Featured
Scrumptious 3 Easy Dessert Recipes To Try Out Today
Are you planning a dinner party soon and not quite sure how to end it?
You wouldn’t dare think of getting dessert delivered in these times when between 46 and 54 percent of people have become burgeoning cooks.
If you’re not one of those master-chefs-in-the-making, don’t worry. Simple desserts are delicious too.
Check out these easy dessert recipes that make it look like you spent hours in the kitchen.
1. Everybody’s Favorite Brownies
This one is for all those who’ve tried to make brownies and failed before. This delectable dessert is notoriously temperamental for its too soft or too crunchy outcome.
Here’s how to get it perfectly right the first time, quickly and easily.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of melted butter
- 2 cups of white sugar
- ½ cup of cocoa powder
- 1 t of vanilla extract
- 4 eggs
- 1 ½ cups of all-purpose flour
- ½ t of baking powder
- ½ t of salt
- ½ cup of walnut halves
Method:
- Grease a 9×13-inch pan and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Combine all the ingredients except the walnuts and then spread the batter into the prepared pan. Decorate with the walnut halves if desired.
- Bake in preheated oven for 20 to 30 minutes. Test the center with a toothpick and continue baking until the toothpick comes out coated with crumbs.
- Cool on a wire rack.
Brownies are delicious when served plain or topped with ice cream or cream.
2. Simple and Delicious Chocolate Cheesecake
Chocolate and coffee are two of everyone’s favorite flavors. You can never have too much of a good thing, combine and you’ve got a showstopper dessert.
Here goes…
Ingredients for the Crust:
- 1 Full-size pack of Oreo cookies, crushed finely
- 8 T of unsalted butter, melted
- ½ t espresso powder
Ingredients for the Filling:
- 14 ounces of bittersweet chocolate, chopped coarsely
- 1 ½ t espresso powder
- 24 ounces full-fat cream cheese
- 1 cup of granulated sugar
- ¼ cup of light brown sugar, packed
- 1 T of Dutch-process cocoa powder
- 1 ½ t of vanilla extract
- 1 cup of heavy cream
Ingredients for the Ganache:
- 1 1/3 cups semi-sweet chocolate, chopped finely
- 1 ¼ cups of heavy cream
- ¼ cup of unsalted butter, cut into cubes
- 1 t espresso powder
Espresso beans and chocolate shavings to garnish
All ingredients should be at room temperature.
Method:
- Grease a 9-inch springform pan.
- Combine the Oreo cookie crumbs, butter, and espresso powder in a large bowl and mix well.
- Press the crust into the pan, pressing it down firmly, and place the crust in the freezer.
To Make the Filling:
- Fill a medium-sized pot one-third full with water and bring it to a simmer.
- Find a heatproof bowl that fits the top of the pan snugly and place it on top of the pan. It should not touch the water.
- Reduce the heat to low and add the chocolate to the bowl. Heat, stirring occasionally until the chocolate’s melted.
- Remove from the heat but leave the bowl of chocolate balanced on the pan. Stir in the espresso powder and set aside.
- Pulse the cream cheese in a food processor for about two minutes until smooth.
- Add the sugars and the cocoa powder. Beat until smooth.
- Add the heavy cream and vanilla and mix for about 20 seconds until just combined.
- Fold in the chocolate.
- Take the bowl out of the food processor and stir the filling with a rubber spatula until it’s evenly combined.
- Remove the crust from the freezer and pour the filling inside, smoothing the top.
- Transfer your cheesecake to the refrigerator.
- Leave to chill for at least six hours.
To Make the Ganache:
- Place the chopped chocolate in a medium bowl.
- Bring the cream to a low simmer in a small saucepan and pour half the cream over the chocolate pieces.
- Set aside for two minutes.
- Whisk the melted chocolate/cream mix into the remaining cream.
- Whisk carefully until it’s smooth and glossy.
- Add the butter and stir the mixture with a spatula until the butter’s melted, then fold in the espresso powder.
