YumSugar

Who Was Your Favorite Female Chef of 2010?

YumSugar — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 08:30:20 PST

From cookbooks to television shows, the nation's most popular female chefs had a busy 2010. As part of our end of the year coverage, we want to know who was your favorite female cooking queen. Share your thoughts below!

Mangia! Cat Cora and The Muppets Cook Up Kid-Friendly Fare

Heather Maddan — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 04:00:08 PDT

Make dinnertime a democracy! If you want your children to be open to trying new foods, ask for their help (and opinions) in the kitchen! Iron Chef Cat Cora shows her softer side in The Muppets Kitchen. In webisodes on Disney.com, the mother of four partners with puppets to educate kids about everything from ingredients to techniques with tips on herbs to a lesson in spinning pizza dough. She also offers up a variety of age-appropriate recipes.

Out of the Lunch Box: Cat Cora's Tuna Melt With Apple and Avocado

LilSugar — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 07:00:26 PDT

Cat Cora may be an Iron Chef, but as the mother of four, she also knows how to make a mean (and kid-friendly) sandwich. We asked the woman best known for her Greek-influenced cuisine to share one of her favorites with us. She offered up a mom shortcut for a recipe from her latest cookbook, Cat Cora's Classics With a Twist ($20). Chef Cora said, "Here’s a tuna melt with a difference: a different cheese (swiss), different add-ins (juicy Fuji apples, and buttery avocado), and a different presentation. If the weather is warm or you’re having one of those kids-underfoot days, don’t bother with the oven. Toast the bread in your toaster instead. Just have the swiss cheese ready when the toast pops up, sandwich the cheese between the warm slices of toast, and let the heat of the toast melt the cheese. Then gently pull the toast slices apart and add the tomato slices and tuna salad." This alternative to the traditional tuna melt is sure to be a hit at your kid's cafeteria table!
For the recipe,

Tuna Melt With Apple and Avocado
Courtesy Cat Cora's Classics with a Twist, Houghton Mifflin 2010

Ingredients

2 6-ounce cans tuna packed in water, drained and flaked with a fork 2 scallions, finely chopped 1 small red onion, minced 1 celery stalk, finely chopped 1 small Fuji apple, peeled, cored, and chopped 1 slightly firm avocado, pitted, peeled, and finely chopped Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper Cilantro-dijon dressing 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh cilantro 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt Freshly ground black pepper 8 slices multigrain bread 1 tomato, cut into 1/ 2-inch slices 4–6 slices Swiss cheese 4 pickle spears Fresh Lime Tortilla Chips

Directions
Preheat the oven to 400°F. For the tuna: In a medium bowl, mix the tuna, scallions, onion, celery, and apple. Add the avocado and toss lightly, then season with salt and pepper to taste. For the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the oil, cilantro, lime juice, mustard, vinegar, salt, and pepper to taste. Pour the dressing over the tuna mixture and toss to mix. (The tuna can be made up to 24 hours ahead and refrigerated, covered.) To make the sandwiches: Preheat the broiler. Place the bread on a baking sheet and broil, watching carefully, until the toast is light brown, 15 to 30 seconds per side. (Leave the toast on the baking sheet.) Top 4 pieces of the toast with the tomato slices and place the Swiss cheese on the remaining 4 pieces of toast. Return the baking sheet to the oven and keep an eye on the sandwiches; as soon as the cheese begins to melt, remove the baking sheet from the oven. Spoon about ¼ cup of the tuna salad onto each of the 4 toast slices with the tomatoes and spread it to cover the slice. Top each sandwich with one of the remaining 4 toast slices, cheesy side down, and serve with a pickle spear and tortilla chips.

Print recipe with images | without images Lil's new mouthwatering Out of the Lunch Box feature continues with celebrity chefs and restaurateurs creating their ultimate sandwiches for elementary school kids. We can't wait to serve up all the amazing recipes! Source: "Courtesy Cat Cora's Classics with a Twist, Houghton Mifflin 2010".

Cat Cora's Tips For Being a Better Home Cook

partysugar — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 13:04:26 PDT

Although she's a renowned celebrity chef, cookbook author, and only female to hold the title of Iron Chef, underneath it all Cat Cora is quite simply a mother and home cook. Like many of us, she's super busy and just trying to get some food on the table. But unlike the majority of us, she's got the culinary training and skill to do so in a quick and healthy manner. Want to learn Cora's tips for being a better home cook? She's got some tricks up her sleeves, read them after the break.

