Yummies: Do the truffle shuffle! We suuuper hearty heart truffles...the fungi...

So it totally goes with out saying how much we love truffles...OK, OK you're right...how much we are obsessed with chocolate truffles....

But guess what? This post is about how much we are psycho for the other kind o' Truffle...the fungus kind!

Sooooo aromatic...super shmancy and pungent...and the flavor?... Indescribably decadent, warm, satisfying and unmistakable when you smell and taste it.

There literally is nothing like tasting truffles...nada!

Truffles are the Kings and Queens of the fungus family...there are 3 main types...and 2 of which fetch well over $1,000 per pound!!!!

Black- The most pungant and truffle-y truffle, found mostly in France and a few in Spain

White- The more delicate and almost garlic-y one, found in Italy

Grey- Found in the US and disregarded by most gourmands as a truffle...darn...

And the bestest part of truffles (besides the flavor of course) the only way to harvest them is with a pig!

There are certain pigs that can seek out these clumps o' flavor...cute!!!

Wanna love us even more than you already do? Yay! Here are our fave ways to enjoy the yumminess...

So no one dish gets their feelings hurt these are in no particular order...

Oh dear lordie mcgorgie!!!!!

Nothing says gourmet USA like the ridiculously stupid (and by that we mean amazing) gooey delish Truffled Mac N' Cheese...

Once you go Mac you will never go back

We love a super easy yet totally chic appetizer for our get togethers...the kind not found in the freezer.

Goat cheese and truffle oil crostini...

Crostini
8 ounces goat cheese
Truffle Oil
Freshly ground black pepper
Fresh thyme leaves

Prepare Crostini; set aside until ready to use.

When ready to serve, spread each slice of toasted bread with a thin layer of goat cheese. Pour a small amount of truffle oil into a teaspoon and tilt the spoon to sprinkle 3 or 4 drops on each toast.

Sprinkle black pepper over the top and garnish with a few thyme leaves.

Makes 16 servings.

Hello easy yumminess!

OK, so most of you have probably heard of Truffle mashed potatoes...super easy and delish to make at home. But, have you had Truffle roasted potatoes?!?!

Just as easy and waaaaaaay more exciting and shmancy.

Ingredients:

1 3/4 to 2 lb. Potatoes, New

1 teaspoon Vinegar, White Wine

2 tablespoons Truffle Oil, Black or White

1/2 to 1 tsp. Thyme, Basil or Rosemary, Dried

Pinch of Salt

2 Shallots, Minced

Directions:

Cut new potatoes in half. Toss in bowl with 1-1/2 tablespoons of truffle oil and salt. Roast in 350 degree oven until slightly browned and cooked through (approximately 45 minutes).

Remove potatoes from oven and place in original tossing bowl. Add vinegar, remaining truffle oil, herb of choice and minced shallots. Toss. Return to oven for 5-10 minutes. Serves 4.

We can not express enough how obsessed we are with Truffle pizza...soooo Italian. When you bite into it you will feel like you stepped into the streets of Rome.

Pizza Dough
Truffle Oil
2 cups mushrooms (shitake, crimini and or others)
Fresh Mozzarella Cheese
Parmesan Cheese

Roll out the dough and rub it with truffle oil. (I used 2-3 Tablespoons for the pizza) Saute mushrooms slightly in some olive oil or butter. Spread them over the pizza. Top with rounds of fresh mozzarella and sprinkle with parmesan. Cook pizza in a 500 degree oven on a pizza stone, if possible, until crust is browned and cheese is bubbling.

P.S. Trader Joe's and Fresh & Easy have great already made pizza doughs for you for under $1.75 a pop...You're Welcome ;)

Wanna up the ante? Rocco DiSpirito has a ridiculously amazing fancy pants Truffle Pizza...

And the ultimate and super American way (no offense USA... but the taste is out of this world) to enjoy the pungent decadence? Gossip Girl Truffle Grilled Cheese!

