Ah, pie crust. I could practically eat it raw . . .

Well, okay, that’s pretty disgusting, so I take it back (sorta). But baked pie crust is an entirely different story. It’s so versatile—you can use it for tarts, dessert pizza, and (obviously) pies. And you can fill those pies with anything—lemon curd, banana cream, fresh strawberries . . .

Now that we’re getting into some serious summer weather, fresh fruit (yes, the kind that you don’t take out of the freezer and probably haven’t had since you were home for Christmas) is soon going to be abundant in grocery stores and farmers’ markets all over the country. You’ll be able to pick your own berries for cheaper than the cost of a vanilla latte, and everyone knows that berries taste best in pie!

It’s easy to haul down to the store and pick up a ready-made pie crust, but who needs that? People (cute people, obviously) will be sooooo much more impressed if you can make your own. Not to mention the feeling of accomplishment that comes from putting a homemade pie on the table!

Here’s how you do it.

Stuff You Need
To make one double pie crust (bottom and top), get together:
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup unsalted butter or vegetable shortening
- 1 teaspoon salt
- A bowl of ice water
- A rolling pin Read More »

[Ever see something you want but don’t have the money to buy? Ever get sick of studying/watching TV and have the urge to get crafty and make things on your own? We know! Us too! We just don’t know where to start, which is why we got some of CollegeCandy’s craftiest writers to share their favorite DIY projects with everyone. These things are easy, fun and a great way to save some serious cashola.]

We all love yogurt—it packs the power of protein, it tastes great, and it goes with pretty much anything. Slop it on top of some cereal, and there’s breakfast. Yogurt with fresh berries and honey makes a good snack or a small lunch. And fresh yogurt can be used to make curries, raita, or other delicious dinner sauces.

Drooling yet?

Here’s the thing – all that yogurting can get really expensive. But you don’t have to buy it!  Seriously. You can make your own, and it’s so simple! And natural! And cheap! (What? You don’t get this excited about yogurt?) Read More »

There is a guilty pleasure many women have that men will NEVER understand: handbags. As my ex once said, “It’s a thing to hold your stuff, for God’s sake!” But it’s more than that: it’s a fashion statement, an accessory, and, for a lot of us, an obsession runs deep.

So whenever a new season comes around, I know I look forward to seeing what the bag trends for that season are gonna be. While there is always a seasonal “it” bag (or 2 or 3) that generally costs more than your monthly rent, you don’t have to break the bank each season to have a trendy bag on your arm. It may be hard to believe, but there are plenty of budget options out there!

As is true with most seasons, this season brings us some new shapes, styles and textures, but there is also a lot of recycling going on. A key with bags is that you don’t need to go matchy matchy, so don’t be afraid to add a pop of color, or if you go with a neutral like grey or brown, you needn’t match all your accessories.

Bags are meant to be a statement piece, so don’t fear going bold and adding some zest to your look with your handbag – be it a clutch, tote, or, this season’s most popular shape, the satchel. Read More »

Desserts with berries are a double whammy in my book because a) they’re sweet and delicious and b) they’re always extremely colorful and pretty. Berries with Mascarpone and Meringue is perfect for sharing with your hot date. But it’s also fun for when you have your girls over for dinner. Oh, and it works well when you’re sitting at home alone too. This is one dessert that is super pretty and extremely easy to make.

Here’s what you need:

10 oz. fresh strawberries, hulled and quartered

1 1/4 cups fresh raspberries

1 1/4 cups fresh blackberries

2/3 cup fresh blueberries

4 tablespoons sugar

2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

1/2 cup mascarpone cheese

1/2 cup whipping cream

Pinch ground cinnamon

4 meringue cookies, coarsely crumbled

FYI: If you don’t want to spend all that money on fresh berries (they can get expensive, especially if you live in a city), I am all for using frozen berries. Nobody has to know…

And here’s what to do: Read More »