Trader Joe's Candy Cane Green Tea (Polar Bear Tea) & Chocolate Peppermint Soy Milk

I know there are a bunch of food bloggers out there who are rolling out their favorite holiday cooking and baking recipes. Me? I'm going to start the holiday season by telling you things I like to BUY. :)
 
Here are two of my favorites: Polar Bear Tea and Chocolate Mint Soy Milk

While the official name is "Candy Cane Green Tea," I call it Polar Bear Tea. Trader Joe's sold it last year for the first time and it sold out in an instant. This tea is perfection for me; I don't drink caffeine, love decaf green tea and love peppermint. Score! When I saw it back in the store this year, I quickly picked up 6 boxes. 2 boxes are already gone. I need to go back. ($1.99 at Trader Joe's)

 

However, this year, I discovered this is Celestial Seasonings' holiday tea: Candy Cane Lane. Trader Joe's doesn't allow vendors to say they supply TJ's items (you should read this really good Fortune Magazine article: Inside the Secret World of Trader Joe's by Beth Kowitt). But the ingredients are EXACTLY the same. If you don't have a TJ near you (poor mija), then try the Candy Cane Lane from Celestial Seasonings. Personally, I think the Trader Joe's Polar Bear in Bridget Jones' worthy jumper chillin' out on the iceberg is cuter than the worker bee Celestial Seasonings bears.

My other favorite this holiday season is West Soy Chocolate Peppermint Stick Soy Milk. Yummy stuff for the lactose-intolerant or vegan. If you heat this up in the micro for a few minutes, it is delicious. 

Finally, here is a note to retailers. I went to the mall on Thursday, November 18th (a full-week before Thanksgiving) and Santa was at the mall. The whole photo set up going on. This is so wrong. First, stores are still hawking 75% off Halloween stuff. Second, we were a week away from Thanksgiving! You need to wait til Thanksgiving. Third, Santa looked sooooo freaking bored. I think kids thought he was a creepy leftover Halloween costumed man hanging out at the mall, and not Santa. And, really, shouldn't he and his people be making all the toys during this time? Sigh. Come on back in January as I rant about the Easter Bunny set up.

Hey Mr. Postman...

I received this delivery from justJenn Designs (along with some yummy muffins).

Thanks to all those who made Bundts for National Bundt Day! I'm going through the emails and posts, and am so excited to see so many awesome Bundts...and great stories! One group of librarians and staff had a Bundt Day party! :)

I hope to start sending the buttons out this weekend and the epic round up of Bundts will go up early next week.

Just wanted to say THANKS for an awesome Bundt Day! - mary the food librarian

P.S. I laughed because my friend Jenn wrote "Mary" on the Ziploc bag these came in...just so she wouldn't confuse my order of 70 (yes, seventy) "I Like Big Bundt" pins with another customer's massive order. Hee hee. But do check out Jenn's stationery and other fun stuff. My favorite, besides the Bundt collection of course, is her new card that simply says, "You're Awesome." I'm sure we all have special people in our lives who deserve that card! Or, you can go Stuart Smalley, and send it to yourself.

And this photo of Cidney I took this morning? Nothing to do with Bundts, just cuteness!

Cranberry Persimmon Lime Galette - Tuesdays with Dorie

Cranberry Persimmon Lime Galette

I'm back on the Tuesdays with Dorie bandwagon. I was a little caught up in Bundt and dessert bar baking recently...I hope everyone had a great National/International Bundt Day yesterday! I apologize for missing several weeks of TWD...I hope I catch up on some rewinds.

For this week's Tuesdays with Dorie selection, Whitney, April, and Elizabeth of Celestial Confections chose Cranberry Lime Galette on pages 364-365 of Dorie's book, Baking: From My Home to Yours.

A simple pie crust.
Fall fruits.
A bit of ginger.
Yum.

I love the galette. It is quick and easy. I love the free form. Of course, I wax poetic, but I'm really just saying, "I'm lazy and don't want to stick this in a pie tin and flute the edges."

Because persimmons are the greatest fruit on the planet, I substituted the apple for diced kaki (Japanese term for persimmon). Yeah, JustJenn (kaki and banana hater) this one won't be left on your doorstep.

 

Check out the other Tuesdays with Dorie bakers and see their creations!

Recipe:
On Celestial Confections blog...or
Dorie's book, Baking: From My Home to Yours, page 364-365

P.S. Congratulations to Linda from Tender Crumb for winning my 39 11/12th birthday giveaway! She says she is going to use the Amazon gift certificate to buy a Bundt pan. Sweet!

National Bundt Day - November 15, 2010 - I Like Big Bundts 2

Happy Bundt Day!

