Gumbo Mix

McCormick Announces Tamarind as the 2024 Flavor of the Year

December 7, 2023

If you love to cook, McCormick has some spicy news to share. Yesterday, the iconic seasoning brand announced Tamarind as its 2024 Flavor of the Year. Yep, the highly acidic, tangy-sweet fruit is predicted be the flavor dominating your dishes this upcoming year. This tasty prediction is based on the brand’s 24th Edition of the Flavor Forecast, its annual culinary trend report.

For at-home cooks, McCormick makes it easy to join in and enjoy the unique blend of citrusy spices with its new Tamarind & Pasilla Chile Seasoning, which can be found online and on grocery store shelves near you.

What’s more, the brand is also partnering with Black Tap Craft Burgers & Beer, a popular burger and milkshake restaurant with locations globally, to bring a tamarind-inspired menu to the masses. Starting in February, the limited-time menu will feature burgers, fries and yes, even milkshakes made with the new seasoning. Not sure how the seasoning that boasts a blend of tamarind flavors mixed with pasilla chiles and savory notes of paprika, cilantro, and onion will pair with the menu items? Well, let me tell you; it packs a spectacular burst of flavor.

How do I know?

Thanks to my friends at McCormick, I was invited to attend a lovely tasting at Black Tap earlier this week. I along with about a dozen other journalists were treated to a delicious meal featuring tamarind-infused dishes. The tasting menu included, a Tamarind Chile Jam Burger (made with ground chicken), Tamarind & Pasilla Chile Fries, and a mouthwatering Tamarind Chile Cocoa Churro milkshake.

Being a true seafood person who doesn’t typically order sandwiches, I was pleasantly surprised by the chicken burger. It was super flavorful with just the right hint of heat and tanginess. It was a delightful bite that paired well with the seasoned fries.

If you crave sweet and savory dishes with a kick, this unique seasoning will earn a coveted spot in your kitchen pantry.

McCormick + Black Tap Craft Burgers & Beer’s Tamarind Chile Jam Burger with Tamarind and Pasilla Chile Fries.

McCormick + Black Tap Craft Burgers & Beer’s Tamarind Chile Cocoa Churro Shake

McCormick Tamarind & Pasilla Chile Seasoning available here.

Besides salt and pepper, what’s your favorite seasoning to cook with?

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Category: Gumbo Mix | Leave a Comment

Calling All Dreamers!: Applications Open for 2023 Disney Dreamers Academy

August 29, 2022

Know a high school student with big dreams who’s between the ages of 13-19? If so, let them know that applications are open for Disney’s Dreamers Academy (DDA). For the uninitiated, DDA is a 4-day, power-packed event in which 100 select high school students are inspired, motivated and prepared to dream big.

From inspiring panels with some of the biggest power players in creative fields to hands-on, immersive opportunities to learn how Disney’s magic comes to life, participants get a crash course and behind-the-scenes look into the inner workings of the company and other career-focused activities. Plus, they’re given the opportunity to network with other teens from across the country in an unforgettable setting: Walt Disney World.

Yes, the multi-day excursion is hosted by Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando and takes place across its four parks: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom. It’s the place where dreams come true.

So, what are they looking for? Well, that’s up to the judges. But, they’re seeking applicants who demonstrate a winning combination of attributes including: strong character, positive outlook and persistence to take advantage of opportunities. Sound like a teen you know? Don’t waste any time giving them the scoop on this program. DDA will accept applications now through October 31, 2022. Click here to apply.

Good luck!

Do you know a teen who would love to apply to this program?

Category: Gumbo Mix | Leave a Comment

Make Mother’s Day Memorable With a Personalized Flower Delivery From DoorDash

May 3, 2022

There are three things in life that are guaranteed to make me smile: flowers, old photographs and my mother. This Mother’s Day, DoorDash has incorporated all of those joy-inducing elements into one brilliant campaign and giveaway.

Who doesn’t want to give their mom a beautiful bouquet on the second Sunday in May? Well, the online food ordering and food delivery platform is making it a lot more personal and memorable. Since last week, DoorDash’s ‘Memory Bloom’ campaign aims to awaken memories for a mom in your life with a bouquet inspired by flowers from her past. Cue the nostalgia.

Simply upload a photo of your mom with flowers to The Memory Blooms and get a custom recommendation on what bouquet to gift her this Mother’s Day. From roses to carnations, the site will offer floral suggestions that are sure to delight.

Flower Giveaway: Anyone who uploads a photo to the website from now until May 4th will be entered for a chance to win a $1,000 grand prize so you can pamper mom with everything DoorDash has to offer. The first 100 entrants will win gift cards toward that special personalized bouquet.

Flowers are always a wonderful way to express your love and this personalized approach adds a special touch that your mom will appreciate. Plus, they’re perfect for last-minute gifting!

Here’s how it works:

♦ Uncover a photo of your mom with flowers from a lifetime memory. Think of any special occasion that she will fondly look back on.

♦ Go to www.TheMemoryBlooms.com, upload your photo and fill out a Contact Us form with your information.

♦ DoorDash will then email you back with a bouquet recommendation from a flower expert inspired by the photo you provided so you can give your mom flowers that recreate that special moment in her life.

