Posts for December 12th 2012

Sugar Shout Out

Sugar Shout Out: Healthy Snack Ideas

Healthy snack ideas to enjoy anytime Make Gwyneth Patlrow's beef brisket braised in red wine Learn a cool holiday updo for natural hair The year '90s nostalgia took over Ways to childproof the new iPad mini A look at the best red-carpet gowns of 2012 A look at celebrity real estate this year Jessica Chastain calls her Zero Dark Thirty character "a badass" Video: A chic (not cutesy) hair accessory for party season Gifts under $50 for small-apartment dwellers CelebStyle: See why Jessica Alba has the best celebrity street style of 2012 New Twitter shenanigans to know about Designer dog beds for posh pups A wintry chickpea soup recipe

recipes

12 Days of Edible Gifts: Kumquat Earl Grey Marmalade

While giving any edible gift shows thoughtfulness, care, and the foresight to plan ahead, those that are destined for the breakfast table are my favorite type to give.

While giving any edible gift shows thoughtfulness, care, and the foresight to plan ahead, those that are destined for the breakfast table are my favorite type to give. While they may not be as flashy or festive as most, I'm particularly fond of giving comforting and practical gifts like jams, jellies, and marmalades as a hostess gift, as the next day's breakfast is likely the last thing your host is considering in the rush to prepare for a soiree.

Less bitter than classic orange marmalade (and thus more of a universal crowd-pleaser), this tangy and slightly floral kumquat and Earl Grey marmalade would make for an exceptional gift when paired with a loaf of artisanal (or even better) homemade bread.

Keep reading for the recipe.

Best of 2012

17 of Our Best Instructionals

A picture says a thousand words, and in 2012, we discovered that the best way to show prepping and cooking skills is through step-by-step instructionals.

A picture says a thousand words, and in 2012, we discovered that the best way to show prepping and cooking skills is through step-by-step instructionals. Whether you've always wanted to learn how to peel fava beans, cut through a tough squash, braid challah bread, or break down a turkey, keep clicking to learn 17 new skills in the kitchen.

recipes

Make Gwyneth Paltrow's Beef Brisket Braised in Red Wine

If you told me a few years back that I'd be turning to Gwyneth Paltrow — the then-macrobiotic queen — for culinary advice, I'd surely scoff.

If you told me a few years back that I'd be turning to Gwyneth Paltrow — the then-macrobiotic queen — for culinary advice, I'd surely scoff. But today I'm doing just that (well, not asking her directly . . . although a girl can dream). Haters are always gonna hate, but if one can push skepticism aside, her recipes deliver and then some.

Handed down from her father's family (as many recipes from her charming cookbook are), this brisket is bound to be a classic on your family's table, thanks to its robust flavor, laissez-faire cooking method (low and slow braising), and a velvety sauce that begs to be sampled and sampled again from the pan.

What are you waiting for? Give this classic comfort food a shot.

Food News

Link Time: A Guide to Restaurant Lingo

A guide to restaurant lingo — Zagat Forget eggnog and make room for Mary Rocket Milk Punch — Tasting Table Yeah, so Marilyn Hagerty is guest judging on Top Chef — Eater Japan's Tsukiji market to close next year, relocate in 2014 — Grub Street San Francisco A world tennis champ purchases a year's supply of donkey cheese — Delish A latke tutorial with Old World Food Truck — Inside & Out 16 great indie food magazines — Saveur

Cooking Basics

Diffuse Heat Evenly by Cutting Jalapeños Into a Fine Brunoise

Sometimes, a rough chop simply won't do, and a recipe will call for a dramatic, precise cut like a fine brunoise or 1/8-inch cubes.

Sometimes, a rough chop simply won't do, and a recipe will call for a dramatic, precise cut like a fine brunoise or 1/8-inch cubes. When it comes to spicy jalapeños, chopping them into small, uniform shapes ensures that the heat is evenly distributed throughout a dish, so no one ends up with a cough-inducing bite. Before you begin working with jalapeños, always wear powder-free disposable gloves, so the capsaicin (the spicy component of the pepper) does not burn your hands. Now that you're hands are protected, let's get down to business and cut a fine brunoise.

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Enter For a Chance to Win a Juicy Couture Jacket For the Posh Princess in Your Life

Do you have a mini-me who emulates your fierce sense of style?

Do you have a mini-me who emulates your fierce sense of style? Celebrate her (and her excellent taste!) this holiday season with the ultimate glam gift — the ever-sophisticated Ziger Fur Jacket from Juicy Couture Girls. Fuzzy and fun with all-over faux fur and a soft pink lining, it's a Juicy girl necessity that will have her melting hearts all Winter long. Feeling lucky in luxe? Enter for the chance to win the Juicy Couture girls' Ziger jacket now. Simply submit your info below, and find out how you can stay in the know on the latest news and deals from Juicy Couture. Five winners will be chosen — one of them could be you!

This giveaway has ended.

Best of 2012

15 of This Year's Best Advanced Recipes

A few months ago, I flipped through Bon Appétit and saw a comment from a reader that will be etched in my mind forever.

A few months ago, I flipped through Bon Appétit and saw a comment from a reader that will be etched in my mind forever. The reader wrote in to say, "Stop making every recipe easy and fast! Sometimes I want to spend my whole Saturday making a complicated recipe." At YumSugar, we try to offer a mix of beginner, intermediate, and advanced recipes. For those of you looking to spend a few extra hours on an aspirational recipe that will test your baking and cooking skills, we encourage you to do so by taking a look at our best advanced recipes from 2012. We promise we'll guide you through all the hard parts!

savory sights

Savory Sight: Gingerbread Whoopie Pie

This gingerbread whoopie pie from The Pilots Daughter is sure to leave Santa happy!

This gingerbread whoopie pie from The Pilots Daughter is sure to leave Santa happy!

The gingerbread was decadent and rich, with I have to say the best creamy buttery filling ever.  I thought I overbaked the pie part a little bit so there was a little crunch the first day. But the second day, after sitting in a covered pan over night, the pies became moist and perfect.  Make this today, tomorrow, for the holiday party, for Santa, — anyone really. After you make these once, you will be looking for any excuse to make them again.

For the recipe, check out her blog, and then be sure to share your food photos through our Savory Sights community group or by starting your own blog. If you're on Instagram, then chime in on the conversation with the hashtag #savorysight.