Carolyn Braden says "Support the Dizzy Feet Foundation on National Dance Day, July 30th, 2011."

I am learning the NapTabs routine from "So You Think You Can Dance" to do on National Dance Day. It's on July 30th, 2011. I'm hosting a "Zoolander Zombie" party that day (I am serving some fabulous food and I will post the pics after the party.) and plan to do the dance flash-mob style. The song is "Party Rock Anthem" by LMFAO. I've listed the links to the intermediate and the easier dance in case the master dance is a little tough (it is fast!). I've recruited some friends to help me out on this. Support the arts and dance on National Dance Day!


Master Dance, Tabitha and Napoleon:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4s-eH2aJU4w

Intensive Intermediate, Robin Antin (who is Johnathan Antin's, of Jonathan hair products, sister....love Dirt!):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwiqrtTBYBg&feature=relmfu

Easiest Routine: Mary Murphy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSzT_ahH5PA&feature=relmfu

Carolyn Braden Loves Pillsbury Sweet Moments

The latest yummy indulgence:



Carolyn J. Braden
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Carolyn Braden's Cupcake Cake and Cake Pops

I made a giant cupcake shaped cake with star cake pops and red, white, and blue cake pops for a Fourth of July birthday party. Cake pops are a hit with kids!
















Carolyn J. Braden
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Carolyn Braden says "Yummy Black Bottom Muffin/Cupcake Recipe"

Here's a great dessert/muffin recipe I just tried. It's from Woman's Day magazine. If I made these again, I may try using a brownie base under the cheesecake layer. The cake part was really good, but I love brownies and by adding a brownie base, it would make these more of a dessert.

1 8-oz pkg cream cheese (I used 1/3 less fat Philly)
1 large egg
1 1/3 cups granulated sugar
3/4 tsp kosher salt
1 cup mini-chocolate chips
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup canola oil (I only had vegetable oil and it worked just fine as a substitute)
1 tsp white vinegar
1 tsp pure vanilla extract

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line mini-muffin tins with paper liners. (I also sprayed the liners with Baker's cooking spray).
Using an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese, egg, 1/3 cup of the sugar and 1/4 tsp of the salt in a large bowl until creamy; stir in the chocolate chips.

In a second large bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa, baking soda, remaining cup of sugar, and 1/2 tsp salt. Add the oil, vinegar, vanilla, and 1 cup water, and mix until fully incorporated.

Spoon enough of the chocolate batter into each cup so that they are filled halfway (about 2 tsp each). Top each with a rounded tsp of the cream cheese mixture, gently spreading it over the chocolate layer.

Bake until the cupcakes are puffed and barely golden, 15-20 minutes.










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Carolyn Braden says "Cake Push-Pops, New Trend?"

Visit this website below to see a new trend in eating cake, push-pops. First there was amazing 3-d cakes, then cupcakes, then cake pops, and now cake push-ups. The trendy cake world seems to be growing and growing!
These cake push-up containers are reusable and can be filled with many sweet things.

http://www.layercakeshop.com/index.php/Shop/Packaging/Push-Pop-Container-with-Lid.html

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Update**************
While shopping at Kroger the other day, they had plastic re-usable push pop containers for sale. I thought it was weird I came across those right after posting this blog. Well, now we know, the trend has arrived in Louisville!

Carolyn Braden loves Captiva Island's Bubble Room

If you ever visit Captiva or Sanibel Island in Florida, go eat at The Bubble Room. They are known for huge portions, Bubble Bread, and their desserts. I always have enough food left over for another meal the next day (scrumptious left overs!)
Here's a picture of their red velvet cake with cream cheese icing. I had to get my dessert to go because the food stuffed me for a long while. It's the reddest red velvet cake I've ever seen but it's truly great! Their food is very good too. It's a little pricey but worth it.




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Carolyn Braden is trying an Arnold Palmer

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/tyler-florence/arnold-palmer-recipe/index.html

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