The Fat Girl's Guide to Living

A “date” dress by molmanik

Dear FGG: I have five weddings (3 indoor, 2 outdoor) and a christening to attend before Labor Day. Got any suggestions about finding fun & tasteful special-occasion dresses in plus sizes? Thanks!

Girl, are you ever in good company! Spring and summer are boon times for weddings, graduations, reunions and other dress-up occasions. This question hit home for me as I mailed my third 2010 wedding RSVP this morning — another still looms on the horizon — without having a clue what I’m wearing to the first schmancy occasion this Saturday.

For some of us, locating a dress we feel comfortable and confident in can be such a chore that we may default to either wearing the same outfit to every function or hastily grabbing the first option that fits. Fortunately, dress shopping for fat girls is no longer about settling, and there are scores of plus-sized possibilities out there for us to recommend, from fun and flirty to black-tie appropriate.

Beyond the LBD

Sure, every girl needs a fabulous little black dress in her closet, but graduations, daytime or outdoor weddings, and other gatherings with a less formal feel are prime opportunities to showcase your figure and personality in dresses that go beyond solid, dark colors. We found several affordable and cute dresses that fit the bill at Old Navy, of all places. Their surprisingly robust (yet online-only) plus-sized collection extends through size 4X (28/30) and includes both bold colors and sleeved, feminine looks.

Other more casual finds: Lane Bryant offers several dresses this season that play on the black-and-white, geometric trend. We also located a handful of flattering, sleeved options for arm-conscious girls. And my friend Katie fell so in love with the flirty styling and lilac color of this LucieLu creation, all she needs now is a wedding to crash.

Dress to impress

When the occasion calls for a more formal style, you can still look for pieces in cuts that flatter your curves. Online retailer Kiyonna (sizes up to 5x or 30/32) is on the pricey side, but the dresses are curve-hugging and often to-die-for. (Although seeing them modeled by the gorgeous Ashley Graham probably doesn’t hurt, either.) If you can sift through the rhinestones and Scarlett O’Hara-wear, alight.com has some classy options in a wide range of price points. We also adore several looks from SWAKDesigns. Available in sizes extending to 6X (32/34), these dresses have a knack for being sexy, yet gala-appropriate. And who wouldn’t feel like a bombshell arriving at her high school reunion in drop-dead red?

Whether you go casual or cocktail, remember to choose a dress that stays put and moves with you if you plan to hit a dance floor. Now share with us, readers: What is your favorite dress-up outfit? And where do you turn to find special-occasion style?

Last week, Peony shared some tips with us on how to have a lovely, low-pressure Valentine’s Day. As part of the Valentine’s Day fanfare, most of us are looking for a dessert that’s impressive, but won’t find us spending hours in the kitchen. This, my friends, is just the thing — cute little two-bite brownies, filled with cream cheese and topped with a maraschino cherry.  They’re perfect for sharing and, for those of you with a significant other in your life, how sexy would it be to feed these to each other?

Even better, you can whip these cuties up in no time flat. If you don’t feel like making the brownies from scratch, you can substitute brownie mix (look for a fudgy variety). No matter which way you decide to go with these, you’ll end up with an amazing little treat that’s perfect for Valentine’s Day or any other occasion. Enjoy, and Happy Valentine’s Day!

Tuxedo Brownies
(adapted from Alice Medrich’s Pure Dessert
and The Pampered Chef Celebrate! cookbook)
Brownies:
8 ounces semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into several pieces
3 large eggs
1 cup sugar
scant 1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon (1.2 ounces) all-purpose flour

Position oven rack in the lower third of the oven and preheat to 350˚F. Spray two mini muffin pans with non-stick cooking spray.

Place chocolate and butter in heatproof bowl and set over a pan of almost-simmering water. Stir frequently until mixture is melted and smooth and warm. Remove from the pan and set aside.

In a medium bowl, beat the eggs, sugar, salt and vanilla with a hand-held mixer on high speed until the eggs are thick and light colored, about 2 minutes. Whisk in the warm chocolate. Fold in the flour.

Using small scoop, place a level scoop of batter in each cup, filling 2/3 full. Bake 12-14 mins or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean and edges are set (do not overbake). Remove from oven and immediately press tops of brownies with a mini tart shaper to make indentions (if you don’t have a tart shaper, you can use the back of a measuring spoon or your thumb to gently press down the center of the brownie). Cool in pan briefly and then loosen edges and gently remove brownies from pan. Cool completely on a wire rack while making the filling.

Filling and toppings:
4 squares white chocolate for baking — 1 oz each
4 tablespoons heavy cream
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup powdered sugar
48 maraschino cherries
melted semi-sweet chocolate for drizzling(optional)

Microwave white chocolate and milk uncovered on medium power in 20-30 second increments, stirring in between, until melted and smooth. Cool slightly. Combine cream cheese and powdered sugar; mix well. Gradually beat in white chocolate mixture until smooth.

Fill a decorator bag fitted with rosette tip with cream cheese mixture. Pipe mixture into cooled brownie cups. Place cherries on top. Drizzle with melted chocolate. Place in airtight container and refrigerate for 1-3 hours before serving.

Yield: 4 dozen

Looking for more great recipes? Visit my blog at
http://culinography.wordpress.com