Logo by JustJenn

Whoo Hoo! Thank you so much for following along with me on my quest to spread Bundt love because...I LIKE BIG BUNDTS! Happy National Bundt Day!

Today is also a very special day for blogger, Katrina of Baking and Boys! It's her birthday so please go over to her blog and leave a birthday greeting! Thanks! :)

Here is a recap of the I Like Big Bundts 2010! Click on the title for a link to the post and recipe. If you want to see more bundts, check out last year's I Like Big Bundts!

I'm so looking forward to hearing from you if you made a Bundt for National Bundt Day! (Details of submitting to the Round Up on the previous post.)

Thanks again for such a fun 30 days. I'm going to take a nap now.
Best Bundt Wishes,
- mary the food librarian

Day 1: Marble Bundt

Day 2: Chocolate Velvet Bundt

Day 3: Peanut Butter-Sour Cream Bundt Cake with Butterfinger Ganache Glaze

Day 4: Mom's Olive Oil Orange Bundt Cake

Day 5: Chocolate Chip Bundt with Pecans

Day 6: Pear Bundt from Smitten Kitchen

Day 7: Apple Bundt with Caramel Sauce

Day 8: Lavender-Lemon Bundt

Day 9: Pumpkin & Ginger Bundt

Day 10: Banana Nutella Bundt

Day 11: Root Beer Bundt

Day 12: Libby's Sour Cream Pumpkin Bundt

Day 13: Chocolate Mint Bundt

Day 14: Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bundt

Day 15: Meatloaf Bundt with Tunnel of Egg

Day 16: Zucchini Olive Oil Bundt with Crunchy Lemon Glaze

Day 17: Dulce de Leche Bundt

Day 18: Cantaloupe and Pineapple Jello Bundt

Day 19: Lemon Bundt Cake

Day 20: Chocolate Stout Bundt

Day 21: Honey Hazelnut Bundt

Day 22: Lemon Curd Pound Cake Bundt

Day 23: Croquembundt

Day 24: Mexican Hot Chocolate Abuelita Bundt

Day 25: Magnolia's Blueberry Coffee Cake Bundt with Vanilla Glaze

Day 26: Buttermilk Butternut Squash Bundt with Spiced Vanilla Icing

Day 27: Ice Cream Bundt

Day 28: Spiced Sweet Potato Bundt with Brown Sugar Icing

Day 29: Snickerdoodle Bundt

Day 30: Cinnamon Chocolate Bundt

And if you want to take a peek at my Bundt collection, here is a little fashion show of my Bundt pans!

Happy Happy Bundt Day to you!!

Cinnamon Chocolate Bundt - Day #30 of I Like Big Bundts

Cinnamon Chocolate Bundt

Pull the yellow tape across the kitchen.
I'm crossing the finish line!
Happy National Bundt Day to you! Whoo Hoo!

If this bundt looks familiar, that's because it's my favorite! It was also the Day #30 Bundt last year. You just can't improve on this champion Bundt. This bundt is super easy (no KitchenAid needed) and bakes up in about 30 minutes. It's moist and delicious. If I was coming over to your house, I'd bring this Bundt. It rocks!

It's Day #30 of I Like Big Bundts 2. Whew! I made it! I can't believe I've made over 70 Bundts on this blog!

Thanks everyone for your comments, encouragement, and fun tweets. And big thanks to Jessica and Susan who guest posted during my wedding dessert bar madness!

The best part? Seeing all your Bundts today! I can't wait!!! As I'm writing this last post, I've been getting emails from Australia, Canada and India about Bundt cakes! How totally awesome is that?!

I started this blog as a personal record of me learning to bake (with lots of failures), and it is surreal and wild to think that people are making Bundts around the world! Thanks for baking along with me...what a thrill is has been!

I'm looking forward to sending you this JustJennDesigns I Like Big Bundts button if you baked a Bundt for today's National Bundt Day! Whoo hoo! Here are the details:

Please email me: (1) Link to your blog post (I will use one photo from your post for the round-up) or (2) One JPG photo if you don't have a blog, (3) Your name (that you want published on the blog) and title of your Bundt (4) Mailing address for the button (including your name for mailing). You have until Monday, November 22nd to send me the information. You need to bake something fresh for National Bundt Day to qualify for the button (doesn't have to be a new recipe).

Happy Happy Happy Bundt Day to you! 

Come back tomorrow for...no, not another bundt. :) I haven't completely burnt myself out, but I'm looking forward to some cookies, pies and layered cakes! But never fear, the Bundt will be back and always have a home on the Food Librarian blog. Have a great Bundt day! - mary the food librarian

Recipe:
Click here for a printable recipe
Adapted from Vintage Victual who adapted it from a recipe printed in the Atlanta Journal Constitution in the 1980's
See last year's post for step-by-step instructions