Posts for November 17th 2010

Thanksgiving

Homemade Bianco With Icy Grapes

From Fine CookingHomemade Bianco With Icy GrapesIngredientsAbout 1 lb.

From Fine Cooking

Homemade Bianco With Icy Grapes

Herb Infused White Wine Recipe

Ingredients

About 1 lb. grapes, preferably a large, seedless variety such as Red Globe, plucked from the stems
2 3-inch sprigs fresh rosemary
2 3-inch sprigs fresh mint
2 bottles (750ml each) Sauvignon Blanc
2 3-inch strips lemon zest (pared with a vegetable peeler)

Directions

  1. Rinse the grapes and pat them dry. Spread on a rimmed baking sheet and freeze until solid, several hours before guests arrive or overnight.
  2. Rinse the herbs well. Open the wine bottles, stuff 1 sprig each of rosemary and mint and a strip of lemon zest into each bottle, recork, and refrigerate for 6 hours, or overnight.
  3. To serve, set out glasses, put 3 to 5 frozen grapes (depending on size) in each glass, and pour in the chilled bianco.

Serves 6-8.

Wine

Happy Hour: Beau Joie Champagne

When it comes to hostess gifts to bring on Thanksgiving, there are seemingly endless ideas.

When it comes to hostess gifts to bring on Thanksgiving, there are seemingly endless ideas. But what should you bring if you've been invited over to dinner by the ultimate hostess? My advice: come with a bottle of Beau Joie Champagne.

This lattice bottle, which is encased by a copper suit of armor, might be the most stunning bottle of wine we've ever seen — and it's sure to be the talk of the table. What's more, that jacket isn't just a gimmick; the casing (made from 100 percent recycled scrap copper) helps to keep the Champagne colder for longer and easier to grip when pouring. It's recyclable after use, too — that is, if you can bear to part with the bottle in the first place.

But what's in the bottle is what matters — and thankfully, it's quality stuff. Made from 60 percent Pinot Noir and 40 percent Chardonnay grapes from France's Epernay region, this bubbly has a yeasty, bread-like bouquet, light body, and a zippy finish. At about $80 it doesn't run cheap, but it's a hostess and holiday gift easily rolled into one. What's the most standout bottle of bubbly you've ever had?

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Turkey: Does It Put You to Sleep?

Everyone's heard the age-old adage that turkey contains chemicals that make you sleepy.

Everyone's heard the age-old adage that turkey contains chemicals that make you sleepy. But is that really the explanation for why one feels inclined to fall into a deep slumber after Thanksgiving dinner?

Not really. Turkey does contain tryptophan, an amino acid that's been known to convert to a sleep-regulating transmitter, serotonin. But tryptophan's also in virtually every other animal product, and few eaters consume enough turkey for any true effect to be realized.

The real culprit at Thanksgiving supper is the glut of carbohydrate-heavy foods like stuffing, yams, mashed potatoes, and pie, which trigger insulin production and block energy. This "food coma" — along with what's possibly too many glasses of wine — is really to blame.

Got a burning question? Join the Burning Question group in the YumSugar Community! It's your place to post the most pressing questions about the culinary world.

Thanksgiving

Celebrate Crab Season With Easy, Delicious Crab Toasts

Ah, November! It's full of so many things to celebrate: the release of Beaujolais Nouveau, Thanksgiving, and Dungeness crab season!

Ah, November! It's full of so many things to celebrate: the release of Beaujolais Nouveau, Thanksgiving, and Dungeness crab season! Today is the first official day of San Francisco's annual crab season, and it's supposed to be a great year for crab. Although there's nothing like fresh cracked crab dipped in a delicious sauce, one of my favorite preparations is crab toast. This addictive appetizer is a great way to serve a little crab to a large crowd. It's the perfect start to any holiday celebration. The mixture is quick and simple to make, and just before serving all you have to do is broil until warm. Offer with a glass of bubbly and your guests will be in heaven. Check out the recipe here.

Thanksgiving

Crab Toasts

From Food & WineCrab ToastsIngredients4 ounces cream cheese, softened 1/3 cup grated onion 2 tablespoons ketchup 2 tablespoons mayonnaise 2 tablespoons finely diced celery 1/2 pound crabmeat, coarsely chopped Tabasco sauce Salt and freshly ground pepper 1 package (1 pound) sliced seeded cocktail rye, lightly toasted Directions Preheat the broiler.

From Food & Wine

Crab Toasts

Crab Toast Recipe 2010-11-17 12:42:14

Ingredients

4 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/3 cup grated onion
2 tablespoons ketchup
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
2 tablespoons finely diced celery
1/2 pound crabmeat, coarsely chopped
Tabasco sauce
Salt and freshly ground pepper
1 package (1 pound) sliced seeded cocktail rye, lightly toasted

Directions

  1. Preheat the broiler. In a large bowl, combine the cream cheese with the onion, ketchup, mayonnaise and celery. Fold in the crabmeat and season with Tabasco, salt and pepper.
  2. Spread a heaping teaspoon of the crab mixture on each toast to cover the surface. Broil in 2 batches for about 2 minutes, or until evenly browned. Serve hot.

Makes 45 toasts.

Link Time

Yummy Links: From Mike Tyson to Robert Downey Jr.

Holiday

Gifts For Her: PopSugar's Holiday Video Gift Guide!

Finding the perfect holiday gift for loved ones can be tough, so we're here to help with PopSugar video gift guides!

Finding the perfect holiday gift for loved ones can be tough, so we're here to help with PopSugar video gift guides! We shared our picks for men, and next up are our favorites for the lucky ladies in your life. Splurge on Fendi's must-have bag of the season as seen on Jennifer Garner or grab La Mer's wrap watches your fashionable friend will love. Get a beautiful beauty set or treat the fitness lover to a Pilates starter set. For more picks that won't break the bank, check out our video, and don't forget to watch the other upcoming guides in our series like homemade presents and the best stocking stuffers this season.

Thanksgiving

A Traditional Thanksgiving Feast

If you're a purist when it comes to Thanksgiving and want to avoid a themed dinner in favor of something more traditional, be sure to check out KitchenDaily's delicious-sounding menu.

If you're a purist when it comes to Thanksgiving and want to avoid a themed dinner in favor of something more traditional, be sure to check out KitchenDaily's delicious-sounding menu. From perfect roast turkey to chive mashed potatoes, they've got all the classic suggestions. But that's not all; the editors also offer plenty of beer and wine tips. Serving a time-honored meal with a more modern drink, like beer pairings, sounds like a spectacular way to enjoy Thanksgiving!

Head over to KitchenDaily for all of the details.

recipes

Come Party With Me: Californian Thanksgiving — Dessert

When I was trying to come up with a quintessential California dessert that embodies the spirit of Thanksgiving, I couldn't find anything that sounded delicious and exciting.

When I was trying to come up with a quintessential California dessert that embodies the spirit of Thanksgiving, I couldn't find anything that sounded delicious and exciting. Then I realized my guests would enjoy a dish that has the familiar flavors of the season but is packaged in a new way. I decided on this recipe by one of my favorite up-and-coming local celebrity chefs, Aida Mollenkamp.

It's like a crustless pumpkin pie with a classic pecan pie topping. A bourbon whipped cream is the perfect garnish to this decadent dessert. Look at the recipe here.