- Set aside half a cup of the ganache until needed and pour the rest over the chilled cheesecake.
- Sprinkle the cheesecake with the chocolate shavings and set aside for one hour.
- Place the remaining ganache into a piping bag and pipe stars around the edge of the cheesecake. Top each star with a coffee bean.
To serve, slice the chilled cheesecake with a sharp knife. Wipe the blade clean after each slice.
You can store this dessert in the refrigerator for up to four days, so it’s a great make-ahead option.
3. Easy Dessert Recipes With Cake
You simply can’t go wrong with cake and cupcakes are one of the world’s favorite treats.
They’re easy to dress up or down and look fantastic displayed on a cupcake tower at dessert time. Try this easy vanilla cupcake recipe:
Ingredients for the Cupcakes:
- 2 ½ cups of all-purpose flour
- 2 cups of granulated sugar
- 3 t baking powder
- 1 t salt
- 1 cup of milk
- ½ cup of vegetable oil
- 1 t vanilla extract
- 2 eggs, large
- 1 cup of water
Ingredients for the Frosting:
- ½ cup of salted butter
- ½ cup of shortening
- 4 cups of powdered sugar
- 1 ½ t vanilla extract
- 2–3 T of water or milk
Method:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and place cupcake liners in your cupcake pan.
- Combine the dry ingredients and set aside.
- Combine the milk, vegetable oil, vanilla, and eggs in a medium-sized bowl.
- Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix thoroughly.
- Slowly add the water and mix slowly until combined. The batter will be thin.
- Spoon the batter into your prepared cupcake liners.
- Bake the cupcakes for 15 to 17 minutes.
To Make the Frosting:
- Combine the butter and shortening and mix until smooth.
- Add two cups of powdered sugar and mix until smooth, then add the vanilla essence.
- Add the remaining powdered sugar and enough water or milk to reach the desired consistency.
- Pipe the frosting onto the cooled cupcakes.
You can decorate these cupcakes with sprinkles, chocolate, or fruit, depending on your preferences.
Cooking Up a Storm
Armed with these easy dessert recipes you’re ready to wow your guests and impress your friends at your next dinner party.
In case you’re wondering what’s for the main course, browse our blog for more awesome food and drink ideas for every occasion.
Featured
Have You Tried Bottled Cocktails? Here’s Why You Should
Bottled cocktails, or ready-to-drink alcoholic beverages, are all the rage right now. Around 55% of average consumers consider them as a convenient way to have a cocktail.
While convenience is an attractive factor, there are plenty of other reasons why bottled cocktails are on the rise. Check out the benefits and options you have when it comes to this new trend.
What Is a Bottled Cocktail?
Bottled cocktails are pre-mixed alcoholic beverages. Some bottles are interesting artisanal blends; others are simple and straightforward drinks. These drinks require no effort on your part—just open, sip, and enjoy.
Beyond hard alcoholic beverages, you also have access to canned wine and hard seltzers. Additionally, some bottled cocktails come in the form of do-it-yourself kits. While these require a little bit of effort, they’re still much easier to handle than purchasing every cocktail ingredient yourself.
The Benefits of Bottled Cocktails
From bars to liquor stores, you have a lot of options when it comes to making cocktails. However, bottled cocktails provide significant perks and should be on your radar. If you’re skeptical about bottled cocktails, take a look at these fantastic benefits that cater to all sorts of situations and tastes.
They’re Portable
Whether you’re going to the beach or a picnic, no one wants to lug around bottles of wine and liquor. That’s why bottled cocktails are an excellent choice for on-the-go activities.
By bringing ready-to-drink cocktails, you save yourself the hassle of mixing drinks yourself. After all, no one wants to go on bartender duty when they’d rather have fun.
They’re Simple
Depending on if you choose a cocktail-making kit or a ready-to-drink cocktail, the main perk is simplicity. You no longer have to purchase several different bottles of liquor, mixers, and garnishes to create your ideal cocktail. Depending on the type of cocktail, you get all of the ingredients together without any effort on your part.