♦ Order your bouquet for Mom from one of more than 3,000 local and national florists DoorDash partnered with across the country for on-demand delivery.

*No Purchase Necessary. Open 4/29/22 – 5/4/22 to US residents, 18 & older. For complete Official Rules, see https://doordash.readysweeps.com/rules.

What’s your favorite flower and fondest mom memory?

Category: Holidays | 2 Comments

Event Recap: Kate Spade ‘Celebrate That!: Occasions’ Pop-up in Soho

April 5, 2022

This past weekend I had the pleasure of attending a fun Kate Spade New York pop-up event. Held at a bespoke townhouse located in the heart of Soho, the venue was the perfect space to celebrate the luxury fashion house’s new coffee table book: Celebrate That!: Occasions.

As a fan of the brand, I was excited to check out the event and boy am I glad I did. Simply put, it was heaven on earth for me. Countless blooms abound covering nearly every surface throughout the gorgeous townhouse. The pretty petals emitted a delightful floral scent that wafted at every turn. Being there was like slipping into a bountiful botanical paradise. The best part? Guests got a crash course in creating our own beautiful bouquets provided by Stolen Magnolia, a Latinx-owned floral shop based in Brooklyn.

That was just one of the highlights of the afternoon. Attendees were also treated to delicious chocolate chip cookies and pretty, thirst-quenching drinks like strawberry lemonade spritzers, coffee and tea — all courtesy of Maman, a popular Manhattan bakery with several locations throughout the city.

Needless to say, the splendidly decorated space was teeming with countless photo opportunities — perfect for influencers and bloggers who crave content. Oh, and of course, all guests left with a lovely copy of Celebrate That!: Occasions. The hard-cover book is a collection of essays, photos, advice and how-tos about living life to the fullest and celebrating life’s occasions.

Always eager to celebrate memorable moments, big or small — this event inspired me to take time for myself and celebrate being ME.

What was the last thing you celebrated?

Category: Books, Gumbo Mix | 7 Comments

How to Make a Candy Cake Tower for Birthdays or Special Events

February 10, 2022

My daughter, Ava, has been allergic to eggs all her life. I remember the first time she tasted scrambled eggs — I was so excited to feed her something new. Little did I know that she would break out in hives immediately following those first few bites. Fast forward 12 years later and my baby girl still can’t eat them. Not even in baked goods. Needless to say, she has never had her own birthday cake. I know, I know… I could’ve given her a vegan option, but she was never interested. Well, this year I took matters into my own hands and made her a cake that I knew she’d love — one made out of candy!

I got the idea of making a candy cake tower after seeing one online at Dylan’s Candy Bar. Being a crafty and creative person, I thought it would be a lot more fun to make my own. Plus, it would give me the opportunity to customize her cake with some of her favorite sweet treats. To say I had a blast shopping and putting her candy cake together would be an understatement!

My hard work and passion paid off — Ava absolutely loved it! In fact, she and her brother MJ couldn’t believe that I made it. They were beyond impressed and in complete awe of the confectionery wonder.

It was such a big hit, I thought I’d share how I made it with you guys. Below, please find the simple step-by-step instructions and materials you’ll need to make your own candy cake tower!

Materials you’ll need:

Candy (all your child’s favorites)
3-piece round cake foams (I purchased mine from Amazon)
Large piece of cardboard
Hot glue gun
1 Paper towel roll
Scissors
Ribbon
“Happy Birthday” cake topper

Instructions:

Step 1: Plug in your hot glue gun.

Step 2: Sort your candy.

Step 3: Cut out a large circular piece of cardboard (Ideally 12-14 inches).

Step 4: Cut one paper towel roll in half (you’ll need two halves or you can use two toilet paper rolls).

Step 5: Glue the large cake foam onto the cardboard.

Step 6: Wrap decorative ribbon around the paper rolls; covering them entirely. Glue the remaining ribbon piece to keep in place.

Step 7: Glue one of the paper rolls onto the largest cake foam.

Step 8: Place the medium size cake foam on top of the paper roll.

Step 9: Glue the other paper roll on top of the medium size cake foam.

Step 10: Place the small size cake foam on top of the paper roll.

Step 11: Start glueing your preferred pieces of candy to the cardboard because this will be used as the decorative base.

Step 12: Affix your candy onto the tower by working your way from bottom to top.

Step 13: Insert lollipops and cake topper into the top cake dummy for an eye-catching centerpiece.

Have you ever made a candy cake? If not, would you?

Category: Arts & Crafts, Featured, Food, Gumbo Mix | 5 Comments

Summer Fun: 5 Cool New Toys and Games to Keep Kids Engaged and Entertained

June 30, 2020

Now that summer is officially underway, it’s time for the little ones in your life to cash in on some serious fun. It’s been a brutal spring for everyone as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, but things are finally starting to look up. What better way to celebrate the end of being cooped up indoors for months on end than checking out a few cool new toys and exciting online learning activities?

I’ve rounded up some of the best to keep your kids engaged and entertained all summer long.

