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Announcing the Winner of Our Valentine's Day Giveaway!

partysugar — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 07:50:33 -0800

Please join me in congratulating scooterbrown! The New Orleans resident is the lucky winner of our Sweet Valentine's Day Giveaway.

Our friends at Williams-Sonoma are sending her a deluxe KitchenAid standing mixer and all of the necessary tools for baking, including measuring bowls, spatulas, and chocolate cake mix.

I hope she enjoys her prize and shares the delicious treats she makes with us on TeamSugar. Cheers to scooterbrown!

Panna Cotta Is Perfect Non-Chocolate Valentine's Day Dessert

partysugar — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 08:00:54 -0800

Happy Valentine's Day! While some guys have a sweet tooth, I know a few who don't enjoy decadent chocolate desserts. If your honey happens to be a choco-hater, serve him panna cotta, a delicious Italian dessert.

Heavy cream, sugar, gelatin, and vanilla bean combine to make this incredibly simple, but insanely scrumptious treat. It has the chilled texture of custard without the flavor of eggs. Show your love by making the panna cotta in a heart-shaped baking dish. For a festive touch, drizzle raspberry sauce (caramel or honey would be equally delicious) over the cream heart. To start cooking - panna cotta needs several hours to set - read more.

Panna Cotta With Raspberry Sauce
Modified from Michael Chiarello

Ingredients

2 teaspoons unflavored gelatin (from one envelope)
3 cups heavy cream
1 vanilla bean
1/2 cup granulated sugar
Raspberry sauce*
fresh raspberries, optional for garnish

Directions

Place six 3 1/2-ounce ramekins (3 inches in diameter, 1 1/2 inches deep) on a rimmed baking sheet. Refrigerate until cold.
Put 3 tablespoons cool water into a medium bowl. Sprinkle with gelatin; let stand until gelatin has softened, about 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, place the cream, vanilla bean, and sugar in a saucepan and bring to a simmer. Remove from the heat.
Remove the vanilla bean and split lengthwise. Scrape the vanilla beans into the cream.
Pour cream mixture into bowl with gelatin; whisk until gelatin has dissolved.
Pour through a sieve into a bowl. Pour cream mixture into chilled ramekins. Refrigerate until set, about 2 hours.
To remove from the mold: Dip the bottom of the mold into a pot of hot water to loosen the panna cotta. Slide a knife around the edge, then carefully turn over onto a serving plate.
Drizzle with the raspberry sauce and garnish with fresh raspberries, if desired.

Makes 6.

*I halved the recipe and used a strawberry jam since it is what I had on hand.

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Raspberry Sauce
From Ina Garten

Ingredients

1 half-pint fresh raspberries
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup seedless raspberry jam
2 tablespoons orange-flavored liqueur (recommended: Grand Marnier)

Directions

Place raspberries, sugar, and 1/4 cup water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, lower the heat, and simmer for 4 minutes.
Pour the cooked raspberries, the jam, and orange liqueur into the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade and process until smooth. Chill.

Makes 2 cups.

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Le Creuset Cast Iron Heart: Love It or Hate It?

partysugar — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 04:00:55 -0800

Recently I received an email from a Sugar gal with a picture of this Le Creuset cast iron, enameled heart-shaped casserole. The caption read, "I mean seriously. How many days a year would you use this?"

While she obviously hates this cooking dish, I politely disagree. I happen to enjoy heart-inspired kitchenware year-round, and could imagine making special meals for my (non-existent) sweetheart any night of the week.

How do you feel about it?

Fast & Easy Dinner: Red Wine Risotto With Grilled Chicken

partysugar — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 10:30:30 -0800

Still wondering what to serve your sweetie for dinner tomorrow night? Well how about a delicious, balanced meal complete with chicken, risotto, and greens? The risotto is cooked in red wine giving it a delightful, deep-purple color and rich, layered flavor.

The chicken is flash-marinated in a balsamic-Worcestershire mixture before being seared on a grill pan. The entire dish is topped with shredded spinach and arugula making for a meal that is indulgent, yet healthy. To check out the recipe, read more.

