Sometimes, you just feel like a little cake. Especially chocolate cake. (Am I right or am I right?!?) And that’s when mug cakes come in so handy. They are fast, easy and tasty — and they totally take care of the cake craving.

To make a mug cake, you stir together a few ingredients in a mug until it’s nice and smooth. Then you pop it in the microwave for a minute or so. Wait for it to sit for a short couple minutes and you have something incredible.

What’s better is that with a little tweaking of the ingredients, you can add nuanced flavors that make the mug cake really special. That’s exactly what I did with this mug cake. I took my favorite mug cake recipe and traded the normal milk added for International Delight York® Peppermint Pattie Creamer, giving it an amazing peppermint flavor. And then I stirred in some white chocolate chips, which created a fudgy double chocolate bottom to the cake.

It’s super easy. It’s delicious. And it’s ready in under five minutes … does it get any better?

Also, International Delight — the sponsor of this post — wants to know “What’s Your Id?” Head over to that link to see the huge variety of flavors available from International Delight. Seriously — the selection is impressive.

What’s Your ID? International Delight is looking for their most passionate flavor fans. Put your ID on the map to enter to win a Magical Trip, play games and discover more unexpected delight. Share your ID flavor at http://whatsyourid.com.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of International Delight. The opinions and text are all mine.

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Summer’s almost here and just about every parent I know is thinking about what their kids will do this summer. On one hand, there’s the relief of relaxed days filled with fun. But you also need to find things for them to do to keep their minds occupied too. And for some parents, there is the stress of finding things for them to do during the days while you’re at work … Summer is a delicate balance like that.

In past years, my kids have filled their summer days with swimming, sandcastle building and fun days with their cousins. There’s been bike riding and library visits too. And we take day trips to explore aquariums, food trends (what? I write about food!) and more.

But this year, I am paying a little more attention to making sure that learning doesn’t fall by the wayside in the summer.

Recently, I was asked to sit in on a call with Microsoft Retail Stores and learn about what they have to offer parents like me. I was so surprised to learn that they offer summer camps. The week-long Youth Spark Summer Camps run for two hours each day, and teach kids things like visual storytelling and digital movie making. Best of all? They are absolutely free (the only catch is that parents are expected to remain at the store during the two hours).

Many stores also feature theater space that you can reserve for birthday parties and other gatherings — and kids get to play Xbox and check out the technology during them (you can reserve them for adult networking too). When I dropped in on the Danbury, Connecticut, Microsoft Store last Friday, there was a party happening in the theater space. The kids, who were doing some super active Kinect game, were jumping around and looked like they were having a blast.

At the store, you can also play with the latest Microsoft gadgets (I checked out the Surface when I was there … it had a pink keyboard). They have phones, Xboxes, computers and more set up and ready to check out.

And if you need a little tech support, the Answer Desk can help. Whether your computer is running slow or you need some help with parental controls, they will walk you through your issues. You don’t even need to book an appointment — just show up! Oh, and the stores offer classes for adults too. It was really interesting to hear how Microsoft is working to provide an environment for learning and explorations.

Have you dropped in on a Microsoft Store? What did you think?

Microsoft Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I am being compensated by Microsoft via The Motherhood for listening in on the call, visiting the store and writing this post. All opinions are my own. Microsoft is also providing the gift card for the giveaway.

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When the weather warms up, I start thinking about lighter foods. The soups and roasts that hit the spot on frigid New England winter days are forgotten in favor of lighter summer fare like fruit, everything grilled and salads. Dinner becomes an art of combining no-cook dishes (can’t heat up the kitchen!) combined with whatever is coming off the grill.

Honestly, I love our foods of summer — the creative salads, smoky grilled meats and tasty seafood. I think it might be my favorite eating season (you can have a favorite eating season, right?).

What I also love is the contrasts of foods in summertime — the sweet fruits served alongside savory dishes. The cool veggies with warm grilled whatever. You get it.

And this Warm Salad with Grilled New Potatoes is all about the contrasts. There’s the crisp veggies and lettuce with the creamy grilled potatoes. There’s the hot potatoes and cool dressing and salad. And of course, the sweet tomatoes and sharp blue cheese. It’s divine.

Making the potatoes is so simple. This is ideally made with new potatoes — little red potatoes that are about one-inch in diameter. But larger red potatoes can be used too (just cut them into a 1-inch dice). You simply combine the potatoes with a drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of salt and pepper in a foil packet. And then you grill them until they are all soft and tender.

Once that’s done, you assemble your salad on plates. Because of the potatoes, this is a pretty filling salad. But if your family has a big appetite, you could also serve it with grilled chicken.

Drizzle it with your favorite vinaigrette … and it’s ready to be enjoyed.

