YumSugar

Weekend Cooking: Beer-Baked White Beans

Katie Sweeney — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 12:20:24 PDT

If you're a fan of slow-cooked baked beans, you'll love this easy recipe for white beans with bacon, beer, and rosemary. This dish requires time: the beans must be soaked overnight and then cooked in the oven for two hours, so plan ahead. The wait is worth it, though. The beans are rustic but elegant, and absolutely delicious. Entertaining? Serve with roast chicken and a green salad. To get the recipe, read more.

Stovetop Beans Two Ways - Beginner and Expert

YumSugar — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 03:30:36 PDT

Although these legumes were traditionally cooked low and slow in the oven, today's baked beans, as they're often called, are actually cooked on top of a stove for a faster preparation that doesn't compromise flavor. Shed even more cooking time by using canned beans - or save cash by rehydrating dry beans instead. Regardless of how you prepare this dish, bacon plays a crucial part in achieving a pronounced smokiness, while molasses and dark brown sugar add a sweet flavor and pleasing caramel color. Be enticed by both recipes

Fast & Easy Dinner: BBQ Baked Beans and Sausage

partysugar — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 06:50:17 PST

This affordable recipe turns an ordinary can of beans into a spectacular yet simple meal. With the help of supermarket sauces like barbecue sauce, tomato paste, and molasses, rinsed navy beans take on a sweet, smoky flavor. Combine with greens, onions, and chicken sausage for a dish that is balanced and filling. Before heading to the store, raid your fridge and pantry for the ingredients - red or white beans can be used instead of navy beans and really, any thick, juicy sausage will work wonderfully in this recipe. To check it out,

BBQ Baked Beans and Sausage
From Eating Well

Ingredients

1/2 cup prepared barbecue sauce
1/2 cup water
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 tablespoon molasses
1/8 teaspoon salt
Freshly ground pepper to taste
1 tablespoon canola oil
1 medium onion, chopped
4 cups chopped collard greens (about 10 ounces), tough stems removed
9 ounces cooked chicken sausage links (about 3 links), halved lengthwise and sliced
2 15-ounce cans great northern or navy beans, rinsed

Directions

Whisk barbecue sauce, water, tomato paste, molasses, salt and pepper in a medium bowl.
Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and collard greens and cook, stirring occasionally, until the collards are wilted, 3 to 5 minutes.
Add sausage and cook, stirring, until beginning to brown, about 3 minutes more.
Reduce heat to medium-low; add beans and the sauce mixture to the pan. Gently stir to combine, cover and cook until heated through, about 3 minutes.

Serves 4.

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Come Party With Me: Hoedown - Menu

partysugar — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 11:15:18 PDT

At a barn shindig, serve a hearty meal with plenty of napkins to mop up the finger-licking good eats.

Start the meal off with a spicy appetizer in the form of shrimp with barbecue seasonings. Slow-cooked beef brisket is a savory, smoky, and scrumptious entree. It's also the perfect cut of meat to affordably feed a crowd.

Classic cowboy sides - barbecue "baked beans" and crisp apple coleslaw - round out the mouthwatering menu. To look at these recipes,

Shrimp with Barbecue Spices
From Food and Wine

Ingredients

1 1/2 tablespoons sweet Pimentón de la Vera (Spanish smoked paprika)
1 tablespoon ancho chile powder
1 tablespoon light brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
8 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped
2 pounds large shrimp, deveined but not shelled
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
4 scallions, thinly sliced

Directions

In a large bowl, mix the paprika with the ancho chile powder, brown sugar, cumin, salt, pepper, and garlic. Add the shrimp and toss to coat in the spices.
Heat 1/4 cup of the oil in 2 large skillets until shimmering. Add the shrimp to the skillets and cook over moderately high heat, stirring occasionally, until curled and white throughout, about 4 minutes.
Add half of the butter and scallions to each skillet and swirl them in. Transfer the shrimp to a platter and serve.

Serves 6.