It has the Chuck Bass stamp of approval... You had us at Chuck Bass...

From Christopher Lee

8 slices of fresh baked white bread (look for a local bakery)
16 slices of fontina cheese
2 tbsp sweet butter
2 oz fresh shaved black winter truffles
salt and pepper, to taste

1. Layer 2 slices of fontina cheese between 2 slices of white bread and shave a couple of slices of truffles in the middle of each sandwich; do the same for all four sandwiches.
2. Heat a large fry pan over medium heat and add the butter.
3. When the butter melts, add the sandwiches and cook until the bread is nice and toasted.
4. Remove and slice sandwiches in half and place into four plates.

The easiest ways to indulge and use Truffles with out having to pay a sick amount? With these 3 items we found for ya..

Yummmmmmmy Truffle oils! Sprinkle on pasta or eggs or veggies!

Amazing Truffle salt from Williams Sonoma...

We used last night on our asparagus...lets just say the chef got kissed!!!

And the most decadent way to use Truffles without having to stalk the striking and suave French chef at the farmers market? With real Truffle butter!

Every chef we have found is obsessed with D'artagnan's butter...and PS it's not stupidly (now we mean the bad way) expensive!

Buyer beware of fake truffle oils!!!

Do the Truffle Shuffle! You will jump back and kiss yourself!

xoxo things we heart

Yummies: We heart Makin' Whoopie! (Pies that is)

We heart Whoopie!!!

Nope we are not talking about this Whoopie...

Or even this Whoopie

Or this Whoopie

THIS WHOOPIE!!!!

Oh dear sweet sugary dessert fairy in the sky...how we uber heart thee for your delish and delicate and oh so decadent whoopie pies.

Sooo sweet...sooo fluffy...soooooooo yummy!

A marshmallow-y vanilla-y frosting smooshed between 2 smooshie chocolate cakes...sounds too good to be true? Portable heaven?

Yup...read on....

As the legend goes, Whoopie Pies started on the East Coast by the Amish. The ladies would make these super cute "pies" with left over cake mix for the farmers and when they would reach into their lunch boxes and pull these treats from heaven...they would scream..."Whoopie!"

We have searched high and low for the best Whoopie Pies around and we found out the best are the ones you make at home!

And PS...they are really easy and super fun to eat!

Choo Choo....all aboard the Whoopie Train!!! (oooh sounds kinky!!!!)

First stop...Martha Ville....queen of all that is good...

Here is her recipe for the Classic WP straight from the East Coast baby!

Lookin for more of a cakey frosting (yummmmmm!!!!) version?

Then click here for Miss MS updated classic...

Ohhh you know what sounds good and will for sure get me on Miss Me's good side?? (not that I'm not but maybe it will butter her up to help me with more decor stuffs)

RED VELVET WHOOPIE PIES!!!

Sorry to yell...just got super excited...

ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 1 1-oz. bottle red food coloring (2 Tbsp.)
• 1 recipe Whoopie Pie Filling, recipe below

directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line baking sheets with parchment; set aside. In medium bowl combine flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt; set aside.

2. In large mixing bowl beat butter on medium to high 30 seconds. Beat in brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla. Alternately add flour mixture and buttermilk, beating after each addition just until combined. Stir in food coloring.

3. Spoon batter in 1- or 2-inch diameter rounds, about 1/2-inch high on prepared baking sheets, allowing 1 inch between each round.

4. Bake 7 to 9 minutes for 1-inch cookies or 9 to 11 minutes for 2-inch cookies, or until tops are set. Cool completely on baking sheets on rack. Remove cooled cookies from baking sheets.

5. To fill, dollop Whoopie Pie Filling on flat sides of half the cookies. Top with remaining cookies, flat sides down. Makes 60 one-inch or 42 two-inch cookies.

6. Whoopie Pie Filling: In medium mixing bowl beat 1/4 cup softened butter and half an 8-ounce package softened cream cheese until smooth. Fold in one 7-ounce jar marshmallow creme.

