It's a recipe book, a history book, a botany book and...a real pretty book. Author Amy Stewart coveres everything you ever wanted to know about the booze you drink, but were too drunk to ask. And it's got a pretty cover, so it will look nice on your coffee table or bar. $19 at Buy Olympia.
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Speaking of lovely host/hostess gifts, here's a nice set of flavored salts and sugars that is bound to be a hit with anyone who cooks, or possibly, anyone who eats. Choose four flavors and then have a ball making cocktails with them (maybe you should bring some booze, too). $40 at Old Salt Merchants.
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Lollipops have been getting a little out of hand lately from what I've seen. Now you can get custom images and the like in your lollipop!!!???? But, I really like these Vintage Map Lollipops. You can choose cities like New York, New Orleans, Rio and more! $12 for a set of 5 (custom ordered) at Vintage Confections.
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This coffee sounds like pure bliss to me. Crazy organic, toxins eliminated...it just sounds amazing. And it's supposed to have all the benefits of coffee without the side effects. $18 for 12 oz. at Upgraded Self.
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I think that's pretty much all the food groups represented in one tasty treat. Liddabit Sweets has been getting a lot of press lately (they have a nifty looking book out) and if this is any indication of their candy styling, I think the attention is probably deserved. You should also check out "The King" candybar (Soft peanut butter nougat is sandwiched between a brown sugar-brown butter cookie and a layer of fresh banana ganache, and dipped in milk chocolate). Or maybe the Chocolate Stout Gingerbread Caramels (it's all my favorite words in one candy!) or...ok, start with the caramel corn, it's $12 for a 7 oz. bag at Liddabit Sweets.
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It may be a little late to start an advent calendar this year...who am I kidding? When it's a whisky advent calendar, it's NEVER too late! Twenty-four drams of fine liquor for a lovely holiday season (also available in a gin version!). $241.34 at Master of Malt.
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Yum! Marshmallows are delicious, but have you tried root beer marshmallows? These all-natural, gluten-free marshmallows will be a big hit. Plus they're lovingly handmade! $7.95 at Realist Mermaid
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For the past few years, my dad has asked for "consumables" for gifts. He means that he really doesn't need any more stuff, but if we feel the need to give him something, things that don't stick around are better. Things he might not treat himself to, but would enjoy having nonetheless. He really means booze and chocolate. Which sounds like a perfectly reasonable gift list to me. So this year I am thinking about gifting him with some of these cakes in a jar. Molten chocolate cake that he can store in the freezer and pop into the oven when he feels the need for a little chocolate boost. I've chosen the vegan version because it looks decidedly dark and yum, but there is a non-vegan variety as well. $8 per cake at Get Your Hot Cakes.
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I was at the grocery store when I saw Metromint Chocolatemint Water . I was like, What? That will either be super good or super nasty. Being the taste daredevil that I am when it comes to anything chocolatey, I picked up a bottle - and I'm so glad that I did! It's water, so it's flat not sparkling, and the chocolate mint taste reminded me of a York peppermint patty or an Andes mint, but without any sweetness. I really enjoyed it! Now, I'm not sure i this will help with sweet cravings but it was definitely a new drink experience. No calories, no artificial sweetners and no preservatives. Simply all natural chocolate mint water - just the way nature intended (ha!). Pick it up at your local grocery store or a 12-pack for $20.91 at Amazon. Other flavors available, too (I'm intrigued by the peppermint!)
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I usedc to collect beach glass back in the 80s but I never thought I could eat it. Now I can! Here you have edible beach glass made of hard candy and in flavors that will remind you of the beach: coconut, rum and lime to name a few. This 3 ounce sampler bag is $12.50 at Andie's Specialty Sweets. There are also listing for the beach glass candy in bulk if you need it.
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Wasted and Broke Ramen Noodles are the perfect gag gift to tuck into your favorite college student's care package. $3.99 at stupid.com.
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I had a really good time flipping through this book, Jellymongers: Glow-in-the-Dark Jelly, Titanic Jelly, Flaming Jelly
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Mmm...Canned Unicorn Meat
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I am a cookie fiend who could give Cookie Monster a run for his money. But as much as I enjoy stuffing my face with cookies, I especially love making them. So I was super thrilled to hear that friend of Rare Bird Finds and Food Blogger, Lindsay Landis wrote a cookbook called The Cookie Dough Lover's Cookbook. She created the perfect, egg-free cookie dough recipe (yep, that's right, this dough can be eaten raw!) and that simple cookie dough recipe is the base for not just cookies, but cakes, candies and more!
RBF: How'd you came up with the "perfect" cookie dough - were you on a cookie dough quest? Or did it just happen by accident?
