, you'll open up your microwave to the hot, buttery smell of fresh popcorn.

It kinda looks like a wacky science experiment which makes this popper all the more endearing. Available for $20 from Vat19.com. 

RATE IT! Sweet Dreams Cupcake Pillow

Sleep on it? I'd rather eat it. The Sweet Dreams Cupcake Pillow. 


I couldn't have named it better!

RATE IT! Ice Cream Record Breaker

Now here's a Guinness world record attempt worthy of support!

Today at noon in Toronto - Yonge/Dundas Square to be precise - Dairy Queen Canada are going to attempt to create the world's largest ice cream cake. That's 21,000 thousand pounds of ice creamy, Oreo joy.

I know where I want to be!

Donations will be accepted for the Children's Miracle Network, so you can feel less guilty about dining on ice cream on your lunch break. It's a win-win! 

And if the ice cream cake record can be broken, it's a bonus!

RATE IT! Royal Cup Cakes

With the royal wedding happening later this week, what better time is there to indulge in some aristocratic splendor yourself?


These cupcake holders are royally delicious!

RATE IT! Sweet Tarts Get a Taste of Spring

It's about time the Cadbury Easter Creme Egg rabbit had some serious candy competition.


Sweet Tarts, those tangy, bitter yet delish candies are ramping up the holiday confectionary competition with their new Easter collection. They've got bunnies, chicks and ducks - oh my!


We've only been privy to the boring round Sweet Tarts in our neck of the woods. I have no clue if this Easter parade of seasonable characters will flock up north here to Canada but... fear not, you can order your own Sweet Tarts online from Candy Warehouse. 


Sweet!

RATE IT! Top o' the Morning Blizzard

Had enough of the ice, winter boots and frigid temps? Desperately waiting for Spring's magnificent arrival? Well, before we can rush outside for a joyous dance through the budding tulips, there's one more wintery blast on the horizon. The good news? This storm isn't snowy but MINTY!


March welcomes an old favourite back into the fold, the Mint Oreo Blizzard. This whirlwind packs a punch of taste... crushed Oreos mingling within mint-infused vanilla soft serve. 


Sure, St. Patrick's Day may be a few weeks away, but it's never too early to start the celebrations! 


Just be sure to pace yourself, and the luck of the Irish shall be yours!

RATE IT! Green Hot Chocolate

St. Patrick's Day is just around the corner, and although I'm not Irish, or known to celebrate the occasion, I do admire the dedication of those who are/do. 


In this spirit, I bring to you something special and green for the festivities. Yes, Snoopy is back with a unique concoction sure to make you smile. It's green hot chocolate. Seriously! By adding water or milk, the cocoa switches hues to a greenish, celebratory tint. 


Not sure how this brew tastes. You might be smiling *before* you down it... how you feel afterwards, is anybody's guess! Still cute though! 

RATE IT! Sticky Maple

Want some Canadian flavour? Check out these maple themed toothpicks. 

Ah, the tin features a beaver wearing a Canadian maple leaf jersey! 

Cute, yes... but the Canuck that I am must say that we as a nation aren't big toothpicking people. This product is not a Canadian favourite. I'd like to think we'd much rather brush our teeth than dig at them. Ack!


Still... the idea is cute. Not sure about maple being 'smoky' as the blurb on Fred Flare purports. Maple syrup is sweet, silly!

RATE IT! Anti-Theft Lunch Bags

No need to double take... that's not real mold growing on that lunchable. 

Anti-Theft Lunch Bags have made a reappearance! My first blog post about these unique food protectors was over two years ago, but Perpetual Kid are peddling them once again.

I guess the need never really goes away....especially when you work in an office with light-fingered (and hungry) co-workers!

RATE IT! A Real Blizzard to Tackle

It's been days now... days of weather experts hyping up the mother of all snowstorms headed our way. Like many anxious Torontonians, I rushed to the shops yesterday to stock up on food so I didn't have to venture out today into the worst blizzard since '99. You know that crazy time when the mayor called the army in to help!


Waking up today, sure there's snow... maybe 10cm - max. That's not a blizzard, that's a joke! Many of the schools are closed, and people fearful of getting stranded stayed home for work, so there's probably a slew of kids and adults itching for a fun challenge. I say, ignore this faux blizzard silliness and head to Dairy Queen for the REAL deal!


February's Blizzard treat of the month has been unleashed and it's a wicked storm of tasty chocolate joy! Yes, it's THE best blizz on the block - the Midnight Truffle Blizzard. Your eyes aren't deceiving you - yes, we have met before... this Blizzard has appeared time and time again and unlike its namesake that associates itself with shovels, road salt, and snowbanks up to our eyeballs, this Blizzard wants to be your friend. 


Oh, yes. A friend like the Midnight Truffle Blizzard is always welcome! And best of all, no back-breaking shoveling required!

RATE IT! Happy Blizzard New Year

Okay, I'm a week or so late with the New Year Blizzard... I must admit that the January Blizz of the Month isn't quite my cup of tea -- yes, there are NUTS involved in this Nutty Banana treat... and well, FRUIT. This Blizzard is actually bordering on healthy so I will give it a pass and wait for February's beauty. Hopefully the Valentine month will bring a crush-worthy delicacy featuring chocolate, chocolate and MORE chocolate! 


I won't diss the January fruity concoction because a) it's so unique and different from all the Blizzards from the past year, and b) it's mid-Winter and we all need a little something special to pep us up -- and no doubt, this Nutty Banana Blizzard is someone's much needed guilty pleasure and how can I argue with that?

RATE IT! Reindeer Bites Blizzard

Ho Ho Holiday season treats are coming at us fast and furious! The most welcome of indulgences...the queen of Christmas diet splurges has to be DQ's Reindeer Bites Blizzard.

Um, wait a second... Reindeer Bites? Kinda an odd name! I mean it's not Reindeer 'Bites' as in... bites = terrible... or (perish the thought) as in little pieces of reindeer. Ugh, that's just too ghoulish for contemplation. No, it's Reindeer Bites meaning delicious chunks of caramel, chocolate, coconut and cookie -- all good, all yummy!

No reindeers were harmed in the making of this seasonal Blizzard treat!

Once again, Dairy Queen serves up a delectable early Christmas present! When you're out and about playing Santa for your nearest and dearest, be sure to give yourself the gift of a quiet moment with your very own Reindeer Bites Blizzard.