Daily Desserts 4 July 4th!

Hi, food fanatics! I'm sooo excited for the 4th! But at the same time, totally bummified that I won't be with my Supa-Stah Fam! Humph! Waaa! Anyhoo, I've decided to post my findings for my Daily Dessert Faves for this year's trendiest and oh so cutie-ba-tootiest Independence Day Desserts!

Which one will you use?

July 4 Daily D: Simple Sundaes!

Ingredients
Makes 8 sundaes and 60 cookies

FOR THE COOKIES
2 cups sifted all-purpose flour, plus more for surface
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 ounces (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

FOR THE SUNDAES
2 quarts Vanilla Ice Cream, softened
2 quarts Raspberry Sorbet, softened
Blueberries, for garnish

Directions

Make the cookies: Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Cream butter and sugar until pale and fluffy. Mix in egg and vanilla. Gradually add flour mixture, and mix until dough comes together. Shape dough into 2 disks, wrap each in plastic, and refrigerate at least 1 hour (or up to 2 days).
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Roll out 1 disk of dough to just less than an inch thick on a lightly floured surface. Using a paring knife, cut out spoon shapes, each about 3 inches long. For a spoon template CLICK HERE.
Transfer to baking sheets. Chill in freezer for 15 minutes. Roll out scraps, and repeat once.
Bake until cookies are golden around the edges, about 12 minutes. Transfer sheets to wire racks to cool. Repeat with remaining dough.

Make the sundaes: In 8 small bowls, layer 1/4 cup ice cream, 1/2 cup sorbet, and another 1/4 cup ice cream. Garnish each sundae with blueberries, and serve with 2 or 3 cookie spoons.



Psst! Have you spotted this one somewhere? Probably at the grocery store check-out line! This one comes from Martha Stewart Living! :) Gotta love Martha!

FREE Nutty Caramel Creme Drink: Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf

On Wednesday, July 1, 2009, from 3:00-7:00 pm Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf locations in CALI and Hot as Snot AZ are giving away a FREE 12 oz. Nutty Creme Caramel Ice Blended drink. CLICK HERE for the dee-tales.

If you're one of the privileged few, i'd recommend calling ahead just to make sure your store is "in" on this goodness!

BOGO Ben n' Jerry's

Remember if you're looking for a cool treat today - Ben n' Jerry's is offering they're BOGO ice-cream Sundaes! Booyah!

FREE 12 oz. Seattle's Best Beverage!

If you missed out on the last BORDER'S BEVERAGE coupon, Click HERE for the newest one that expires 7/2! You don't have to buy anything at all! Just print the coupon and go!

FREE Friday Chocolate!!!

Have you had your "FIX" of FREE Chocolate yet? Our Candy Jar is overfilling from cashin' in our lil' coupie-pons! Remember, once you enter the site, you only have 5 min. to complete the registration for your coupon. Today they're only giving out coupons to the first 250,000. CLICK HERE to get this part-ay started!

BOGO Jamba Juice Smoooothies!

It's a StEAmY SuMMeR and that means SMOOOOOTHIES! Now you and a special someone can score one FREE when you buy another one! This is sweetness! All ya'lls gots to do is CLICK HERE for your lil' coupie-pon. Tee hee! {heart giggles} The offer expires 7/12!

Wanna find a store near you? CLICK HERE!

FREE Arby's Wednesday

It's our favorite day of the week - FREE ARBY'S WEDNESDAY! Today they are offering a Free Regular Roast Beef with any soft drink purchase (buy the small for $1.50) and get your sammy for FREE! Sa-weet!

Fondue for Two: The Melting Pot

This offer is a GREAT one! Who doesn't love chocolate and fruit together? What some for FREE? Go HERE to sign-up with The Melting Pot and receive a coupon for FREE Fondue For TWO!

TGIM! BOGO Ben & Jerry Sundaes!

If you're like me, Monday's can be kind of a "downer" coming off of a fun weekend! But not anymore, thanks to Ben & Jerry's! They're offering a B1G1 Free Sundae starting today and every Monday now through the end of August! This makes for an awesome FHE or pick-me-up every Monday night! I'm soooo excited! Want more info or see if your store is participating? Click HERE!

Trader Joe's: Going Green Grab Bag!

