2012Media Placements ~ The Abbi Agency, Inc.

DonsuemorTable of Contents

Date Publication Title12/18/2012 Flour Me With Love Donsuemor 20% Off Coupon Code12/18/2012 Patricia's PattiCakes Holiday Gift Guide 201212/14/2012 Kitchen Meets Girl My Holiday Wish List12/12/2012 Bluebonnets & Brownies Giveaway: Stocking Stuffers For The Ultimate Foodie12/12/2012 Life Ever Since A Few Of My Favorite Things

12/11/2012 Fox 10 Artisan Foods Holiday Gift Guide

12/11/2012 Fox 11 Artisan Foods Holiday Gift Guide12/11/2012 Fox 11 Artisan Foods Holiday Gift Guide12/11/2012 KRQE Artisan Foods Holiday Gift Guide12/11/2012 KXAN Artisan Foods Holiday Gift Guide12/11/2012 WWLP Artisan Foods Holiday Gift Guide12/11/2012 WTHITV Artisan Foods Holiday Gift Guide12/11/2012 WPRI Artisan Foods Holiday Gift Guide12/11/2012 WIVB Artisan Foods Holiday Gift Guide12/11/2012 Wish TV Artisan Foods Holiday Gift Guide12/11/2012 WDTN Artisan Foods Holiday Gift Guide12/11/2012 Wavy Artisan Foods Holiday Gift Guide12/11/2012 WANE Artisan Foods Holiday Gift Guide12/11/2012 News From Where You Live Artisan Foods Holiday Gift Guide12/11/2012 News 8 Artisan Foods Holiday Gift Guide12/11/2012 Living Dayton Artisan Foods Holiday Gift Guide12/11/2012 LIN Media Artisan Foods Holiday Gift Guide12/7/2012 Socially Stacked A Delicious Example Of A 24-Day Facebook Giveaway12/3/2012 Hugs & Cookies XOXO Give The Gift Of Madeleines

11/20/2012 Mrs. Weber's Neighborhood My Budget-Friendly Gift Picks For 2013

11/13/2012 Moms Everyday A+ Gifts Your Child's Teacher Will Love This Holiday Season

9/21/2012 I Talk To Food Pumpkin Madeline Tiramisu7/9/2012 Spiffy Cookie Tea Time With Donsuemor

July/August 2012 The Tea House Times Donsuemor

6/18/2012 Donsuemor Facebook Summer Sweet Wave FB Contest

5/30/2012 Life Ever Since Tea and Time With My Twitter Twin

5/30/2012 Grumpy Sleepy and Bashful Tea Time

5/28/2012 BocaFiau A rainy afternoon tea party

5/28/2012 Kitchen Meets Girl Vanilla Bean Ice Cream {for a special tea party}

5/21/2012 These Little Waves Sunshine and Cookies and Friends

5/15/2012 Mrs. Weber's Neighborhood Tea Party

5/13/2012 Bluebonnets + Brownies Tea Time with Donsuemor

5/12/2012 Adriana's Best Recipes Tea Party

5/12/2012 The Reno-Sparks Mom Mother's Day Tea Party

5/11/2012 Dinners, Dishes, and Desserts Tea Time with Donsuemor

5/7/2012 Lady Bird Ln Mind your Manner Tea Party!

5/5/2012 DoughMesstic Time for Tea

5/5/2012 Pattieia's PattiCakes Tea Party Time with Donsuemor and Davidson's!

5/4/2012 CupCake Rehab Tea for Two, of More. Let's Have a Tea Party!

5/4/2012 bran appetit! Tea for Two, of More. Let's Have a Tea Party!

