Browsing Tag

dessert

Mood Board

Mood Board: Sugar, Spice & Pastel Vice

01/25/2014

Let’s get pinned. My mood board for the day is whimsically spiced like a cup of my favorite tea, Amandine Rose, which has sadly been discontinued from Teavana (so I’m hoarding my filled tea tin like I’m hoarding the inspiring photos you see below all over my pin boards). Drink a cup with glittery eyes and relax with visions of sugar dolls dancing in your mind.

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Dick Face

Features Mood Board

Mood Board: Lock my Heart and Never Part

09/22/2013

It’s been awhile since I’ve posted a Mew for Today because I really was going through a painfully overwhelming period in my life that I am slowly navigating out of. I am happier and healthier than I have ever been before and I owe it to my one true love, spirituality and sobriety. Thankfully as more time goes on I have started feeling very much inspired and overwhelmed with ideas again and I would love to share some eye candy that is oh-so-Miseducated and catching my attention on tumblr tonight…

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DIY Recipes

How to Create Your Own Signature Smoothie

06/03/2013


Smoothies have been all the rage for many years now and healthy smoothies are only becoming more appreciated in this drink/dessert niche. Upon staying with my best friend in California and having her craft the tastiest protein smoothies for lunch and then moving in with my health-conscious soul mate and watching him prepare his own green smoothies I started to really appreciate the craft and every unique technique. Fruit or vegetables? Protein powder or vitamin powder? Honey or sugar? Ice cubes or frozen fruit? Milk, water or tea? So I decided it would be fun to discuss the basic craft of the smoothie and all of the ways you can change it up to fit your own specialized taste so that you too will have a signature smoothie recipe! I’ll even throw in my own go-to smoothie recipe at the end.

First you need to have a blender or a food processor. I use a blender at home but have tried both.

Next you’ll probably want to select some fruit which will likely be one of the main parts of your smoothie. Use fresh (if so you’ll later add some ice cubes) or frozen, one fruit or several. Have fun blending your fruit and creating new favorite flavors.

Fruity ideas: Mangos, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, bananas, apples, kiwi, avocados, pomegranates, oranges, watermelon and pineapple.

Next you’ll want to select a liquid or semi-liquid to add so you can blend your smoothie. There are obvious ideas and some creative ideas to create a more unique smoothie.

Liquid ideas: Milk, soy milk, rice milk, almond milk, coconut milk, coconut water, greek yogurt, tea, fruit juice, ice cream, sherbet, frozen yogurt, sparkling water or water.

Next you may choose to add protein or extra vitamins to your smoothie by using any number of protein powders or vitamin powders. We have a few here that are chocolate and vanilla flavored that adds a bit of sweetness and more vitamins to the smoothie making it more like a meal.

Next you may want to add some greens or vegetables to your smoothie to add some more healthy benefits. Some greens, such as spinach, don’t change the flavor and contain more nutrients. Others to try are kale, carrots, celery, beet root or green powder made from an array of green plants. When using veggies be sure to blend alone with water to make sure your smoothie is smooth and not like a cold vegetable soup.

You can add a sweetener to your smoothie if you feel it will not be as sweet as you would prefer. Try ripe bananas, sugar, honey, agave nectar or, if you must, artificial sweeteners. For me the vanilla protein powders or vitamin powders sweeten the smoothie enough.

To change the taste of your smoothie you can also add different flavor enhancements such as vanilla extract, almond extract, cinnamon, cayenne pepper, nutmeg, salt, coconut shavings, peanut butter, nutella, chocolate syrup and any number of extracts and flavorings you may have or prefer.

When everything is in the blender add a few ice cubes on top. I like my smoothies to be really smooth and icey almost like a smooth sherbet but some just use frozen fruit.

It’s time to mix the ingredients together and create your smoothie! Put the lid on the blender and turn it on medium until the blender starts to smoothen the ingredients then slowly turn it up one notch at a time. Start slow and let the blender work the ingredients for a minute until they are as smooth as you would like and pour into a glass. If you’d like to garnish your smoothie use slices of fruit, skewers of fruit, loose berries, a wedge of citrus fruit, a sprig of mint, flat-leaf parsley, a few leaves of lemon verbena or even a little umbrella. If you’re feeling in a bubble tea mood try to add some BOBA or small jellies to your glass before you add your blended smoothie and garnish with a wide smoothie straw.


My Own Recipe

Add these ingredients to the blender as noted, blend and enjoy!

  • Fresh spinach leaves (blend with cup of water until smooth)
  • Ice (as needed, might need to add more water to blend)
  • Mango chunks
  • Pineapple chunks
  • Apple chunks
  • Strawberry slices
  • Scoop of vanilla vitamin powder (may substitute protein powder)
  • If you like add boba to the smoothie glass and pour in your smoothie after it has been blended smoothly and enjoy with a wide straw!
Business Features Visual Splendor

Little Oven Bakery and the Magnificent Macarons

01/19/2011

Little Oven Bakery in New York City surprised me with a little package filled with French confections recently. I was really excited because not only was it a chance to photograph and eat one of my favorite things: macarons; but I also had a little case of Sofia Minis chilled just for such an occasion.

