Noshtopia

Brie with cranberry and walnuts

I'm not normally a Brie person, but my local Whole Foods store has a "Live at Five" where they feature for an hour sample bites of certain foods. Last week, they had samples of this Brie with cranberries and walnuts lightly warmed and spread on whole wheat french bread. I definitely got suckered into buying the cheese and the loaf of bread.

This Brie would be tasty with a nice glass of Shiraz. It definitely would be a winner for a cocktail party, appetizer for dinner at your pad, or for the first time you invite that special guy/gal over for some wine and hanging by the fireplace.

Teenie Pink Lady apples

Just to share a secret with you, I have a weakness for sample sizes. Whenever I'm at Target or a drug store, I can't resist the little bottles of shampoo, bath gel, and toothpaste.

I saw these itsy Pink Lady apples at Whole Foods the other day, and just had to get them because, well, they are cute...LOL..Even though these apples are smaller versions of their regular-sized counterparts, the taste is the same. These bitty apple bites are best cold.

Strawberry Tiramisu

One of my favorite dessert places here in the Bay Area is Satura Cakes in Palo Alto. The desserts here are not only absolutely dee-lish-ious, but they look like little pieces of art. It's fun to walk in this place and just admire the beauty of the desserts. They use natural and fresh ingredients, and stay away from the icky's like hydrogenated oils or canned fruits. Here is their version of Strawberry Tiramisu. It was very yummy!

The best part of this Strawberry Tiramisu was that it was big enough to satisfy a sweet tooth, but small enough to not do too much damage to the waistline. This would be a great dessert to get for a bridal shower, an afternoon tea, or a big girl's slumber party.

Fresh croissants going to the display

The smell of baking bread is just heavanly. I mean you cannot help but feel happy the second the aroma of sweet bread starts swirling around your nostrils. I'm like buttah.

I saw this baker bring out a tray with about 3 dozen freshly baked croissants. My mouth started to water. I had my dessert already, so I refrained from partaking, but I have to tell you that it sure wasn't easy. Don't these pastries look yummy?

Noshed and Nibbled cookbooks

The Big Book of Appetizers: More Than 250 Recipes for Any Occasion
In this book you'll find hundreds of dips, nuts, nibbles, salsas, spreads, soups, dumplings, tarts, wraps, and so much more! This nosh book will easily become everyone's essential cookbook when planning a party—big or small.
$13.57
Amazon.com

Nibbled: 200 Fabulous Finger Food Ideas
Classic finger food recipes are joined by the hip flavors of Asian, Mediterranean, and Middle Eastern cuisine in this comprehensive collection. Here are more than 200 innovative but simple recipes ranging from champagne brunch to picnics, afternoon tea, cocktail parties, and late-night lounge nibbles. This modern take on stylish entertaining features tasty small bites that can be mixed and matched for any occasion or inspiration. Full-color food photography is featured throughout.
$19.95
Amazon.com

FrancisFrancis! X1 Stainless Steel Espresso Machine

FrancisFrancis! X1 Stainless Steel Espresso Machine
This Espresso machine is beautiful looking. Chic style and efficiency team up for one terrific espresso creator. Designed by Italian architect and designer Lucca Trazzi, this shapely espresso machine looks more like sculpture than kitchen equipment.
$849.95
Sur La Table

Free ground shipping thru 11/30/06

Vita-Mix® Professional Blender

Vita-Mix Professional Blender
This is a really awesome blender. I got a demo when I stayed at the We Care Spa in Palm Springs. It's ideal for mixing drinks and smoothies,  plus terrific for food prep. In red, silver, and black.
New Vita-Mix Professional Series recipe book, Create ($99 value), is your free gift with purchase. The recipe book contains over 300 gourmet recipes for soups, beverages, sauces, dressings and more.
$499.00
Sur La Table

KitchenAid Red 12-Cup Silicone Muffin Pan with Sled

KitchenAid Red 12-Cup Silicone Muffin Pan with Sled
Make some yummy cupcakes for your next big breakfast or brunch with this 12-cup silicone muffin pan from KitchenAid.
$32.99
Target.com

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California rolls with ginger and wasabi

California rolls are my favorite Japanese nosh. I like them best with the real crab mixed with some creamy sauce. I'm not fond of the artificial crab because it's not crab, it's fish. I still don't understand why they just don't call it fish.

One of the best California rolls I've ever had was at the Luxor hotel in Las Vegas. The rolls had just a slight hint of fried tempura on the outside rim of the rice to add a crunchy bit to the experience. It was so yummy yet light.

No California roll joy is complete for me without the ginger. I put hunks of ginger on the rolls when I eat them. I know that you're supposed to use the ginger to clean the palate for the next bite, but I never was good at following rules.