Welcome to the weekend! Enjoy this calm in between holiday storms!

Before I share my favorite online food stuff of the week, I just have to ask… What the Hell is This?

I saw them in the produce section of my Vons yesterday and they scared me. Apparently, they’re called Grapples (pronounced grape-els) and the label says: “Looks like an apple, tastes like a grape!” Why can’t humans just leave food alone and let it be! Anyone tried these before?

Most Intriguing Recipes

All I can see about The Domestic Goddess’s Rosette cookies is… Holy Crap!

Will Catherine’s Butternut Squash and Spinach Risotto recipe finally get me to create the risotto I’ve been dreaming of making for months? Remember when I bought that risotto spoon back in September? Well, it’s still unused. What is my problem?

My husband just asked me tonight if I would make him some Candied Nuts soon. Thanks for the recipe, Messy Cucina!

Wowza! This Baked Brie en Croute sounds like an amazing idea, especially because it’s so easy but looks very impressive to guests.

And here’s a personal cooking tip from me to you… I have often bought Honey Walnut Cream Cheese from the bagel shop. But recently, I realized that it is super-easy (and has less additives) if I just made it myself. So I take a heaping spoonful of whipped cream cheese, add some small walnut pieces and a little raw honey and voila! This tip didn’t merit a whole post, so I just thought I’d include it here. Obviously you could do this with all of your favorite cream cheese ingredients.

From the Food Blogosphere

I think this is one online food event that I could actually excel at! It’s called My Blog Went Up in Flames! And the concept is that everyone shares their most disastrous, ugly, unattractive food photo. Now that’s a twist! Entries are due tomorrow (Sunday) if you’re interested.

And for the Vegas, Baby event, we all have permission to indulge in those insanely delicious foods that we usually deny ourselves. What a great idea!

If you have a food blog, consider helping out Robyn from The Girl Who Ate Everything. She’s studying food in school and is putting together an essay on the food blogging phenomenon. Basically, she’s discussing how food blogs give non-professionals a voice on cuisine and also offer an alternative to the perfect glossiness of food magazines. Let her know your thoughts and help out a friendly food-loving student!