I must say they were all delicious. Even after being mailed they were perfectly crispy, chewy and delicious. I felt like I’d just ran away from the bakery with an abundance of sugary love.

I heard they’ve been recently adding new flavors to their lineup like chai tea and peanut butter and jelly. Yum! I can’t wait for my next tasting session.

little oven macarons
little oven macarons
little oven macarons
little oven macarons
little oven macarons
Visual Splendor

Falling in Love With Soapylove

10/14/2010
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Debbie is behind the aesthetically delicious soap design company (so perfectly named) Soapylove.

Miseducated, knowing you would love this as much as I do, just had to chat with her and plan some super special features for you in the future.

Q. How do you think of new ideas for soap themes and designs?

A. I’m very inspired by fashion and craft trends. Graphic design is my latest passion since I can now put dissolving images into my soaps. I love that!

Q. What inspires you?

A. Candy, color, cuteness, anything kawaii, and I especially love Japanese stationery supplies. Deco tape is my newest indulgence!

Q. What are your favorite scents?

A. I LOVE super fruity scents like watermelon and strawberry jam. I could smell those all day long!

Q. What’s the most exciting memory you have experiences because of soapylove?

A. Definitely when my soaps were featured on the Etsy homepage for the entire Thanksgiving weekend! That was my first year in business and the orders came rushing in. So many new opportunities came from that lucky break. It was beyond thrilling!

Q. What’s next? Can you give us a sneak peek?

A. There are so many new things coming up in Soapylove! I have amazing cupcake fizzies that I’m getting labels designed for right now, and a new collection of printed soaps featuring adorable kawaii characters! You can take a sneak peek here. I am working hard to get them ready for my shop. Stay tuned!

Gallery

Now sink your eyes into this sugar surprise, a gallery of Soapylove creations~

Artist & Designer Features Visual Splendor

Ordering Food on Etsy: Little Oven Bakery in NYC

05/17/2010

ready to openOrder food from etsy? What? Have you thought about it?

Recently my curiosity got the best of me (as if often does) and I wondered if people really ordered food off of etsy.. Upon asking on twitter, I found that a lot of friends and readers a like have been wondering the same.

Thus, this article is born and I get an excuse to support an adorable macaron bakery AND munch on the cookies. (win/win!)

I decided to order a set of macarons from Little Oven Bakery in New York City. They offer macaron packages on Etsy and I was smitten enough to try one!

The macarons arrived fast, within a day, and were packed up so nice that they had hardly crumbled at all. I was absolutely surprised and excited to be receiving one of my favorite decadent snacks in the mail. I couldn’t believe how well they traveled.

I tasted them with my husband — we split each macaron in half and saved the second box for later (tea time).

The Flavors I ordered were Raspberry, Caramel Fleur de Sel and Meyer Lemon. We absolutely adored the raspberry with chocolate creme, the caramel being a close second and in third the lemon. I prefer a more tart lemon so it was silly to order it as a sweet macaron, however we enjoyed eating each and every one of them.

Nice crunch on the outside with a soft macaron cookie center surrounded by a complementary creme. Creme desserts are absolutely a preference of mine and these were just as delicious as having them in a French cafe with tea. Not as beautiful of course, but macarons carry a special beauty with them no matter where they are and they please everyone they meet.

safe traveling
yumyum
stack em high

Interested in getting your shop reviewed here? Let us know all about it!

Escapeland

Ponies and Cotton Candy Tea

10/07/2009
Sweet Sugar Pink

As important to me as any adorable childhood hero.. and as adorable as.. My Little Pony carried me into a land of friendship, rainbows and smiles. I absolutely loved the cartoon because it swept me away into a sweet-filled land of sundae houses and happiness.

For this reason I have many more 80s goodies planned for the future and waiting to be uploaded. What’s your favorite 80s toon? I’m thinking it’s about time for 80s toon style catchers.. (like star catchers only they catch cute 80s creative ways of inserting whimsical nonsensery into your wardrobe)

If you have an 80s toon you feel is not being represented here in Miseducatedland, let us know! In fact, why don’t you write an article about the said toon and submit it?

Now for the sweets!

Ice Cream Tea

3/4 cup black tea
1 scoop milky ice cream (any flavor you love that mixes great with tea!)

Pour the tea into a cup. Add ice cream. The ice cream melts quickly into the hot tea, slowly in cold tea.. depends on how flavorful you’d like your tea and how sunny or blustery it may be. This can be quite a treat on both occasions!

Cotton Candy Tea

2 teaspoons rooibos tea
2 teaspoons mixed-fruit herbal tea
1 teaspoon oolong tea

Heat water to just before boiling and steep the teas and blends for 2-3 minutes. Add rock cane sugar (or use a rockcandy lollipop to stir!) while cooking to sweeten to your liking. Pour over ice. Top with a colorful fluff of cotton candy for extra sweetness.

