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Perfect Holiday Appetizer: Ham and Cheese Thumbprints

partysugar — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 09:17:29 -0800

I love recipes that take simple, classic ingredients — in this case ham and cheese — and recreate them into something sophisticated and elegant. This recipe also uses a technique normally reserved for sweets (jam-filled thumbprint cookies) and applies it to savory components. The end result is an appetizer that is scrumptious, innovative, and delightfully balanced. It's crisp on the outside, light and puffy on the inside, delicately cheesy, and subtly porky. Don't be intimidated by the dough, it's incredibly easy to make. I opted not to pipe mine and instead made circular mounds. Once you have the mastered the procedure, the recipe is highly versatile. I plan on experimenting with several variations: substituting herbs for the ham and pepper jack cheese for the gruyere. To look at the basic recipe,

Tart and Sweet Pomegranate-Mango Guacamole

YumSugar — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 16:15:27 -0800

I love avocados especially in the form of a chunky, flavorful guacamole. When I found a recipe that included one of my favorite Fall fruits, pomegranate seeds, I was thrilled! I served this colorful and simple guacamole with tortilla chips, but it would be a great addition to tacos and delicious on grilled pork. Each bite of this guacamole is perfectly balanced. The texture of the creamy avocado is offset by the spicy serrano chili. The juicy and sweet mango contrasts with the occasional burst of crunchy and tart pomegranate seeds. If you want to enjoy this scrumptious, distinctive guacamole,

Red Pepper Cheese Crostini Is Easy, Fast, and Delicious App

partysugar — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 03:00:08 -0800

I'm not from the South, but I have always considered pimento cheese to be an oddly glamorous appetizer. The ingredients are simple, but the flavor combination sublime. When I saw sausage master Bruce Aidells's sophisticated makeover of this Southern classic in the December issue of Bon Appétit magazine, I knew I had to make it. I spent most of yesterday in the kitchen prepping for today's feast, and this crostini made a delightful snack to munch on. It's not too rich, cheesy but spicy, and easy to put together, making it a great last-minute Thanksgiving appetizer. To get the recipe,

Reader Recipe: Chicken Salad in Celery Ribs

YumSugar — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 15:00:08 -0800

Whenever I find myself in need of creative inspiration, I simply look to the Kitchen Goddess group. This week, I came across a killer app — mini celery boats stuffed with chicken salad and peas. I'm thinking these would make a great appetizer to bring to my next book club, since they're bite sized and not too messy. Apparently, I'm spot on: Jenious says they're such a big hit at gatherings that she always doubles the recipe. To make these for your next get-together,

Mushroom Crostata Is a Scrumptious Starter

partysugar — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 14:00:07 -0800

Looking for the perfect appetizer to serve at Thanksgiving dinner? Look no further than this delicious mushroom and pancetta crostata. A crostata is an Italian free-form tart that's similar to a savory pie. The dough is simple to make and requires 20 minutes of chill time. The filling, a mixture of mushrooms, pancetta, thyme, and cheese is rich and luxurious.

It makes an elegant start to a party when sliced into individual portions and served with a glass of sparkling wine. If you dislike mushrooms, get creative with the crostata technique. Figs and goat cheese, grapes and ricotta, and pears and blue cheese are combinations that would make great fillings. To learn how I made it,

Come Party With Me: Foodie Thanksgiving — Menu

partysugar — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 09:00:44 -0800

With rich flavors, luxe ingredients, and complex cooking techniques, this delicious Thanksgiving menu is sure to wow your foodie friends. Start with brioche toasts topped with foie gras, date purée, and pomegranate seeds. Caviar with cream cheese on peppered crackers is another hors d'oeuvres option that comes together easily with elements from a gourmet grocery store. A slow-smoked turkey with cane syrup-coffee glaze is a showstopping centerpiece to the main event. Before being smoked, the bird is braised in a mixture of coffee, apple cider vinegar, and cane syrup, so make sure you have a pot large enough to hold a whole turkey.

A decadent stuffing with bacon, sage, and fresh-shucked oysters is a delightful accompaniment to the smoked bird. Sweet potatoes reach new heights when served in souffle form stuffed inside a phyllo dough. To get these recipes for the more advanced home cook,

Tasting the Tasting Tent

partysugar — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 05:30:28 -0700

A highlight of any food festival is getting to taste a bunch of fabulous bites. The Food Network's NYC Wine and Food Festival was no different, the tent featured over 50 restaurants and attracted more than 4,000 people in two days. I was a champion taster and ate everything I came across. Here, I've rounded up my top tastes.

Killer App: Grape Goat Cheese Crostini

partysugar — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 08:00:17 -0700

I have a weakness for crostini. I simply can't get enough of the thin, crisp toasts with savory toppings. Since I jump at the chance to try a new variation, I recently made this easy, vegetarian crostini recipe. The ingredients are ordinary — baguette, grapes, and goat cheese — but the results are divinely delicious. The superb balance between the crunchy bread, juicy grapes, and creamy goat cheese is rich and luxurious. This dish proves that simple food can be incredibly satisfying — especially if served with a glass of bubbly on the side! To learn how to make this killer appetizer,

Green Spaghetti and Meatballs

YumSugar — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 16:15:50 -0700

If you're in the mood for a big bowl of spaghetti and meatballs, but want something other than a traditional tomato sauce, I highly recommend this creamy pesto dish! A tasty blend of bread and seasoning, the meatballs that dot the pasta are scrumptious with the perfect texture.Both the pesto and meatballs are simple to make, but do require time. The best thing about this recipe is it makes a lot, so save some for a later date. The cream-less pesto keeps for up to 3 weeks in the fridge. The finished meatballs keep in the freezer for up to 2 months and are easily reheated in a pan with a small amount of olive oil to make crispy.

Not only did I enjoy this as a main course, but also a few days later as a delicious appetizer: The meatballs are great with the creamy pesto sauce as dip. To make your own green spaghetti and meatballs,

Smooth and Creamy Homemade Hummus

partysugar — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 08:00:57 -0700

Although I've made hummus with canned garbanzo beans a bunch of times, recently, I decided to experiment with a dried variety. The resulting hummus was delicious and incredibly rich with a perfect texture. Using the dried beans seemed to make it fuller and more luxurious than other any other hummus. You do, however, need to let the beans soak overnight, so don't wait until the last minute to make the puree. Served with crisp pita chips, this hummus was a scrumptious start to a Mediterranean meal. To look at the recipe,