5/3/2012 From Which Things Grow Chew on This / Impromptu Tea Party

5/2/2012 SweetBites Sunday Afternoon Tea Party

5/2/2012 Flour Me With Love Tea Time with Donsuemor & Davidson's

DonsuemorTable of Contents

Date Publication Title

5/1/2012 Delectable Desserts Donsuemor Treats & Davidson's Organic Teas

5/1/2012 Fire Up The Oven Donsuemor Treats & Davidson's Teas

4/29/2012 Crazy For Crust White Chocolate Cheesecake Dip & A Tea Party4/27/2012 Hugs & Cookies XOXO Superhero Tea Party!!4/22/2012 My Time As Mom "Two Pinkies Up" Tea Party4/16/2012 DIY Weddings Bridal Shower: Lemon Blueberry Triffles Recipe 4/4/2012 New age Mama Donsuemor Review & Easter Giveaway

3/27/2012 Life Lift The Oprah blog 5 Easter Treats That Aren't Chocolate Bunnies2/2/2012 It's My Life Review-Donsuemor Madeleines

2/14/2012 About.com San Francisco Valentine's Day Gifts from San Francisco

2/12/2012 San Francisco Chronicle A taste for every valentine

2/7/2012 Cooking with Amy Winter 2012 Fancy Food Show Cookies

Winter 2012 diablo Sweet on the Holidays

You all know that I love sharing a good deal! So if you happen to need a last minute gift or an end of year thank you gift, Donsuemor has you covered :) I have worked with this company over the past year and believe me, they are wonderful and their products are too!

Their french madeleines and almond cakes are so moist and delicious!

These are individually wrapped and perfect for any occasion. Right now they are offering a

facebook offer that gives you 20% off your order! Believe me, you won't be disappointed with

these and the recipient will be very happy too :) Wishing you all a Happy Holiday!

Oh, the holidays.

A time where we stress ourselves out about all the wrong things & overeat out of sheer anxiety.

Let me help you diminish some of that needless stress & assist you in finishing up that last minute shopping by giving you some ideas for

those family & friends that are oh, so picky & oh, so into their hobbies.

The best part about this stuff is that you can get it all ONLINE. That means less time shlepping around a department store & more time enjoying the

REAL reason for the season: Sitting around with friends & family, talking about the year that's soon to pass, &

thanking the powers that be that we are alive, happy, & healthy for one more day.

If there is anything that has been more evident in the last couple of days, it's that you never know how long you have with people...so cherish each moment you can.

Happy Holidays!!

What to get the Die Hard Baker:

Everyone has one: The friend that has waaaaay too many baking pans and mixer attachments in their kitchen. They talk about Kitchen-Aid-this & the amount-of-protien-in-different-flour-types-that. They appear to make brownies out of thin air and they study Martha Stewart as closely as a bible in Sunday school. That friend...that wears an apron...on a Wednesday. (I'm pretty sure I'm this person I just described...) What better way to say, "Hey, I like your free cookies and all but I have no idea what you are talking about" than by giving them one of these awesome baking-related gifts! These items will keep them busy baking & you busy eating. Win. Win. Set of 3 Nielsen-Massey Vanilla Extracts from Williams-Sonoma.com ~$32

These are my absolute favorite vanillas to use when baking. They come in Tahitian, Mexican, and Madagascar Bourbon flavors & I have used them all with great success! I definitely put my baker's stamp of approval on this one :) This vanilla set allows even the most experimental baker to test out their recipes with each of these distinctly rich extracts. And you know, the more they experiment, the more you get to "taste-test".

How Baking Works by Paula Figoni at Amazon.com ~$30

This book is THE book for the serious baker. I found it when I was looking for a "textbook" on how to learn to really bake. It is the perfect mix of chemistry & baking, explaining on a chemical level why things happen when you bake but not speaking over your head so that you don't know what the heck is going on. My inner science nerd got super excited when I saw that they had actual experiments & quizzes after each chapter. If you know anyone who didn't quite make it to culinary school but has a dream of being a pastry chef for realsies...I suggest you get them this book...& a big fat highlighter. It's that serious.

What to Get "The Photographer":

You know that friend...the one that is always taking pictures at every life event...EVER. The friend who carries around their camera like a bad tourist cliche...when they've never left Los Angeles...EVER. What better way to say, "Hey, I get it. You like taking pictures with your big fancy expensive camera that looks like a tiny mars space rover...& I'm secretly jealous of you..." than with these really unique & handy photography accessories?! Now, if they would only take down that Instagram picture of you just waking up the day after New Years Eve...yikes... Handmade Camera strap by Couchguitarstraps on Etsy ~$34.95

These camera straps are not only handmade & really comfortable, but the designers at Couch have taken special care to accurately re-interpret a Native American inspired design with a Southwestern color scheme. Hipsters will love this. You will definitely win points with your friends...if hipsters actually gave a hoot about keeping score at all... The Brooklyn camera bag by ONA ~$329