7. To store: Refrigerate in airtight container up to 4 days. Let stand at room temperature 15 minutes before serving.

Don't have time to bake anytime soon? Then save this lil slice o' goodness for the holidays...

Vegan Pumpkin Whoopies...

Hello hostess with the mostest! Or best guest in the world...and everyone can enjoy cuz they are vegan!

Oh geez louise!! Hello Vanilla Cardamom WPs...how are you today?

Music to our Indian food lovin bellies!!!

Don't feel like DIYing it???

William Sonoma has a Red Velvet mix just for you!

They also have a WP Pan (say that 5 times fast) for the perfect pie tops and bottoms...

Want a chocolate version?

Stonewall Kitchen has a great one...yup we were the lucky recipients of this mix and it is pretty delish...

Or you can order some straight from the source...they have OGs and even have vanilla raspberry with coconut!!! YES PLEASE...and ASAP...PMS is coming!!

P.S. Whoopie Pies are sooo yummy they have a website dedicated to them!

P.P.S. They also have their own festival!!!

Go make some whoopie!!

xoxo things we heart

Yummies: We Heart Goodies As Gifts!

Give your loved ones something you know they will like...something they won't have to return, try on, pretend to love or wear every time they see you.

Unlock your inner Martha this season!

Make them some love! During these crazy times where moolah is tight and most peoples jobs are as unstable as walking on a tightrope, making your loved ones gifts is the best thing!

No one can resist gorgeously wrapped goodies this time of year...(and PS diets actually go into reverse until Jan, so anything you or they eat doesn't count)...handing someone a box of homemade love is the best one they will get (unless they get a pair of Brian Atwood stilettos or a Rick Owens jacket..but I bet the cookies will get waaaay more love)

And making and baking does not have to be hard! We are gonna show you a few of the yummiest, easiest and super cute Goodies as Gift ideas we could find *

They have all been tested by my belly and they totally pass the tests.

You know when you get those "retro" tins filled with store bought butter cookies that are so fake tasting they actually taste like old coconuts instead of butter?

Well, save the tin...feed the cookies to the furry friends in your local park....and replace them with something you made!

Everyone will swoon...we promise.

The best thing to put in those tins is some TDF white choc bark!

Great way to give edible gifts...in a cake stand! A GIFT IN A GIFT!

Bark is minty, melty, smooth, creamy and chocolatey...UM HI...YOU CAN"T GO WRONG! Sorry for yelling ;)

Ingredients

17 ounces good-quality white chocolate (such as Lindt or Baker's), finely chopped
30 red-and-white-striped hard peppermint candies, coarsely crushed (about 6 ounces)
7 ounces bittersweet (not unsweetened) or semisweet chocolate, chopped
6 tablespoons whipping cream
3/4 teaspoon peppermint extract

Directions

1. Turn large baking sheet bottom side up. Cover securely with foil. Mark 12-x-9-inch rectangle on foil.
2. Stir white chocolate in metal bowl set over saucepan of barely simmering water (do not allow bottom of bowl to touch water) until chocolate is melted and smooth and candy thermometer registers 110°F. (chocolate will feel warm to touch). Remove from over water.
3. Pour 2/3 cup melted white chocolate onto rectangle on foil. Using icing spatula, spread chocolate to fill rectangle. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup crushed peppermints. Chill until set, about 15 minutes.
4. 
5. Stir bittersweet chocolate, cream and peppermint extract in heavy medium saucepan over medium-low heat until just melted and smooth. Cool to barely lukewarm, about 5 minutes.
6. Pour bittersweet chocolate mixture in long lines over white chocolate rectangle. Using icing spatula, spread bittersweet chocolate in even layer. Refrigerate until very cold and firm, about 25 minutes.
7. 
8. Rewarm remaining white chocolate in bowl set over barely simmering water to 110°F.
9. Working quickly, pour white chocolate over firm bittersweet chocolate layer; spread to cover. Immediately sprinkle with remaining crushed peppermints. Chill just until firm, about 20 minutes.
10. 
11. Lift foil with bark onto work surface; trim edges.
12. Cut bark crosswise into 2-inch-wide strips. Using metal spatula, slide bark off foil and onto work surface. Cut each strip crosswise into 3 sections and each section diagonally into 2 triangles.

