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Come Party With Me: St. Patrick's Day - Menu

partysugar — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 07:50:24 -0800

I'm of Irish descent, and St. Patrick's Day is one of my favorite holidays. Every March I do something different: last year I hosted a cocktail party with green appetizers; in 2008, I helped cook Irish-inspired snacks; and in 2007 I threw a special dinner with blarney stone cottage pie. This weekend, I'm putting together an early lunch with friends and family.

We'll be going to the parade in downtown San Francisco, but before, we'll meet at Danny Coyle's, an Irish pub on Haight Street that lets patrons bring in their own food. I'm serving a simple, festive, and portable menu of mustard green and sweet onion frittata bites and smoked salmon sandwiches.

The sandwiches are served on homemade biscuits, and although the recipe calls for parmesan cheese, I'll substitute a good Irish cheddar. Interested in the recipes? Read more.

Yum's March Must Haves

partysugar — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 11:30:17 -0800

Although it's still incredibly cold out, there's a light at the end of the Winter tunnel. It's the first day of March, and that means Spring is just around the corner! From St. Patrick's Day to the arrival of asparagus, this month is a celebration of being green. To help you make the most of it, we've rounded up the items we are currently obsessing about. Here are our must haves for March.

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Come Party With Me: Greek Dinner - Menu

partysugar — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 07:50:25 -0800

This Friday my sister and I are hosting our annual girls' getaway to the cabin. Every Winter, we grab our best friends and enjoy a leisurely couple of days in the mountains. The highlight of the event is Saturday wine tasting in Murphys. To make things more exciting, we've decided to give the whole weekend a Dionysus theme. Naturally, I'm cooking up a mouthwatering Greek dinner. We'll start with an assortment of mezes, including Greek olives, hummus and pita chips, meatballs with ouzo and mint, and crispy cheese-filled phyllo bites. Since the appetizers are a bit heavy, the main course will be on the light side: halibut roasted in grape leaves with a Greek country salad.

These recipes would also be wonderful at an Olympics viewing party, so check them out now, after the break.

Come Party With Me: Super Bowl - Menu

partysugar — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 07:50:22 -0800

One of my favorite parties of the year - the Super Bowl - is just around the corner. While I'm not a huge fan of football, I do love game day eats, so when my friends Alex and Ryan asked me to help them host the ultimate bash, I couldn't say no. Alex and Ryan are good-looking, young, successful bachelors with only a little bit of experience in the kitchen. That's why I'm suggesting a menu of easy, fast, and classic dishes.

To start, there's nothing quite as crowd-pleasing as artichoke-spinach dip. This cheesy variation is simple, all you have to do is mix the ingredients together and bake. Also on the appetizer spread? Pizza pockets! Store-bought pizza dough makes these hand-held snacks a cinch. Feel free to change the filling to suit your family's needs.

Finally, during halftime, we'll feast on a Mexican selection of store-bought guacamole, salsa, queso dip, and homemade quick beef tacos. These recipes are ideal for the beer-guzzling bachelor in your life, share them now.

Yummy Links: From Pasta Sauce to Caveman Diets

partysugar — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 06:50:53 -0800

Learn the correct way to sauce pasta. - Chow
Does an edible school garden really affect how well kids do in school? - The Atlantic
Giada De Laurentiis is developing a cookware line for Target. - The Epi-Log
Must make: white bean bisque with garlic chips. - Serious Eats
Gail and Padma reveal secrets from behind the scenes of Top Chef. - Grub Street NY
The mayor of New York City has asked food companies and restaurants to cut salt content by 25 percent. - Eater NY
The latest trendy diet? Eating like a caveman. - New York Times

Treat Yourself Right With an East-West Inspired Bean Salad

YumSugar — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 15:00:27 -0800

I've always been mindful of what I'm putting into my body, with a focus on wholesome, balanced meals whenever possible. But the holidays admittedly derailed me quite a bit. Now, with yuletide celebrations behind me, I want to make sure that I set a new decade off on the right foot.

That's why, when friends came to visit, I ditched the restaurant reservations in favor of a protein-rich, high-fiber meal that included not only my favorite roast beef Spring rolls, but also a super speedy bean salad.

Rosemary, pecorino romano, and cannellini beans pay tribute to Italy, but the shelled edamame and garlic add a pop of color and Asian flair. Make this different bean salad in five minutes when you keep reading.

The Year's Favorite Female Chef

partysugar — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 13:00:39 -0800

With her sensual style and approachable recipes, it's no surprise that you voted Giada de Laurentiis as your preferred female chef of 2009. She edged out other popular personality Ina Garten, taking 31 percent of the votes.

Considering that Giada at Home is one of the few Food Network shows we look forward to watching, Giada de Laurentiis has also earned a place in our hearts as the year's favored female chef. We've featured many of her reliable recipes - pesto, clams casino, brie and chocolate panini - here on YumSugar, we thoroughly enjoyed her demonstration at Aspen last June, and we look forward to experimenting with more of her dishes in 2010. Cheers to Giada!

Who Was Your Favorite Female Chef of 2009?

partysugar — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 06:50:37 -0800

We found out which male chef rocked your year, and now I want to know which female chef was your favorite. Did I leave out your preferred female chef? Then join our Best of 2009 group in the YumSugar Community and tell me about her.

Photo courtesy of Bravo, Getty, and WireImage

Killer Apps: Clams Casino

partysugar — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:00:38 -0800

Although appetizers aren't the first thing that come to mind when one thinks of Thanksgiving dinner, I like to give my family something to nibble on while they wait for the big meal. Usually I serve a luxurious bite like crab cakes or baked brie with mushrooms. This year, I'm offering a classic seafood crowd-pleaser, clams casino.

Even my mom, who's not into clams, enjoys these savory, finger-licking-good, bacon-and-shallot-topped clams. They can be assembled in the morning and baked later, making them ideal for an event like Thanksgiving. These delicious clams are also an excellent addition to a cocktail party menu, so bookmark the recipe now

Cheese-Stuffed Mushrooms Two Ways - Beginner and Expert

YumSugar — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 05:50:53 -0700

Rustic, woodsy cremini mushrooms are the perfect flavor this time of year, and they make a killer app for gatherings big and small - especially when combined with the nuttiness of aged, hard Italian cheeses such as Parmigiano-Reggiano or Pecorino Romano.

Whether you're new to cooking or a seasoned expert, stuffed mushrooms are an ideal start to any meal, and many versions are vegetarian! Keep it simple by baking 'shroom caps with a cold cheese mixture, or opt for a more sophisticated variation by making your own breadcrumbs, then adding sautéed vegetables into the stuffing before sticking the bites into the oven. Interested? Then keep reading.