Earlier this week, I gave you a recipe for a Balsamic Soy Chicken. I purposely made an extra serving for lunch the next day. However, when it came time for lunch, the chicken and Forbidden Rice wasn't cutting it. I really wanted a vegetable. To see what I did for my latest kitchen experiment, read more
After putting together a quiz about hot buttered rum, I couldn't let the weekend pass without making a batch. So I decided to experiment with a hot buttered rum batter recipe. The batter — a mixture of butter, powdered and brown sugar, spices, and melted ice cream — is frozen and can be used at anytime, To make the toddy, rum and boiling water are added to a heaping tablespoon of batter. This was incredibly easy to make, with a rich, warming, not-too-sweet taste. In fact writing this has got me craving one right now! For the recipe, read more
Wine is a super subjective drink; to one person a merlot may taste harsh and to another it could be full of flavor. That being said, I do take into account a wine's score when choosing what wine to purchase. Created in the 1970s by wine critic Robert Parker, the 100 point American wine rating system is widely used by wine magazines to rank a wine's overall taste, appearance, and aroma. Wine merchants often use a wine's score to sell certain bottles.
But what happens when the wine's are mislabeled? A recent study conducted by the Washington Post food section concluded that 6 percent of the signs showing a wine's score were incorrect. The Post states:
The vintage available was usually unrated or had received a lower score, though there were occasions when the actual wine displayed had received a higher rating.
Wine Spectator acknowledges these errors as a nuisance, but have no solution to stop the false advertising. This makes me question the system's credibility and in the future I may not pay as much attention to the rating. What do you guys think? Does a wine's score matter?
This week we've had a lot of tasty eats, crazy sandwiches and stars before they were famous. Have you been paying attention? If so, then take our weekly quiz! All of the answers can be found in this past week's posts, so let's find out how well you fare! Ready to start?
A baked potato is a simple yet super-versatile dish. Delicious as a side, or wonderful as a meal, they are filling and a great source of vitamins. While you could throw any old potato in the oven, there are some do's and don'ts when it comes to baking potatoes. For my tips on perfecting the baked potato, read more
Would you pay $20,000 for a pot of coffee? James Freeman did.
When the man behind San Francisco's cult favorite Blue Bottle Coffee decided to open his first café — a step way above the original kiosk — he took the plunge and purchased a $20,000 halogen-powered coffee siphon bar. The bar, which is imported from Japan, is the only one like it in the US and is really a sight to behold. In fact, it doesn't really look like a coffee maker; at first glance you might even think it's some sort of gadget from Journey to the Center of the Earth — or perhaps some weird device found on the Lost island.
However, I'm here to tell you that it is indeed a coffee maker. It uses a technique known as siphon or vacuum, where water rises from the bottom chamber to the top. We recently met up with Freeman and he and his crew gave us the lowdown on how it works. To find out just what a $20,000 coffee bar can do, read more
Sweet flavors pair nicely with pork tenderloin. While the classic pairing is apple sauce, the combination of barbeque sauce and maple syrup work wonderfully too. Cooked together with sweet potatoes, this one dish meal is perfect for a Friday night. No time is spent slaving over the stove because the entire thing bakes in the oven!
To take a look at the recipe, read more
For her little girls' birthday party, FitSugar is decorating with their favorite colors: pink and purple. Although she is hosting the party at kindergym, she'll create a beautiful and inviting look with classic and simple decorations. Balloons are festive tied everywhere and streamers are fun when wrapped around banisters and poles. A separate dining area for the pizza and cake is a must. Cover the table with a purple plastic tablecloth. Pink polka dot paper napkins and cups add a nice contrast to the purple plates. Girls of all ages love fresh flowers so fill a vase with gorgeous purple carnations. Give the birthday girls special badges that announce their new age. Finally, don't forget a small party favor. Plastic diamond rings are an excellent and affordable idea.
Here at the Sugar HQ, we recently got into a conversation about sharing utensils. I personally don't have a problem with it — as long as it's someone I'm close to or whose hygiene I trust — but I know it grosses a lot of people out. How about you, do you let your friends or family use your utensils?