The Fairy Light Garden

Does your child have a green thumb? If so, this Fairy Light Garden is the perfect just-because gift for your budding gardener. It blends the beauty of play while embracing nature, providing children with a connection to the environment and a sense of responsibility. The adorable playset comes with seeds for them to plant, as well as a toy fairy, working water wheel, make-believe swans and light-up mushroom house that doubles as a night light. As the seeds sprout and blossom, children will have fun nurturing and using their imaginations to bring their enchanted garden to life!

Available at Tahoe Toys & Treasures, $30.

Phlat Ball V3

The game of catch just got a major upgrade! Throw the Phlat Ball V3 and transform the fun of tossing. Your family will have a ball watching this frisbee-like saucer turn into a bouncing ball in mid-air thanks to the variable-release technology. Kids will get a kick out of the spontaneity of the disc springing back into a catchable ball. Plus, its flat design make it simple to store in a backpack or suitcase for easy travel.

Available here, $13.

Rubik’s Revolution

If you were an ‘80s baby and ‘90s kid, chances are you’re pretty familiar with the classic Rubik’s cube. Well, the quintessential brain game is back and better than ever. Rubik’s Revolution offers six fast-paced, multi-level electronic games with cool sound effects and flashing lights that’ll put your kid’s skills to the test and keep them playing for hours. Bring on the nostalgia and get in on the fun too!

Available here, $20.

JumpStart Academy Math

Sure, remote learning had its challenges, but teachers, parents and students made it through! With the uncertainty of schools re-opening in the fall, it’s a safe bet to keep your child familiar and with online learning tools like JumpStart Academy Math. This award-wining individualized online program specializes in enriching math games and activities for children in grades K-6. Parents can assign math lessons suitable for their child’s academic level or have their kids independently progress through a series of practice levels across four math domains. This is the perfect way to help kids avoid summer brain drain while mastering core math concepts.

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For more information, please visit JumpStart Academy.

Dino Crunch Game

You probably never thought having your hand snapped by a roaring T-Rex could be loads of fun, right? Well, Goliath’s new Dino Crunch game makes it all the rage! Players must rescue stolen eggs from the hungry, pre-historic creature, but they better be fast. Great for children ages four and up, this intense game is endless fun for the entire family.

Available here, $20

How are you keeping your kids engaged throughout the summer?

Category: Arts and Entertainment, Gumbo Mix | 1 Comment

See Cities Like Never Before with Go City Explorer Pass

October 29, 2019

When I moved to New York City way back in 2003, I never thought I’d still live here 16 years later. After becoming a mom, I made it my mission to show my two children as many of the city’s top sights and cultural attractions that the Big Apple has to offer.

Throughout the years, I’ve taken them to quintessential places around the city like Ellis Island, the American Museum of Natural History and a host of others, but there were three iconic spots we’d yet to visit: the Empire State Building, Luna Park during Halloween Harvest and the Top of the Rock at Rockefeller Center.

That all changed when we got the opportunity to check out the Go City New York Explorer pass. The super cost-effective pass gives tourists and locals alike, the keys to more than 20 cities including New York, Dubai, Chicago, Las Vegas, Sydney and New Orleans. With seemingly limitless possibilities at your fingertips, you can choose packages for 3, 4, 5, 7, or 10 attractions. Plus, it’s super easy and can be downloaded straight to your smartphone. The best part? You can visit any of the attractions at your leisure within 30 days after the first attraction has been activated. This alleviates the pressure of trying to squeeze everything into one day.

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Our visit to the Empire State Building using the Go City Explorer pass in New York City.

With the New York City pass, those interested in seeing the Empire State Building have an incredible bonus on Tuesdays and Thursdays: exclusive early access before it opens to the public! We experienced this remarkable perk and we couldn’t have been more pleased. No crowds and no hustle and bustle so we could enjoy our time and take it all in virtually uninterrupted. I’ll never forget my kids’ excitement when we finally arrived at the top. It was a priceless moment that I won’t soon forget.

We also had the chance to visit Luna Park at Coney Island for our first visit during Harvest Fest. Having access to 24 unlimited rides was a dream come true. They rode their favorite rollercoasters, swings and rides over and over again. We’ve gone to Coney Island plenty of times in the past, but our Go City pass provided a once-in-a-lifetime experience that my kids were so grateful to have.

Our visit to Luna Park at Coney Island during Halloween Harvest in Brooklyn.

Our visit to the Empire State Building using the Go City Explorer pass in New York City.

Our visit to Luna Park at Coney Island during Halloween Harvest in Brooklyn.

Finally, within 30 days of our first pass activation, we made our way to the Top of the Rock. While the pass didn’t provide early access like the Empire State Building, it did have one major advantage: breathtaking views of the Empire State Building!

Our visit to the Top of the Rock at Rockefeller Center using our Go City Explorer pass in New York City.

Our visit to the Top of the Rock at Rockefeller Center using the Go City Explorer pass in New York City.

Whether you enjoy bike rides, museums, skyscrapers, landmarks, walking tours or something in between, the Go City Explorer pass is your ticket to countless memories. Even if you call the city home or if you’re traveling abroad, your pass grants you access to a world of discovery.

For passes and more information, please visit Go City.