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Smoked Beef Brisket
From Pat and Gina Neely

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups paprika
3/4 cup sugar
3 tablespoons onion powder
3 tablespoons garlic salt
1 tablespoons celery salt
1 tablespoons black pepper
1 tablespoon lemon pepper
1 teaspoon mustard powder
1 teaspoon cayenne
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1 trimmed brisket, about 5 to 6 pounds

Directions

In a bowl combine all the dry ingredients and blend well.
Trim the brisket, leaving about 1/4-inch of fat. Season the brisket with about 1/4-cup of the rub. You don't want such a thick crust that the smoke won't penetrate the meat. Let the brisket marinate overnight in the refrigerator.
Preheat your grill to 250°F using charcoal and hickory.
Using indirect heat, cook the brisket for 3 1/2 hours and flip. Cook another 3 1/2 hours, cooking for a total of 7 hours. (About 1 1/2 hours per pound.) The brisket should cook to an internal temperature of 185 degrees F.
Rest for 10 minutes on a cutting board before slicing. Slice brisket against the grain.

Serve 6-10.

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Barbecue "Baked" Beans
From Martha Stewart

Ingredients

1 pound dried navy beans, or great Northern beans
4 ounces salt pork, or thick-cut bacon
1 large onion, cut into 1/4-inch dice (about 1 1/4 cups)
1 clove garlic, minced
3 cups tomato juice
1/4 cup tomato paste
3 tablespoons unsulfured molasses
3/4 cup packed dark-brown sugar
1/4 cup cider vinegar
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons prepared yellow or Dijon mustard
3/4 teaspoon ground turmeric
10 dashes hot sauce, such as Tabasco
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper

Directions

Put beans in a large bowl; cover with cold water by 2 inches. Loosely cover beans with plastic wrap, and let soak at room temperature 7 to 10 hours.
Drain beans; transfer to a large saucepan. Cover with cold water by 2 inches. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer, covered, until beans are very tender, about 1 hour. Drain beans, reserving cooking liquid; set beans and liquid aside.
If using salt pork, trim meat from the rind, and cut meat into 1/4-inch dice. Score rind with a knife. If using bacon, cut into 1/4-inch dice. Transfer salt pork (meat and rind) or bacon to a large Dutch oven or stockpot.
Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until fat is rendered and meat is browned and cooked through, 8 to 10 minutes.
Transfer meat to a large bowl using a slotted spoon, leaving rind and rendered fat in the Dutch oven. Add onion and garlic to the Dutch oven. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is translucent, 4 to 5 minutes.
Stir in tomato juice, tomato paste, molasses, sugar, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, turmeric, hot sauce, 1 teaspoon salt, the beans, and 4 cups reserved cooking liquid. Bring to a boil.
Reduce heat. Cover, and cook at a bare simmer, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened, about 1 hour.
Uncover, and cook, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 2 hours and 45 minutes.
Season with salt and pepper. If not serving immediately, let cool completely, and refrigerate in an airtight container, up to 2 days. Reheat beans over medium-low heat before serving.

Makes about 7 cups.

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Apple Cowboy Slaw
From Better Homes and Gardens

Ingredients

1/3 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons cider vinegar or malt vinegar
2 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons coarse-grain brown mustard
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
4 cups coarsely shredded cabbage
2 medium tart red and/or green apples, cored and chopped
3 large dill pickles, chopped (1 cup)
1/2 cup green or red seedless grapes, halved
1/4 cup chopped onion

Directions

In a small bowl stir together the mayonnaise, vinegar, sugar, mustard, salt, and pepper.
In a large bowl combine the cabbage, apples, pickles, grapes, and onion.
Add the mayonnaise mixture to the cabbage mixture; toss to coat. Cover and chill in the refrigerator for 2 to 6 hours before serving. Stir before serving.

Serves 6 to 8.

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Heinz: Baked Beanz Needed a "Makeover"

YumSugar — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 15:00:36 PDT

Are Heinz Baked Beanz too much of a mouthful?

Citing difficult pronunciation, Heinz will be dropping the word "baked" from the Heinz Baked Beanz label and changing the official title to Heinz Beanz, the Telegraph reports. Four years ago, Heinz changed the "s" of beans to "z" to modernize the brand. Now the company explained why the popular British shelf item, which will retain its distinctive teal tin, is ready for another name change:

Heinz Beanz have been powering the nation for over a hundred years, and to say thank you to our loyal fans, we have given this iconic product a 21st century makeover.