LL: I don't know about you but I'm always sneaking bites of cookie dough before they are baked, and that got me thinking - what if I made a dough that was meant to be eaten raw? It wasn't hard to take out the eggs (they are replaced by some milk in the recipe to bring the dough together), and voila! Cookie dough that's safe to eat raw.
RBF: How'd you come up with the idea of using the dough for more than cookies?
LL: It started with the eggless dough, and for me the next logical step seemed to be taking that dough and dipping it in chocolate (my cookie dough truffles). I also stuffed it into some cupcakes, threw it into some homemade ice cream, and even spread a layer of it in the bottom of a cream pie. It was at that point I started that an entire cookbook of raw-dough recipes wouldn't be too far fetched.
RBF: According to the title, the book isn't just about making cookies, but "cakes, candies and more." What's the "more"?
LL: There's ice cream, popsicles, fudge, pudding, milkshakes, french toast, brownies... just about any dessert you can think of, I've found a way to incorporate cookie dough in it.
RBF: What makes your cookbook a "must-have" for bakers worldwide?
LL: Anyone who finds themselves craving the raw cookie dough more than the cookies themselves will love this book. It's a cookie dough lover's dream!
RBF: I'm getting hungry already! What's your favorite recipe in the book?
LL: That's a hard choice to make, although I have to say the cover recipe, the Old Fashioned Cookie Dough Ice Cream sandwiches are my favorite. The cookies are a soft, dark chocolate cookie with a hint of salt, that goes perfectly with the thick layer of homepade cookie dough ice cream in the center.
RBF: Last but not least, if you could be a cookie, what kind of cookie would you be?
LL: A raw one? :) Definitely chocolate... perhaps not a chocolate chip but maybe an inside out chocolate. Gotta have lots of chocolate, that's for sure.
I know you totally want this cookbook now, cuz I know I do! What an easy way to whip up delicious treats or just indulge in some safe raw cookie dough noshing. The Cookie Dough Lover's Cookbook - $12.89 at Amazon or your local book store - get your copy today!
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Cotton candy too tame for you? Need a little more excitement with your sugar. I've got it covered. Here's some cotton candy infused with POP ROCKS! You can thank me later...unless you gave it to the kids, then you probably won' t thank me at all. Available in Blue Raspberry, Hawaiian Coconut, Pina Colada and Strawberry flavors and it's only $2.99 a container at Vat 19.
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Did you watch "Sherlock"? Because Season Two is on it's way to the U.S. and I am pretty sure if you watched season one, then you are eagerly awaiting season two. Maybe this Sherlock inspired tea will make the wait go down a little easier. It's a blend of lapsang souchong, assam melody and oriental spice, which seems quite fitting for our hero. And if you have a more favorite character (Inspector Lestrade, perhaps?), there's a tea to match him or her as well. Then, when season two starts, you can have a nice cuppa while you watch. $10 for 3 oz at Adagio Teas.
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A couple of posts ago I showed you a sugar Panoramic Easter egg and told you all how I collect them. Well, during my search for new and unique sugar eggs, I found amazing sugar sculptures like this hand decorated Sugar Dome! These are huge, beautifully decorated domes and some are even lit. No two are the same and I mean it. This one runs about $28 at Amarah's Chocolates. You'll find all kinds of these domes there as well as tons of other goodies...and yes I have ordered a Panoramic Easter Egg from Amarah's.
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This shop carries the cutest cookies that look like works of art! This Kitty Nap cookie is so darn cute, I almost don't want to eat it. Check out the shop for a whole variety of artful cookies. $5 at Moonlight Cookies
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Mostly I am posting this because never again will I have the excuse to use the phrase "Bloody Mary Beef Straw," nor am I sure I want to. But as a fan of a good Bloody Mary, I have to say, I find this sort of intriguing. What we have here appears to be a beef "snack stick," that has been hollowed out, allowing the Bloody Mary to soak into the snack stick and the snack stick to flavor the Bloody Mary. Bloody interesting, I'd say! $22.95 for 4 packages of 5 straws each at Benny's Bloody Mary Beef Straws. I mention the packaging because these might make a good gift to keep on hand for things like hostess gifts, don't you think?
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I'm lured to this shop because I love the name (John's Sweet Stash) and because I love big buns - I just cannot lie. Cinnamon buns, that is! These humongous cinnamon rolls are made from scratch with no preservatives and 100% real ingredients. The perfect size to share with a loved one! (The shop also carries itty-bitty cinnamon rolls for those with smaller appetites) $7.95 and up at John's Sweet Stash 20% off Grand Opening Sale! Use coupon code STASH20 to get 20% off!
