YumSugar

Hungry Planet: What the World Eats

YumSugar — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 07:01:18 -0700

Today is National Hunger Awareness Day and so I thought I'd tell you about this great book called Hungry Planet: What the World Eats by Peter Menzel and Faith D'Aluisio. It's a fascinating coffee table book with portraits of families, surrounded by the food they eat during the course of a week. It's amazingly thought-provoking (compare the Californian family to say, the family in Bhutan or Chad) and wonderfully interesting. There are 30 families in 24 countries, and each of them are profiled with a small story, a full shopping list (with prices) and a family recipe. If you get a chance, I highly recommend that you spend some time with it. It's available for $40, but you can probably find it at your local library. I've included some of the photos in the book, click on each one for more information (including location and money spent on food per week).

View 8 Photos ›

Images from Hungry Planet courtesy of Time in Partnership with CNN

Biscotti with the Handstand Kids

YumSugar — Mon, 07 May 2007 14:28:19 -0700

A month or two ago, Yvette Garfield told me about a new cookbook she was (sorry for the pun, but wait for it...) "cooking up." It is a series of ethnic cookbooks aimed towards children called Handstand Kids.

Fast forward to last week and a copy of Handstand Kids Italian Cookbook was waiting on my desk. Actually make that a decorative box with a smart spiral bound book (with a nice sealed cover) and a little chef's hat (shorter than the average chef's hat and meant for kids - although it did fit my rather large noggin). The concept was created by Yvette Garfield, a law school graduate with a background in international children's rights and is designed to introduce children to other cultures and volunteer opportunities. In general, I really like the concept and think it would make a great gift. The artwork is vibrant, the characters diverse (ethnicities and eating habits) and there is even a section that tells you the ingredients in both English and Italian. The recipes, however, seem a bit complex (mom & dad, get ready to help out!). Granted, there is a difficulty level on each recipe, but flavored popcorn and homemade biscotti get the same rating, so I'd take it with a grain of salt. I also question the font choice, it's "fun" but seems like it could be a little hard to read.

Overall, it's an interesting concept and a series worth keeping an eye on. This is the first book in the set and I'm sure there will be some tweaks along the way. Available now for $28 +S&H.

To check out the Handstand Kid's biscotti recipe, read more

Bella Biscotti Cookies
From Handstand Kids Italian Cookbook

Makes about 20 biscotti cookies

Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups flour
3/4 tsp of salt (sale)
2 tsps of baking powder
1 1/4 cups sugar (zucchero), plus more for sprinkling
5 eggs (uova)
1 tsp of vanilla extract
1 cup of toasted whole almonds
1 tsp of cinnamon
1 tablespoon of butter (burro)

Tools:
Baking Sheet
Cutting Board
Large Bowl
Measuring Cup and Spoon
Serrated Knife
Small Bowl
Wooden Spoon

Preheat the oven to 375° F.
Grease a large baking sheet with a light coat of burro and then sprinkle the sheet with flour.
Mix the flour, zucchero, baking powder and sale together in the large bowl and make a hole in the middle of the mixture.
Add the 4 uovo, cinnamon, and vanilla into the hole and use the wooden spoon to stir it thoroughly.
Add the almonds evenly throughout the dough and using your hands make the dough into 2 logs.
Place each log onto the baking sheet, leaving 4 inches between the edges and the dough.
Beat 1 uovo in the small bowl and use the pastry brush to coat the logs with the uovo.
Bake the logs in the oven for 15 minutes, until they are a nice golden brown color.
Allow the logs to cool for 10 minutes and place them on the cutting board and cut them diagonally into 2 inch slices.
Arrange the slices back onto the baking sheet so that the cut sides are facing up and bake for another 5 minutes.
Cool the slices and bite into the crunchy goodness!

Alternative: Add 1 cup of chocolate chips to the dough. Also, melt chocolate chips in the microwave for 1 minute and dip the ends of the cooled biscotti into the mixture. Refrigerate dipped biscotti for 1 hour and enjoy!

Print recipe with images | without images

It's a Fact - Indie Rock Hearts Food Too

YumSugar — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 06:58:31 -0700

I guess it's official, indie rock and food do go hand in hand.