Do you think Heinz made a wise choice in ditching the word baked? How will it impact their brand, positively or negatively? In general, what are your thoughts on food companies rebranding classic items to be more modern?

Source

Health Foods That Aren't So Healthy

FitSugar — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 03:00:00 PST

It seems like every food company is getting on the health kick these days. They're advertising products that are "made with whole grains," or "low in sugar," or "fat-free." It's easy to believe the printing on the packages, but I'm sorry to tell you that food companies are using all their marketing resources to sway you to buy their product.

Here's a list of some popular foods that sound healthy, but could be the total opposite:

Granola and granola bars - Whole grain oats are packed with fiber, but watch out. Some bars and cereals may include these nutritious oats in a sea of high fructose corn syrup and refined sugar.

Baked beans - Beans are an excellent source of protein and fiber, but many pre-made cans of baked beans are loaded with sugar. 1 cup of baked beans can contain up to 24g of sugar (that's about the same amount in an 8 oz. can of soda). Add plain canned beans to salads and soups instead.

Reduced fat peanut butter - Real peanut butter that's made with plain old peanuts is high in protein and also high in fat, but they're the healthy fats your body needs. When companies make reduced fat varieties, they basically take a small amount of real peanut butter and mix it up with fillers like sugar. Stick to actual peanut butter that's made with only peanuts.

Pretzels - Sure they may be a low fat snack, but many are made with corn syrup and enriched white flour (the kind that's refined and stripped of nutrition). So when you eat them, it gets converted into sugar quickly and makes your blood sugar spike up, leaving you tired, cranky and probably hungry soon after. Go for whole grain crackers instead if you're looking to satisfy your crunchy cravings.

English Muffins - Same as pretzels, these are mostly made with refined white flour which is completely devoid of fiber, protein, or vitamins. Look for 100% whole grain English muffins, or shoot for whole grain bread instead.

Fruit cocktail or applesauce - These may seem like an easy way to get your daily fruit, but many are made with added sugar and heavy syrups. Fruit is sweet enough on its own, so eat fresh fruit instead, and eat the skins whenever possible (it's packed with fiber).

Fit's Tip: Be sure to read all labels, even from foods you buy at health foods stores. Just because they seem healthy, doesn't mean they really are.

Source

All American Side: Smoky Baked Beans

partysugar — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 05:18:39 PDT

Baked beans, whether from the South or Boston, are a traditional all-American side. As easy as it is to crack open a can of Bush's, pour into a pot, heat them up, and enjoy, sometimes it's nice to make a delicious batch of homemade (ok semi-homemade) baked beans. These pair perfectly with your standard bbq fare: hamburgers, salmon burgers, ribs, barbecued chicken, or even a nice hearty green salad. Whatever you serve them with, be sure to have a few chilled beers ready and waiting to wash these delicious spicy, sweet baked beans down. You can have the recipe, all you have to do is

Smoky Baked Beans
Modified from Bon Appetit magazine

6 bacon slices
1 1/2 cups chopped onion
1 1/4 cups purchased barbecue sauce
3/4 cup dark beer
1/4 cup mild-flavored (light) molasses
3 tablespoons Dijon mustard
3 tablespoons (packed) dark brown sugar
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon soy sauce
4 to 6 teaspoons minced canned chipotle chilies
2 cans of black beans
2 cans of pinto beans
2 cans of the northern beans

Preheat oven to 350°F.
Cook bacon in large skillet over medium heat until crisp. Transfer to paper towels and drain. Transfer 2 1/2 tablespoons bacon drippings from skillet to large bowl.
Finely chop bacon; add to bowl.
Add onion and next 7 ingredients to bowl and whisk to blend.
Whisk in 4 to 6 teaspoons chipotle chilies, depending on spiciness desired.
Stir in beans. Transfer bean mixture to 13 x 9 x 2-inch glass baking dish. Bake uncovered until liquid bubbles and thickens slightly, about 1 hour. Cool 10 minutes.
Sprinkle with parsley and serve.