I'm so proud of myself for becoming a "green" goddess. Yeah, that' right. I spotted these OH-SO... A-dor-a-Ball lil' reusable grocery baggies and HAD to buy them! I know, right? TOO CUTE! Obviously, the first thing on the To-Do list would now be grocery shopping, even though the fridger-rator is totally busting at the hinges. Never mind, this lil' insignificant fact. It doesn't matter! I NEEDED a reason to flaunt the fabby food baggies! So where's the best place to prove you're an organic-girl? Trader Joe's! We don't have a Whole Foods, peeps. I know, such a sad day. Story of my life. Tears well up, everytime I'm reminded that we don't have one.

Back to the story. No Whole Foods. Next best option? Trader Joe's.

K, so I loaded up my lil' baggies full of groceries and went to check-out. Booya, that's right! Check-out my bags, that is! When all the goodies were loaded and paid for, the clerk blasted me with this awesome BONUS!

Bring your own bags = a raffel ticket = chance to win bags of FREE groceries!

I KNOW!! AHHH! This is GrEAt NEWS! Cute new bags AND a chance to win FREE groceries everytime I use them to grocery shop!

Moral of the story = buy cute things to get more great deals and shop non stop to get more chances to win!



Psst! No, TJ's doesn't sell these EXACT ones. They do have some to buy, though!

Maggiano's Meal Deal!!!!

This deal is totally sweet! I'm talking, you get to go out to eat, then have tomorrow's dinner sent home with you! Um, what? Yeah, two nights in a row that you won't have to cook and it only costs you $12.95! This is cheaper than making dinner yourself at home! I'm totally IN on this one!

Choose from a list of Maggiano Fav's and while you eat, they'll pack you up with a whole other meal to go home with! The meals are so stinkin' big anyway that there's enough to share!

Want more info? Click HERE to get the deee-tails! Call your store ahead of time to make sure they're participating. It's for dinner and dine-in only.

Dairy Coupons - ID and UT only!

K, so I felt a lil' guilty for leaving out some of my peeps on the yoggie offer. So here's one for you, IDAHO [no, u-da-ho hahaha]! Click HERE to type in your zip code to print off these "just released, high-value" dairy coupons. GET THIS!!! They AREN'T store or brand specific! This means you can pick and choose your favorite brands! Um...hi. I'm jealous..

They include:
$0.75 off milk
$1/1 off cheese
$0.75 off yogurt

Getcher MOOOOve ON!! Print 'em while they are still available!

FREE Yoplait Whips Yogurt!

Love your yoggie? Yeah, me too! Click HERE to sign up to get your FREE coupon for Yoplait Whips Yogurt! Yea!! Unfortunately for my peeps in CA, ID, LA, MN, NJ, NV, ND, and TN this offer isn't valid. Frowny :( Sorry, friends.

T'mader n' Cuc Summer Salad

Mmmm... this summer salad is soooo light and oh sooo satisfying. It's a side-kick to many-a-meal during the hot muggy months! I brought this bad boy out last week and my Husby was so excited to reunited with him. Try it. You won't be disappointed. If you have leftovers, try putting it on top of romaine or mixed greens (no need for dicing veggies or making a dressing)!!!

Ingredients

Salad:
4-5 large ripe organic beefsteak tomatoes
1 English cucumber (aka hot house - the long ones)
1 medium red onion

Dressing:
3 T olive oil
1/3 cup red wine vinegar
drizzle of balsamic vinegar
Seasonings (to taste - sprinkle a dash of each):
garlic powder
oregano
basil
salt or season salt (liberally)
ground pepper

Directions

Slice tomatoes (as if for sandwiches). Slice each slice into quarter bite sizes. Slice the cucumber in half length wise. Slice each half into smaller slices. Dice onion into rough pieces. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. In a separate mixing bowl combine all dressing ingredients (besides the balsamic). Whisk together until combined. Poor the dressing on top of salad. Mix until combined. Drizzle balsamic vinegar on top. Cover and refridgerate for at least 30 min. to chill and marinate the flavors.

Granny Apple Smith's Crisp

Um...guys? Yeah, this CrISp is what I call MONEY! It's my staple "go to" when I'm short on time and need to bust a serious wowza move for guests or hubbykins. It has everyday ingredients that can be altered to accomodate an empty pantry and diminishing minutes.


