Starbucks is getting us excited for spring with a pop of color. This season, Starbucks is introducing two new coconut milk based iced drinks. The Iced Pineapple Matcha and Iced Golden Ginger Drinks are the perfect pair to get us ready for warmer weather.
The Iced Pineapple Matcha Drink features premium matcha green tea shaken with flavors of pineapple and ginger along with coconut milk and ice. The Iced Golden Ginger Drink features ginger, pineapple and turmeric flavors, shaken with coconut milk and ice.
Another drink rounding out the new spring offerings is the Nitro Cold Brew with Salted Honey Cold Foam. This Nitro Cold Brew is topped with salted honey cold foam and a strike of toasted honey.
Trader Joe’s has our back when it comes to spice blends. We sprinkle Everything but the Bagel Seasoning on everything and cooking is not the same without their Chile Lime and Onion Salt blends. Now, Everything but the Elote Seasoning Blend will become a welcome addition to your pantry.
This mix of salt, chili pepper, cheese, chipotle, and cumin is delicious on corn or roasted vegetables, but you can use it on many other nontraditional elote recipes as well.
According to Trader Joe’s Instagram post, “Throughout Mexico & across the U.S., street vendors sell mouthwatering, well-seasoned corn on the cob known as #elote. While the fixins may vary from vendor to vendor, anyone who grew up visiting the neighborhood #elotero or making elote at home can attest to its crave-ability.”
The cast of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series wants to know, “Will you be our guest?” The popular Disney+ series is looking to tackle another Disney classic in their upcoming second season. We can’t wait to see what happens on stage and behind the curtains when the cast puts on a production of Beauty and the Beast for their next school musical.
After putting on a production of High School Musical in season one, the East High drama students are coming back for season 2. The cast members of the Disney+ series gave us a sneak peek of what’s to come as they sang the title song from the 1991 animated film.
According to Playbill, production for season two is officially underway in Salt Lake City. The release date is “slated for a late 2020 debut” and will feature songs from both the High School Musical movies and Beauty and the Beast, as well as more original songs.
Nothing spells love quite like a decadent dessert and Baskin-Robbins is scooping up something special for Valentine’s Day in February.
Baskin-Robbins’ new Valentine’s Day Card Cakes are a sweet way to show someone how much you love them. The mini ice cream cakes, which are perfect for sharing with your little lovebugs, are designed to look like classic valentines and candy grams, each with a special message on top. There are five in all to choose from and they can be found in the dipping cabinet at participating Baskin-Robbins locations.
The popular ice cream chain is also rolling out a new Flavor of the Month for your next date night. The aptly named Date Night flavor combines chocolate with caramel and a hint of salt. The enticing mixture is swirled with mini milk chocolate caramel cups and a caramel ribbon.
You can enjoy the special flavor on its own or in a Date Night Three-Scoop Sundae, which tops the ice cream with caramel pralines, hot fudge, real whipped light cream, chopped almonds and a cherry on top.
For the month of February, Baskin-Robbins is also bringing back the fan favorite Love Potion #31 which features a white chocolate and raspberry flavored ice cream with chocolate chips, raspberry-filled chocolate flavored hearts and raspberry swirl.
The mild temps this winter might have you thinking about hiking rather than escaping, for once. But, be sure, the chill will come. It is Chicago, after all. No need to hop on a plane to break from the cold. We searched high and low for spots winter doesn’t seem to exist. From a huge indoor treehouse to conservatories with a tropical feel, these destinations will make you feel like you’re on vacay.
photo: Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
1. Judy Istock Butterfly Haven at Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum Snow, sleet, frigid temps. You won’t care what’s happening outside with the 80-degree temps and 80-percent humidity in the flutter-tastic Butterfly Haven, where 1,000 winged beauties call home and newly emerged butterflies are released every day at 2 p.m. Watch as these colorful immigrants from Central and South America, Australia, Asia and beyond land on rocks and fly over pools of water. The abundance of flowers and trees make for stunning photo opps.
2430 N. Cannon Dr., Lincoln Park; 773-755-5100; Online: naturemuseum.org
photo: Garfield Park Conservatory
2. Garfield Park Conservatory
Palm tree fronds graze a domed ceiling in one pleasantly humid showroom of this West Side hideaway. Take the greenery in and then let the kids loose in the Elizabeth Morse Genius Children’s Garden, where they can climb a seven-foot-tall faux seed and slide down a “stem.” Check out the Monday Morning Glories program which gives kids and caregivers the chance to make a creative, nature-inspired craft, Wild Wednesdays invites kids to get their hands dirty in the garden and the twice-monthly Juicebox series gets the kids on their feet and dancing.