Serves 8-10.

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10 Tips to Save on Memorial Day Grocery Shopping

Emily Co — Sat, 26 May 2012 00:15:10 PDT

It's fun to host people for a barbecue, but it can also get quite pricey when everyone isn't chipping in. Consumer expert Andrea Woroch provides suggestions to cut your grocery bill when shopping for your Memorial Day meal:

Prepare most of your meal. Woroch says, "The general rule for prepared foods is that they are more expensive, and it's cheaper to buy the ingredients to prepare yourself." For example, prepared veggie platters and fruit salads "are never a good deal" and aren't exactly the freshest produce. However, prepared potato salad at a regular supermarket is less expensive and will save you time in the kitchen.

Get chicken from the butcher. Buy chicken breasts from the butcher counter instead of the prepared packets. They tend to be cheaper and are generally more fresh.

Consider boxed wine. Save money by skipping the bottled wine and going for the box. "Boxed wine is an affordable option for large parties, and the quality has greatly improved in recent years," she says.

Buy liquor at a superstore. If you're insistent on a specific bottle, then check out warehouse clubs like Costco. There are better deals on wine, liquor, and beer at a superstore, according to Woroch. While you're there, pick the store's generic version of vodka for an even cheaper deal.

Make your own salad dressing and marinade. Check out recipes online - here's a list of over 60 different marinades to make. "Most people will already have the basic ingredients like olive oil, some type of vinegar, and herbs at home," she says. "Other ingredients like lemon or lime, soy sauce, or honey won't cost much extra."

Read on for more.

Dairy-Free Ways to Get Your Chocolate Fix

Jenny Sugar — Fri, 18 May 2012 14:29:20 PDT

If dairy products don't sit well with your belly or you choose to eat a vegan diet, then you can still satisfy your chocolate cravings. Although milk chocolate is made with dairy, many dark chocolate products are not. Just be sure to read the label before indulging in any chocolatey treat. I've done the legwork for you and gathered a list of my favorite dessert products and recipes that don't contain a drop of milk, butter, or cream.

Use vegan chocolate chips and whip up a batch of vegan chocolate mouse made with this simple three-ingredient recipe.
Endangered Species makes a few varieties of dairy-free dark chocolate including Dark Chocolate With Cranberries and Almonds, Dark Chocolate With Mint, Dark Chocolate With Blueberries, and Dark Chocolate With Espresso Beans.
Get baking and prepare these decadent vegan brownies made with a secret ingredient: spinach. Top with fresh fruit puree or enjoy it on its own.
If you prefer a crunchy cookie, then bake up a healthier, vegan version of Thin Mints.

See more dairy-free chocolate ideas after the break!

How to Splurge This Weekend Without Gaining a Pound

Jenny Sugar — Fri, 04 May 2012 10:49:28 PDT

For many who have stuck to their healthy ways all week long, the weekend is a time to loosen up the reigns a little, ignore weight-loss rules, and indulge in some high-calorie Cinco de Mayo goodness. If you're not careful though, an entire weekend of living it up could make you gain the pounds you've worked so hard to keep off all week. Here are some ways to splurge a little this weekend and not feel guilty on Monday morning.

Sip on this: If you're starting the Cinco de Mayo festivities a little early tonight, pass on the margaritas made with premade sugary mix and go for a glass made with real lime juice and a splash of simple syrup to save calories (opt for no salt on the rim). Or you can skip the margarita altogether and whip up a batch of this low-cal sangria-inspired cocktail made with heart-healthy red wine, unfiltered cranberry juice, and fresh strawberry puree.
Skip this calorie-loaded app: Ordering an enormous plate of nachos topped with sour cream, cheddar cheese, seasoned ground beef, and avocado means devouring a huge amount of calories before your entrée even arrives. Start with a small taco salad instead made with fresh greens, peppers, tomatoes, corn, black beans, a few crushed tortilla chips, and sprinkled with an avocado vinaigrette.

Keep reading for more calorie-saving tips.