Wednesday, October 13, 2010

A Toast to the Holidays!

Velvet Rope
The Velvet Rope from Waterbar

From Halloween through New Year's, you'll find us overseeing a joyous parade of parties. We're baking, of course, but we're also making sure everyone's glass is filled with something festive. And this year we plan to raise the bar—literally!—and concoct some delicious original beverages.

For guidance, we asked Jennifer Philpot, the bartender at San Francisco's Waterbar restaurant, to suggest some holiday-themed beverages. She generously obliged with adult and child-friendly versions, which you'll find below and in our recipe database.

Baker's Profile

Rachel Wilhelm

Rachel Wilhelm

When she accepted a summer internship at C&H Sugar's quality-assurance lab, Creighton University sophomore Rachel Wilhelm was looking for real-world science experience. She got that and much more—including the opportunity to coordinate our successful bake sale benefitting Share Our Strength.

"The bake sale was the biggest thing I worked on all summer," reports Rachel, whose efforts helped C&H raise $1,775 to end childhood hunger. But it wasn't just about the bottom line. "I got to meet almost every single employee face to face," Rachel says. "I felt proud to know such kind-hearted, dedicated people!"

In the News

Hard-working Interns Pitch In to Fight Childhood Hunger

As proud sponsors since 2008 of Share Our Strength's Great American Bake Sale, we’ve frequently encouraged you to join us in reaching our goal: to end childhood hunger by the year 2015. We’ve loved hearing about your bake sales (see last year's sidebar story), so we’re turning the tables and telling you about the bake sales we held this summer in Crockett, California, and in Baltimore, Maryland. Thanks to two enterprising and enthusiastic interns, our events were a huge success!

Sunday, June 13, 2010

The Sweet Outdoors

Rosemary Balsamic Caramel Glazed Chicken Thighs

Picnics, potlucks, backyard barbecues… summer is the season for fresh-air meals with family and friends! But living the al fresco life doesn’t mean abandoning the kitchen, even in a heat wave. Our easy, tasty recipes can be created in a flash and are guaranteed to impress guests or hosts. Naturally, each one contains just the right proportion of sweetness!

Baker's Profile

Chef Allen Susser

Chef Allen Susser

In southern Florida, Chef Allen Susser is known for serving guests innovative seafood dishes at his namesake restaurant, where his signature "new world cuisine" blends the bounty of South Florida ingredients with Caribbean and Latin flavors. He's also famous for being named one of Food & Wine magazine's Best New Chefs in America and for winning the James Beard Foundation's Best Chef Award, Southeast Region, in 1994. Before he opened Chef Allen's in Aventura, he worked in some of the finest kitchens around the world, including Le Bristol Hotel in Paris and Le Cirque in New York City.

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

In the News

Meet Michelle Stern, a Great American Bake Sale Rock Star!

Michelle Stern
Share Our Strength's Great American Bake Sale, an ongoing campaign against childhood hunger in the United States, continues to inspire bakers throughout the country. We wanted to share with you the story of one of those bakers, Californian Michelle Stern, who has already made a big impact this year.

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Celebrate Spring!

Vanilla Bean Panna Cotta

Sunshine, flowers, longer days—can you tell we're overjoyed that spring is here? Another cause for delight: the season's many reasons for baking. From Easter (just around the corner!) through graduations and showers, we're looking forward to playing in the kitchen and sharing with friends and families. By the way, if there's a wedding on your calendar, we have an extra-special treat for you in this newsletter.

Baker's Profile

Ann Scranton

Ann Scranton

You may consider yourself a good home baker—maybe even a very good one! But could you take on the ultimate challenge: a wedding cake?

Seattle resident Ann Scranton, 32, had been baking for just a couple of years when she volunteered to do just that. Not only did she (and her cake) rise to the occasion, she has since gone on to create five other wedding cakes for friends and colleagues. All it takes, she says, is patience and practice—lots of practice.

In the News

Sweet Rewards: Committing to Ending Childhood Hunger

Most Patriotic Bake Sale
It's shocking but true: Nearly 17 million American children—almost one in four—face hunger on a daily basis. They also face the lifelong mental and physical consequences of chronic hunger.
The good news is that you can make a big difference in those kids' lives—while doing something you already love to do: baking!

Friday, January 1, 2010

Good Morning!

Apple Streusel Muffins

Happy new year—and new decade! Whether or not you make resolutions, now is the perfect opportunity to take a fresh look at old habits and consider making changes. Why not start in your own kitchen with the very first meal of the day? Fresh, nourishing baked goods; easy pancakes and French toast; and delicious hot beverages get your morning off to an energetic start—and you don't have to wait for the weekend to serve them!

Our secrets? Do some of the prep work in advance, so you don't feel rushed in the morning. Include plenty of nutritious ingredients like fresh fruits and nuts. And don't forget to add just the right amount of sugar!

Baker's Profile

Mollie Katzen

Mollie Katzen

The New York Times lists her as one of the best-selling cookbook authors of all time. Health magazine called her one of "The Five Women Who Changed the Way We Eat." In 2007, she was inducted into the prestigious James Beard Cookbook Hall of Fame.

For more than 30 years—ever since the publication of The Moosewood Cookbook and The Enchanted Broccoli Forest—Mollie Katzen has been championing healthful eating and natural ingredients. Lately, she's been focusing on education. In 2003 she helped create Harvard University Dining Services' Food Literacy Project, which aims to help consumers make informed choices about food. Her newest cookbook, Get Cooking is aimed at beginning cooks; its 150 simple recipes include 10 delicious desserts anyone can make.

In the News

Winter 2010

Are you starting the new year with a new diet plan? You'll have a much better than average chance of success if you allow yourself a small treat every day—and that includes sweets.