 Have you had potatoes on a salad like this?

PS – Did you know that Betty Crocker (who sponsored this post) now sells fresh potatoes in the produce section? Betty Crocker Fresh Potatoes come in red, yellow, white and russet varieties. The red potatoes would be perfect in this dish.

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Disclosure: I am being compensated by Betty Crocker for creating this recipe. All opinions are my own.

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New England summers have always meant copious amounts of seafood for me. And this year is no different — so as soon as the temperatures hit that comfortable level where grilling outside can be accompanied with eating outside, we picked up some littleneck clams to grill.

Our local butcher shop, which also features a nice selection of fresh fish, had piles of clams in the display case when the kids and I stopped in after soccer practice on a recent Saturday. We were buying burgers for dinner, and house-made hot dogs for lunch. But when the kids said, “Mommy, can’t we get some clams too?” I didn’t hesitate for a second. It’s seafood time!

I love making clams on the grill. You heat the grill up, and put the scrubbed-clean clams directly on the grates (always remember to wash your clams to remove sand and grit from the shells!). Sometimes, I will also put a pan of beer to infuse them with a little steamy ale, but you don’t have to. Then you wait for them to cook. It’s so incredibly simple and when the clams open, they are ready to be removed to a serving plate.

As they near completion, you can also whip up a quick garlic butter sauce that’s amazing with the salty, meaty littleneck clams we prefer. It’s magical.

My kids are huge clam fans too. They are the first in line to swipe a fried clam from my plate when we head to a favorite seafood shack in the summer. And if you put a plate of clams out, they will both reach for them instantly.

It’s good. I love that they enjoy seafood as much as I do.

Are you a fan of clams?

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Six weeks, four days. That’s a mere 46 days — or 1,104 hours, if you prefer. Though it’s probably slightly less than 1,104 hours.

What’s the countdown? It’s the number of days until the school year ends and the kids and I can officially — really and truly — head off the shoreline for a summer of sand and surf. I can’t wait for every salty, breezy, sunny moment of it.

In the meantime, a few friends and I discovered our official beach cocktail of 2013 (not to be confused with the kid-friendly summer drink of 2013). We were sampling a variety of Gallo Family Vineyards Moscato wines (more on that in a minute) when we decided to muddle a berry into a glass and add ice cold Pink Moscato. It was heavenly — sweet, with a hint of bubbles.

I’ve dubbed it the Strawberry Moscato Sparkler. It’s so, so simple, but also super tasty. Especially when the Moscato is ice cold.

So what is this Moscato? It’s a variety of wine that’s a little different than anything you’ve had before. I think of it as a dessert wine, but it can be enjoyed with spicy food too. Moscato is a sweet, slightly carbonated wine that is best served ultra-chilled (stick it in the freezer to get it as cold as can be). I was introduced to Moscato last year in a project I did with Gallo Family Vineyards so when they asked me to join a similar project this year, I couldn’t say no. I am kind of a Moscato groupie.

I love a project that teaches me new things… And this one did just that. Turns out that there isn’t just one variety of Moscato — there’s three. Gallo was kind enough to send over a bottle of each, so, I gathered a group of friends and had a quickie tasting of Pink, Red and the traditional white Moscato.

We sipped and slurped and compared all three varieties, commenting on them as we passed them around. Moscato has a nuanced sweet flavor. Some varieties, like the Pink Moscato have a hint of berries in the finish. While others, like Moscato (the white variety) have hints of peach and citrus. Gallo Family Vineyards’ Pink Moscato was our absolute favorite. I think it might have bad something to do with the group fantasy of watching the sunset on the beach with a glass of Moscato while writing some new fiction.

Hey, a girl can dream, right?

Celebrate the Second Annual National Moscato Day

Gallo Family Vineyards created the first National Moscato Day last year, and they are ready to celebrate big this year on May 9. As part of that, there’s a fab Twitter party happening.

Gallo Family Vineyards (@GalloFamily) will be hosting a National Moscato Day Twitter party from 9-10pm EST. To join in, use hashtags #MoscatoDay #gno.

Will I tweet you there?

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Disclosure: I am being compensated by Gallo Family Vineyards and Mom It Forward for my participation in this campaign. All opinions are my own.

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When I was in Philly for the Type-A Advanced Conference in April, Cheryl from Middlesex County Parent and I had lunch at a cute outdoor cafe. When our sandwiches arrived, they were served with a heap of fries drizzled with a sweet balsamic reduction — and it was incredible. I told her it would soon appear on SCB (and I totally wasn’t kidding). I’m telling you — you have to try this (and for the fries, the thinner, crispier and saltier, the better!). Since arriving home, I’ve even introduced my kids to this — and they love it too.

