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Fast & Easy Dinner: Chicken Enchiladas

partysugar — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 08:00:09 -0700

Although chicken enchiladas can sometimes be heavy, this recipe lightens the classic Tex-Mex favorite. The filling is a mixture of mushrooms, red peppers, onions, fresh herbs, and sautéed chicken chunks. Skim-milk ricotta cheese binds the stuffing together, and whole-wheat tortillas make the meal more fit-friendly. To save time, use a store-bought enchilada sauce. For a fiesta-inspired feast, serve with guacamole, sour cream, and salsa. Get the uncomplicated recipe by reading more.

Come Party With Me: Half-Birthday Housewarming - Drinks

partysugar — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 15:00:31 -0700

If I had to choose one thing to drink for the rest of my life, I would select sparkling wine. I cannot get enough bubbles! Naturally, I'll be pouring it at my half-birthday housewarming. Since I'm guessing a lot of guests will show up with a bottle of bubbly in tow, I'll be whipping up this elegant blissini. It's like a mimosa, but with pomegranate juice. The addition of mint takes this effervescent drink from morning to night.

Get the easy recipe after the break.

Fast & Easy Dinner: Spicy Tofu Bento Bowl

partysugar — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 12:50:02 -0700

After overindulging on pub favorites and loads of beer, tonight keep things light and healthy with a vegetarian meal that's full of crunchy veggies. The spicy tofu is seasoned and seared with a sauce made from sesame oil and soy sauce. The mixture sits on a bed of brown rice, baby greens, shredded carrots, sliced cucumbers, and creamy avocado. A sprinkling of toasted sesame seeds is the finishing touch that gives this salad an exotic flair.

Pack up the leftovers and enjoy for lunch tomorrow. Get the recipe when you read more.

Spicy Tofu Bento Bowl
From Vegetarian Times

Ingredients

For the Tofu:
1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
1/4 cup chile-garlic sauce
2 Tbs. dark sesame oil
14 oz. extra-firm tofu, drained and cubed
5 green onions, finely chopped (1/2 cup)
1/4 cup nonfat yogurt
2 Tbs. lemon juice
For the Salad:
1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
2 Tbs. lemon juice
1 Tbs. minced fresh ginger
1 tsp. chile-garlic sauce
2 cups cooked short-grain brown rice
4 1/2 cups mixed baby greens
2 carrots, peeled
1 cucumber, sliced (1 1/2 cups)
1 avocado, peeled and sliced
1 Tbs. toasted sesame seeds

Directions

To make Spicy Tofu: Whisk together soy sauce, chile-garlic sauce, and sesame oil in bowl.
Heat skillet over medium heat. Dip tofu in soy sauce mixture; cook 10 minutes, or until browned. Cool 10 minutes.
Add green onions, yogurt, and lemon juice to remaining chile mixture. Toss with tofu.
To make Salad: Whisk together soy sauce, lemon juice, ginger, and chile-garlic sauce in bowl.
Mound rice in serving bowls. Top with greens. Shave carrot strips over top with vegetable peeler. Top with tofu, cucumber, and avocado. Sprinkle with sesame seeds; serve with soy sauce mixture.

Serves 6.

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Celebrate Spring With Easy, Creamy Asparagus Pasta

partysugar — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 09:00:15 -0700

When I'm in a hurry to eat dinner, I always turn to pasta. In the time it takes to boil the pasta, I can make a quick and flavorful sauce. This recipe is one of my go-to favorites for March because it highlights the pure, clean deliciousness of asparagus. There's no cream in the sauce - the smooth richness is from tangy goat cheese. Fresh lemon zest brightens the whole dish, making a bowl of it feel like a breath of warm Spring air. It's super easy and the perfect light meal, so get the recipe and read more.

Pasta With Goat Cheese, Lemon, and Asparagus
From Bon Appétit

Ingredients

1 pound fusilli or rotini (spiral-shaped pasta)
1 pound slender asparagus spears, trimmed, cut into 1- to 1 1/2-inch pieces
1/4 cup olive oil
1 tablespoon finely grated lemon peel
2 teaspoons chopped fresh tarragon plus sprigs for garnish
1 5-to 5 1/2-ounce log soft fresh goat cheese

Directions

Cook pasta in large pot of boiling salted water until almost tender, stirring occasionally, about 7 minutes.
Add asparagus and cook until pasta is tender but still firm to bite, about 3 minutes longer.
Meanwhile, combine oil, lemon peel, and chopped tarragon in large bowl. Coarsely crumble in goat cheese.
Drain pasta and asparagus, reserving 1 cup cooking liquid. Add hot pasta, asparagus, and 1/4 cup reserved cooking liquid to bowl with cheese mixture. Toss to coat, adding more reserved liquid if dry. Season pasta to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer to shallow platter. Garnish with tarragon sprigs.

