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What's the Better Bar Snack: Pretzels or Peanuts?

partysugar — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 04:00:07 -0700

Are Inspectors to Blame For the Peanut Salmonella Outbreak?

partysugar — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 08:00:38 -0800

While the company behind the peanut salmonella scare has been shut down, many people are still wondering who's really to blame for the ordeal. Was it the president of the Peanut Corporation of America, who knowingly sent contaminated goods to the stores? Or was it the government, who failed to detect that the production plants were in disgusting conditions?

According to a recent article by The New York Times, the guilty party could actually be the private inspectors who check and rate a plant's food safety level. An audit conducted by an inspector last March declared that the gross facility in Georgia had a food safety level of "superior." According to the FDA, however, the same plant had been plagued by salmonella for at least the past nine months. This isn't the first known case where a private inspector failed to properly monitor a food plant, the Times reports:

An examination of the largest food poisoning outbreaks in recent years - in products as varied as spinach, pet food, and a children’s snack, Veggie Booty - show that auditors failed to detect problems at plants whose contaminated products later sickened consumers.

Although I understand that food safety is an incredibly hard thing to oversee, I can't help but feel a little queasy about this news. I hope that after such a widespread contamination, changes are made to correct the system. How do you feel about the ordeal? Who do you blame for the outbreak?

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Monday's Leftovers: Cocoa-Roasted Turkey

YumSugar — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 08:00:38 -0800

Still craving all things chocolate? You're in luck - the aphrodisiac takes on well with savory dishes like this recipe for cocoa-roasted turkey. For a Caribbean twist, rub leftover turkey thighs with a blend of cocoa and salt. The result is a crisp-skinned turkey imbued with a dark, roasted flavor. The beauty of this recipe is its flexibility: If you're feeling wary of peanuts these days, sub in chopped cashews or pine nuts. Want more fiber? Use brown rice instead of white rice. To make this dinner tonight, read more.

Cocoa-Roasted Turkey
From Every Day With Rachael Ray

Ingredients

2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon salt
3 turkey thighs (about 3 3/4 pounds total)
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 tablespoons butter
1/4 bell pepper, finely chopped
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 cup white rice
1/2 cup roasted, salted peanuts
2 bananas, halved lengthwise
Special equipment: Instant-read thermometer

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400°F. In a small bowl, combine the cocoa and 1 tablespoon salt. Rub the turkey with the oil and sprinkle with the cocoa mixture. Roast the turkey, skin side up, until an instant-read thermometer registers 165°, about 50 minutes. Transfer the turkey to a cutting board and tent with foil.
Add 3/4 cup water to the roasting pan and simmer over medium heat, scraping up the browned bits.
Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, heat 1/2 tablespoon butter over medium-high heat. Add the bell pepper and coriander and cook for 2 minutes. Add 2 cups water, the rice and 3/4 teaspoon salt; bring to a boil. Lower the heat, cover and simmer for 10 minutes. Let stand, covered, for 10 minutes. Stir in the peanuts.
In a large skillet, heat the remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Add the banana slices and cook until lightly browned on each side; season with the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt. Serve the turkey with the peanut rice, fried bananas and pan gravy.

Serves 4.

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Company Behind Salmonella Scare Files For Bankruptcy

partysugar — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 03:00:33 -0800

Not surprisingly, the Virginia based Peanut Corp. of America filed for bankruptcy last Friday. The company, which has been accused of producing the salmonella tainted peanut products, filed Chapter 7 to liquidate their assets. Plants in Georgia and Texas were closed after the positive results for possible salmonella contamination were found. Inspectors discovered the Georgia plant in gross conditions: infested with roaches, mold, and leaks.

The president of the corporation, Stewart Parnell, has turned his back on the problem, and last week authorized the shipping of knowingly tainted products. Although he refuses to speak with investigators, food safety lawyers believe that the victims of the salmonella outbreak will be compensated.

It makes me sick to think that the president of a company could willingly send contaminated goods, but I'm glad to know the government has tracked down the source of the problem. What do you think of the news?

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12 Days of Edible Gifts: Sweet and Spicy Brittle

YumSugar — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 16:15:29 -0800

During the holidays, I keep homemade brittle in pretty packages to ensure that unexpected guests don't leave empty handed. This year, I made two different types of brittle: a classic peanut brittle and a more exotic, spicy brittle with pine nuts. However, it's easy to make brittle with any nut, seed, spice, or dried fruit.
Making brittle can be a daunting task, but with a couple of helpful tips, the procedure is uncomplicated. A candy thermometer is essential. There's a limited amount of time between brittle and burned sugar disaster, so have all the nuts and other ingredients ready and waiting. When the amount of steam produced by the boiling water and sugar mixture lessens, you have reached the hard-crack stage. Most importantly, remember to be patient! Get started on this crunchy, sweet, and spicy gift when you read more.

