YumSugar

YumSugar Gift Guide: The Hipster Foodie

YumSugar — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 15:00:52 -0800

A friend of mine, who fits the classification of hipster to a T, also happens to love all things gourmet. Initially, I was at a loss for what to get her, but I quickly discovered that there's an array of niche gift items that converge at the juncture of food, music, and cutting-edge cool. Case in point: I have to get her this book about underground dining, and because she loves to push the envelope, I know she'll flip for this shopping bag.

Want more gift ideas? Browse the selection below or check out all the gift guides on HolidaySugar.

Soup's On: Cream of Fresh Tomato

YumSugar — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 15:00:07 -0700

While shopping at Berkeley Bowl, I came across the bargain section of fresh produce. Most of the time I won't glance at this section, but a two-pound bag of ripe red tomatoes caught my eye. At only $0.99 per bag, I couldn't pass them up since I had a hankering for a bowl of fresh tomato soup.

The recipe calls for seeded and peeled tomatoes; however, I didn't want to waste time or lose a bunch of juice - especially because the tomatoes were really meaty. Also, once the soup makes its way through the blender, the seeds and skin are virtually undetectable.

Rather than use the conventional basil and thyme, I opted for lime basil and lemon thyme in the soup. Each spoonful of this comforting classic is fresh and flavorful. If you have some end-of-season tomatoes on hand, get started on this soup. You won't be disappointed! Get the recipe after the jump.

Simple Tip: Keep Reusable Totes in Your Trunk

YumSugar — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 12:50:50 -0700

From drinking less bottled water to making more educated seafood choices, I've been all about adopting a greener lifestyle. But simple as it sounds, the one thing I could never quite nail down was bringing reusable totebags to the grocery store.

Every Sunday, without fail, I'd pull into my local Trader Joe's, and catch the "Don't forget to bring your reusable bags!" sign in the parking lot, only to realize that I'd left all of my totebags at home. After repeating this mistake too many times to count, I finally collected all of my market totes and put them in the trunk of my car. Now, I have an array of bag sizes that come in handy not just for my weekly groceries, but also for takeout, dinner party leftovers, and anything else you can imagine.

Where do you keep your reusable bags, so you don't forget them?

Yummy Links: From Pumpkin Muffins to Easy Dinner Prep

partysugar — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 09:00:58 -0700

Celebrate Fall with these delicious-looking orange frosted pumpkin muffins. - Erin Cooks
Lace shopping baskets will make you look chic while browsing the farmers market. - CasaSugar
The right way to pour sparkling wine. - Chow
Behind the scenes of a home-cooked wedding. - The Kitchn
Travel the world in your own kitchen with 80 exotic and interesting recipes. - Epicurious
Show your love for serious eats with one of these fabulous t-shirts. - Serious Eats
Sweet meets savory in a scrumptious French toast and bacon sandwich. - Baking Bites
How to prepare dinner more efficiently. - Real Simple

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In Season: Rhubarb

partysugar — Tue, 12 May 2009 10:15:59 -0700

Asparagus isn't the only stalk in season: rhubarb is also having a moment. Rhubarb resembles celery but has a vibrant pink color. Although many people mistake it for being a fruit, rhubarb is actually a vegetable. It's a member of the buckwheat family, can grow to be two feet long, and is at its peak from April to June. While rhubarb's leaves are poisonous, the stalks are highly edible. To learn more about rhubarb and check out some serving suggestions, read more.

When shopping for rhubarb at the farmers market, look for crisp stalks that are brightly hued. The leaves should be free of blemishes. Rhubarb is incredibly perishable; tightly wrap in a plastic bag and store in the refrigerator for up to three days. Remove the leaves and wash just before using. Since the flavor of rhubarb is very tart, it's often combined with sugar. Classic pairings for rhubarb are strawberries and ginger, but it goes with a number of other ingredients including apples, pears, fresh cheeses, vanilla, almonds, ham, duck, and salmon.

One can prepare rhubarb in both sweet and savory applications:

For a more sophisticated take on classic strawberry shortcake, layer sautéed rhubarb with crumbly cake and whipped cream.
Stir into a delicious streusel cake.
Simmer until the vegetable breaks down into a chutney and serve with ham.
Puree and mix into custard to make ice cream.
Bake in a pie or tart.
For a scrumptious salad, toss with greens and goat cheese.

Do you enjoy the flavor of rhubarb? What's your favorite way to serve it?

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Celebrity Chefs Share Recession Tips With Oprah

partysugar — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 11:30:08 -0700

Yesterday celebrity chefs Tyler Florence, Cat Cora, and Curtis Stone made an appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show. The chefs shared recipes and tips on how to cook more affordably during the recession. They also went into the kitchen of viewers to perform culinary interventions. Stone helped a couple cut their takeout budget by learning to cook, Cora taught a family how to use fresh ingredients to make healthy dishes, and Florence showed a mom the best way to feed her children. The chefs provided some great suggestions on how to save money when grocery shopping. For their ideas, read more.