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Once again I bring you a one of a kind idea for Valentine's Day. Why bother with some store bought box of chocolates when you can give your sweetheart this one of a kind candy necklace! Just look at the detail that went into this work of art....and (aside from the silk ribbon) competely edible...although I think I'd wear it at least once or twice before I ate it. This beauty is $49 at Andie's Specialty Sweets.
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What's better than a cupcake? A boozed up cupcake! Frankly, any dessert with added booze would be quite dandy in my book. So I'm completely intrigued by these wine-infused whipped cream. They're 27-proof, yo, and come in 3 flavors: Original, Hazelnut and Cocoa. It's a special deal on Groupon for the next five days. You get all 3 cans for $13 (usually it's $26.97) plus $5.95 shipping. Add some to fruit, your fave dessert or beverage.Must be 21 years or older to buy, and due to state regulations, it can only be shipped to certain US states. Details are on the site.
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Oh yum! What are Potoffee Chips? They are salty, ridged potato chips coated in sweet, buttery toffee - an incredible tasty combo! A friend raved about these over the holidays, and so I bought some. I tried the Chocolate Potoffee Chips (toffee and chocolate) - OMG. I found a new addiction! Makes a great gift, too. The site doesn't have an e-commerce cart (I hope that changes soon), but if you want to order just email them orders [at] potoffee.com - I recommend emailing them directly rather than using the Contact Us form on their site. I originally used the form and they never got my order request. So definitely email. Let them know what you want to order and they'll PayPal you an invoice. When I ordered, shipping for two half-pound bags was $5. $3 and up at Potoffee
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For your bacon lovers, consider these hand-dipped chocolate-caramel pretzels topped with bacon. Sounds like a culinary delight! If you have more daring taste buds, the shop also carries chocolate-caramel pretzels topped with wasabi peas. $7 at by Pink Tiramisu
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I honestly do not encourage buying this Bacon Soda, which I imagine will only make you want it more. Seriously, what good could come of this? It's a bad, bad idea all around. But...well, the baconaise was good, as was the bacon salt and the bacon popcorn. You COULD make a whole bacon flavored themed meal. I suppose that could be fun. But I am pretty sure you will regret it in the end. Oh, go on, you know you want to. $4.95/bottle at Bacon Freak on Amazon.
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These heart-shaped brownie bites are topped with vanilla-raspberry marshmallow. Freshly made and looks so good! $16 for 6 at Charmios Edibles
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If you buy from any of these businesses - let them know Rare Bird Finds sent ya! :)
Bath & Body
Daily Repose - 20% Off on Black Friday with code BLACKFRI2011
Earthen Magic Essence - Buy two and get one FREE, expcept for gift baskets. No coupon code needed. When you check out, please specify which product you would like as your free item. Valid through Cyber Monday.
Sweet Peanut Pie - From the Friday through Sunday, use coupon code TheGobbleWobble for 15% off. On Cyber Monday, use coupon code CyberSale for FREE shipping (valid that day only).
Edibles
Catie J's Cake Pops - On Black Friday (November 25) get 40% off all Christmas cake pops with coupon code hoho40 On Saturday (November 26) buy one at regular price get the second one for 55% off with coupon code bogo55 On Sunday (November 27) get free FedEx grouund shipping on all purchases (That is up to a $12.00 + savings) with coupon code freeship On Monday (November 28) buy 2 dozen get the 3rd dozen 55% off with coupon code 3rddozen
Eden's Touch Bread - Get 15% off with coupon code CYBERHOLIDAY11
La Fuffie's Boutique - Black Friday: Use coupon code FabFriday and get 25% off Select Holiday Oreo Cookies On Saturday: Use coupon code SatHandMade and when you buy 2 Dozen Holiday Items, you will get 1 Dozen Chocolate Covered Pretzel Rods FREE On Sunday: Use coupon code SundayFREE and get FREE shipping on ALL HOLIDAY Items over $30.00 On Cyber Monday: Buy 2+ dozen Holiday Items get 1/2 dozen Chocolate Covered Pretzels and 1/2 Dozen Chocolate Lollipops FREE with coupon code BOGOLolli
Love Sweet Chocolate - FREE SHIPPING on entire order over 3 dozen using coupon code BFR25 (excludes packs - sets - bundles) or get10% off your entire order with coupon code 10LSC or get 30% OFF 6 DOZEN or MORE with coupon code 30OFF6 (excludes packs - sets - bundles)
Realist Mermaid - 20% off Thanksgiving through Monday with coupon code GOBBLEGOBBLE
Red Rose Confections - From Friday through Monday, buy 2lbs of any bark and get a 1lb free! Use code BlackFridayB2G12011
Home Goods / Jewelry
All Things Colored - Buy any item in this shop and you'll get a pair of pumpkin pie earrings FREE. There's also FREE shipping! Sale ends Cyber Monday.