Ingredients

Fruit Mixture:
6 cups peeled n' sliced apples (of choice). Tip: 1 apple is ~ 1 1/2 cups.
1 t. cinnamon
dash of salt
1 T. water
1 t. fresh lemon juice
3/4 to ~ 1 cup sugar
1/4 cup flour (it seems weird but do it...otherwise you'll have a soggy hot-mess)

Topping:
1 cup rolled oats
3/4 cup flour
dash of salt
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 t nutmeg
1/2 cup room temp. butter

Directions

Preheat oven to 375. Place apples in ungreased 2 qt. or 8 in. square baking dish (glass preferred to avoid burning). Sprinkle apples with cinnamon, water, lemon juice and sugar. Mix completely. Sprinkle flour into apple mixture (make sure flour is completely incorporated. no one likes a bite with a dry flour bomb). In a large bowl, combine all topping ingredients and mix with a fork until crumbly. Sprinkle crumb mixture evenly over apples. Bake for 25-25 mintues or until fruit is tender and topping is golden brown. Serve warm with cream, ice-cream (vanilla, cinnamon, or sweet cream), or whipped cream. Yields 12 (1/2 cup) servings.

Variations: I have played with this recipe time and time again. Fresh summer peaches (with or without raspberries) may be substituted for the apples. I've used pears with cranberries in the fall. The options are endless. It's a good basic staple that has many options!

Dad's Day: Grillin' Filets 101

Filet Mignon…even the name sounds intimidating. Most captains of the grill panic at the shear mention of this great piece of meat. Nightmares of burning, drying and otherwise screwing up this fine cut of beef can make even the most seasoned grill chef break out in splotchies! No need to fear.

Less IS More…

When grilling filet mignon, less is definitely more. Less seasoning, less grilling time, less flipping, less poking and prodding…you get the point. So there is no need to panic, filet mignon is such a prime cut of meat that it is very easy to grill a masterpiece. Before you even touch that steak, let’s look at what you should never, ever do to that poor juicy steak.

NEVER puncture your steak! We will talk about how to tell if it is done later.
NEVER close the lid! With other steaks, yes. With filets, nah!
NEVER cook it too long. There is nothing worst than a $15 piece of beef jerky. We will all cry if this is the end result - yes, this includes your overworked steak knife. Remember, you can always throw it back on for a few...

Grilling Filet Mignon, Step by Step…

Step 1 - Seasoning. You paid a lot for this filet (pay less next time by planning ahead and filling your freezer with these Omaha Steaks Filet Mignons...that's what we did), give it some credit that it is going to hold it’s own in the taste department. The only seasoning I recommend to help this steak out is some fresh ground black pepper. Save the course salt for the end, some say it draws out juices. We want the juicy...so no salty...until afterwards.

Step 2 - Leave it alone! In order to reduce grilling time and ensure consistent cooking throughout the steak, we must bring the filet to room temperature. This is your easiest step, once it’s seasoned just leave it on the kitchen counter. Your patience will be rewarded, trust me…just let it get into the “zone” by itself and move onto these next steps. Let it sit for at least 45 minutes. Go on, leave it alone, move on to the next step!

Step 3 - Fire it up! We are going to use direct heat to grill this delicious steak, so fire up your grill and set it and leave it at the highest temperature setting. You will know she is ready when you can’t hold your hand 2 inches above the grates for more than 5 seconds (don’t try and be tough, you'll singe your arm hairs…ouchie-wouchie).

Step 4 - Sear in those juices! Ok, the moment of truth, your steak has been getting itself ready on the counter and now it’s game time! Using TONGS (oh so delicately) place your steaks on the grill and do NOTHING for at least 2 minutes. The only exception to this rule is if you have to play firefighter and splash a little water on a disturbing flame. A little flare up is fine, but if a flame burns for more than 30 seconds, splash a tiny bit of water on it to put it out.

Step 5 - Grill marks! All we are doing here is creating those cool looking grill marks. After about 2 minutes (for medium-rare, a little more for Medium), lift, turn your steak 90 degrees and then set it back down for another 3 minutes (again, for medium-rare, a little more if you have to have it more done).

Step 6 - Flip once! After a total of about 5 minutes, it’s time to flip that steak for the one and only time. Gently lift, flip and set it back down in the same spot and leave it alone again for about 2 more minutes.

Step 7 - Rotate again. This is getting easy, you know what is next. Repeat Step 5 on this side now!

Step 8 - Check it. Again, don’t poke it, cut it or pierce the flesh in any way. This takes a little practice, but remember that you can always put an underdone steak back on the grill. Test the doneness by pushing on the steak. A rare steak will leave an indention of your finger on the surface. A medium steak will give a little, but not leave an indention. If it feels firm, it’s well done.