Last month I told you about Dinner With the Band (a webshow featuring Sam Mason and touring indie bands) and now I'm telling you about a new book called I Like Food, Food Tastes Good by food writer Kara Zuaro. The book, which comes out today (and has got me and my gal BuzzSugar all excited), is a compilation of recipes from over 100 indie raaawwwk bands, including: Belle & Sebastian, Devendra Banhart, Interpol, The Mountain Goats, The Decemberists, They Might Be Giants and (my current favorite experimental folk quartet) Grizzly Bear (with a killer sounding pecan pie - recipe after the jump).

The best part is that Zuaro has left the recipes as the artists submitted them (I hear that Banhart's is exactly what you expect). Plus, the NYC release parties sound like they'd be a blast to check out too.

For those of us that can't make the release party, we'll have to make do with making the recipes on our own. To get started, have a look at Grizzly Bear's Pecan Pie, read more

Grizzly Bear Pecan Pie by Ed’s Droste’s Mom
From I Like Food, Food Tastes Good

Like heavily sedated woodland sprites, the three members of Grizzly Bear play forest folk that is as magical as it is mellow. In their spare compositions, breathy vocals and subtle electronic squeaks melt between clarinet tones and wind chimes. It’s fitting that lead singer Ed Droste submitted this simple and homey dessert, which turns out to be far greater than the sum of its parts.

1 cup dark brown sugar
1 stick of butter
1 cup corn syrup (look for the Karo brand-it has a blue label)
4 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 bag of pecans
1 prepared pie shell (or graham-cracker crust)
Vanilla ice cream (optional)

1) Take dark brown sugar and stick of butter and melt in saucepan.
2) Take off heat and add syrup.
3) In a bowl, mix eggs with mixer or whisk, if need be.
4) Add eggs and vanilla to cooled butter mixture.
5) Pour into prepared pie shell and put pecans on top.
6) Bake in preheated 350° oven until center is not all gooey-about 45 minutes.

Vague instructions I know, but that is what my mom said, and every time I make it, it is so good. I get my mom to make it every time I come home. Haha. So yum. Needs vanilla ice cream on top.

Makes one pie.

Print recipe with images | without images

Source: Time Out New York

Mangoes & Curry Leaves

YumSugar — Fri, 19 Jan 2007 09:48:01 -0800

One of my favorite things to do is head over to my public library and peruse their fantastic collection of cookbooks. Last time I was there, I picked up Mangoes & Curry Leaves: Culinary Travels Through The Great Subcontinent by Jeffrey Alford & Naomi Duguid. I was drawn to it because of the title (I love the flavors from that part of the world), and decided to check it out because of the way it looks.

The book, which is actually more of a coffee table book than a cookbook (not to the say that the recipes aren't well researched and delicious), reads like a travel essay and is filled with beautiful pictures. Often it's as if you're reading the writing of an old friend who's gone on an amazing vacation. A friend who's gathered recipes from cooks all over that region of the world (India, Sri Lanka and Nepal, just to name a few) and have tailored them to the North American home cook.

And although I enjoyed it thoroughly, I found that I didn't make too many of the recipes inside. This was mostly due to the fact that the book itself is quite large, heavy and cumbersome. It is definitely meant for the coffee table, not the kitchen counter. However, the recipes I did make, such as Zinet's Chicken With Tomato & Greens and Katchhi Village Pototo Curry, were absolutely delicious and I felt that the book exposed me to new cuisine experiences.

Overall, if you're a die-hard foodie, or are really into authentic cuisine from this region of the world, I'd definitely check out this book. However, if you're looking for something to use in your kitchen on a regular basis, I'd save your money and find something that can handle the kitchen abuse.

Off to Market: Beginner Cookbook

partysugar — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 09:48:37 -0800

This weekend it's my girlfriend Katie's birthday. She has an amazing state of the art kitchen, but unfortunately she's not really the cooking type. This year, for her New Year's Resolution, she's decided to learn how to cook. To show my full support, I want to give her a cookbook for a birthday gift and I need you to help me find the best one. So let's all head off to market for the best cookbook. It has to be for beginners, not intimidating, and preferably with lots of pictures. The recipes should call for the freshest ingredients and be in the form of appetizers, salads, soups, mains, and desserts. Once you find the ideal cookbook add it to the Yum Market with the tag Beginner Cookbook.

To learn more about the Yum Market read geeksugar's guide.

Let's Dish: What's Your Favorite Cookbook of All Time?