So, I have this awesomely amazing camera that I saved & saved forever for (let's just say I baked my butt off for like, a year)...& you know where I keep it?? On my kitchen counter...like, next to the flour. I'm terrified to take it out of my house & it almost never sees the light of day. What a waste, right? So now I have set my sights on saving & saving for this bag! "The Brooklyn" is made from real leather (quality over quantity my dad always said) & it has a spot for my notebook, my phone, & snacks! I'm pretty sure your photographer friends will love this bag...or at least use it to carry around a good snack or two :)

What to Get "The Fancy Coffee Drinker":

I knew this person once (name withheld) that loved them some coffee...and when I

say "love", it's not like a normal kind of love. It was kind of borderline obsession. They would snub their noses at Folger's & anything pre-ground or "blended". They would go to great lengths to find the smoothest, richest, most obscure organic bean & didn't care how much it cost. They also collected coffee & other coffee-related items like they were doomsday preppers. So here's a couple of things to help accentuate their coffee experience & make their collection a little bit sweeter :)

Homegrown Monogram Mug by Anthropologie ~ $8

You know you have this friend: The one that walks around the office/house/street with a old worn out coffee mug firmly griped in one hand no matter the time of day. These vintage inspired monogramed mugs allow the avid coffee drinker to

identify their cup from across a room (not that they wouldn't be able to from aroma of their single-origin dark roast alone) & gives them that extra amount of style that I find most of these individuals just have to have. Not that I judge or anything....just sayin'....it's a nice gift... Donsuemor Madeleines & French Almond Cakes at Donsuemor.com ~$15-30 per box (depending on size & type of product) Right now, Donsuemor is offering 20% off all online orders by claiming THIS offer on Facebook!

As you can probably tell by my previous posts, I am absolutely addicted to these deliciously light but rich Madeleines & Almond Cakes made by Donsuemor! They are a wonderful company from Southern California that I have seen grow immensely over the last couple of years! They can be found in Fresh & Easy supermarkets, Costco, but most importantly, online! These little buttery cakes are the perfect compliment to any coffee-afficionados cupboard. My father (who is extremely picky & uh...opinionated) ate about 8 of these in a sitting last time I bought him some. That's why this year, I am giving him two! The Almond Cakes in the background & the variety box of Madeleine's I opened to show you how pretty they are, should keep him (and any other coffee lover) happily dipping & snacking throughout the holidays!

Cuisinart 77-10 Chef’s Classic Stainless Steel 10-

Piece Cookware Set: I do a lot of cooking, and my

current cookware is totally adequate. However,

what I’m using now is not oven safe – and I’d like

to find a set that can go straight from stove to

oven. This set is moderately priced for the home

cook, with solid, riveted handles and aluminum in

base for even heating; and is safe for dishwasher,

freezer, broiler, and oven to 550 degrees F.

OXO Good Grips 15-Piece Everyday Kitchen Tool Set:

Good utensils are a cook’s best friend in the

kitchen. Make sure you’re stocked with tongs,

square turner, spoons, grater, swivel peeler, potato

masher, whisk, spatula, and a meat tenderizer (even

if you don’t use it on meat, it’s great for crushing

hard candies, etc. for baking).

Seville Classics Bamboo 16-1/2-Inch by 13.4-Inch

Cutting Board, 7-Multi-Color Mats: You don’t

have to worry about cross-contamination with

these! This set comes with 7 mats for serving

vegetables, meat, poultry, seafood, dairy and

bread (color coded). Plus, the flexible mats allow

easy transfer of food and are dishwasher

safe. LOVE!

Zwilling J.A. Henckels Pro S Stainless-Steel 8-Piece Knife Set with

Block: If you’re doing a lot of slicing and dicing in the kitchen, good

cutlery is paramount – and will save you a lot of frustration. I speak

from experience, here. Dull knives = a bad cooking experience.

KitchenAid Artisan Series 5-Quart Mixer, Onyx Black:

While I think of myself more of a cook than baker, I

use my KitchenAid stand mixer all.the.time. Mashed

potatoes, bread dough, frosting, cake, cookies, you

name it. I finally broke down a few years ago and

traded my old stand mixer in for a KitchenAid, and

after just one use, I realized what all the hubub was

about. It rocks.

