BuzzSugar

Buzz In: What's Your Favorite Soothing Music?

BuzzSugar — Sat, 31 May 2008 13:30:19 PDT

Music is a very personal thing. What's pleasing to the ears of one person can be nails on a chalkboard to another. Even iPod playlists are like snowflakes: no two alike. But I find that people can be most varied when it comes to what they listen to when they need to be soothed.

The very definition of the word "soothe" is "to tranquilize or calm." Think auditory Xanax. A quick Amazon search of "soothing music" leads to mostly instrumental compilations meant to lull you to sleep. For me, these Enya-eque tunes are more boring than calming.

So, what mellows me? Well, a little Sade goes a long way. Her voice is sensually raspy, and I instantly get transported to whatever perfect-love scenario she's currently crooning about. The Beatles have a similar calming effect. It probably has something to do with growing up listening to their albums, back when I had no adult responsibilities. I asked Bella this question and she says calms the ol' nerves with The Sea and Cake.

What about you? What CD or artists do you listen to when you just want to kick back and relax?

Song of the Day: The Sea and Cake, "Crossing Line"

BuzzSugar — Tue, 08 May 2007 05:02:00 PDT

For some reason, the jaunty, breezy, and jazz-inspired pop of jazzy The Sea and Cake has always sounded like summer to me. So it's fitting that the band's first full-length album in four years is coming out right as we're having an unseasonably warm and wonderful week of San Francisco weather.

The new CD, titled Everybody and hitting stores today, will sound comforting to fans of the Chicago indie-scene supergroup, which includes Sam Prekop, Archer Prewitt, and Tortoise drummer John McEntire. After all, these guys save the radical departures for their side projects, keeping the Sea and Cake's sound relatively uniform but consistently lovely over the years. "Crossing Line" is unexpectedly more rockin' than some of the band's other stuff but still oozing with the sound of summer. To listen,

Savory Sight: Flourless Orange and Sea Salt Chocolate Cake

Yum Community — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 03:22:41 PST

If the description of this cake doesn't get your mouth watering, then I'm afraid I don't know what will. Gabriela Une Vie Saine gives us a truly decadent dessert.

Warning: For serious chocoholics ONLY!
This rich, bittersweet chocolate cake is made with only five ingredients and yields a seriously impressive result. More chocolatey than sweet, it's the perfect dense dessert for a sophisticated dinner party.

If you're ready for this recipe, visit her blog. And don't forget to share your recipes in our YumSugar community.

Wheat-Free Pumpkin Dog Biscuits

Pet Community — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 16:01:08 PST

For a delicious and seasonal doggie birthday treat, Yoo Eatz baked up some wheat-free pumpkin dog biscuits for her lucky pooch.

Disclaimer: Before we go any further, please take note that these are dog biscuits, not people biscuits. No harm will befall you if ingested, but I guarantee that your dog will enjoy them more that you will.

I'm a terrible parent. In fact, it makes me wonder sometimes what will happen when we have human children running around the house rather than the four-legged variety. So here it is: I forgot my dog's birthday. The real date is October 25th, and Lily reached a regal 13 years of age this year on that late Tuesday in October. But here we are one month later, and I have provided no gifts, no birthday cake, only a belated couple of pats on the head and maybe a few more toy tosses.

Of course, the truth is, she hasn't noticed. And she has no idea (nor sympathy) for the guilt that I feel. She's just worried about where her next meal is coming from, which is exactly the sentiment that helped me land on her birthday present.

This Thanksgiving, we're off to my parents' house which now goes by the code name "Disneyland" because the term "Grandma and Grandpa's house" now makes Lily so excited, she leaves puddles on the floor. And since we will be partaking of our own pumpkin-flavored treats, I thought it only fitting that the dog have her own. So I tracked down this wonderful recipe (and cute post) at Simmer Till Done for wheat-free pumpkin dog biscuits that are easy to make and also easy on an aging canine's tummy. This should serve to assuage my guilt, at least until I forget next year. For the recipe, read on.

