Little girls who look up to Giada De Laurentiis and Rachael Ray can now play kitchen with the I Can Be TV Chef Playset Barbie ($44.90). Barbie is the star of her own cooking show, complete with a state-of-the-art kitchen and workstation. She shows that even while cooking, one should look stylish and fashionable. While I'm sure I would have loved this doll when I was young, I can't help but wonder if the celebrity chef phenomenon has gotten a little out of control. What do you think?
When I saw this recipe for white wine sangria in the July issue of Gourmet magazine, I knew I had to make it. I wasn't disappointed when I did; this sangria is phenomenal.
It's fresh, fruity, and refreshing without being overly sweet. The mint adds an herby aroma to the wine, and the absence of fruit chunks makes for smooth, easy drinking. The recipe calls for Pinot Grigio, but I used a dry Riesling from Trader Joe's.
To learn how to make this divinely sip-able sangria, read more
Wall Street appeared on the verge of collapse early this week, but even that news didn't stop the culinary world. Gordon Ramsay scored an even sweeter deal with Fox, a new wave of grocery stores continued to reach out to consumers, and both Oprah and Martha were talking food. Were you paying attention? You'll find out when you take our quiz!
Hit by the worsening economy and the rising costs of raw materials, candy giant Hershey's has not only raised candy prices, but has also begun replacing cocoa butter, the ingredient that allegedly gives Hershey's candies their delicious flavor, with vegetable oil.
The formulas of candy products such as Whatchamacallit, Milk Duds, Mr. Goodbar, and Krackel, among other candies, have been changed. Since experts say that the change was meant to go unnoticed by consumers, why the copy edit? Because without cocoa butter, FDA rules will not allow the product to be called milk chocolate.
The new formula has little impact on the nutritional value of the chocolate, and a Today Show blind taste test showed that half of the consumers actually preferred the new vegetable oil formulations. Fans after the taste of authentic milk chocolate can still find the real deal in Hershey's Kisses, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, and the classic Hershey's chocolate bar. If in doubt, avoid labels that read "chocolate candy," "chocolaty," or "made with chocolate."
What do you think of this news? If you eat Hershey's candies often, have you noticed a difference? Do you feel cheated by the news of cocoa butter being removed?
Last night's Kitchen Nightmares was all about one family's struggle to run a restaurant. The overbearing dad has diabetes, the son feels like he's never good enough, and the mom is stuck between the father-son battles. Although Gordon Ramsay manages to piece the family back together, the emotional episode made me wonder how I would feel if I worked in a family-owned restaurant. How about you?
Make cooking more exciting with recipes that feature everyday ingredients in creative, new ways. In this recipe crushed tortilla chips replace boring breadcrumbs as a coating for fish cakes. The cakes are seared and finished off in the oven, resulting in a crisp, crunchy exterior and flaky, soft filling. A cilantro-orange-onion salsa adds a unique freshness to the cakes. This recipe is highly adaptable: salmon or crab can replace the cod, and parsley or mint are delicious substitutes for the cilantro.
All We're Asking Is For a Little Respect We talk a lot about respect on DearSugar, so today's National Respect Day caught my eye. The RESPECT! Campaign is adding more meaning to this important word by educating people about domestic violence. So I'm excited to announce that the Sugar Network is partnering with the Family Violence Prevention Fund to raise awareness about sexual assault and take a stand against child abuse.
Little girls who look up to Giada De Laurentiis and Rachael Ray can now play kitchen with the I Can Be TV Chef Playset Barbie ($44.90). Barbie is the star of her own cooking show, complete with a state-of-the-art kitchen and workstation. She shows that even while cooking, one should look stylish and fashionable. While I'm sure I would have loved this doll when I was young, I can't help but wonder if the celebrity chef phenomenon has gotten a little out of control. What do you think? 
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