Barefoot Contessa, How Easy Is That?: Fabulous Recipes &

Easy Tips: Hands-down, one of my favorite cookbooks. The

Tall Boy got me this for Christmas last year and this has

become my go-to book. And yes, the recipes really are easy.

The Cook’s Illustrated Cookbook: 2,000 Recipes from 20 Years of

America’s Most Trusted Cooking Magazine: And, this year for

Christmas, I’m soooooo hoping the Tall Boy gets me this

cookbook. It’s not just a cookbook–it’s a cooking reference with

clear hand-drawn illustrations, including how to prepare the

perfect omelet, carve a turkey, remove meat from lobsters, frost

a layer cake, shape sandwich bread, and more. Awesome, right?

Herbes de Provence: hands-down, my very favorite

herb to use in cooking. Herbes de

Provence typically

contains savory, fennel, basil, thyme,

and lavender leaves and it pretty much rocks your

socks. This isn’t something I started using until

recently–but now I’m using it in just about

everything: eggs, potatoes, soups and stews,

chicken–you name it, I’m throwing it in.

French Almond Cakes from Donsuemor: I have to

admit, as much as I love to bake and cook,

sometimes I just don’t have enough time to prepare

everything from scratch for every event I have to

attend during the holiday season. A horrible thing

for a food blogger to admit, but it’s the

truth. Having some of these little cakes on hand

for impromptu get-togethers or as a fancy party

finger food is a real life saver. Plus, these are

super good–very light, with just a hint of

almond. Lovely!

What are your favorite things to use in the

kitchen? And what’s on your wish list this year?

If you missed it yesterday, make sure to pop over and enter my giveaway for a $50 Pick Your

Plum Box. Also, What’s In Your Kitchen Wednesday is still live, so make sure to link up what

you’ve been cooking up this week!

If you’re anything like me, you’re in full-on

holiday scramble mode. I don’t know how I

ended up here. Every year, I intend to start

purchasing Christmas gifts in August. Up until

about 2007, that’s what I did. By December, I

was sitting back cool, calm and collected while

everyone else rushed around.

But somehow, in the last few years, life has

gotten more and more intense, and I am now one

of the many rushing around. I don’t exactly love

it, I have to tell you!

One thing I’ve always struggled with, no matter

when I start buying gifts, is stocking stuffers.

With that in mind, I’ve put together my favorites

in a Stocking Stuffer gift guide for the Ultimate Foodie in your life.

Small enough to easily fit into a stocking, but big enough to elicit a “Wow!”, each product

is selected with your favorite foodie in mind.

From Bonne Maman preserves to beautifully crafted salt and pepper mills from Peugeot, there

are some great ideas to spark your gift-giving genius.

And lucky lucky y’all, I’m giving them ALL away to ONE lucky Bluebonnets & Brownies

reader!

Let me tell you a little about each product:

Bonne Maman Preserves are crafted in France. Golden Plum Mirabelle preserves are their

newest offering, and a delicious one at that. Last month I created a savory recipe using Golden

Plum Mirabelle; Golden Plum, Port, and Mushroom Pork Chops, but this succulent jam is just as

at-home on a toasted English muffin. The signature gingham lid is one that any foodie knows,

and would be thrilled to receive.

Peugeot, more well-known as a car company, has actually been making pepper and coffee mills

for much longer; since the 1800s. They’re regarded as the best in the business when it comes to

pepper mills. The incredible construction of each part means they’re considered nearly

unbreakable. Each peppercorn is broken in half by the mechanisms before it is ground down,

resulting in more even grinding and pepper flakes (or in this set’s case, salt too) that are just the

right size. The Vendome set in chocolate is classic and refined, with a deep chocolate wood

accented by solid construction acrylic. I was in love at first grind.

King Arthur Flour is mentioned often on Bluebonnets & Brownies. Their commitment to flour

consistency and quality is parallel to none other, in my opinion. The same can be said for the

tools and pans they sell. The Pizza Tool Kit comes with a cheese grater, pizza cutter, and cheese

knife in a handy storage pouch. I love that they’re stored together, and keep easily in one spot

thanks to the pouch. They’re all BPA free, and I find that the cheese grater fits perfectly in my

hand.

