Lunchtime Links for January 1st, 2010

Happy 2010 everyone!!

• Yumm: Snickerdoodle Lemon Ice Cream Sandwich recipe.
• DIY: Home projects that cost under $50.
• Xmas Leftovers: 15 ways to recycle wrapping paper.
• Contest: Enter to win, from Real Simple Magazine.
• Barnes & Noble: After-holiday sale: great for calendars and 2010's Christmas cards.
  

Lunchtime Links for December 31st, 2009

Happy New Year's Eve, everyone!

• Year in Movies: ALL of the movies from 2009, in seven minutes.
• NYE in NYC: Restaurant list from Serious Eats.
• TV Moments: People's list of most buzzed-about moments of 2009.
• Lady Gaga Facebooking: I'm definitely guilty of this, haha.
• Year in Food: A quick look from Serious Eats.
  

Recipe Review: Pumpkin Cream Cheese Swirl Muffins

Mise en place.

Another day, another pumpkin recipe- I just can't get enough!  This one I found online after Googling "Pumpkin and Cream Cheese", because I had purchased a few packs of cream cheese on sale the week before.  I came across this recipe for Pumpkin Cream Cheese Swirl Muffins from the Girl Gone Gourmet blog, and decided to try it out.  

The recipe is pretty straightforward- the only issue I had is with the cream cheese mixture.  One minute it was chunky and unwieldy- the next minute it was way too runny and practically a glaze.  I think it needed to be a little bit thicker in order to get the correct "swirl" effect, because this mixture was really thin and watery. 

 

Out of the oven.

Aside from the cream cheese mixture, the recipe came together easily and they smelled great coming out of the oven.  There wasn't as much of the cream cheese mixture in these muffins, but the overall effect was pretty, and you could see that these weren't just plain pumpkin muffins.  These tasted great, v. pumpkin-y, and would be a fantastic brunch option, and/or a good way to use up a little bit of leftover pumpkin puree.   

Lunchtime Links for December 30th, 2009

• Celebs: People Magazine's Best of 2009 photos.
• TV Shows: A rundown of when shows will be returning in 2010. 
• Everyone Loves Shake Shack: Especially fatty squirrels, haha. 
• Lady Gaga: Randomly decided to go on Launch My Line (will be the first time I'll actually watch the show and not turn it off, haha).
• CUUUUUUUTE: My Milk Toof holiday-style.
  

Bento Prize from Not Exactly Bento

 

My nifty gifties

Earlier this month, I found out that I had won the November Giveaway over at the blog Not Exactly Bento.  I love winning things!  It's a cute blue 2-tier bento box and a set of sauce containers with a sunflower-shaped dropper included.  Can't wait to use them for lunch starting in 2010!  Check out the blog if you get a chance- there are great photos, lots of recipes, and food reviews.  Thanks Not Exactly Bento for hosting a giveaway!

Lunchtime Links for December 29th, 2009

• The Kitchn: One editor's list of the Best of 2009 Posts.
• Wow..Just Wow:  Yes, this is really someone's home. 
• Colicchio News: Craftsteak --> Colicchio & Sons.
• Makeup: Designer vs. Drugstore brands.
• Alien Shoes: Hey, Lady Gaga walked in those just fine- ha.
  

Lunchtime Links for December 28th

• Jaleo: I hate bourbon and this even sounds delicious to me.
• Cheap Jap Blog: Great story- Who doesn't love a great (cheap) find?!
• DIY Tube Pan: A great idea for people like me that don't want to buy a Bundt pan. 
• Haha: Arnold Palmer making an Arnold Palmer. 
• Eeeek: Signs your kitchen is making you fat.