BKD SIgnature - From Black Friday through Cyber Monday: Free Love in Bloom pendant with each $10 spent (before shipping); Free candle tart pack of three for orders $25 or more (before shipping) - 20% off orders $40 or more (before shipping) - USA Customers: Purchase $50+ merchandise for FREE shipping - Canadian Customers: Purchase $50+ merchandise weighing under 16 oz for FREE shipping or reduced shipping for packages over 16 oz. On their Facebook page, there'll also be comment games each night to clear out inventory at rock bottom prices.
Horrorfemme Art & Accessories - Save 25% with coupon code BLACKFRIDAY (valid friday only). In addition, good for the entire holiday season use HOLIDAY for FREE shipping!
Oh Soy Sweet - Save on scented soy wax tart melts! From Friday 12 am eastern time until Monday 9 pm eastern time get 20% off using coupon code SOYSWEET20
Paper Goods / Packaging
Growable Greetings - Use code FBFANRL20 for 20% for black friday you will also recieve a free gift if you purchase on Black friday November 25. The coupon code will be valid untill Cyber Monday and that includes Small Business saturday.
Mammygram - 30% off all cards using coupon code blackfriday
Twine and Tape - Use coupon code BF25 for 25% off on Black Friday, other specials will be posted on their Facebook page through Monday.
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We all have a friend who is awesomesauce. In fact, we are ALL AWESOMESAUCE, with an extra side of awesome. Celebrate your awesomeness by dousing everything else with awesomeness. It will taste better and you'll enjoy telling everyone that it's all awesomesauce. And it's garlicy, so that's good too. It would also appear that 100% of the proceeds are contributed to the Institute on Higher Awesome Studies...and that doesn't appear to be a joke.
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Bear with me for a moment. I...I...I think this bacon frosting might not be such a bad idea. I know it sounds sort of gruesome. And I can't imagine what it's ingredients list must look like. But that sweet, smoky, salty thing is pretty popular these days. And I am thinking that this might be good replacing a marshmallow in a s'more. Or maybe just a tease of it on a chocolate cake. Or, late at night, when no one is looking, topping an Oreo. Maybe. I could be wrong. But...think about it. I could be right. $5 at Archie McPhee.
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It's a little too late to have these candy zombies for Halloween, but with so many other holidays fast approaching, why not stock up? A nice hostess gift for Thanksgivng, a stocking stuffer for Christmas, a creative way to say "I love you for your brain" at Valentines...the possibilites are...well there are the possibilites, but those are three pretty good ones. Oh and don't forget the Chanukah Zombie! $13.99 at Think Geek.
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STARTING RIGHT NOW! Sampler Village is opening up sales of sampler boxes which feature randomly-chosen handmade samples from a variety of independent designers and retailers. There are three boxes, two that range in prices due to the number of samples inside, and the third box is full of edible samples. There are limited number of boxes and they're usually snapped up quickly! Last month I got both a sample box and a box of edible samples - mmmm! It was a huge box of goodies! This month's theme is "Diva's Delight" with a lot of pink items for Breast Cancer Awareness. A portion of the proceeds will go towards the ACS Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Here's a list of businesses donating samples this month. $25 - $40 at Sampler Village
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Uhm, yum! Seriously, I wish I had gummy shot glasses when I was in college. $20 for a set of 6 assorted flavors at Fred Flare
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These truffles made of wild hibiscus flowers dipped in white chocolate look unusual and delicious. $20.00 AUD ($20.01 USD) at Cricklewood Chocolates
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I have ordered several things from J&D's in the past. We've enjoyed both the bacon salt and the baconaise in our house. My husband is a fan of the bacon popcorn and slightly less of a fan of the bacon lip balm. Now we have a new product to try, Bacon Croutons. And you know, that sounds like a pretty good idea to me. I mean, yeah, they'll be nice in a salad, but imagine how good they will taste sprinkled over a lovely clam chowder, or pretty much any kind of soup. I bet they'd also be good in a party mix, with some pretzels and peanuts and cereal. Just a good idea all around. $2.49 a bag from J&D's.
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Ah, bacon. It is so popular that there are now different KINDS of bacon candy available. Not just the boring old chocolate covered bacon, this is a hard candy with a bit of a difference. Now, I am not the biggest bacon fan, and I have tried a lot of different bacon candies, but this one...looks like is might be a little smoother than the others. I make no promises. But, at the very least, you get a cute tin out of it. $8.95 at Gagets and Gear.