I think it’s been well documented on B&B how much we like tea in this household. Having an

Englishman in-house lends toward that tendency. We’ve found a deep love for Davidson’s

Organic Tea. We like all the flavors, but the Holiday teas are simply perfect for this time of

year. Full of wintery spices like clove and cinnamon, they’re exactly what you want when it’s

snowing outside. That they’re organic is icing on the proverbial teacake!

Last, but certainly not least, Donsuemor Madeleines. Classier than a box of chocolates in my

opinion, they pair perfectly with the tea. The sampler box provides a little taste of every delight

Donsuemor has to offer (my favorite are the chocolate dipped!), and come on, who doesn’t love

a light, spongy cookie with their tea?

Today I thought I’d share

with you some things I love. Not just because it’s my birthday, but because it’s Christmas and

sometimes we all need a little inspiration when it comes to gifts. Or perhaps some inspiration

next time you need to give a gift for a birthday or anniversary.

These are just a few of the things I’m loving right now.

1. MadeOn Skin Care Products. I wrote about these last year and the wonderful results I had in

healing Donut’s sensitive skin. I still love these products and what I especially love is that

they’re made with natural ingredients–no preservatives, no parabens, no phthalates. They feel so

clean and pure and I can’t recommend their lotions enough. (Affiliate links)

2. Donsuemor Madeleines. I was introduced to these over the summer and again recently. Seriously,

these are fantastic. I hoard them. I hide them from my own family because they are that good. Please

go out and buy me yourself a box. You will not be sorry.

3. Le Creuset Dutch Oven. I know these are super pricey, but they

are so worth it. I’m not a great cook but everything I’ve made in

this has turned out fantastic, from soups to stews, roasts and Indian

food. He even has a name because he’s that

important. Pierre. Pierre is one of the loves of my life. You need a

Pierre. (Affiliate link.)

4. Tea. Tea is the ultimate comfort drink for me (though wine

runs a close second). Tea has always represented friends, family

and comfort for me. I tried Davidson’s Teas this year and I was

hooked! Especially on the Vanilla Creme Spice. First thing I do

in the morning is make myself a giant cup of tea to get me ready

for the day.

5. Yarn. I know. But I love to knit and create with

yarn. I took up knitting a few years ago. I’d always

wanted to learn, ever since I was very little and watched

my grandmother knit. I love creating things for family and

for Donut. So there you have it. If you’re ever looking for

a gift for me your friends, here are a few ideas to get you

started. Really, I could go on and on about the other

things that I love, but I’ll just stop here. Happy Holiday

shopping!

Disclosure: I was provided with samples of the tea and cookies, but I have purchased the other

items on my own. However, I would only recommend products that I truly love and enjoy.

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Donsuemor Madeleines

Starting with an original French recipe, Don and Susie Morris (Don-Sue-Mor) introduced

madeleines to their Berkeley, Calif., community in 1976.

These sweet treats became a huge success and are perfect for holiday gifting.

Wrap a few boxes of these simply divine sweets for someone special, or share with guests at

your holiday party.

Credit: Twinkle VanWinkle

The holiday season is great time for companies to give back and engage with their fans. Donsuemor, a Berkeley-based madeleine company, is doing just that.

Last week the cookie company announced their “24 Days of Holiday Giveaways.” Through December 24, Donsuemor will be giving away a variety box of Donsuemor madeleines every day.

I contacted Nicole Rose Dion, a graphic designer and social media specialist at The Abbi Agency. As the person responsible for Donsuemor’s “24 Days of Holiday Giveaways” Facebook app, I asked Dion how she plans to promote the giveaway. She had a unique perspective.

Instead of investing heavily in Facebook advertisements, Dion plans to purchase banner ads on external giveaway sites to promote the Facebook giveaway. She will also post about the giveaway on Donsuemor’s Facebook Page, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram accounts, and in their company newsletter and blog.

For companies wanting to boost Page Likes before the year ends, hosting a Facebook giveaway like Donsuemor’s is effective. It is also an awesome gesture that current fans will love.

There are still eighteen days left in Donsuemor’s holiday giveaway. To enter to win a pack of madeleines, click here to visit their Short Stack-built app.