3. Galos Caves
Many people believe that spending time in a space that’s intensively charged with salt particles has a natural anti-infectious effect, stimulating the immune system. Whether you believe in their magical powers or not, the two salt-filled “caves” at Galos Caves make for a relaxing winter escape. Kick back in a chaise with a good book while your kids have a blast digging through the salt with provided sand toys. The setting is serene, with colorful yet soft lighting that highlights the lovely salt crystals.
6501 W. Irving Park Rd., Dunning Square; 773-283-7701; Online: galoscaves.com
photo: Goldfish Swim School
4. Goldfish Swim School
The topical-themed water world will make you feel like you’re Bahamas-bound, starting with the individual dressing room “cabanas” and ending with the beach chairs that overlook the pool. The water is always a pleasant 90 degrees — especially tempting on open family swim days when they provide access to super-fun pool toys (canoes, paddle race cars, floaties). Guppies as young as four months can get their feet wet in classes here.
Several Chicagoland locations; click here for details.
photo: The TreeHouse Play Space, Nicole S. via Yelp
5. The TreeHouse Play Space
It’s a treehouse . . . indoors! It’s worth the trip to Lake Zurich to experience this climbers paradise that gives kids a variety of twists, turns and activities to choose from. Parents are welcome to join in (yep, the climbing structures are big enough!). Cruise down the triple slide, shoot hoops on the mini basketball court or look over the “jungle” from the tippy-top.
6. Midtown Athletic Club
Midtown is known for its tennis lessons, and nothing feels more summer-y than working on that backhand. Good news for kids: The club’s locations in Chicago and the ‘burbs have a tennis program designed specifically for 3 and 4 years olds and their parents. Called Tennis Explorers, it keeps this squirmy age group engaged by focusing on play and imagination.
Chicago location at 2020 W. Fullerton Pkwy., Lincoln Park (773-235-2300). Other locations in Bannockburn, Palatine and Willowbrook; click here for info.
photo: Great Wolf Lodge via Maria Chambers
7. Great Wolf Lodge There’s no better place to pretend you’re in the Caribbean than an indoor water park. This Gurnee spot is great for family staycations and appeals to a wide range of ages with play areas for the littlest of littles and daring water slides for the big kids (and their parents).
8. Yogurt Beach
Fro-yo in winter? Absolutely! Especially when it comes from this warm, sunny spot. Your flip flops won’t look out of place here all year ’round. Grab a cool treat and soak up the beach decor, including surfboard-shaped tables and a toppings bar underneath a thatched hut. The fro-yo flavors go beyond the norm (think watermelon sorbet and berry tart), and fresh fruit is always up for grabs to cap things off.
3027 English Rows, Naperville; 630-778-0182; Online: yogurtbeach.com
photo: Lincoln Park Zoo
9. Regenstein Small Mammal House at Lincoln Park Zoo
Lincoln Park Zoo is open year-round and on cold days, indoors is where it’s at. You’ll come face to trunk with a magnificent baobab tree that measures 25 feet in diameter in this steamy, tropical ecosystem. The tree forms a dark cave where fruit bats lurk. While you’re there, take a peek into the underground burrows of naked mole rats that live inside the termite mounds beneath African dwarf mongoose.
2001 N. Clark St., Lincoln Park; 312-742-2000; Online: lpzoo.org
10. Wilder Park Conservatory
This smaller, one-room conservatory is just right for families looking for a short, peaceful escape from the winter. Flowers have been blooming and the sunshine has been streaming in the glass windowpanes of this pretty gem of an indoor garden for more than 83 years. Admission is always free.
225 S. Prospect Ave., Elmhurst; 630-993-8900; Online: epd.org
photo: Shedd Aquarium
11. Shedd Aquarium
Explore exhibits that take you from the Great Lakes to the Caribbean Sea and from flooded rainforests to diving deep into coral reefs. You’ll get to see and connect with animals from around the world and learn the secrets of our planet’s waters.
For kids that could benefit from sensory-friendly experiences, their Calm Waters program gives guests with disabilities and veterans the opportunity to explore the exhibits and experiences in a comfortable environment and their low-sensory aquatic presentation dims down the lights and noise of their regular show.
1200 S. Lake Shore Dr., Museum Campus; 312-939-2438; Online: sheddaquarium.org
12. Oak Park Conservatory
Oak Park Conservatory is the green getaway spot you never knew existed, but will now become your new go-to. The comfortably heated Fern, Tropical and Desert rooms are perfect for wandering and learning. Be sure to check out the wide range of family and children’s programming, including a Valentine Market on Feb. 8 where kids can visit a chocolate exploration station and KidsFest on Mar. 1 that’ll leave you giddy for spring’s arrival.