Use a lesser cut of meat. A whole chicken is cheaper than chicken breasts. Opt for pork shoulder instead of pork tenderloin.
Use a slow cooker. They're ideal for turning lesser cuts of meat into fantastic dinners.
Purchase a whole block of cheese and grate it yourself. In the end its cheaper than buying the pregrated bags.
Be smart at the meat counter. According to Stone, steaks that are nearing their sell-by date are usually marked down.
Select cheaper fish. Skip salmon and choose tilapia.
Always shop with a list. Cora says that people spend 50 percent more if they don't have a list.
Buy only what you need. If you want three bananas, break off three from the bunch.
Plan meals that share ingredients.

How do you save when at the supermarket? Please share your helpful hints below!

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Don't Forget to Show Us Your Farmers Market Totebags!

YumSugar — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 15:00:19 -0700

Currently, I'm bringing back this navy blue Marc by Marc Jacobs tote that I bought last year. It's soft and flexible, yet able to hold everything I buy. I love the way it pokes fun at itself as well as designer labels in general.
To celebrate Slow Food, both PartySugar and I have taken pictures (she debuted hers earlier this week) with our beloved farmers market totes, and now we want you to do the same! Snap a pic of you with your favorite reusable farmers market bag and send it to us. You can use the Look Book feature on TeamSugar, post it in a blog, or on your own website. When everyone's submitted their photos (due date: Sept. 1), I'll do a giant post featuring everyone's pictures (and you don't have to cover your face, we're just shy!)

To be included in the roundup, notify me via email with "YumSugar Farmers Market Tote" in the subject line, or personal message me with the following information:

- Name you want me to use
- Where you're from
- What farmers market you shop at
- Details about your favorite totebag
- Link to your LookBook, blog post, or website or photo of you holding your favorite tote
- One short sentence on why you chose that tote

After we've received all of the submissions, we'll pick one lucky winner and send her her very own YumSugar tote! I can't wait to see your favorite totes.

Show Us Your Farmers Market Totebags!

partysugar — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 12:15:02 -0700

The culinary world is gearing up for Slow Food Nation. The festival, which celebrates local, sustainable farm-to-table food, is in San Francisco over Labor Day weekend. Slow Food encourages people to purchase seasonal produce from farmers markets in an environmentally-friendly manner. That means toting the goods in a reusable bag rather than a disposable one. In my opinion, carrying a fabulous farmers market tote is just as glamorous as sporting a designer handbag. Currently, I'm obsessed with this large, bright-blue tote by Chronicle Books. The tote perfectly demonstrated the publisher's motto ("see things differently") because it folds up into a flat book when not being used.

To celebrate Slow Food, we've (YumSugar will share hers later this week) both taken pictures with our beloved farmers market totes. and now we want you to do the same! Snap a pic of you with your favorite reusable farmers market bag and send it to us. You can use the Look Book feature on TeamSugar, post it in a blog, or on your own website. When everyone's submitted their photos (due date: Sept. 1), I'll do a giant post featuring everyone's pictures (and you don't have to cover your face, we're just shy!)!

To be included in the roundup, notify me via email with "YumSugar Farmers Market Tote" in the subject line, or personal message me with the following information:

- Name you want me to use
- Where you're from
- What farmers market you shop at
- Details about your favorite totebag
- Link to your Look Book, blog post, or website OR photo of you holding your favorite tote
- One short sentence on why you chose that tote

After we've received all of the submissions, we'll pick one lucky winner and send her her very own YumSugar tote! I can't wait to see your favorite totes.

Thanksgiving Tip: Don't Shop on Wednesday

partysugar — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 16:14:11 -0800

Try to get all of your Thanksgiving grocery shopping done before next Wednesday. Heading to the grocery store the day before Thanksgiving is like getting on the freeway in the middle of rush-hour traffic - not a good idea. Shoppers are inevitably grumpy, store clerks are stressed, shelves are empty, shopping carts are nowhere to be found, and the checkout lines are gigantic.

If you've made your lists you should be able to shop for nonperishables like vegetables, canned goods, alcohol, and dried foods today or tomorrow. Shop for last-minute items like fresh herbs and flowers on Tuesday afternoon. Pick up bags of ice the night before from your local convenience store and store in coolers outside in the garage or your back patio.

Most stores and bakeries are open on Thanksgiving morning, so make a quick pit stop to pick up bread and any forgotten ingredients as early as possible. Treat yourself to a coffee while you're at it, it's going to be a long day!

Source

Giving The Gift Of Wine Glamorously

partysugar — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 14:27:57 -0700

When I'm invited to a dinner, party, or bbq and don't have the time to put together a special gift for the hostess, I'll stop by my local wine shop and pick up a bottle for her to enjoy at a later date. I include a nice appreciative note and package the bottle to look pretty. Tying a bow with a satin ribbon makes it look festive, but if you don't have a huge collection of ribbon like I do, think about buying a set of these wine bottle gift bags.

Printed with made up wine notes like, an explosion of blackberries and cranberry zing, these are cheeky and fun. The brown bag material gives them a sense of eco-awareness while the silver lettering makes them celebratory.

Although I don't advocate re-gifting, these bags can be recycled and reused for other wine gifts. Get them while they are hot, a set of 6 is only $12.00, and I don't know about you, but I'm ordering two.

Source: Hostess Blog