Red Wine Risotto with Grilled Chicken
From Rachael Ray

Ingredients

1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon grill seasoning, such as McCormick Montreal Steak Seasoning
6 skinless, boneless chicken thighs (about 1½ pounds total)
1 ounce dried porcini mushrooms
4 cups chicken broth
1 medium onion, finely chopped
Salt and freshly ground pepper
1 1/2 cups arborio rice
2 cups Barolo (dry Italian) red wine (two-thirds of a bottle)
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh rosemary (about 4 sprigs)
2 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
1 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano or Pecorino Romano cheese
2 cups arugula, shredded
2 cups baby spinach, shredded

Directions

Preheat a grill or a grill pan to medium-high. In a shallow dish, combine the balsamic vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, 3 tablespoons of the oil and the grill seasoning. Add the chicken thighs and turn to coat evenly with the marinade.
In a small saucepan, heat the dried mushrooms and chicken broth over medium-low heat.
In a large skillet, heat the remaining olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion, season with salt and pepper and cook for a couple of minutes to soften.
Add the rice, stir to coat and cook for 1 minute.
Add half of the wine; when it has been absorbed by the rice, stir in the remaining wine and the rosemary. When all of the wine is absorbed, ladle in some of the mushroom broth.
Place the marinated chicken thighs on the grill and cook for 7 to 8 minutes on the first side and for 5 to 6 minutes on the reverse side.
Add a ladle of the mushroom broth to the risotto every few minutes, stirring occasionally and cooking until absorbed.
Remove the softened mushrooms from the broth and chop; add to the risotto. Cook the risotto until creamy and al dente, 20 to 22 minutes. Remove from the heat; stir in the butter and cheese.
Thinly slice the grilled chicken. Divide the risotto among shallow bowls and top each serving with the arugula, spinach and sliced chicken.

Serves 4.

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Come Party With Me: Valentine's Dinner For Two - The Look

partysugar — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 09:15:14 -0800

When hosting a special dinner for your sweetie, don't be afraid to rearrange the furniture. I think it's most romantic to sit side by side at a long, bar-like table. The place settings should be the focal point. Start with textured red placemats. Serve the main course on white plates and the chocolate strawberry cupcakes on plates with a swirly heart design. Since it's a celebration (of your love!), use the good silverware. Set out both champagne flutes and red wine glasses. Create a glowing atmosphere with dimmed lights and candles in red votives. A bouquet of shocking pink roses is the perfect centerpiece.

Source

Test Your V-Day Candy Knowledge!

YumSugar — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 05:30:32 -0800

News flash - tomorrow is Valentine's Day! I thought it'd be appropriate to throw together a quiz of fun facts about Valentine's Day treats in honor of the candy-coated holiday. Are you in the loop on all the figures surrounding this sweet day? Find out when you take my quiz!

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Take the quiz

Name That Dish!

YumSugar — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 16:15:40 -0800

This Southern dessert, with its red interior, is perfect for Valentine's Day. Do you know what it's called?

Come Party With Me: Valentine's Dinner For Two - Drinks

partysugar — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 12:30:05 -0800

On Valentine's Day start your romantic evening with a fizzy, festive cocktail. This drink, appropriately titled "Cupid's Arrow," is made with easy-to-find ingredients like pomegranate juice, orange liquor, and sparkling rose.

If your man won't drink anything too girlie, mix the vibrantly red drink for you and serve him a vodka tonic. With dinner sip a light-bodied red like a Pinot Noir or Italian Sangiovese. Pair the chocolate-strawberry cakes with a lush Port or effervescent dessert wine.

For the cocktail recipes, read more.

Cupid’s Arrow
From Grand Marnier

Ingredients

1 Part pomegranate juice
2 Parts orange liquor (recommended: Grand Marnier)
2 Parts sparkling rosé (recommended: Chandon Rosé)
½ Part fresh-squeezed lemon juice

Directions

Shake pomegranate juice, Grand Marnier and lemon in a cocktail filled with ice.
Strain into a champagne flute.
Top with Chandon Rosé and enjoy!

Drink amounts will vary.

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Vodka Tonic
2 oz vodka
Tonic water
Pour vodka into a highball glass with ice cubes.
Fill with tonic water.
Stir, and serve.
Garnish with a lemon or lime.
For an bonus twist add a few sprigs of mint, or a splash of lime juice.

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http://www.yumsugar.com/2801549

YumSugar Valentine's Day Gift Guide

YumSugar — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 09:00:08 -0800

If you don't know what to get your admirer/sweetheart/best friend/beloved family this Valentine's Day, here are some ideas that'll score you brownie points (pardon the pun). You can't go wrong with a gift box of port-drenched, chocolate-dipped figs (also known to have amorous properties). Dine in love all year round with a cookbook of romantic dinners for two - or win affection with this sweet quartet of bon-bon teaspoons.

For more suggestions, browse the selection below.

Will You Be Eating Out or Cooking on Valentine's Day?

partysugar — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 06:45:44 -0800

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