615 Garfield St., Oak Park; 708-386-4700; Online: pdop.org
Lay off the frosting covered cookies by trying your hand at these Russian Tea Cake cookies aka snowballs aka amazing morsels of goodness. Red Tricycle’s New York Editor, Julie makes these every year for her fam. We love the powdered sugar coating on these bite sized sweet treats and we bet your family will too.
Ingredients:
1 cup butter or margarine, softened
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 1/4 cups Gold Medal® all-purpose flour
3/4 cup finely chopped nuts
1/4 teaspoon salt
Powdered sugar
Method:
1. Heat oven to 400ºF.
2. Mix butter, 1/2 cup powdered sugar and the vanilla in large bowl. Stir in flour, nuts and salt until dough holds together.
3. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Place about 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheet.
4. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until set but not brown. Remove from cookie sheet. Cool slightly on wire rack.
5. Roll warm cookies in powdered sugar; cool on wire rack. Roll in powdered sugar again.
For more kid-friendly, holiday season recipes like this click HERE
“Like” this recipe if you’re going to make Russian Tea Cookies this year!
photo courtesy of Julie Seguss; recipe courtesy of Betty Crocker
Chef Ryan Rondeno, a private chef to the stars like Ashton Kutcher, Diddy, Ben Affleck, Will Smith, Common, Tyrese Gibson, and Robert Smith has holiday cooking tips to help prepare you for the season’s festivities filled with family, friends, and of course, unforgettable food. Check out the tips below and plus a couple of lavish recipes, using simple techniques, so that everyone (including you, the host!) can enjoy.
1. Stay Seasonal: Fall is one of my favorite times to cook! Food that’s flavorful with the mixture of spices and reminds us of hearty comfort food. Everyone should visit their local farmer’s market and learn what items are featured each week.
2. Try New Spices and Seasonings: Try new seasoning blends. The use of spice blends enhances the flavors of chicken, pork, lamb, beef, seafood, and vegetables. The Rondeno Spice Collection would be a great addition to your pantry!
3. Research New Recipes: Oftentimes we find ourselves in a cooking funk, often asking, “How can we keep it interesting in the family kitchen?” Use recipe Apps, videos, and articles to learn and try new recipes. Cooking classes and social media cooking groups are other options to be engaged and learn from people around the world.
4. Follow Cooking Trends: Following cooking trends allows you to be consumed with what’s relevant on the dinner table. Whether it’s avocado toast, toast, BBQ, seafood boils, or even becoming a vegetarian, trends keep the dinner table interesting and you’ll become a better cook in the process.
5. Make Your Dinner Interactive: Cooking together is significantly important in the family. Tacos, making fresh pasta, cupcakes, cookies are some examples of interactive cooking. Parents should allow each member of the family to take the lead of cooking dinner too! As parents, you have an opportunity to pass on your family culture through stories and food.
The featured recipe has been paired with a carrot top pistou and spiced creme fraiche sauce. This side dish can stand alone or become a beautiful addition to seafood, beef, lamb, or poultry.
Cumin Roasted Carrots with Spiced Creme Fraiche
Serves 2-4
Ingredients
2 bunches of heirloom carrots 8oz. creme fraiche
1 cup olive oil, plus 2 tbs 2 tsp. curry powder
2 tbs. butter 1 tsp. ground ginger
6 cloves garlic 1/4 c sunflower seeds
2-3 tps cumin 1 cup carrot leaves, packed
1 lemon, juiced salt to taste
1-2 tps. crushed red pepper pepper to taste
4-5 sprigs of thyme
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Remove carrot tops and reserve. Peel carrots. Thoroughly clean the carrots removing any dirt.
3. In a 12 inch saute pan, add butter and olive oil at medium heat.
4. Add cumin, 4 cloves of garlic smashed, crushed red pepper, and thyme. Toast for 30 seconds.
5. Add carrots and mix in the pan. Season with salt and pepper. Roast for 25 minutes.
For the Carrot Pistou:
In a food processor, add carrot leaves, sunflower seeds, garlic, juice of half a lemon. Pulse until finely chopped. Slowly drizzle olive oil until fully incorporated. Season with salt and pepper.
For the Creme Fraiche:
In a small bowl, add, creme fruit, curry powder, ground ginger, and juice of 1/2 a lemon. Whisk until smooth. Season with salt and white pepper. Taste for seasoning adjustments.
To Assemble:
Smear creme fraiche on the base of the plate. Add roasted carrots. Spoon pistou on top of carrots.
* This recipe was written by Private Chef to the Stars Ryan Rondeno of Rondeno Culinary Designs.
Ruthi Davis is a the Founder of Ruth Davis Consulting LLC with over two decades of success in advertising/marketing, media/publicity, business development, client relations, and organizational optimization for a variety of clients. Ruthi is a proud mom and influencer in the parenting and family market as founder of the Superfly Supermom brand.