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Who can resist a cake pop? They're so flippin' cute and delicious, and now you can get them looking like delectable bites of sushi. $36 for 12 at Cake Pop Shoppe
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Well, we all know who likes Doctor Who (I DO! I DO) but I am supposed to be writing the "cool stuff for guys" portion of Rare Bird Finds, right? Well here you go. My husband is a guy. He likes Doctor Who. He also likes fudge (I DON'T! I DON'T!). So how's this Doctor Who themed fudge for a cool thing for guys? Custard flavored fudge studded with Swedish Fish. "Why?", you ask? Well see when the Doctor last regenerated he didn't know what he wanted but he knew he wanted something and that something turned out to be fish fingers and custard. And since pretty much no one, not even cool guys wants fish finger flavored fudge (say that five times fast), the people at Atomic Fudge figured out a suitable alternative. And now you know more about my husband, Doctor Who and fudge than you did a minute ago. $10 for a half pound at Atomic Fudge.
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Although I'm only pointing out the popcorn lollipop, I drool over all the lollipops in this shop! Popcorn-flavored and with real popcorn inside. Corn syrup free. $10 for 6 at Lollipops by Mihow
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Honestly, I've never tasted absinthe to say if I would like the flavor or not, but when I saw this abinsthe honey, I was intrigued! It's raw honey (even with a bit of honeycomb inside) that's been infused with wormwood, licorice, spearmint and star anise. You can request it to be made without wormwood, too. $21 at Pixxxie Pie and Posie
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I was at Whole Foods yesterday and picked up a Chuao Firecracker chocolate bar because the description intrigued me - "Premium dark chocolate bar with chipotle, salt and popping candy." Whoa, did they say chipotle AND popping candy?! Dudes, this is the best chocolate bar ever. If you enjoy dark chocolate that's also unusual and awesome, this is it. The chocolate itself is delicious and then there's the heat mingled in that's just a tinge salty (a great salty-sweet combo) with the explosion of popping candy. It's like a fun fest in your mouth. Pure awesomeness. $4.99 (at Whole Foods) or $18 for three at Chuao.
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Sea salt has long been a popular pairing with chocolate. This bar adds some black pepper into the mix to step it up a notch. Made from hand roasted cacao beans and beautifully packaged, this is not your ordinary chocolate. $5.99 at Olive and Sinclair Chocolate Co.
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I'm an adult with no kids and yet I totally want this moldable magic chocolate kit. It comes with dark, milk, and white chocolate that can be molded like clay to make artful creations that you can then devour. $6.99 at Think Geek
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Have your gems and eat them too with these sparkly gem truffles. You will get 6 truffles and 6 macarons in your choice of flavors. $16 at ChewLaLa.
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Oh wow, a few weeks ago I had the absolute pleasure - PLEASURE! - of trying Cookie Good's caramel pretzel chocolate chunk cookie. It's a decadent of dark chocolate chunks & chips, caramel and PRETZELS. It's the perfect blend of salty and sweet in an utterly fresh cookie. Ever since eating it, I've been dreaming about it. This is cookie crack, yo! $18 for a dozen, $22 per dozen assorted at Cookie Good. Online ordering will be available soon. To order now, email info@cookiegood.com or call 310-720-1642. Oh, and they have luscious brownies too!
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If you're a milk drinker and love the taste of flavored milk but find conventional syrups too sugary (or bad for a gluten-free diet), then consider Magic Milk Straws! Each straw is filled with flavor beads that are low in sugar (only 1.33% of your recommended daily allowance), all-natural, gluten free and fat free. The beads melt when you sip your milk (magic!) and you get the yummy taste of flavored milk in an instant. Flavors include strawberry, vanilla milkshake, chocolate and cookies and cream. You get six straws. $2.50 at Vat 19
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If you live in Santa Monica or near it in Southern California and you love handcrafted food items, consider visiting the Artisanal LA Spring Show this weekend. I'll be there on Saturday handing out samples for Coldwater Canyon Provisions, which makes the yummiest handcrafted (and award-winning!) jams and preserves. See you there!
Event Days: Saturday, April 16, 11a-8p & Sunday, April 17, 11a-7p
Location: Santa Monica Place at the Southern end of Third Street Promenade
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Mmm...the yummy flavor of bacon and mayo combined for the ultimate sandwich spread. It's both Kosher and vegetarian, so if you thought you couldn't have the yummy taste of sizzling bacon, you, uh, now can. $5.99 at Think Geek
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