Ice cream cone cupcakes

Make summer sweets exciting with Ice cream cone cupcakes! The possibilities are endless - go for ice cream-style cake flavors such as chocolate,strawberry and vanilla.  Add sprinkles, candy, chocolate sauce and even a cherry!

The Sweet Life Celebrates the Chinese New Year!

Many Chinese consider the Chinese New Year celebration to be the most important celebration of the year.  They mark the occasion of a new lunar year with fifteen days of festivals, firecrackers, food, friends, family, and fun!  This year the celebration begins on February 3 and ends on February 17.  Wishes for the New Year are always the same: Health and Luck for friends and family in the New Year.

According to the Chinese Zodiac, we are about to enter the Year of the Rabbit, the fourth sign of the Zodiac.  The Rabbit is a lucky sign.  During 2011 the Chinese Zodiac recommends we focus on home, family, security, and diplomacy in order to create a safe and peaceful lifestyle.  

So let's all celebrate this new and peaceful year with the Chinese calendar.  Traditionally fruit baskets are a ubiquitous hostess gift during Chinese New Year celebrations.  This New Year stop by The Sweet Life for one of our delicious Dried Fruit and Nut Platters to give your hostess.  What a great twist on a Sweet tradition!

Chocolate is Good for the Heart

It is 2011 and the health benefits of chocolate that initially seemed too good to be true have stood the test of  time and human science.  Studies show that the flavonoids in cacao beans act as antioxidants and improve cardiovascular health.  Regular consumption of these flavonoids can even help lower blood pressure and cholesterol.  In order to experience the full benefits of the cacao bean, medical professionals recommend dark chocolate: the darker: the more cacao: the better!  These sweet scientific results have led to increased production and consumption of chocolate bars containing excess of 50% cacao.  

Come to The Sweet Life and treat your heart to one of our specialty pure chocolate bars such as the NewTree "Pleasure" Dark Chocolate Bar (73%) or the Dolfin 88% Extra Dark Chocolate Bar.  These gourmet bars not only contain above and beyond the recommended cacao content but also provide your taste buds with a rich and luscious sensation.  Still not dark enough?  The Sweet Life recommends the Chocolat Bonnat 100% Cacao Chocolate Bar.  This tempting French delicacy will thrill even the most daring of chocolate connoisseurs.

Sweet Resolutions

It is that time of year when we look for ways to help us keep our resolutions of health in 2011.  The Sweet Life's tempting variety of nuts and dried fruit comes to our rescue as a convenient healthy snack.  Grab a bag to keep in your purse for those emergency sweet cravings.  The dried fruit will give you the sugar burst your body needs while also providing you with essential nutrients.  The nuts provide healthy fat and protein to keep your energy consistently up for the busy day ahead: win win;)

Searching for particularly low calorie Sweet options?  Enjoy sipping a steaming cup of one of The Sweet Life's many gourmet teas.  Indulge in the Vanilla Almond or another dessert tea as a way to kick that pesky after meals sweet tooth!

Fashion Night Out's Sugar Rush

September 10th in New York City was an eventful one for designers and boutiques, and the fashionistas who love all things chic.  It was the night for fashion to shine!!  The Sweet Life was at Lord & Taylor on the second floor with shoe designer - Vince Camuto.  Ladies came to Lord & Taylor to shop, meet the designer, drink champagne, and visit our candy buffet bar...

Within seconds, the gentlemen serving at the candy bar were mobbed with women!  The pink raspberry French macarons were a favorite along with the chocolate dipped marshmallows with pink sprinkles.  We're not quite sure if the male models serving the sugar were the attraction... or was it the sugar sugar?!?

MacarOn de Paris

Although macarons are predominantly a French confection, there has been much debate about its origins.  Some have traced its French debut back to the arrival of Catherine de' Medici's Italian pastry chefs whom she brought with her in 1533 upon marrying Henry II.  In the 1830s macarons were served two-by-two with the addition of jams, liqueurs, and spices. The macaron as it is known today was called the "Gerbet" or the "Paris macaron" and is the creation of Pierre Desfontaines of the French pâtisserie Laduree, composed of two almond meringue discs filled with a layer of buttercream, jam, or ganache filling.

Treat yourself or friends to macarons!  They're perfect for any kind of event and will bring a sweet and colorful touch to your tables and parties.  Pastry Chef, Cecil, culinary trained at Pierre Hermé’s School in France, bakes the macarons fresh daily.

MacarOns are made with, two shells of almond flour, egg white, confectioner sugar & sugar; and a filling, so called the ganache, made with butter, sugar and natural flavors.  The flavors are truly amazing!  Dark Chocolate, Pistachio, Vanilla, Espresso, Coconut, Rose Petal,Caramel fleur de sel, White Chocolate, Mocha, Nutella, Matcha Green Tea, Lemon, Grapefruit, Chocolate Coco, Raspberry, Honey Lavender, Wedding Almond, Peanut Butter, Mango, Passion Fruit, Cassis, Creme Brulee.  

Valrhona Chocolate Truffles with Liqueur

At our monthly Sweets Club, we handmade chocolate truffles with Valrhona French Chocolate - well known for their quality and intense aromatic flavor since 1924.  My personal favorite!

The recipe is simple.  Chop 8 ounces of bittersweet chocolate into 1/4 inch pieces, and 6 tablespoons unsalted butter cut into small pieces.  In a small saucepan, bring 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream to a simmer.  Bring a 1/2 inch of water in a medium saucepan to a boil, then lower the heat.  Place the smaller pan in the water and slowly add the chocolate and butter.  Once the mixture is completely melted, refrigerate for at least 2 hours until firm. 

Now, the fun begins!  With our truffles, we mixed in Grand Marnier with one batch (while it was on the stove), and Chambord raspberry liqueur in another.  The truffles on your right were duster with Valrhona Cocoa, the middle with coconut, and the right a chopped up Taza Chocolate Mexicano "Guajillo Chili" Disc.