YumSugar Recipes

We're thrilled that asparagus season is finally upon us! There are so many different ways to enjoy these green spears, so make sure to get in your favorite recipes while this vegetable's at its peak.

Asparagus With Grated Egg and Vinaigrette	Raw Asparagus Salad	Asparagus Pizza
Pancetta-Wrapped Asparagus	Asparagus Soup	Asparagus Crostini

Since St. Patty's falls on a Thursday this year, get a head start on the festivities with some soulful weekend cooking. Bust out the slow cooker for savory corned beef, cabbage, and potatoes — and, of course, relax by sipping on stout while you're at it, whether it's in a Guinness onion soup, as an ice cream mix-in, or simply in a cold glass. Need more Irish inspiration? Be sure to check out all of our St. Patrick's Day recipes.

Irish Coffee	Soda Bread	Irish Cream
Guinness and Onion Soup	Corned Beef & Cabbage	Guinness Ice Cream

I've never been drawn to premade margarita, sweet and sour, and bloody mary mixes, mostly because I can make the aforementioned from scratch. Needless to say, I was hesitant when I heard about The Perfect Purée, a Napa Valley-based company that produces a wide range of exotic fruit purées designed for combining into beverages. That is, until I tried one in a cocktail.

If you can't locate, say, white peaches, yuzu, or blood oranges in your area, this product is truly the next best thing. Unlike most other cocktail blends out there, these purées are extracted from fresh fruit and flash-frozen to preserve freshness.
At a recent tasting, this cocktail — an eclectic recipe of tequila, apple brandy, and Campari with passionfruit, pomegranate, and blood orange purée — was so enjoyable that I asked the company for the recipe. Here it is.

Is there any better excuse for debauchery than Mardi Gras?! Get in the purple, green, and gold spirit with provisions shaped by and inspired from the city's rich history and culture. Start off your day with a Ramos gin fizz, and end it on a sweet note with a decadent ice cream bombe topped with flambéed bananas Foster! Here are a few of our Nola favorites; for more, check out all of our Mardi Gras recipes.

Treme Cocktail	Muffaletta	Ramos Gin Fizz
Bananas Foster Bombe	Vegetable Gumbo	King Cake

Of all the crazy chocolates I've seen — among them, wasabi pea chocolate and soy-sauce-flavored Kit Kat — the most intriguing I tried was Xocolatl de David's Chicharrón Chocolate Bar. I loved the concept of crunchy mixed into smooth, savory blended with sweet, and yet I found myself wishing for more pork rind.

That's when I dreamt up my perfect chocolate snack: Chicharrónes, or deep-fried pig skins, halfway hand-dipped into semisweet chocolate. The result is simple perfection. Smoky, porky, cheese puff-like awesomeness commingled with just the right amount of smooth chocolate. Any omnivorous man (or woman) would be crazy not to love this. Get the recipe now.

Are you ready to see the Giants and the Patriots face off once again in next week's ultimate Super Bowl rematch? Well, in preparation for today's major game, don't forget to pull out all the stops in the snack department. Here are a few of our all-time favorites — and for more championship chow, check out the rest of our game day eats, too.

Buffalo Chicken Cheese Dip	Gyro Jalapeño Poppers	Super Sloppy Joes
Spicy Buffalo Wings	Carbonara Potato Skins	Bacon Guacamole

As the pace of the New Year picks up and your amount of free time dwindles down, get ready to bust out that panini maker for the best fast and easy food ever: grilled cheese! From blackberries and brie to figs and fontina, it's all about the filling. Check out some of our grilled cheese recipes for inspiration — and don't forget to read up on best grilled cheese tips and pairing ideas, too.

Escarole Taleggio Sandwich	Ultimate Grilled Cheese	Blackberry-Brie Panini
Mozzarella Prosciutto-Wich	Logan County Hamburgers	Brie and Pear Grilled Cheese

Welcome back to the fourth annual 12 Days of Edible Gifts series. Today's treat: corn muffins with a seasonal twist of pear and candied ginger.

I'm crazy for corn muffins in general — I love the sweet, savory flavor and the hearty texture — but I especially love them as edible gifts because they're so versatile. Incorporating seasonal fruit and spiced with festive candied ginger, these muffins act as a sweet treat but aren't technically dessert. They'd make a yummy breakfast on Christmas morning or a grab-and-go snack for holiday house guests.

For a homey bakery vibe, pack a dozen or so muffins in a box lined with pretty napkins and tied with a bow. Get the corn muffin recipe now.

I'm a little sick of the traditional Thanksgiving meal. That's why this year I plan on serving slightly different versions of old favorites — like a turkey roulade instead of a whole roasted turkey, for instance.

Rather than the usual green bean casserole, I'm reaching for a neo-Southern riff on the creamed spinach standby, and plan on impressing guests with creamed collard greens. Unlike creamed spinach, this vegetable side isn't swimming in heavy cream; the cream adds subtle body, while smoky bacon rounds out the collards' bitter character.

But the pièce de résistance is really the crispy, cheesy crumb topping. Be sure to make a generous amount, because the more, the better. Add a new tradition to your meal when you keep reading