Sweet and Spicy Brittle
From Epicurious

Ingredients

Classic Peanut Brittle
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup salted peanuts
Spicy Pine Nut Brittle
1/2 cup toasted pine nuts
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
1 teaspoon dried hot red pepper flakes
1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions

Preheat oven to 250°F. Lightly oil a large sheet of foil on a baking sheet, then warm in oven.
Cook sugar and water in a deep 2-quart heavy saucepan over moderately low heat, stirring slowly with a fork, until melted and pale golden.
Cook caramel without stirring, swirling pan, until golden. If making the spicy variation, immediately stir in red pepper flakes, salt, and nuts and cook, stirring, until nuts are golden, about 1 minute.
Once brittle reaches hard-crack stage (about 300°F) quickly pour onto foil, tilting baking sheet to spread brittle evenly before it hardens. (If caramel hardens too fast, put in a 400°F oven until warm enough to spread, 1 to 2 minutes.) Cool brittle on baking sheet on a rack until completely hardened, then break into large pieces.
If you want to create brittle pops, cut skewers into thirds. Alternate the sticks on a foiled and oiled cookie sheet. Cook the brittle as directed above, pour on the foil covering 1/3 of the top of each stick. Once cooled, carefully break apart brittle pops.

Makes 1 1/2 cup brittle of each type.

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Noteworthy Nibbles - Oct. 28-Nov. 3

YumSugar — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 14:00:33 -0700

This week is all about quality over quantity: There aren't as many festivals on our radar, but all of them are can't-miss events. The Giant Omelette Celebration is sure to be an egg-cellent time. Now that we have yet another excuse to drink beer, let's enjoy some at the Great World Beer Fest. And a festival that's all about tamales? Who couldn't get behind that?!

Know of anything we've left out? Drop us a line in the comments below!

Denver, CO: Denver International Wine Festival - Oct. 29-Nov. 1
Terlingua, TX: International Championship Chili Cook-Off - Oct. 30-Nov. 1
New York, NY: Great World Beer Fest - Oct. 31-Nov. 1
Apalachicola, FL: Florida Seafood Festival - Oct. 31-Nov. 1

To see the rest, read more.

Douglas, GA: National BBQ Festival - Oct. 31-Nov. 1
Los Angeles, CA: International Tamale Festival and Día de los Muertos - Oct. 31-Nov. 2
Savannah, GA: Savannah Seafood Festival - Oct. 31-Nov. 2
Basile, LA: Louisiana Swine Festival - Oct. 31-Nov. 2
Dothan, AL: National Peanut Festival - Oct. 31-Nov. 9
Abbeville, LA: Giant Omelette Celebration - Nov. 1-2
Lahaska, PA: Apple Festival - Nov. 1-2
Joplin, MO: WineFeast - Nov. 2
Napa, CA: Amuse Cochon - Nov. 2

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Noteworthy Nibbles - Sept. 23-29, 2008

YumSugar — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 14:00:54 -0700

This week, spice up your free time with the chili cook-offs that are setting the country aflame. Whether you're looking for an epicurean adventure at the Bellagio, or something more along the lines of a back-country roadkill cook-off, you're in luck. Check out what's going on in your neck of the woods this week, and let us know if we've left anything off the list!

Sante Fe, NM: Santa Fe Wine & Chile Fiesta - Sept. 24-28
Las Vegas, NV: Gourmet's Taste of Bellagio - Sept. 25
New York, NY: Joy of Sake New York - Sept. 25
Providence, RI: Food for Thought - Sept. 25
London, KY: World Chicken Festival - Sept. 25-28

To see the rest, read more.

Emporia, VA: Virginia Peanut Festival - Sept. 25-28
Kingwood, WV: Preston County Buckwheat Festival - Sept. 25-28
Marlinton, WV: West Virginia Roadkill Cook-Off - Sept. 26
Charlotte, NC: Culinary Arts Experience - Sept. 26-27
Irmo, SC: Okra Strut - Sept. 26-27
Los Angeles, CA: American Wine & Food Festival - Sept. 26-28
Lawrenceburg, KY: Anderson County Burgoo Festival - Sept. 26-28
Los Angeles, CA: Feast of San Gennaro - Sept. 26-28
Redondo Beach, CA: Redondo Beach Lobster Festival - Sept. 26-28
Cape Charles,VA: Fall Tomato Festival - Sept. 26-28
Warrens, WI: Warrens Cranberry Festival - Sept. 26-28
Wilmington, VT: Vermont Life Wine & Harvest Festival - Sept. 26-28
Atlanta, GA: The Great Miller Lite Chili Cook-Off - Sept. 27
Wichita, KS: Wagonmasters Downtown Chili Cook-Off - Sept. 27
Charlottesville, VA: Charlottesville Vegetarian Festival - Sept. 27
Urbana, IL: International Beer Tasting & Chili Cook-Off - Sept. 27
Orlando, FL: Festival de Sabores - Sept. 27
St. Louis, MO: St. Louis Wine Festival - Sept. 27-28
Saugerties, NY: Hudson Valley Garlic Festival - Sept. 27-28
Newport, RI: Taste of Rhode Island - Sept. 27-28
San Jose, CA: Family Festa - Sept. 27-28
Manassas, VA: Virginia Wine Festival - Sept. 27-28

