YumSugar

Off to Market: Picnic Gear

partysugar — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 03:00:12 -0700

Picnic season is in full swing and if you plan on packing a meal and heading to a local park, you'll need the proper picnic gear. From a basket to a blanket, planning a picnic requires the essential tools. To ensure that everyone hosts fabulous picnics, let's head off to market in search of the most perfect picnic gear. Look for picnic baskets, plastic serving ware, and anything else - like this canvas wine tote ($39.00) - in between. Bookmark your discoveries in the Yum Market on TeamSugar with the keyword tag, Picnic Gear.

Happy hunting!

Geeksugar has created an explanation on how TeamSugar's bookmarking feature works so check it out if you are feeling confused.

For a list of my favorite places to shop online, 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

Off To Market Recap: Picnic Basket

partysugar — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 15:51:31 -0700

At the end of April, I will be attending a picnic down in Bakersfield on a friend's family ranch. Every April Laura and her family invite all of their friends out to their ranch for some frolicking in the sun, and every August they invite the same people to a reggae party at their beach house on the strip in Hermosa. Last August I spent the weekend at their house and had the most amazing time. So much so that I do not want to show up empty handed to their picnic. That's why I asked you to search the web for the perfect picnic basket. You saved your baskets in the Yum Market on TeamSugar with the keyword tag Picnic Basket. Here are the baskets that I think the Cattani family would enjoy the most:

How cool is this backpack picnic basket that SU3 found? Part basket, part backpack, part cooler, this unique and functional rattan food transporter takes picnicking to a whole new chic level. Includes an insulated wine tote, food compartment and blanket holder.

Two more so read more

SU3 certainly shined in her search for the ultimate picnic basket. She not only found a suitable basket for their ranch house, but she found one that they can use at the beach house as well! Its low height and wide body make it ideal for carrying bottles, blankets, and snacks. Don't like the turquoise water print? Lucky you, it comes in two other prints.

I saved the picnic basket I secretly want to buy myself for last. DesignRchic discovered this mini grill in cooler bag. Now you can tailgate with ease whenever you want (at the ranch, on the beach, near a lake, etc.) and have a hot dog and a cold beer at your finger tips all in one portable handbag.

Thanks for helping me out girls! Read geeksugar's explanation to understand the Yum Market.

Off To Market: Picnic Basket

partysugar — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 09:48:32 -0700

At the end of April, I am heading down to Bakersfield for the Cattani family's annual Spring picnic. My girlfriend Laura and her family are people after my own heart, they know how to throw one fabulous party. Every April they invite all of their friends out to their ranch for some frolicking in the sun and every August they invite the same people to a reggae party at their beach house on the strip in Hermosa. Last August I spent the weekend at their house and had the most amazing time. So much so that I do not want to show up empty handed to their picnic. I want to get them a wonderful gift to thank them for inviting me to the parties and was thinking what could be more fitting than a picnic basket? I need you to help me find the most perfect picnic basket. Please save your finds in the Yum Market with the keyword tag Picnic Basket. I look forwarding to checking out what you find.

Read geeksugar's explanation to understand the Yum Market.

Off to Market Recap: Picnic Gear

partysugar — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 03:00:23 -0700

Picnic season is in full swing and if you plan on packing a meal and heading to a local park, you'll need the proper picnic gear. From a basket to a blanket, planning a picnic requires the essential tools. To ensure that everyone hosts fabulous picnics, you headed off to market in search of the most perfect picnic gear. You looked for picnic baskets, plastic serving ware, and anything else that screams picnic. You saved your discoveries in the Yum Market on TeamSugar with the keyword tag, Picnic Gear.

I love this fun, floral bag that jspeed found. The matching plates are festive and the colors outdoorsy. Not to mention its tote like shape is very modern picnic basket. For more picnic gear, scroll to the right below.

Yum's July Must Haves

partysugar — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 13:45:21 -0700

June flew by so quickly it's hard to believe July is here! To ensure that you properly enjoy this glorious Summer month, I'm sharing the items I currently can't live without. These are my must haves for the month of July.

View Slideshow ›

Come Party With Me: Outdoor Concert - The Look

partysugar — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 11:30:46 -0700

With a few simple touches, you can turn a grassy knoll at an outdoor concert into a welcoming party space. Cover the ground with a plaid picnic blanket. Unpack the picnic basket and use this as a small table to set out the food. Keep a cooler close by for easy access to the drinks. Wrap the apricot tarts in parchment paper and pack the salads in Chinese take out containers. Don't forget paper plates, napkins, utensils, and plastic tumblers for the sangria! When hosting a picnic, what do you pack to make it extra special?

Come Party With Me: Outdoor Concert - Menu

partysugar — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 09:00:03 -0700

During the Summer, most cities host some sort of outdoor concert series. New York has Summer Stage in Central Park, in San Francisco's there's Stern Grove, and Chicago's home to Ravinia. While these events are about enjoying music in the open air, the food cannot be overlooked: a scrumptious picnic makes an outdoor concert! So this week pack a basket and head to your local amphitheater.

Steak sandwiches are a portable favorite, and Ina Garten's recipe with sautéed onions, arugula, and mustard mayonnaise will impress your friends. Make use of Summer's ripe tomatoes with a fresh tomato salad. When placed on a bed of watercress and drizzled with a blue cheese dressing, potato salad goes glam. Be sure to keep the salad's three components separate until serving. No picnic is complete without fruit, and watermelon cubes are a refreshing treat. To look at these recipes, read more.

