Posts for October 22nd 2009

Appetizers

Shrimp Dip with Potato Chips

From Tom DouglasShrimp Dip with Potato Chips Ingredients3 Tablespoons tomato paste 1 Tablespoon honey 3/4 cup mayonnaise (homemade, or use Hellman’s or Best Foods) 2 Tablespoons thinly sliced chives 1 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice 1 Tablespoon seeded and minced sweet red cherry pepper (from a jar of vinegar packed sweet cherry peppers) 2 teaspoons grated lemon zest 1 teaspoon prepared horseradish 1/4 teaspoon Tabasco 1 hard-boiled egg, finely chopped 1 pound cooked, peeled, and diced shrimp or 1 pound shrimp cooked bay (baby) shrimp To Taste Kosher salt To Taste freshly ground black pepper 1/2 lemon Potato Chips, homemade or top quality purchased Directions In a large bowl, whisk the tomato paste and the honey together until smooth.

From Tom Douglas

Shrimp Dip with Potato Chips

Fast Shrimp Dip Recipe 2009-10-22 16:40:00

Ingredients

3 Tablespoons tomato paste
1 Tablespoon honey
3/4 cup mayonnaise (homemade, or use Hellman’s or Best Foods)
2 Tablespoons thinly sliced chives
1 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 Tablespoon seeded and minced sweet red cherry pepper (from a jar of vinegar packed sweet cherry peppers)
2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
1 teaspoon prepared horseradish
1/4 teaspoon Tabasco
1 hard-boiled egg, finely chopped
1 pound cooked, peeled, and diced shrimp or 1 pound shrimp cooked bay (baby) shrimp
To Taste Kosher salt
To Taste freshly ground black pepper
1/2 lemon
Potato Chips, homemade or top quality purchased

Directions

  1. In a large bowl, whisk the tomato paste and the honey together until smooth. Whisk in the mayonnaise, chives, lemon juice, cherry pepper, zest, horseradish, and Tabasco.
  2. Using a rubber spatula, gently fold in the egg. Add the shrimp to the bowl and toss it with the dressing. Season to taste with salt and pepper and a squeeze of lemon.
  3. Set a bowl of shrimp salad on a large platter and surround it with potato chips for dipping.

Serves 8-10.

Poll

Would You Eat Burger King's Windows 7 Whopper?

Last month, many of you said you'd chomp down on Red Robin's Wise Guy Burger, which includes not only a burger patty, but also mozzarella sticks and pepperoni slices.

Last month, many of you said you'd chomp down on Red Robin's Wise Guy Burger, which includes not only a burger patty, but also mozzarella sticks and pepperoni slices. But what would you do if faced with Burger King Japan's Windows 7 Whopper?

To promote the new operating system, the limited-edition burger — available for seven days only — includes seven beef patties for the cost of ¥777 (about $8.50). Could you tackle this tall order?

Source

recipes

Roasted Garlic-and-Spinach White Pizza

From Everyday With Rachael RayRoasted Garlic-and-Spinach White PizzaIngredients12 cloves garlic, unpeeled 4 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil 1 tablespoon cornmeal 12 ounces refrigerated pizza dough 2 slices bacon, cut into 1-inch pieces One 10-ounce package frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed dry Salt and pepper 1 cup ricotta cheese 3/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese Directions Preheat the oven to 325°.

From Everyday With Rachael Ray

Roasted Garlic-and-Spinach White Pizza

Roasted Garlic and Spinach White Pizza Recipe 2009-10-22 15:46:25

Ingredients

12 cloves garlic, unpeeled
4 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon cornmeal
12 ounces refrigerated pizza dough
2 slices bacon, cut into 1-inch pieces
One 10-ounce package frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
Salt and pepper
1 cup ricotta cheese
3/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 325°.
  2. Place the garlic on a sheet of foil; drizzle with 1 teaspoon olive oil and 1 tablespoon water. Seal and bake until soft, about 30 minutes; let cool slightly.
  3. Squeeze the garlic cloves from their skins into a small bowl; add 2 teaspoons olive oil and mash into a paste.
  4. Meanwhile, grease a baking sheet with the remaining 1 teaspoon olive oil; dust with the cornmeal. Stretch the pizza dough into a large rectangle and transfer to the prepared baking sheet. Let the dough rest for 10 minutes; stretch again to almost fill the pan.
  5. Position a rack in the lower third of the oven and preheat to 425°. In a medium skillet, cook the bacon over medium heat, stirring often, for 5 minutes; drain and transfer to a plate. Add the spinach to the skillet and cook over low heat until warmed through; season with salt and pepper.
  6. Brush the pizza dough with the garlic paste. Top with the spinach and dollops of ricotta. Sprinkle with the bacon and mozzarella.
  7. Bake for 15 minutes, lower the temperature to 400° and bake until the cheese is brown and bubbling, about 10 minutes.