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Reader Recipe: Honey Glacée

YumSugar — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 15:00:57 -0700

The other day I was browsing the recipes on TeamSugar and this one by VirginSin caught my eye: Was it a breakfast item, a snack, or a dessert? I think the answer is all of the above! These bite-sized treats - a combination of cornflakes, honey, and peanuts - are served in paper cups making them a tasty, portion-controlled indulgence. The recipe calls for a few ingredients, all of which most likely already exist in your kitchen.

To make your own version, read more.

Submitted by TeamSugar member VirginSin

Honey Glacee
website

very sweet..! Try it!

Ingredients

1 box of cornflakes (250g)
125g butter or margarine
1 cups of honey
1/2 cups of peanut halves, preferably unsalted

Directions
1. In a small saucepan, mix honey and butter.
2. Stir over low heat until butter melts.
3. Pour into a bowl (I recommend ceramic) and cool completely.
4. Then pour over Cornflakes mixture, mix to coat thoroughly...
5. Position paper cases in patty or muffin pans.
6. Spoon Cornflakes mixture into paper cases.
7. Bake in a preheated moderate oven (150C) for 5 to 10 minutes.
Then remove from oven. Let it stand for 20 minutes.

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Monday's Leftovers: Pork Tenderloin with Ancho Chile Sauce

YumSugar — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 07:45:21 -0700

If you're into bold meals, then this recipe won't bore you. The anchos, paprika, cumin, and coriander will bring earthy, spicy flavors into the mix. The coconut milk-based sauce mellows the heat.

If you can't locate anchos, which are dried poblano peppers, you can substitute ancho chile powder (not to be confused with chili powder, which is a mix of different spices). To enjoy this succulent pork, read more.

Pork Tenderloin with Ancho Chile Sauce
From Every Day with Rachael Ray magazine

Ingredients

3 dried ancho chiles, stemmed and seeded
1 tablespoon plus 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 tablespoon smoked paprika
Salt and pepper
2 1-pound pork tenderloins, trimmed, patted dry, and halved crosswise
6 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 cup unsweetened coconut milk
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup vegetable broth or water
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander

Directions

Preheat the oven to 450°. Soak the ancho chiles in warm water for 5 minutes; drain and set aside.
In a dish, combine 1 tablespoon cumin, the paprika, 1 tablespoon pepper and 2 teaspoons salt. Brush the tenderloins with 3 tablespoons oil and roll in the spice mixture until coated.
In a large ovenproof skillet, heat the remaining 3 tablespoons oil over medium-high heat until hot. Sear the pork, turning with tongs, until browned all over. Transfer the skillet to the oven and roast until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part registers 150°, 10 to 12 minutes.
Meanwhile, place the reserved chiles in a blender and add the coconut milk, peanut butter, broth, lime juice, 2 teaspoons salt, the coriander, the remaining 1/2 teaspoon cumin and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Blend until the sauce is smooth.
Remove the skillet from the oven, transfer the pork to a cutting board and let rest for 5 minutes. Slice into 1/2-inch-thick medallions and arrange on a serving platter. Drizzle with the ancho-peanut sauce.

Serves 4.

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Monday's Leftovers: Peanut Tofu Wrap

YumSugar — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 06:45:21 -0700

If you need a healthy, on-the-go lunch for the start of the week, use leftover grilled tofu to make a portable peanut wrap. The recipe only makes one serving, so if you are planning on making it for the whole family, you will need to adjust your measurements accordingly. To get this delicious recipe, which takes only 10 minutes to make, read more.

Peanut Tofu Wrap
From Eating Well magazine

Ingredients

1 tablespoon store-bought Thai peanut sauce
1 8-inch whole-wheat flour tortilla
2 ounces seasoned baked tofu, thinly sliced
1/4 cup sliced red bell pepper
8 thinly sliced snow peas

Directions

Spread peanut sauce on the tortilla.
Place tofu, peppers, and snow peas in the center; fold the sides over the filling and roll up.

Serves 1.

NUTRITION INFORMATION: Per serving: 310 calories; 12 g fat (2 g sat, 0 g mono); 0 mg cholesterol; 30 g carbohydrate; 19 g protein; 5 g fiber; 693 mg sodium; 154 potassium.
Nutrition bonus: Vitamin C (90 percent daily value), Vitamin A (50 percent dv), Iron (20 percent dv).

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