Serves 6.

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Make Your Own Irish Cream

partysugar — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 16:15:03 -0700

If getting drunk in a bar while stumbling around in crazy green clothing isn't your idea of fun, I have a great way for you to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. Make your own Irish cream! More commonly known as Baileys, this rich, smooth, and delicious liquor can easily be made in the comforts of your kitchen. The recipe, which requires a blender, is similar to egg nog in that it combines a potent spirit (Irish whiskey) with eggs, cream, and seasonings like vanilla and coconut extracts. For a delightful after-dinner drink, serve chilled over ice. Homemade Baileys is also a festive gift - I've brought bottles to hostesses and always receive enthusiastic reviews. Get the simple, but fantastic recipe.

Come Party With Me: Half-Birthday Housewarming - Dessert

partysugar — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 12:50:34 -0700

The theme for the cuisine at my half-birthday housewarming is Italian. I'm serving a spread of store bought and homemade goodies and naturally, one sweet treat. Classic tiramisu is my favorite Italian dessert, but it's not too cocktail party friendly. I don't want to worry about slicing, plating, and serving it with utensils.

Luckily, Martha Stewart has come up with a clever solution to my problem: tiramisu cupcakes! The batter is light and fluffy like ladyfingers, and the frosting is a whipped confection made with mascarpone cheese. To get the recipe, which must be made in advance, keep reading.

Fast & Easy Dinner: Corned-Beef Hash

partysugar — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 07:50:55 -0700

Ever since I was little and my mom would make "breakfast for dinner," I've been a fan of enjoying classic breakfast items at night.

Today, to celebrate St. Patrick's Day, why not make the hearty brunch favorite known as corned beef hash? It's traditional meat and potatoes at its best, and when topped with a perfectly poached egg, it makes a fine meal.

Serve with a cold beer and mixed greens for a festive and satisfying dinner. Get the speedy recipe after the jump.

Colcannon Two Ways - Beginner and Expert

YumSugar — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 05:50:46 -0700

Even if you don't have plans to throw a St. Patrick's Day bash, you can still celebrate in your own low-key way. As part of dinner, serve colcannon, an Irish peasant dish of potatoes mashed with leeks, cabbage, and kale. It's a basic, comforting, and traditional staple of Ireland that's easy to prepare with a festive, verdant hue. For a rustic variation, mash potatoes together with sautéed vegetables and aromatics. To step it up, run potatoes through a ricer for a weightless, soufflélike texture. Then, foil that with bits of bacon that have been cooked until crisp. Get your green spirit on with either recipe and read more.

Strike Gold With Corned Beef-and-Cabbage Pizza

YumSugar — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 15:00:09 -0700

I said it before, and I'll say it again. One can never have too much corned beef - especially if that corned beef is almost laughably easy to make in the slow cooker, and you can use the leftovers for craveworthy corned beef and fontina grilled cheeses. Yet as good as the corned beef is alone and in a toasted sandwich, I think I've found its best application yet: as the costar of corned-beef-and-cabbage pizza.

I began by making a basic pizza dough from scratch, then I loaded it with crisp slivers of potato, savory corned beef, sweet cabbage, and three types of cheese, for a sensory trip that was exotic, yet familiar at the same time. Trust me, this pizza wound up being my bona fide pot o' gold at the end of the corned beef rainbow! For the easy recipe, read more.

Fast & Easy Dinner: Spinach-Orzo Salad With Shrimp

partysugar — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 11:30:47 -0700

With Spring just around the corner, I can't help but crave green dishes like this orzo salad chock full of spinach and crunchy vegetables. Thanks to a light and lemony vinaigrette and a dose of protein from broiled shrimp, it's a healthy and hearty meal. Although many people think of salad as a side dish, this one is so filling and flavorful it stands alone. Get the uncomplicated recipe after the break.