Serves 4.

recipes

Come Party With Me: Vampire Party — Drinks

At my vampire party, I'll be offering guests dressed like Buffy and the Cullens an assortment of vampire-themed drink options.

At my vampire party, I'll be offering guests dressed like Buffy and the Cullens an assortment of vampire-themed drink options.

Red wine is a no brainer: it's the color of blood. To tint beer red, I'll use the same technique I employed on St. Patrick Day's only with red food coloring instead of green.

I'll also offer this dessert cocktail. It's a mixture of raspberry vodka, white chocolate liqueur, and half and half. The dripping blood rim is made from strawberry syrup and the ingenious garnish? Plastic fangs! To get the recipe keep reading.

taste test

Fall Pantry Favorite: Cranberry Hazelnut Raincoast Crisps

At a recent happy hour hosted by a friend, I found myself conveniently placed near a certain charismatic snack: rustic crisps studded with slivers of dried cranberries and roasted hazelnuts.

At a recent happy hour hosted by a friend, I found myself conveniently placed near a certain charismatic snack: rustic crisps studded with slivers of dried cranberries and roasted hazelnuts. Despite my attempts to save my appetite for dinner, I couldn't pull myself away from the crackers, which were just as habit-forming when eaten alone as they were with a slather of good goat cheese.

After a little research, I learned that Lesley Stowe's Raincoast Crisps, as they're called, hail from Canada and come in a multitude of flavors, like Raisin Pecan, Fig and Olive, and Salty Date and Almond, and are sold at many Whole Foods stores. I tried several flavors, but the hazelnut, with its mild nuttiness, paired with the slightly chewy consistency of the cranberries, remains my hands-down favorite combination. I'm keeping some stocked to make a mark at impromptu gatherings this Fall.

Have you ever tried Lesley Stowe's Raincoast Crisps?

recipes

Fast & Easy Dinner: Spinach, Olive, and Feta Omelet

Do you live alone?

Do you live alone? Are you a vegetarian? If you answered yes to both of those questions, I suggest you consider this omelet for dinner tonight. It's a perfectly healthy and delicious meal for one.

In this recipe, the filling is a mixture of garlic, tomatoes, spinach, and black olives, but an omelet can be made with just about any vegetable, herb, or cheese, so use the technique and get creative with the ingredients. To look at the simple and straight-forward method, read more

Halloween

Vampire’s Elixir

From SkyyVampire’s ElixirIngredientsStrawberry Syrup 1.5 oz.

From Skyy

Vampire’s Elixir

Vampire Cocktail Recipe 2009-10-22 12:26:53

Ingredients

Strawberry Syrup
1.5 oz. SKYY Infusions Raspberry
.75 oz. White Chocolate Liqueur
1 oz. Half and Half

Directions

  1. Dress strawberry syrup on the inside and rim of a chilled martini glass.
  2. Combine remaining ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake vigorously and strain into martini glass. Garnish with vampire teeth.

Makes 1 drink.

News

Bravo Picks Up Second Season of Top Chef Masters

As Bravo's Top Chef Las Vegas reaches the halfway mark, the network continues to expand its Top Chef empire.

As Bravo's Top Chef Las Vegas reaches the halfway mark, the network continues to expand its Top Chef empire. First it released plans to shoot Top Chef 7, and now the network has announced that it's bringing back Top Chef Masters for a sophomore season.

The second season of Masters, which was the highest-rated first season competition series in Bravo history, will see the return of Gael Greene, James Oseland, and Jay Rayner as critics, as well as bubbly (and slightly bubbleheaded) host Kelly Choi. This time, however, Top Chef veteran judge Gail Simmons will also have a place at the Critics' Table.

Now for the fun part. Guessing who will star on the show next. Any takers? Here are my guesses: While it sounds like Ming Tsai probably won't be a contender, what about Marcus Samuelsson, Tom Douglas, Kent Rathbun, and Charlie Palmer?

Photo courtesy of Bravo

Twilight

Introducing TwilightSugar and a Hot DvF Bag Giveaway to Celebrate!

With less than a month to go before the premiere of New Moon we here at the PopSugar Network have fully caught the Twilight fever!

With less than a month to go before the premiere of New Moon we here at the PopSugar Network have fully caught the Twilight fever! We've got everything covered from Halloween costumes inspired by the Volturi, to our favorite Twilight-related products to gadgets that remind us of our favorite vampires. Of course, we're also up to the minute with all the newest photos and clips from the movie as well as pictures of Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, Taylor Lautner and the rest of the cast. Finally — we have your one stop shop for everything Twilight related leading up to the release of New Moon — TwilightSugar.com! To kick it off, we're giving away this sexy DvF bag, all you have to do to enter is make sure you are logged in and take our trivia quiz! Plus, don't miss our brand new Twilight faceoff. Have fun exploring TwilightSugar and we'll be updating all the time!