Get it: If you aren’t familiar with balsamic reduction, it’s just a thick, reduced version of the vinegar. You can sometimes buy it ready to go (it may be called glaze) or you can make your own at home. Here’s a good tutorial from Fit-Bottomed Eats.

KIND Bars

A few years ago, Cate from Sweetnicks and I headed to Seattle for a business trip and our host (Starbucks!) left a few KIND Bars in our welcome bags. I promptly fell in love. it should speak volumes that since then, I have regularly bought KIND Bars — especially when I need something quick when I am on the go. Of course, they can be pricey, so I make sure to stock up when they are on sale at the grocery store — particularly when they are $1/bar (Yes, it happens!).

Get it: You can buy these in many stores including Stop and Stop, Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods. Starbucks also sells them, but you pay a premium for the convenience of purchasing them there. Locally, Caraluzzi’s carries a big selection.

Coffee-Mate Natural Bliss Sweet Cream

Typically, I take skim milk and sugar in my coffee. I am not a big fan of half and half and have been on the fence about flavored creamers — until now. I recently discovered Coffee-Mate Natural Bliss Sweet Cream while trying to choose a creamer at the grocery store and fell head over heals in love with it. The ingredients list is super short (and totally familiar), and the flavor is sweet, but not cloyingly so. Now, this is what I grab in the morning for my coffee.

Get it: Grocery stores everywhere sell this. But Target sells a giant bottle of it, and it’s less expensive then the grocery store. That’s where I prefer to buy it.

KitchenAid 13-Cup Food Processor

I know some people rarely see the need for a food processor, but me? I can’t get enough of it. I love using mine for slicing, shredding and chopping because it’s just so easy. And last November, KitchenAid sent me their KitchenAid 13-Cup Food Processor to try — and I started using it daily. It’s sturdy, well-made (read: no annoying extraneous parts to break!) and easy to clean. Also, I love the adjustable slicing disc, which means less parts to keep track of. The only thing I wish it came with is an ultra-thin slicing disc, but overall this is one awesome food processor.

Get it: You can buy this food processor from Amazon and from many stores. KitchenAid also sells it on their website.

Hint Water

I am a water lover. I could drink it 24/7 and never get tired of it. But still, sometimes it’s nice to have a little flavor. And here’s why I love this water. It’s really subtly flavored with natural flavors (Strawberry Kiwi is my favorite) and it’s also unsweetened — as in no sweetener of any kind. The one thing is that you absolutely have to drink Hint chilled — it’s best that way. Also, I can’t remember how I first tried this water. It might have been a sample I was sent, but I’m not sure — I have been buying it for years now and really love its subtle flavor.

Get it: Hint Water is available at most grocery stores and can be purchased online from Amazon.

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Disclosure: As noted above most of these products were purchased by me. The KitchenAid food processor was provided by the company, but I wasn’t obligated or compensated to write about it. And in all cases, my opinions are totally my own.

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When my husband and I bought our house nearly nine years ago, one of the first things we did was to buy a shiny new grill — a good one. We were young and excited and spared no expense on our appliances or grill — and that’s something I am very glad for. We made some really good decisions, even if they weren’t the most sensible ones.

Over the years, our grill has resided on three different sides of our house. It’s been bruised and beaten by weather and seasons, and has had parts replaced — including the hood after the original was crushed. But over the years it has remained as reliable as the day we bought it. Still, when I went to turn it on last fall and couldn’t even get the starter to click, I was concerned that our grill was nearing its end time. I mean how many lives can a grill have?

Thankfully, after a long winter of rest and with a fresh propane tank, it’s back to fabulous grilling. Heating it up and tossing dinner on the grates is like a rite of passage in the springtime — a symbolic gesture that formally says goodbye to winter and hello to the warmth and joy of spring and summer. I am so happy to be grilling again.

And these days, I am grilling something super fun. Like “hey, kids, mama’s the coolest” fun.

Grilled Raspberry Cheesecake Turnovers.

Seriously. Dessert on the grill is the best. And in this case, it’s also wildly craveworthy. These tender, flaky turnovers grill up with a note of smokiness. And they are literally stuffed with creamy vanilla-tinged cheesecake and sweet raspberry filling.

My goodness, they’re good.

Not a speck was left from these babies when I handed them over to the kids and Shawn. Not a single speck.

Dessert on the grill?!? Come on, that’s a smart summer grilling move. And just think how awesome everyone will think you are if you make these while dinner’s cooking.

What are you grilling these days?

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Disclosure: I was compensated by Pillsbury for creating this recipe. All opinions are my own.

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Once when I was a tween living in Poughkeepsie, New York, my family took a bike ride around our neighborhood with another family we were friends with. It was a cool spring day, and the blossoms were on the trees. Our friends had recently moved into the neighborhood, and — for me — it was thrilling to learn how close by they’d be living.

