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5 Thoughtful Finds For the Baking Enthusiast

YumSugar — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:31:56 -0800

Even though Summer seemed like yesterday, the year's already well into November. You know what that means: The holidays are fast approaching! We got off to a good start sharing our most coveted items of the moment, but beginning today, we'll also be offering useful gift guides that'll outline kitchen must haves for your hard-to-shop-for family and friends.

Have you cozied up to the co-worker who brings fresh loaves of pumpkin bread into the office? Or do you have a friend who insists on baking her own birthday cake? If so, indulge her Bakesale Betty with tools that will have her creating even more sweet treats. To see them, keep reading.

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YumSugar Gift Guide: Father's Day Edition

YumSugar — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 15:00:08 -0700

Even if you don't walk away with an over-the-top Williams-Sonoma steak and wine package to give away this Father's Day, you've still got many opportunities to shower Dad with gifts that are fit for a king. He'll have an easier time in the kitchen with a system to keep his knives razor sharp. Or appeal to his appreciation for quality meats with a charcuterie book and a sampler of Aidells artisanal sausages. Scroll below for more ideas.

YumSugar Gift Guide: Mother's Day Edition

YumSugar — Thu, 07 May 2009 05:50:10 -0700

There are only a handful of days left until Mother's Day - but if you haven't picked anything out for tu madre, don't go running to the store just yet. We've selected a few of our favorite things that you can still purchase with the convenient click of a button. If she has an insatiable craving for chocolate, she'll love this all-chocolate basket with cookie mix, cake mix, hot chocolate mix, and all other things decadent in chocolate.

Or, let her revel in her morning coffee all year long with a subscription to a gourmet coffee of the month club. If she's got a green thumb, she'll savor the sweet addition of a Kadota fig plant to her garden. For more ideas scroll below.

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.

Get Inspired With These Holiday Gift Ideas

partysugar — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 10:15:44 -0800

Christmas is a couple of days away, but there is still time to shop. If you don't know what to get that special someone, browse the gift guides below for inspiration. You're sure to find the perfect present - happy shopping!

Last-Minute Gourmet Gifts	Homemade Edible Gifts	Gifts Under $25
Stocking Stuffers	Gifts For the New Cook	Gifts For the Busy Cook

For gift guides galore head over to HolidaySugar.

12 Days of Edible Gifts: Candied Citrus Peel

YumSugar — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 09:00:50 -0800

This holiday, I wanted to make homemade candy as one of my edible gifts for friends, and I concluded that candied citrus fruit would be the perfect choice. The recipe only calls for fruit, which I always have on hand, and sugar. Candy making doesn't get more basic than that!

I used oranges, but any combination of lemons, oranges, and grapefruit would be wonderful. I can't wait to give this handmade, preservative-free candy to my friends and family - to do the same, check out the recipe and read more.

Candied Citrus Peel
From Martha Stewart

Ingredients

8 oranges, 10 lemons, or 6 grapefruits*
6 cups sugar, plus more for rolling

Directions

Cut ends off fruit, and halve fruit lengthwise.
Insert the tip of a small paring knife carefully between fruit and pith about 1/2 inch deep and cut, following the shape of the fruit and keeping skin in one piece. Turn fruit on other end and repeat.
Using fingers, gently pull the peel away. Reserve fruit for another use.
Place citrus peel in a 6-quart pot; fill with enough cold water to cover (about 3 quarts). Bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat; simmer 20 minutes. Drain. Soak peel in cold water until cool enough to handle, about 5 minutes.
Using a melon baller, scrape the soft white pith from the peel, being careful not to tear or cut the skin.
Slice each piece of peel lengthwise into thin strips 1/4 to 1/2 inch wide.
Stir together sugar and 3 cups water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring until sugar has dissolved, about 8 minutes.
Add strips and reduce heat to medium-low. Using a pastry brush dipped in cold water, wash down any sugar crystals that form on the sides of the pan. Simmer until strips are translucent and syrup thickens, about 40 minutes. Let the strips cool completely in syrup for 3 hours (or overnight). Strips can be refrigerated in syrup in an airtight container up to 3 weeks.
For sugared peel, remove strips with a slotted spoon. Using fingers, wipe off as much excess syrup as possible, and roll strips in sugar. Let dry.