Step 9 - Remove and rest. Take it off the grill now, you are done with the heat section! Remove it and set it on a plate or platter and leave it alone.
Your beautiful filet has been through a tramatic experience. It went from refrigerated to room temperature to a HOT grill. This plays havoc on the juices inside so we need to give it some time to collect itself. Now that it is on the platter, let it rest again for 2 - 3 minutes (which will now seem like 2 hours!). This allows the juices to re-distribute, so they don’t all run out when you slice into that beautiful hunk of beef.

Season with salt and booya, you're in business for a fabby steak dinner!

Don't Fret my Pet...

Hi Friends! So...don't FrEAk-OUT on me...but I won't be updating until Sunday! *GASP* I KNOW!!! What are we ALL going to do putting Pistachio on hold? *sniffle sniffle* tear. It'll be okay. Try not to miss the deals too much. Remember, there once was a life before The Pink Pistachio - and you were perfectly happy. Now you're just happy-ERRR, right? I promise I'll make it up to ya'll. How 'bout a giveaway? Who's smilin' now?

FREE 20 oz. Orange Julius

Hi Friends! So if you're like me...these smoothies were a childhood/younger years favorite! I don't know if there's even a store close to me [sometimes they're combined with DQ stores]

...but if there's one by you...stop by THIS FRIDAY, June 19th! You can snag one of three different "light" smoothies:

-Strawberry Delight
-Tropical Delight
-Berry-Pom Delight

Click HERE to print your coupon - stuff it in your purse - make a smoothie stop on Friday!

Want more info or find a store near you? Click HERE!!

Uh...guys?

Hey fellow followers slash stalkers! Um...hi. So BFF "Bee" has mentioned that updates aren't showing up on her dashboard!!! This is a major dilemn! I've either played with my settings too much or something else is whacked!?! Are you having these same issues? I need to know if the problem is mwah or...well...blogger or sumthin! We need to get this lil' kink straightened out and pronto! I won't be able to sleep at nighty-night knowing all ya'll are missin' out! Give me a shout out to let me know...

FREE Chili's Chips n' Queso! Mmm...

Anyone up for a snack of FREE chips n' queso? Um...hi. Do you even have to ask? Fo' sho! So here's how to snag you some. Clikc HERE to sign up. Your offer will be in your inbox within 48 hours! That's cheesey goodness comin' your way! GO ahead and Chillax at Chili's!

FREE S'ghetti - Noodles & Co

Love Lady n' The Tramp? Yeah me too! S'ghetti takes on a new cuteness knowing Lover-Doggies kissed eating it! Awwww, so presh! Have a Loverbun of your own to sip noodles with? Go HERE and play a simple game of Noodleball to download a coupon for Free Spaghetti and Meatballs with the purchase of another entree at Noodles and Co. Now that's AMOR-ay!

BOGO El Pollo Loco!

El Pollo Loco is offering a FREE 2 Piece Chicken Meal when you purchase a 2,3, or 4 piece meal! All ya gotta do is print your lil' coupie-pon by going HERE!

Um...yeah. Fam, out West? Wanna eat some for me? Think KFC & them are in a "chicken fight" much? Hey, somebody suggest Chick-fil-a enter the ring!

FREE Friday Chocolate

Loverbuns and I have already received 2 coupons to get our FREE chocolate! We redeemed them last weekend - and apparently KING SIZE were totally Kosher in following the rules! Rockin' Hurry, quick...they're only givin' em out to the 1st 250,000!

Click HERE to get your Chocolate Craving ON!! BRING IT!

FREE 12 oz. Bev @ BORDERS!

I HEART the FREEBIES that equal a DATE NIGHT!!! OOo, OOo, sooo excited! This is super simple. Click HERE to print your coupon for a free 12-oz. beverage [doesn't have to be coffee] at Border's/Seattle's Best Coffee. Plus, here's the real kicker - No purchase necessary!!! Sa-weetness is my weakness! This coupon is good through June 18, 2009.

Snag some Summa Reading material and a free drinkage at the same time!

FREE Minute Maid Treats

This is srsly sooo simple! All you gotta do is click HERE to have your FREE coupon sent in the mail for these tasteee frozzzzen treats! I know right, I'm your newbie BFF! You're welcome! Tee Hee {heart giggles}

Free Tote @ World Market

Cheep, CHEAP, Cheep! A lil' Birdie told me that, World Market is an AwEsoME place to find CHEAP food, home goods, furniture, and gifts! Sounds like a wonderland to me!

Head over to grab some goodies worth $10 and snag a freebie Canvas Tote [while supplies last].

Click HERE to find the store nearest you!