Anyway, while we were on this fun bike ride, I got a little nervous. See, I was convinced that my tire was leaking since it was making this scary swissshhhhhhhhh whenever I would pedal. So, I became insistent that something was very, very wrong and we headed for the air pump at a nearby gas station.

As it turns out, the tire was fine. It was just rubbing against one of those blue plastic coated chain locks that I had so smartly attached to my bike. You know, so that no one would steal it from the inner basement of my house. Or something like that. Really, I just thought it looked cool. (Lesson: “because it looked cool” is never a good reason to have something attached to your bike.)

Anyway, although I am still occasionally reminded of my little error, I will say that the stop at that gas station was fortuitous — because the attached convenience store was a 7-Eleven. The kids among the group managed to convince the parents among the group that since we were there, we might as well get Slurpies (right?!?). So, all’s well that ends well.

Gosh, I love Slurpies. Even if I rarely buy them anymore.

My kids have tried Slurpies too and love them. And recently Cheryl Budge from Middlesex County Parent and I got on the topic of the sweet-tart slushie-esk Frozen Strawberry Lemonades at a certain fast food joint, and the idea of making my own slushie kind of got stuck in my head. Because while I don’t often go to that fast food joint, I do love me a good sweet-tart slushie drink.

So I had to. And it had to be Strawberry Lemonade Slushies. Seriously. My kids now think I am totally awesome because I surprised them with these this weekend. But my husband is a little jealous that we didn’t save any for him. Next time.

Making these is easy but I will warn you that you need to plan ahead — the strawberry puree needs to sit overnight to be perfect for this. Trust me, it’s worth it.

When you are ready for your heavenly slushie, you whip up an easy, homemade sweet-tart lemonade. Sometimes I like lemonade to be sweet-sweet, but for this a more tart version is perfect. Once that’s made, you whirl together a little lemonade and ice in the blender until the ice is totally pulverized. To serve, spoon your slushie into a glass and top with a good dose of the strawberry puree.

OMG. It’s so good.

And A Quick Video Tip …

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Is this breakfast? Or dessert?

Well, honestly, it could be either. An absolutely decadent breakfast, or a little more healthy (not not quite healthy healthy) dessert.

Either way, it’s just really, really good. So good that I am packing some of this granola for a business trip this weekend and hoping I can find just the right yogurt in the town I will be in.

It’s all about the perfect pairing here, I tell you. Liberté Yogurt, which is incredible, asked me to create a “perfect pairings” recipe to go with this thick, creamy, sweet, perfectly flavored yogurt, I practically ran barefoot to the grocery store for supplies. Okay, maybe not really. But you get the idea. I was psyched.

I was already in love this the yogurt.

When my husband first tried Liberté Yogurt a month or two ago, he went on and on about how creamy and decadent it was. His vivid descriptions and incessant praise influenced me to give in and try a cup of it myself. I tried the Liberté Mediterranee Coconut and instantly fell smitten with it.

And what’s better to go with an ultimately decadent yogurt than an equally decadent granola? I mean, hello!

This granola, which combines oats with sweetened coconut, pecans and a sweet dark muscovado sugar mixture that is baked to toasty perfection and then bathed in chocolate, is decadent heaven. And on the Liberté Mediterranee Coconut? It’s just mind-blowingly good.

And, of course, it’s super easy to make too. Which always makes a good thing even better, right?

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Disclosure: I am being compensated by Liberté for the creation of this perfect pairing recipe. All opinions and ideas are my own.

The post Decadent Chocolate, Toasted Coconut and Pecan Granola with Liberte Yogurt (Perfect Pairings) appeared first on Sarah's Cucina Bella.

“Why do I smell cookies?” Paige asked as she came inside today. She and Will had been playing outside, but weren’t happy to see that the warm temperatures had brought back the bees and other little pests.

“You don’t,” I replied.

“No, but I do … ” she persisted, looking around the kitchen.

She really didn’t though. Sure, there was some very decadent granola cooling on the counter, but no cookies — something I instantly regretted. A nice batch of cookies would have been perfect today. They are so warm, comforting and happy — complete joy and love and sweetness all in one. Cookies are goodness. And it would have been awesome to have a batch coming out of the oven today.

Sometimes you just need a cookie.

Our conversation also got me thinking about a recipe I created awhile back for Sunflower Sesame Sugar Cookies.The contrasts of flavors and textures really make these soft Sunflower Sesame Sugar Cookies, dotted with sunflower seeds and dusted with sesame seeds, stand out. The result is a slightly earthy cookie with a warm richness. It’s not too sweet, but it still hits the spot for kids and adults alike.

There’s something to be said for an unexpected treat that brings such great comfort.

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