YumSugar — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 06:50:01 -0700

Since I just quizzed your knowledge of classic cooking works, I figured I'd go full circle: Whether it's battered and old or trendy and new, I'm curious to know what your most beloved kitchen book is. I have so many, it's hard to pick, but among them, I love the Bon Appétit Cookbook for its exhaustive collection of American recipes, and Ten by Sheila Lukins for its thoroughly tested instructions, as well as On Food and Cooking by Harold McGee. Even though the last isn't technically a cookbook, it's a great resource for understanding the chemical interactions between food ingredients, and the science behind various cooking methods.

What are your favorite cookbooks?

Do You Know Your Classic Cookbooks?

YumSugar — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 04:00:00 -0700

Although Party and I love to come up with our own original recipes, there's no underestimating the reliability of tried-and-true instructions from a favorite cookbook. To honor October as Cookbook Month, I thought I would test your knowledge of some of the Western world's most seminal culinary works. Do you know your Brillat-Savarin from your Escoffier? Take our quiz to see how (cook) bookish you truly are.

Source: User christyscherrer

Take the quiz

Must-Read: The Ultimate Beer Lover's Cookbook

YumSugar — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 12:30:41 -0700

Ever since the onset of Oktoberfest, I've had beer on the brain. Naturally I decided to break out my copy of The Ultimate Beer Lover's Cookbook. The tome is authored by John Schlimm, a descendant of the Straub beer empire. The collection, which took 10 years to compile, employs beer in every single one of its 400-plus recipes. To see what I think of the cookbook, read more.

Pros:

Schlimm isn't afraid to experiment with beer, and his exhaustive cookbook doesn't leave behind a single category of food or drink.
The cookbook contains well-organized chapters. Rather than dedicating one chapter to beer drinks, the author splits the drinking portion into seven different drink chapters that include chasers, party punches, and floats, and milkshakes.

Cons:

The recipes don't include recommendations for beer varieties. Would a cheddar beer soup really taste as good with an IPA as it would a stout?
Some recipes are short on specifics. For example, one sausage recipe calls for six sausage links, rather than specifying the ounces.

Recipes: The recipes are simple, concise, and generally only a few short steps. The book covered everything, including:

Breads, Pancakes, and Doughs - basil bread, buckwheat pancake rolls
Wild Game - elk, bear steak, squirrel dinner for two
Desserts - easy vanilla cake, butterscotch tarts

Imagery: There are no pictures in the book.

Overall Rating: Mixed. Pictures would have made a huge difference, but I am excited to have a new cookbook that encourages me to experiment with beer in ways I never imagined. This would make an excellent gift for a fellow beer lover.

Have you checked out this book? If so, what did you think?

Off to Market Recap: Vegetarian Cookbook

partysugar — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 06:50:02 -0700

I'm going to spend the weekend at a girlfriend's beach house. To thank her for hosting me, I want to give her a new cookbook. Technically she's a pescaterian, but I think she would benefit from a book that focuses on vegetarian cuisine. I asked you to help me by looking for new or classic cookbooks that are full of healthy, innovative, vegetarian recipes. You saved your finds in the Yum Market on TeamSugar with the keyword tag, Vegetarian Cookbook. Since I want a tome that features tons of reliable recipes, I plan on getting her Mark Bittman's How to Cook Everything Vegetarian.

Of the book, chef Mario Batali said, "everything I want to cook is in here, from chickpea fries to cheese souffles." If it's good enough for Mario it's perfect for my friend! Browse below for more vegetarian cookbooks.

To learn how to bookmark, refer to geeksugar's explanation.

Off to Market: Vegetarian Cookbook

partysugar — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 06:50:42 -0700

Later this Summer, I'm going to spend the weekend at a girlfriend's beach house. To thank her for hosting me, I want to give her a new cookbook. Technically she's a pescaterian, but I think she would benefit from a book that focuses on vegetarian cuisine. Can you help me find it?

Look for new or classic cookbooks that are full of healthy, innovative, vegetarian recipes. Once you've found the perfect book, save it in the Yum Market on TeamSugar with the keyword tag, Vegetarian Cookbook.

To learn how to bookmark, refer to geeksugar's explanation. See where I like to shop when you read more.

Bed Bath & Beyond
CB2
Cooking.com
Crate & Barrel
Ikea
Linens and Things
NapaStyle
Pier 1
Plum Party
Pottery Barn
Sur La Table
Target
Restoration Hardware
Williams Sonoma
Wishing Fish
World Market