Tis the season! I decided it would be fun to do a mini gift guide highlighting some of my favorite

gifts…and maybe a few items I want too Please feel free to chime in under the comments to tell me your favorite gift ideas or link to your company!

FOR THE {LITTLE} KIDDOS…

Bronner’s ornaments. I love shopping online at Bronner’s {a Michigan-based MEGA Christmas store} so I don’t have to worry about getting lost in the real store. One of my favorite items is their personalized ornaments…There are seriously hundreds to choose from. These are my favorites for kids – and only $10 (personalization is included)! See online here. And you get a free ornament for shopping orders over $50.

Melissa & Doug ANYTHING. You can’t go wrong with the quality of their items! Here’s a tip: Many of their items are sold at Jo-Ann Fabrics and Michael’s. Download the free apps from both stores and always have a coupon with you for major savings! (Ex: Many M&D items run $20. A 40% coupon will make them only $12. Score!)

DisneyStore.com fleece blankets (personalization is an extra fee). These are adorable and seem to always be on sale, so snag one for less than $20. They are the perfect size for the car, or even your child’s bed, and come in a variety of characters from Merida and Ariel to Spiderman and Lightening McQueen. Plus, use Ebates.com for 3% cash back. Can’t beat that!

The Loveable Little Misses and/or The Marvelous Mr. Men books. Remember the books like Mr. Busy and Little Miss Sunshine? Get 8 of the books in an adorable folding case for just $11.55 on Amazon. I bought this for Kinley a few years ago (for when she’s older) and LOVE it. Purchase with another item to total $25+ for free super saver shipping.

FOR ADULTS {OK, and myself}…

I love my slow cooker. Seriously, it’s the best thing we received from our wedding. If you’re in the market for one, I highly suggest this 3-in-1 one from Hamilton Beach. I love that there are 3 pot sizes to pick from because I feel like it helps cook things more evenly when they are in the right insert!

Sassy phone cases…because let’s face it: Our phones showcase our personality! There are tons for less than $5 on Amazon. I especially love this simple polka dot one (just $1.20 shipped).

Keyboard skin. If you’re like me, you are probably super worried about sticky fingers ruining your keyboard. There are tons of cute, colorful skins out there to protect your computer. I especially like this purple one from Amazon that’s only $1.43 shipped!

Something else that always makes for great gifts? FOOD. Some of my favorites include:

Lemon Zest Madelines from Donsuemor {So cute and individually wrapped for easy gift giving}.

Coffee from Paramount Coffee {based in Lansing, Mich.} This company has the BEST flavors: Toasted Coconut, Traverse City Cherry, Caramel Apple Spice and more FTW! Being a mom of little ones, it’s impossible for me to go to coffee shops, so I love when I have “fancy” coffee at home. Note: Their prices are not fancy.

Davidson’s Organic Vanilla Cream Spice Tea.I love tea in the cold weather and this one is such a yummy treat.

Wine. Specifically, from Leelanau Cellars here in Michigan. Love their Winter White wine, which is semi-sweet. Best part? It’s typically 2 for $10 at both Kroger and Meijer. A great hostess gift!

What are your favorite gifts to give and receive?

This post does contain some affiliate links, however, I chose items I really liked or want!

11/13/2012

A + Gifts Your Child’s Teacher Will Love This Holiday Season

‘Tis the season! Teachers are decking the school halls and their classroom walls for the holidays. At the same time, parents are beginning to ponder gifts for the teachers that give to their kids all year long. So what do you get a teacher when apples and coffee mugs just won’t do? Here’s a list (and we’ve checked it twice) of thoughtful, affordable gifts your child’s teacher will love!

1. Donsuemor Madeleines. With five flavors to choose from, this elegant cookie-cake is the perfect way to say thank you. Individually wrapped, these madeleines are a convenient yet lovely playground snack for the busy teacher on the go. A box of 26 is $15.00.

2. Davidson’s Tea. Whether it is their holiday blend or healthful Tulsi, Davidson’s tea will keep your child’s favorite teacher warm while they enjoy their favorite book during the break. A box of eight tea bags starts at $2.95.

3. OOTS The Lunch Box. Whether in the break room or on lunch duty, teachers need to eat, too! These eco-friendly classic totes brighten up even the most rushed lunch hour. Standard lunch box is $25.00.