Makes 1 1/2 cups.

*If using grapefruit, adapt the recipe since the fruit has more pith, which is bitter and must be completely removed. If making candied grapefruit, after scraping the pith from the peel (in Step 4), simmer peel for 20 minutes more, and repeat to remove remaining pith.

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YumSugar Gift Guide: Last Minute Gourmet Gifts

YumSugar — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 11:16:11 -0800

As much as we try to avoid it, last-minute shopping inevitably seems to be a part of every holiday season. This year, do yourself a favor: Ditch the stressful, crowded mall, and shop online instead.

Email your Internet-savvy foodie friend with the gift of a customizable Tastebook; set your wine-loving college roommate up with a Wine Enthusiast subscription. For the truly special oenophile, opt for Williams-Sonoma's new wine club - a gift to enjoy year-round.

For more gift ideas, browse the selection below and check out all the gift guides on HolidaySugar.

YumSugar Gift Guide: Gourmet Gifts Under $25

YumSugar — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 14:00:40 -0800

If you're anything like me, you've got lots of shopping left to do, but little time and a limited budget to work with. That's why, to make both of our lives easier, I've compiled my favorite bargains for under $25.

My friend Jaime who loves the grill will be delighted by this classy oil brush and jar set; Katie, always more of a baker than a cook, can use this cookie press; and Steph, who lived in Europe and loves breakfast, will flip for this steel crepe pan.
For more gift ideas, browse the selection below and check out all the gift guides on HolidaySugar.

12 Days of Edible Gifts: Vanilla Hot Chocolate Mix

YumSugar — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 09:30:00 -0800

During Winter, nothing epitomizes warmth more than a steaming cup of rich hot chocolate. This holiday, why not package that feeling for your loved ones by making inexpensive and thoughtful homemade hot cocoa?

Unlike store-bought mix, which often tastes chalky and watered-down, this edible gift is velvety in texture and pure chocolate in flavor. This year, I'm making a large batch and distributing individually decorated packages of mix to members of my extended family. To make your own version of this luscious-tasting gift, read more.

Vanilla Hot Chocolate Mix
From Epicurious

Ingredients

4 cups granulated sugar
1/2 vanilla bean, split crosswise
1 1/2 pounds high-quality semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
8 ounces milk chocolate, coarsely chopped
2 cups unsweetened cocoa powder, preferably Dutch process

Directions

Place sugar in large bowl. Split half vanilla bean lengthwise, scrape seeds into sugar, and add pod. Work seeds in with your fingers. Cover snugly with plastic wrap and let stand overnight at room temperature.
In food processor fitted with metal blade, process semisweet chocolate and milk chocolate until finely ground, using 4-second pulses. (Process in two batches if necessary.)
Remove pod from sugar. Add ground chocolate and cocoa powder to sugar and whisk to blend.
To gift, carefully transfer mix to decorative jars or bags. Add instruction labels for recipents: "For each serving, heat 8 ounces milk in small saucepan over medium heat until scalded (or microwave 2 1/2 minutes at full power). Whisk in 1/4 to 1/3 cup mix. Serve with unsweetened softly whipped cream or marshmallows. Mix keeps airtight at room temperature for up to six months."

Makes 10 cups of mix (24 to 36 servings).

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12 Days of Edible Gifts: Smoky Cashews

YumSugar — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 11:50:56 -0800

When it comes to holiday presents, the men in my life are incredibly easy to please: Both my dad and my guy love to receive gourmet gifts, like quality fruits and nuts. Hence, I knew this recipe for smoky cashews would be the perfect edible gift for both of them. If you're strapped for both time and cash, this gift is your best bet: It only requires a few unfussy ingredients and 20 minutes of time. For a holiday offering that you'll be proud to present, read more.

Smoky Cashews
From Martha Stewart

Ingredients

2 cups (9 ounces) unsalted cashews, toasted
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh rosemary
1 teaspoon smoked hot paprika
2 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
2 teaspoons coarse salt
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted

Directions

Toast cashews: Spread nuts in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet, and bake at 350ºF, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes.
Toss cashews with remaining ingredients until evenly coated.
Cashews can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature up to 2 weeks.

Makes 2 cups.

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