This week's cupcake comes from TeamSugar member jordybee. She's created these black cherry-chocolate cupcakes that whip up in no time. Her secret is that she starts with a box of chocolate cake mix and adds a can of diet black-cherry soda to the mix. They're adorably festive and sound intriguing, too! To check out the recipe and make your own black cherry-chocolate cupcakes, read more
Whether you live in sunny LA or wintry Wisconsin, snow makes a cute accessory in the kitchen. Snowflakes and snowmen are fun and festive, but don't necessarily have to be taken down right after Christmas. It's been snowing in the Yum Market on TeamSugar because there are lots of snow-themed tools. I really like this silver snowman sugar bowl and creamer. It's three separate pieces that stack together to make one fab, little snowman. Awesome discovery aimeeb!
Check out the rest of the snow discoveries below.
This morning I read a press release I never thought I'd read. Food Network is bringing back Anthony Bourdain's A Cook's Tour. That's right: The network that the feisty Bourdain seems to have nothing nice to say about is bringing back his original show. The half-hour episodes of A Cook's Tour originally aired in 2002 and lasted for two seasons. After those two seasons Bourdain departed from Food Network and rumors speculated that the network would never air the episodes again.
Well turns out that it was either a vicious rumor, or someone at Food Network has had a change of heart. Perhaps they're jealous of Bourdain's success on the Travel Channel, or perhaps they're looking to invigorate their lineup. Bob Tuschman, senior vice president for Programming and Production at Food Network, said:
Anthony Bourdain is a passionate foodie who has amazing stories to share as he takes viewers on a unique tour of our planet. We look forward to introducing new viewers to this memorable Food Network series and know they will enjoy Anthony's unique voice and unforgettable adventures.
Well, no matter what the reason, I'm just thrilled that they're finally reairing them. I've only seen a few of these episodes and am really looking forward to seeing the rest. If you're interested in checking them out, they're running a minimarathon on Christmas from 9–11p.m. If you've got plans on Christmas, then you'll be able to catch the episodes on Tuesday at 10:30p.m. starting Jan. 8.
It's safe to say that a lot of alcohol will be consumed at your Ugly Sweater party. It's a shindig that starts later in the night, so guests will be excited and in the mood. When they arrive, offer them a cheesy cocktail or a scrumptious shot. Sandra Lee's Glacer-tini is bright green and sophisticatedly trashy, while a Slippery Santa shot is deliciously dark and potent.
Have plenty of beer and wine on hand. Expecting a large crowd? Splurge on a keg. Champagne and sparkling apple cider are festive crowd pleasers, so stock up on a few bottles. Sparkling and still water are a must.
For the holiday-themed cocktail recipes, read more
The children — real and young at heart — are going to love this one. With a little bit of bread and a whole lot of guacamole, you can make Grinch Sandwiches. Just don't let it sit out too long, or he's going to look mean and nasty. — Junk Food Blog
After such a rewarding episode a few week's ago, last night's Kitchen Nightmares was a disappointing season finale. It was your typical kitchen nightmare with an egocentric French chef unwilling to take Ramsay's suggestions, a filthy kitchen full of rotting vegetables, moldy shelves, and an outdated, horribly-decorated dining room. The restaurant was so ugly Ramsay said it reminded him of a funeral parlor. I thought it looked like a dusty, old antique shop. What did you think? What did The Secret Garden look like before Ramsay's modern transformation?
Photo Courtesy of Fox.
If you've been inspired by all of our gingerbread action, then why don't you get cooking and create something too?! There's still time to enter our gingerbread house challenge. Read below to find out how.
I hereby challenge you to create your very own gingerbread house. You could make it with homemade gingerbread, or store-bought; you could even use graham crackers or a kit! So use your imagination, set aside an afternoon and get decorating!
Here's how to get your submission included in our roundup:
- Name you want me to use & city (so I can give credit)
- Your blog name or TeamSugar name
- Link to your post
- A photo of your gingerbread house - preferably 200px wide
I can't wait to see what you guys come up with! The full "neighborhood" roundup will be posted on Dec. 21.
The other day I was in the mood for onion soup. I didn't have time to caramelize the onions and simmer for several hours like the standard French onion soup recipe requires. Instead, I popped the onions in the oven for an hour. The whole house filled with a luscious fragrance creating a warm, comforting atmosphere. I pureed the onions with chicken broth and roasted garlic. The final result was a delicious, creamy soup with sweet onion flavor. I recommend passing the soup through the blender twice for a super smooth texture. To see how I did it, read more
I recently went to China, and while in Beijing I stopped at the infamous street food market. I wasn't sure what to snack on, but since I'll try anything once, and had a slight obsession with Survivorman, I eventually settled for a deep fried scorpion. It was warm and crunchy, with a little tender meaty morsel in the center. And, most surprisingly, it wasn't that bad. In fact, I'd eat it again. How about you, would you ever eat a scorpion?