OnSugar Blog: An Under-the-Sea Castle Cake For a Lil Cake Boss Fan

OnSugar Blog — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 03:15:08 PDT

Lots of moms like to think out loud and heatherkorn26 is one of them. The BelleStyleFamily blogger recently showed off her lil one's fantastic birthday.

Happy Birthday Morgan-Rose Marie Matthews! July 30, 2011 She turned four and together with four other young Cake Bosses in the making, we created the most amazing "Under the Sea" Castle Cake fit for Ariel, Flounder and all her fellow mermaids!

Our five professional child decorators: Maddie, Zoe, Macy, Morgan, and Lily worked diligently painting icing on cones with selected sprinkle toppings and iced a leaning castle cake full of blue, green, pink, and purple icing! The Cake Bosses finished the creation with Starburts, jelly fish, lemon drops, and jelly beans to create the appearance of the cake being under the water.

Great job girls!

Want to see more? Start following BelleStyleFamily or start your own OnSugar blog. It's easy, it's free, and we just may feature your content on our site!

5 Ways With Mochi

Susannah Chen — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 10:21:10 PDT

You may have heard of mochi, the Japanese cake made with sweet, glutinous rice. You may have even enjoyed it as the shell of mochi ice cream, a frozen dessert popular at Japanese restaurants. But do you know that mochi can be a sweet or savory component in just about any meal?

I recently discovered this when I spotted bake-and-serve packs of mochi next to tofu in the refrigerated section of Whole Foods. I did a little research and some experimentation in the kitchen with what I found and quickly learned that mochi lends a totally different textural component to a meal than, say, bread, potatoes, or even rice. There are a ton of simple ways to start out experimenting with this lesser-known product. Here are five of my favorite ways to do it.

What's Your Favorite Shellfish?

Susannah Chen — Mon, 16 May 2011 06:09:44 PDT

Yay for seafood! Pacific salmon season's just started, and incidentally, the rising temperatures are also ideal for that warm-weather selection from the sea that I like to call shore food. In light of the lobster rolls and crab cakes that we'll soon be enjoying, I'd like to ask: what's your favorite kind of shellfish?

What Wedding Traditions Would You Skip?

Annie Scudder — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 02:00:22 PDT

A sea of bridesmaids in uniform and not-quite flattering dresses is one wedding tradition I'd like to hang up. If you're trying to give your big day an original spin, there are plenty of other conventions to consider putting on the chopping block. From skipping the potentially-cheesy garter belt toss, to substituting charity donations for a registry or cupcakes for a pricey cake, eliminating standard wedding fare can help your personalities and relationship shine through. Most weddings inherently have some sort of traditional vibe - after all, if you're having a wedding, you're entering an established and mainstream institution. But if you could cut some classic components, which would they be?

Photo by Weddings by Sash Agulish via Style Me Pretty

A Reader Recipe: Vegan Pineapple Pancakes With Citrus Cream

Fit Community — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 02:00:11 PDT

Need a sweet but healthy treat to start off your weekend? This recipe for vegan pineapple pancakes that reader onthevedge posted in the Healthy Recipe community group may be just what you need.

Nothing transports you to the islands faster than this instant sandy beach breakfast recipe for pineapple upside-down pancakes. They're unbelievably airy and blonde, but bring something special to your day . . . kind of like Brittany from Glee. This tropical spin on pancakes is miles away from your ordinary chocolate chip or blueberry stacks. Reach for these sunny vitamin C cakes instead, boosted with a "choose your own citrus" cream. I chose lime because I know it pairs so well with pineapple. I am obsessed with this lime cream and you will be, too. All of your spoons will disappear, it's that good.

See the recipe when you

Fondue Is Fast and Easy Valentine's Day Dessert

Katie Sweeney — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 04:53:32 PST

If you still haven't figured out how you're going to get your Valentine's Day chocolate fix, grab some chocolate bars and a pint of heavy cream and make chocolate fondue. Seriously, it's quite possibly the easiest dessert ever! All you have to do is melt the two together in a double boiler. Voilà! Serve with an assortment of delicious dippers like sliced bananas, pound cake, or brownies. My favorite chocolate fondue dipper is toasted bread sprinkled with sea salt. It's like a sophisticated take on pain au chocolat! Get the uncomplicated method now.