Steak Sandwich
From Ina Garten

Ingredients

1 (12-ounce) 1-inch thick New York strip boneless beef top loin steak
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Olive oil
2 yellow onions, sliced in rings
1/2 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
1 recipe Mustard Mayo, recipe follows
2 mini focaccia buns, sliced in 1/2
1/2 cup baby arugula

Directions

Season the steak liberally with salt and pepper on both sides.
Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a medium saute pan over high heat until it's almost smoking, then sear the steak on each side for 1 minute. Reduce the heat to low and cook the steak for about 7 to 10 minutes, turning once, until very rare in the middle. Remove to a plate, cover tightly with aluminum foil, and allow to sit for 10 minutes. Slice the steak into strips.
Using the same saute pan, heat 1 1/2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and thyme and saute for 10 minutes, until the onions are brown and caramelized, stirring occasionally.
To assemble the sandwiches, spread a tablespoon of Mustard Mayo on the bottom half of each bun. Place a layer of the steak strips on top of the mayo, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and top with the caramelized onion rings. Place the baby arugula on top of the onion rings, and cover the sandwiches with the top half of the buns.

Makes 2 sandwiches.

Mustard Mayo:

3/4 cup good mayonnaise
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon whole-grain mustard
2 tablespoons sour cream
1/8 teaspoon kosher salt

Whisk the ingredients together in a small bowl. Serve at room temperature.

Print recipe with images | without images

Tomato Salad
From Everyday With Rachael Ray

Ingredients

8 plum tomatoes-seeded, quartered and thinly sliced
1 medium red onion, quartered and thinly sliced
1 cup fresh basil leaves, cut into thin strips
1/2 cup flat-leaf parsley, chopped
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil, eyeball it
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper

Directions
In a medium bowl, toss together the tomatoes, onion, basil and parsley and dress with the olive oil. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Serves 8.

Print recipe with images | without images

Grilled Potato Salad With Watercress, Green Onions, and Blue Cheese Vinaigrette
From Bon Appétit

Ingredients

1/4 cup Sherry wine vinegar
1 large shallot, chopped
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1/2 cup olive oil
1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese
12 medium red-skinned potatoes, unpeeled (about 2 3/4 pounds)
Additional olive oil
2 bunches watercress, stems trimmed
3 green onions, chopped

Directions

Combine vinegar, shallot, and mustard in medium bowl. Gradually whisk in oil. Mix in cheese. Season vinaigrette to taste with salt and pepper.
Cook potatoes in large pot of boiling salted water until almost tender, about 16 minutes. Drain; cool completely. Cut potatoes into 1/4- to 1/2-inch-thick rounds. Brush rounds on both sides with oil; sprinkle with salt and pepper.
Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Arrange watercress on platter. Grill potatoes until golden and cooked through, about 3 minutes per side.
Mound warm potatoes atop watercress; sprinkle with green onions. Spoon vinaigrette over potatoes.

Serves 4-6.

Print recipe with images | without images

Watermelon Squares in Campari
From Whole Living

Ingredients

One 5- to 6-pound watermelon, halved lengthwise
1/2 cup Campari (optional)

Directions

Using a very sharp knife, slice the rind from the bottom of each watermelon half. The halves will now lay flat on a cutting board.
Working from top to bottom, trim the rind from the watermelon flesh in 4 cuts, creating 2 large squares. Cut each square in half to make 4 smaller squares. Cut the squares vertically into thirds. Rotate counterclockwise and repeat the cut. Rotate once more counterclockwise and cut into thirds again.
Place on dessert plates and serve each with 2 tablespoons of Campari, if desired.

Serves 4.

Print recipe with images | without images

Come Party With Me: Outdoor Concert - Dessert

partysugar — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 13:00:31 -0700

Picture this: it's that wonderful time of day when the sun has just set and the weather is perfectly comfortable. You're enjoying the merry sounds of a symphony. After devouring a delectable steak sandwich and tomato salad, you are satisfied, but desire something sweet. Your wish comes true when you take one last look into the picnic basket and see, individually wrapped in parchment paper and tied with satin ribbons, luscious apricot tarts. You pass them out to your friends who marvel at your culinary creativeness. Doesn't that sound like fun?! Thanks to this fabulous recipe, you can live that scenario in the near future. If apricots aren't your cup of tea, substitute cherries, peaches, plums - whatever floats your fancy. Check out the recipe.

Come Party With Me: Dolores Park Picnic - The Look

partysugar — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 09:15:20 -0700

Dolores Park is located in between San Francisco's Mission and Castro districts and therefore attracts an eclectic crowd of hipsters. The look of our picnic will be very informal. First a large hippie blanket will be spread on the grass. The perishable food will be kept cold in a portable cooler while the rest of the dishes can be packed in a classic-style picnic basket. An inflatable ice bucket is a must have for keeping drinks icy cold.

Fill a screw-top pitcher with the lemonade and serve in plastic glasses. Bring paper plates and paper napkins, but be sure to recycle them if you can. Lastly, don't forget a hat to protect your face from the sun.

Photo by Loose Charm Productions

Come Party With Me: Change the World - The Look

partysugar — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 09:15:07 -0700

To celebrate the publication of a new book, Change the World For Ten Bucks, my sister (who is on the cover!) has organized a day of volunteering and I'm setting up a picnic for the volunteers. The look is inspired by the colors on the book's cover.

The granola and cookies will be packed in a sturdy picnic basket. The sandwiches and chicken salads should chill in a cooler until just before eating. A turquoise tablecloth and matching napkins set a festive mood. Volunteers are invited to enjoy glasses of pink lemonade at their leisure.

The chicken salad is layered and served in reusable glass jars and the cookies will be placed in clear plastic baggies tied with pretty red ribbon.

Source