Cat Cora Talks Cookbooks, Motherhood, and Iron Chef

partysugar — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 04:00:04 PDT

Last week, before heading to Aspen for the Food & Wine Classic I spoke to chef Cat Cora, who is currently on tour promoting her third cookbook, Classics With a Twist. Although she is a restaurant owner, chef, cookbook author, and television star, Cora is also the busy mother of four boys. In fact, the petite chef was nine months pregnant when she shot the cover photo of the book! To find out what Cora has to say about competing on Iron Chef America and see her tips for cooking with children, read more.

Cat Cora to Join OWN With a New Cooking Show

YumSugar — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 11:55:11 PDT

Oprah Winfrey's on the hunt to find talk show hosts for her new cable network OWN - but she's already found one in celebrity chef Cat Cora.

Yesterday brought news that the Iron Chef is developing a show where she will travel the country, offering nutritional, cooking, and healthy living advice to families in need of a lifestyle overhaul. Shed Media, of Real Housewives of New York City fame, will produce.

Chef Cora's new program won't air until at least January 2011, when the network is set to replace the Discovery Health Channel. It will follow the network's mission to "connecting you to your best self and the world," which seems slightly reminiscent of her former role in Food Network's Kitchen Accomplished.

It'll be nice to see a softer side of Cora, after years of seeing her exhibit nothing but fierce Iron-clad determination to win in Kitchen Stadium. Does this sound like a show you'd watch?

What Do You Know About Iron Chef America?

partysugar — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 10:15:00 PST

Last Sunday night's Super Chef Battle: An Iron Chef America event starring Michelle Obama and White House chef Cris Comerford turned out to be the Food Network's highest-rated, most-watched show ever - attracting 7.6 million viewers. Since so many people tuned in, I put together a quiz that tests your knowledge of the culinary competition. Find out how well you know your Iron Chef fun facts now!

Source

Take the Quiz

Cat Cora's Ultimate Barbecue Brisket Sandwich

partysugar — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 14:30:59 PDT

Looking for a fun weekend project? How about making a delectable brisket sandwich? With its fall-apart beef and tangy sauce, this sandwich is so good you'll be licking your fingers for every last bite. Along with her hostess tips, and as part of Macy's Come Together campaign, chef Cat Cora shared this delicious exclusive recipe with us! The brisket is on the menu at her classic barbecue restaurant, CCQ in Costa Mesa, CA.

While there are several components to the sandwich, taking the time to make each element results in a restaurant-worthy 'wich that's sure to impress friends. If you start marinating the brisket now, you can enjoy the sandwiches over the weekend. Cat recommends plating the sandwich with barbecued potato chips, but I paired it with my dad's famous macaroni salad instead. Whatever you serve on the side, you'll need the sandwich recipe, so keep reading.

Cat Cora's Party Pointers

YumSugar — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 05:50:06 PDT

In addition to a simple recipe for barbecued beans, Iron Chef Cat Cora - who has her own barbecue joint, CCQ - also happens to have plenty of party advice. Whether you're hosting a Come Together dinner for charity or simply throwing a backyard bash, there are a number of steps you can take to make your party more festive and easier on yourself! Here are a few key pointers to keep in mind, courtesy of Cat.

Source: WireImage

Come Together With Cat Cora's Barbecued Beans

partysugar — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 12:50:30 PDT

To coincide with Hunger Action Month, Macy's has launched a new campaign, entitled Come Together, that urges people to host a dinner party. However, when guests ask the inevitable, "what should I bring?" the answer is nothing. The money that guests would spend on the requisite bottle of wine should be donated to the cause. Although Macy's has created a special website where you can make and send invites and put together a menu, we've partnered with Iron Chef Cat Cora to bring you an exclusive party idea! Cat's menu consists of barbecue classics like brisket sandwiches and coleslaw, so I recommend inviting a big group of people over on a Sunday for a football-viewing party. Cheer on your favorite team while enjoying a delicious, informal meal. To get you started, we've got Cat's variation of baked beans. She combines three types of beans with barbecue sauce and a touch of cinnamon. The resulting beans are my new favorite: they're slightly sweet and depending on the sauce you use, sticky and spicy. The addition of garbanzo beans is genius. To use Cat's recipe to host a Come Together party,