Oh...if you are too busy to make...Williams Sonoma has the yummiest bark around and it comes in a tin.

Not quite as cute as this vintage one we found on Etsy but almost....cuz the Etsy one you made!!!

OMFG! Please help us! Please! We are dying to use this "vintage" egg crate for something and me thinks me just figured it out!

Create some unbelivable homemade fudge (waaaay easier to do than you think and waaaay yummier than you remember) roll into truffle like balls...OH WAIT! You can make truffles too!!!

OK sorry.. create truffles or fudge balls...roll into cocoa and place in this super ridiculously cute turq egg crate!!!! Wrap with celophane and a big black and white striped bow and tada!

Best gift ever!

Are you in the mood to make some crazy yummy cookies like the ones from Bittersweet LA?

We found a cookoo crazy easy recipe for "Snowballs"

They are minty sugar cookies that you can make from a store bought mix...add a few personal touches and voila! Home made lovin' ;)***

Put these suuuper cute cookies in a big apothecary jar from Crate and Barrel (IKEA has ones too) tie a red grosgrain bow around the neck and you are the queen of cutey mcgoos.

**Bittersweet LA does not use mixes we are told...they only make super yummy homemade goodies**

OK..OK it's time for the reason we did this post...the thing that would make Mrs. Fields proud...

Magic Bars...they are essentially 7 layer bars but with a few different ingredients for the crust.

The owner of Bittersweet made these last night for her King of the castle and the word on the street is he snuck down stairs after she fell asleep and ate most of them.

Magic Cookie Bars

• 1 cup whole wheat graham cracker crumbs
• 1/2 cup oatmeal
• 1 Tb brown sugar
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted
• 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk (NOT evaporated milk)
• 1 1/2 cups bittersweet chocolate chips
• 1 cups flaked coconut
• 1 cup chopped pecans

1. Preheat oven to 325°F . Line a 8x8-inch baking pan.

2. In small bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs, oatmeal, brown sugar, and butter; mix well.

Press crumb mixture firmly on bottom of baking pan.

3. Sprinkle chocolate chips, coconut and pecans on top. Pour the condensed milk evenly.

4. Bake for 20 - 25 minutes until slightly golden on top.

5. Cool for 15 minutes before removing from pan.

Oh...and the best part? Besides the flavor that is...they take 40 min start to finish! Wooo hooo!

These would look suuuper cute in a white cardboard box from Michaels Crafts or Container Store filled with festive tissue paper.

Put a great label on the outside and you are super GTG (Good To Go)

We heart these MS labels from Michael's...

And for the reason we heart this post soooo much...the packaging that made us giggle, swoon, envy (in a good way) and recreate and give to friends...

Homemade Vanilla Hot Cocoa powder...and the wrapping is almost as yummy as what is inside.

Grab some vintage-y MS labels from you local Michael's Crafts, ribbon, old school lunch bags and a silvery Sharpie and your friends will vote you best gift giver.

All of the above gifts make AMAZING Host gifts as well or just thank you for people in your life or neighbors (the ones you like...we can think of something else to put in that hot cocoa bag above for the neighbors you don't like but this is a nice post so we will be good).

Festive poster containers make suuuper rad cookie holders! Go to Container Store for some!

We love Tiny Prints for custom gift tags or find some amazing DIY templates and put on these ridiculously divine stickers from Miss S...soooo good!!!

Find these Vintage-esque labels at Michaels...or this suuuuper cute tissue at CS.....

Be recessionista chic! Make your gifts and be the sexiest, cutest gift giver ever!!!

XOXO things-we-heart