You Get Variety
Bottled cocktails are perfect for people who want variety in their alcoholic drinks. Kits and bottled cocktails allow you to explore interesting recipes with ease, such as hard seltzers. If you prefer the classics, like an old fashioned or a martini, you have access to those too.
Plus, whether you’re looking for a light afternoon sip or a stiff party, there are plenty of options for whatever you’re in the mood for. You can check out these bottled cocktails that are boxed and ready-to-ship, check out your local grocery store or even make your own.
They’re Cost-Effective
Bottled cocktails prevent you from having to purchase entire liquor bottles. Plus, some cocktails require niche garnishes and odd additions that end up getting wasted if you only make one cocktail. The cost-savings are all part of what makes bottled cocktails worth your attention.
Opt for Bottled Brews
Bottled cocktails aren’t just a new trend. These types of cocktails provide great benefits and make happy hours a lot easier for everyone involved. With the wide variety of cocktails available, you’re guaranteed to find a blend you’ll love without the hassle of making it yourself.
If you loved this guide, check out the rest of our posts. We write helpful blogs about traveling, recipes, and more.
Destinations
This Is How to Plan a Destination Wedding
Are you having a hard time planning a destination wedding?
Did you know that the wedding industry has a value of 55.1 billion USD despite the pandemic? This means that you’re still going to spend a lot when you opt for a traditional wedding. This is often the number one hurdle for most couples as it means that they need to have a high budget to get married.
If you go for a destination wedding, though, you forgo most of the costs of a traditional wedding. How to plan a destination wedding, though? Check what we have below to learn how you can plan a destination wedding and get married in the most scenic way possible.
Choose a Meaningful Destination
The first thing that you should plan when going for a destination wedding is the destination itself. Deciding on this will help you plan out the rest of the event with ease. What’s great is that there are tons of locations for you to choose from.
The best destination weddings are amazing because the bride and groom choose a location that’s meaningful to them. So, to make your as enjoyable and successful, make sure your venue has a meaning behind it. Select a special location from your childhood memories if you want it to add more memories to the venue.
You can also pick among the best destination wedding locations if you’re strapped for ideas. These are sure to give you and your guests a good time before, during, and after the wedding.
Set a Budget
Now that you have a destination in mind, use that as a reference to what your budget will be. Make sure that you include the cost of the accommodation and the fees for travel in your budget to know how much you have left.
Use that budget to plan out the rest of the event. A great way to cut on costs and extend your budget is by forgoing traditional wedding decor. Replace them with local flora, instead, as they’re likely cheaper than cloth and fabrics.
You can also choose local delicacies to make all the investments going towards food friendlier to your budget. Doing all these things should help you with your budget for the wedding.
Create an Invite List
With your budget in mind, you should now choose who you’ll invite to your wedding. A good rule of thumb is to invite the people who matter the most to you first. Once you complete that list, consider how much you’ll need to pay for each of them and if it fits in your budget.
If you still have room for more, consider who can and will go abroad to celebrate your special day with you. Including these people is sure to help you fill the seat count for your big day.
Ensure You Have All Necessary Documents
Once you have the destination nailed down, prepare all the documents you need. This goes beyond a marriage certificate and license. Traveling abroad for a wedding means you must also have a Visa and passport at the ready.
Make sure to prepare the change of name documents, birth certificates, and death certificates for divorcees. You never know when you’ll need them, and it’s a pain to get those documents if you’re in another country.
Make sure to include written authorization letters for your guests, too. Anyone under 18 will need this to travel abroad if they don’t have their parents with them.
Choose Someone to Officiate Your Wedding
Next, you need to choose someone who will officiate the wedding for you. If the country you’re traveling to shares the same religious beliefs as you, it should be easy to find one. If not, though, it can be a pain to find someone who will.
Check the local laws to see who they allow to wed people in destination weddings. If you see that they allow anyone who’s gotten ordained before, you can have your friends officiate for you. Doing this makes your wedding one of a kind and is a great way to save on money.