DIY Recipes

How to Make Snow Ice Cream

06/02/2009

So snow isn’t exactly a delicacy and possibly the snow you’ve seen around is a bit too dirty to shove into your mouth, but if you have had snow ice cream you know what the fuss is about! It has a sweet, creamy, delicate flavor and if you’re craving the ice cream and have no snow, you may simply try finely shaved ice. This recipe is a very old favorite of mine I’ve always made when given an abundance of clean, white snow.

All you need to start a delicious, homemade-tasting snow ice cream is a scoop of snow or shaved ice. Try one cup for a small sundae serving.

Snow Icecream

Snow Ice Cream

1 cup snow or finely shaved ice
1/4 cup milk
1 tbsp sugar
3 drops vanilla
1 drop food coloring (optional)

Mix it nicely until it is an ice cream consistency.
I make this to taste so if it’s too runny, I’ll add a bit more snow. If it’s not sweet enough or too dry, I’ll add more sugar or milk.

Escapeland

Indiana Wineries and Wine Reviews

05/31/2009

I’m a huge fan of wine, and nothing tastes better than a cool, crisp glass made right in my home state: Indiana. Indiana boasts a number of wineries which puts all our fabulous breweries up against some stiff competition.

Whether you like white wine, red wine, sweet wine or dry wine to spice up those nights with friends or peers, Indiana is the place to come. The prices are inexpensive and affordable and you’re sure to find the perfect wine for you and your occasion. Here are four of my personal fav’s:

indiana wine

Easely Winery

Downtown Indianapolis
Easely’s has 14 wines in addition to an American Champagne, all of which are sold at their winery located in downtown Indianapolis. They provide free tastings every day, wine tours on the weekends and a great, homey-feel. In the summers they host live music and offer cheeses and wines – making it a great place to take even your kids!
*I recommend the Reggae Red (mix it with a little coconut rum!). It’s a sweet, red wine with hearty flavor. Great for dessert!

Chateau Thomas Winery

Plainfield, Indiana
Chateau Thomas is an award winning, nationally recognized winery. The winemaking process of each wine (from fermentation to bottling) takes place in Plainfield. The grapes are grown in California, Oregon and Washington vineyards, crushed on the west coast and then shipped to Plainfield via refrigerated truck (to ensure the best taste).
*They’ve recently introduced a new “Slender Wine” branch which is wonderful. They offer white, blush and red wines that have zero sugar, carbs and fats! How’s that for a sweet treat?

Oliver Winery

Bloomington, Indiana
Oliver may very well be my favorite winery (and not just in Indiana). It’s nestled in the heart of Bloomington (where Indiana University is located) and it’s a great place to bring a date, your family or just a friend. Buy a bottle of wine, some cheese, and find a place to call your own on the 15 acre rolling green premises!
*Try the new SkyDog line – the packaging is great and the taste is even better.

New Day Meadery

Elwood, Indiana (near Anderson)
Because I grew up in Northern Indiana and my family still lives there, my fiance and I would often drive from Indianapolis to Goshen about every other month before moving to Korea for a year. Every time we take the road trip we pass, ‘New Day Meadery,’ a tiny wine shoppe that offers meade wines (wine that is made with honey). They have their own bee farms and get the honey from there. The wines are all great – you can try them all with an inexpensive wine tasting. The wine is slightly more expensive than the other wineries on this list, but totally worth it (and it’s great to support small business).
*Try the “Dry Blueberry Honey Wine,” – it’s a great treat!

For more Indiana wineries, check out indianawines.org.

Business Features Visual Splendor

Tea for Two at the Indianapolis Propylaem

01/15/2009

As a former tea room employee (hey, high school counts), I searched high and low for the best tea rooms in Indianapolis shortly after moving there to attend school. While there were very few tea rooms in the area, I found a few that were spectacular. One of those is the Propylaeum located just minutes from downtown Indianapolis on Delaware Street (in Indianapolis’ Old North Side).

the tea room!

tea for two!

yum!

This hidden gem is fit for any royalty, but don’t feel pressured to dress to the max or spend a lot of money. It’s menu, prepared by Chef Mike, is tiny, but that means that what they do serve is extra delicious. The items listed are also inexpensive. One of my favorite things to order is a hot cup of tea and strawberry shortcake paired with delicious and creamy vanilla ice cream.

strawberry delight~

The best part about this establishment is that it is housed in a to-die-for facility. It’s an old and beautifully detailed Victorian mansion that was founded in 1888 by May Wright Sewall. It was originally a social and culture center for Indianapolis women and is currently the oldest private club owned and operated by women. It’s name -Propylaeum – is a greek word that means “a gateway to culture” and that’s the philosophy of this lovely tea room.

adventure for two!

After lunch, take a tour of the large mansion and discover what’s hidden in all its nooks and crannies! You’ll find a number of private bedrooms that are rented out nightly to those visiting Indianapolis. Each room is uniquely decorated and sure to inspire feelings of “old time” and good cheer!

tea for two!

Address 1410 North Delaware Street; Indianapolis, IN 46202
Please Ring 317.638.7881 (call for reservations)
Hours Monday through Friday 11 a.m.-2 p.m.