4. Reusable thermal travel mug. Whether they are disguised as disposable, or have “World’s Greatest Teacher” printed on them; travel mugs are necessary for every teacher’s morning commute. COPCO price $5.99.

5. Starbucks Via Coffee. Because sometimes you need coffee…instantly. Starbucks Via instant coffee line is a great quick fix with all the flavors teachers crave. Pack of six is $6.95.

6. Classroom item. There is always something-- a cool rug, a map, or a few new books for the classroom library--teachers want for their classroom. Get great ideas for a good price at reallygoodstuff.com.

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7. Picture frames. Teachers do have loved ones and personal lives outside of the classroom. Buy a picture frame so they can display that special someone on their desk. Have your children decorate it for an extra special touch. Pinterest has some creative ideas like this one.

8. Chocolate. Need we say more?

9. Nalgene water bottle. Teaching is tough work. Help your favorite teacher stay hydrated and environmentally conscious. Standard wide mouth bottles start at $9.00

10. Yankee Candles. These candles vary in size and price and smell delicious! We suggest buying the apple scent… just for fun! Small jar candles start at $10.99.

Friday, September 21, 2012

Pumpkin Madeline Tiramisu

I was recently gifted with a box of madelines from Donsuemor. They sent me a box with all sorts of

flavors. I had a special plan for the classic flavor. Even though I could eat madelines by themselves, I

wanted to make them into something different. Something related to pumpkin and fall.

I do love the occasional pumpkin spiced latte. I used this love to make something edible with similar

flavors. Espresso, pumpkin, pumpkin pie spice, whipped cream.... and instead of lady fingers, I used the

moist, buttery madelines.

Pumpkin Madeline Tiramisu

Need: (makes 2)

6 madelines

2 oz cold espresso

2 tbsp toasted pumpkin seeds

4 cups whipped heavy cream with a dash of vanilla

1 cup pumpkin

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice

sprinkle of salt

Do:

1. In a small sauce pan, combine pumpkin, sugar, salt and spices until the sugar is

dissolved. About 3 minutes. Cool the pumpkin mixture.

2. Fold half of the whipped cream into the cold pumpkin mixture.

3. Crumble 1 madeline into the bottom of a glass or mason jar.

4. Sprinkle one spoonful of espresso over madeline.

5. Spoon pumpkin mixture on top to completely cover the madeline.

6. Spoon one layer of whipped cream.

7. Repeat until you use the third madeline.

8. Top with whipped cream.

9. Sprinkle top with toasted pumpkin seeds.

July 9, 2012 Tea Time with Donsuemor

For me, tea usually occurs only when I am sick. But when Nicole from Donsuemor sent me some of their madeleines to try out with Davidson’s tea I had to make an exception. There is absolutely no requirement for sickness when Madeleine’s are involved! Especially when my friend Kristin brought over her super awesome tea set.

For the occasion, I also made little peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, using a variety of peanut butters and jellies (thanks to my jelly-making dad). There was dark chocolate peanut butter with strawberry jelly, cinnamon-raisin peanut butter with apple jelly, and white chocolate peanut butter with blueberry jelly! I even brought out some of my family’s Allergy-Bee-Gone honey (Winter Park Honey

is family-owned and run by my Aunt and Uncle).

We started off with the Tulsi Hibiscus Flower tea accompanied by a Lemon Zest madeleine. I was nervous it would taste like soap because it did indeed smell like flowers. But it wasn’t bad, in fact I kind of liked it without an y honey added at all.

Next we tried the Vanilla Cream Spice tea with a Traditional madeleine, which was a perfect match. The tea smelled like a snickerdoodle, but we still needed to add some honey – it’s a dessert tea after all! I even tried it with some milk mixed in and was pleasantly surprised. First time I’ve ever added milk to tea and might try it again, at least for this one in particular.

Tea time ended with the Bing Cherry with Almond tea and a Chocolate madeleine. The chocolate was such a great companion to the cherry and almond flavors. We did not need to add a single drop of honey to this tea (probably because it’s already in there), and it was our favorite of the three. It made me want to invest in a tea pot like the one Kristin brought over (the one pictured int he background of all these pictures).