Pick a Theme
Now that you have most worries out of the way, it’s time to pick the theme of your wedding. You’ll want to pick a theme that suits your destination for the wedding. If you’re doing the wedding at a beach, going for a tropical theme is a good idea.
If you don’t want to pick a theme, pick a color scheme, instead. Pick colors that will benefit you and the guests at the destination. Dark colors for cold environments, and lighter ones for hotter environments.
Notify Your Guestlist In Advance
With most of the items on your checklist done, it’s about time for you to notify your guests. Doing this will help them know how much they have to set aside for their fare. Most guests have no idea until a short time before the wedding, making them miss the event.
Doing this also helps your guests pack for the location. They will know what to wear for their leisure time and what they should wear for the wedding itself.
Handpick Your Vendors
Before it’s too late, visit the location and handpick your vendors. It’s better to do this early on so that you can consider your budget and scout the local talent. One way to do this is to ask the locals for referrals.
They’re more familiar with the people in the location and can point you towards the best of the best. This will give you time to negotiate the prices and secure their services for the day.
Learn How to Plan a Destination Wedding Today
Planning a destination wedding shouldn’t be a stressful thing to do. It should be as relaxing as the venue you’ll set for the event. Check our guide and learn how to plan a destination wedding today!
Do you want to learn more about weddings and event planning? Check out more of our posts and guides to learn all you can about event planning today!
Featured
Saving the World by Doing Regenerative Travel
Regenerative travel may help halt the rapid degradation of tourist destinations all over the world–and eventually slow down climate change.
Earlier this year, an article pointed out the beneficial effects of regenerative travel, a mode of travelling that posits helping the world regenerate itself, adopt less social crowding, and acquire an environmentally conscious mindset.
Prior to the onset of the novel coronavirus outbreak, tourism was one of the largest industries all over the world. In 2018, total tourism revenue was $5 billion per day, according to a World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) report.
Tourism earnings helped various countries boost their economies. However, the same tourism activities ultimately affected—and degraded—the environment. Hence, the said industry caused major impacts on the local communities that were frequently visited by travelers worldwide.
Several areas in different European cities, for instance, were metamorphosing into unlivable locations while the exponential rise in various rentals also exacerbated the problem. Beaches in Thailand, for example, were increasingly filling up with plastic residue coming from various hotels and tourist boats in the country.
The necessity of adopting sustainable travel became a popular outcry as mass tourism became the norm. Before the advent of the term, regenerative travel, advocates began asking travelers to minimize travel impact in the different places they visited. Initiatives including the minimized usage of plastic and the reduction of waste were encouraged.
Regenerative travel, however, takes the advocacy a step further. Whereas sustainable travel merely aims to eradicate the effects of tourism in specific locations, regenerative travel calls for the improvement of the particular locations that visitors go to.
Jonathon Day, an assistant professor at Purdue University, stresses that “[tourism] is sort of a low bar. At the end of the day, it’s not just making a mess of the place. Regenerative tourism says, let’s make it better for future generations.”
Regenerative travel does not merely postulate buying local stuff or decreasing your carbon footprint. Regenerative travel stresses the necessity of executing actual, measurable, and concrete change. Hence, tourists are encouraged to provide meaningful improvements to the places they visit. This can be initiated by joining restoration groups or even supporting a local business school for the area’s indigenous women. In a sense, regenerative tourism means leaving the place a better one than when you first stepped into it.
Various travel companies are now starting to support the regenerative travel campaign. The preference for quality over quantity is stressed. With the help of various groups and organizations like the ConsciousTravel, a service that provides guidance to tour and destination operators regarding positive change, more and more travel agencies are now advertising the need to create more meaningful, environment-based changes to each tourist destination in their lists.
As visitors to these tourist hotspots, it is essential to be a major player in the creation of environmental improvements. International travelers must be aware of the destructive impacts of tourism and help promote regenerative travel. The present pandemic has been a huge eye-opener as we see the ill effects of pollution to the world. Climate change is a major issue that will ultimately affect everyone if we do not begin saving our environment now.
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