SWEET: Bailey’s “Crunk-Cake”
MAIN INGREDIENT: Bailey’s Irish Cream
GREAT FOR: Twenty-First Birthdays, Parties

Generally, a person’s twenty-first birthday (at least in the States) is chock full of booze, booze, and more booze. But there’s only so much wine, beer, and hard liquor that a single individual can ingest… at least as a beverage.

I mean, what’s more adult-like than walking into a liquor store (REAL I.D. in hand) and buying a handle of Bailey’s Irish Cream? Answer: buying Bailey’s to bake into a wicked indulgence, of course! Above all, the best part about this dessert (maybe even better …

You know when you’re in a bind and can’t really bring that one dish you promised for the office potluck or your friend’s little get-together?

Well the day has come where I can now sympathize with others meeting this dreadful fate. It also doesn’t help that the theme is always a bit obscure – where creativity is a must, but deliciousness cannot be forgone. This time the theme was to indulge in ‘Merica with red, white, and blue foods or a plate chock full of something that yells U S of A.

Well, I always keep my fridge stocked with fruit and granola so I decided to try a little something healthy for my friends this time around.

The only thing I really want to do when it’s hot and humid outside is jump into the cool, refreshing ocean and swim until my fingers look like my great-grandmother’s. We are officially in the midst of summer so the hot and humid weather is not going away anytime soon. With extra time on our hands and plenty of available friends, what could be better than throwing a summer party? Except maybe throwing a summer party by a pool, beach, or lake. AND, why not add to all that craziness and make it a themed party - the ultimate summer …

SWEET: Summer Berries Cheesecake
MAIN INGREDIENT: Cream cheese, summer berries
GREAT FOR: Decadent dessert or date night

When I was little I could never understand the idea of cheesecake. In my mind, I imagined a pie stuffed with Brie, Swiss, Cheddar, Parmesan, or other cheeses, and then topped with chocolate or frosting. It didn’t seem right – not even to a 5-year-old from France. Over there cheese is a staple, cheesecake is nonexistent. So when we moved to the States and were introduced to such a curious cake, I refused to take a single bite. I …

It’s the end of another school year, the heat is here, the beach is beckoning, and many of us are planning on simply laying back and enjoying for at least a little while. Summer calls for cold cocktails, fruity desserts, and tropical sweet treats that come around only one season a year. Here’s a list of refreshing summer delicacies to try before getting back to the grind with life’s little chores. For now, forget these responsibilities and treat yourself!

Candice Allouch is a junior at American University but abroad in Edinburgh, Scotland during the spring semester where she loves to …

Snack: Apple Turnover Cookies
Brain Booster Rating: 6 out of 10. Sugar for energy and apples for a bit of concentration.
Equipment: Hand mixer/food processor, mixing bowls, baking sheet, cookie cutter (optional)
Ingredients: Apples, sugar, cinnamon, butter, flour, egg, lemon juice, water

Exams are one and a half weeks away here in Edinburgh and I’m starting to feel the pressure. I’ve been studying on and off for the past couple of weeks, but it just seems as though I haven’t really retained much material. Honestly, this happens to me before every big exam. I study really hard and think …

Here in Edinburgh, I am officially done. School is (technically) over and friends are leaving on holiday. But, considering that exams are only a short ways away and following that is the busy packing-crying-leaving debacle, saying I’m “done” might be a bit of an overstatement.

I realize that I have a bit of time on my hands, but I can’t seem to get myself outside long enough to do something actually productive. Recently, the past couple of days have looked like this: wake up, make coffee, study for psychology exams, make lunch, LEAVE MY ROOM (this is more …

I like spicy food. Okay fine… I like kind of spicy food. I can’t really take it when the food is so hot that my mouth goes numb and I think steam may be whistling out of my ears. But I do enjoy the occasional recipe with a strong but delicate fire-factor. On a scale of one to ten, I would opt for anything between a five and a seven. That’s where this recipe comes in. I found that curries contain the perfect amount of spiciness. They hold a ton of flavor, a bit of bite, and are always super …

There always seems to be a lot of activity around St. Patrick’s Day: the leprechauns, pots o’ gold and rainbows, the Irish beer, and of course, the shamrocks and the obsession with green. But I can’t help feeling that there’s more to St. Patty’s than pinching and drinking. On my trip to Dublin a couple of months ago, I found out that St. Patrick, the man everyone finds responsible for blacking out and hangovers, actually has a very interesting story – and one quite unrelated to all of the merriment and good cheer so celebrated on March 17. So, …

When I decided that I would spend my second semester in Edinburgh, Scotland I imagined plaid, bagpipes, and lots of sheep. What I forgot to consider was the dramatic change in diet from my first semester in Italy… Well, I was quite ready for the plaid (it’s even on all the buses!), the bagpipes (my new alarm clock), and even the sheep (in the country). But, I was a bit wary when it came to the food. Scotland is known for its Haggis, meat pies, and whisky. These three are essential for a Scotsman, but not so for …