If your’e a fan of lemon poppy seed muffins, this recipe is sure to please. Courtesy Lisa Viger, author of Easy, Affordable, Raw: How to Go Raw on $10 a Day, and raw food expert, these buckwheat pancakes make for the perfect weekend breakfast or brunch dish. Serve with agave or date syrup.
Makes 4-6 pancakes
Ingredients:
1 cup (100 g) ground buckwheat groats, soaked and dried
½ cup (50 g) ground flaxseeds
Pinch salt
½ cup (115 g) apple puree
3 tablespoons (45 ml) lemon juice
1 teaspoon lemon zest
¼ cup (60 ml) agave
3 tablespoons (30 g) date paste
¼ cup (60 ml) water
2 tablespoons (15 g) poppy seeds
Method:
1. In a medium bowl, mix together the buckwheat, flaxseeds, and salt. Add the apple puree and then the lemon juice, lemon zest, agave, date paste, and water. Stir until well combined. Fold in the poppy seeds.
2. Using about 3 tablespoons (45 ml) of batter for each pancake, scoop out pancakes onto a lined dehydrator tray, making 2- to 3-inch (5- to-7.5 cm) rounds that are about ½-inch (1-cm) thick. Dehydrate at 118°F (48°C) for 6 hours. Peel from the tray liner and flip over onto an unlined dehydrator tray. Continue drying until the outside is beginning to get a little crisp and the inside is still a bit mushy.
3. Pancakes are best straight out of the dehydrator, but they can be kept in a lidded container in the refrigerator for up to a few days.
Nutrition FYI: Buckwheat
Buckwheat isn’t a grain. It’s a fruit seed related to rhubarb and sorrel. It’s high in manganese, tryptophan, magnesium, copper, and fiber, and it has been linked to a lower total serum cholesterol, lower LDL cholesterol, and lower blood pressure. Buckwheat works in synergy with vitamin C and contains flavonoids and antioxidants.
Do you cook or bake with buckwheat? Tell us your experiences in the Comments below!
EASY, AFFORDABLE RAW [Quarry Books, August 2014, $24.99 US / $27.99 Can] kick starts the raw food lifestyle with everything readers need to know. It provides tips for organizing the kitchen, the right foods to buy, and how to prepare each ingredient. Author Lisa Viger, blogger and raw food expert, easily breaks down the raw food lifestyle including health and environmental benefits of a raw food diet. She also answers common questions about nutrition, protein, and energy. Buy the book on Amazon.com.
Got some pastafarians in your house? We’ve got some seriously fun and super cheap spaghetti play that will really have them using their noodles. Read on for some awesome 4 ways to make create games they’ll love.
Spaghetti Race Put two pieces of uncooked spaghetti side by side on a table (or floor). Be sure it’s a table you can either move around or that isn’t too long. Each person blows on their spaghetti noodle trying to race to the “finish line” at the other end.
Colored Spaghetti Boil pasta as you ordinarily would, but add a few drops of food coloring to the water along with a dash of salt. The results will vary depending on how many drops (and how much spaghetti you are cooking) but you’ll end up with some pastel noodles that you can eat, or just play with.
Spaghetti Engineering Use spaghetti noodles (dry) and marshmallows to build a structure. The marshmallows act as joints and supports. See who can build the tallest, the fanciest or the fastest structure in your crew.
Be Board There’s some serious fun to be had when it comes to spaghetti-themed board games. We’re super fond of Yeti in My Spaghetti, a new board game that has players removing the “spaghetti” one by one without making the Yeti fall.
What’s your favorite creative play with spaghetti? Tells us in the comments below!
The Rock is getting into the ice cream business—and Dwayne Johnson’s first frozen foray is a five-pack of Salt & Straw “Dwanta Claus” flavors!
Johnson and his business partner, Dany Garcia, recently announced their new joint investment in the Portland-based Salt & Straw ice cream chain. Not only is Johnson investing in the chain, but he also helped to create five holiday-themed flavors.
The Dwanta Claus Holiday Pack is available for $65 from Salt & Straw here. The five-flavor pack includes the whiskey-infused peanut butter chocolate chip cookie dough and milk chocolate caramel fudge swirl “I Saw Mommy Kissing Dwanta Claus,” a fruitcake-like raspberry, cherry and chocolatey “The Rock’n Around the Christmas Tree,” “Peppermint Cocoa,” “Cinnamon Chai Spiced Eggnog” and “Chocolate Gooey Brownie.”
Don’t worry if you think Johnson’s fun flavors will your pre-holiday diet. The newbie ice cream maker wrote, on his Instagram page, “Enjoy your holiday cheat meals, my friends. Don’t cheat yourself, treat yourself. Love, Dwanta.”
