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Do You Accept Drinks From Strangers?

partysugar — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 07:50:31 -0700

Come Party With Me: Technicolor Luau - Dessert

partysugar — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 12:50:07 -0700

When I hear the word luau, I immediately think of a creamy, cool coconut dessert. This recipe is just that; it combines two favorite pie flavors - key lime and coconut - into one fabulous finger-friendly dessert.

Key lime-coconut bars are ideal for a Saturday night bash. They must be made in advance, are bite-sized and easy to eat, and with their dusting of confectioners sugar and lime zest, look pretty delightful!

Sound scrumptious? Get the recipe.

Have More Fun With Blondies

YumSugar — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 15:15:27 -0700

Not too long ago, I organized a trip to Hog Island Oyster Farm, where I enjoyed an idyllic picnic with seven dear friends. I had a good idea of what dishes to bring, but I was hung up on dessert, until a co-worker suggested blondies. "They're so much better than brownies!" she exclaimed.

I heeded her advice and found a crowd-pleasing blondie recipe that has something for everyone: a sweet, chewy center, chunks of chocolate chips, and crunchy almond slivers scattered on top. They were so comforting that I couldn't stop eating them - so I had to give the rest away! Read on for the perfect portable dessert.

Come Party With Me: Dolores Park Picnic - Desserts

partysugar — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 11:30:50 -0700

Although one can buy the famed Bi-Rite ice cream around the corner and creme brulee in Dolores Park, I still plan on making a delicious picnic dessert for my sister and her friends. The menu is healthy and light, so this theme will continue with a fruity, melt-in-your mouth crumble.

I chose this recipe because it utilizes blackberries: I'm always making sweet treats that feature strawberries or blueberries, but rarely plump juicy blackberries. These blackberry crumb bars come together quickly and simply and can be made up to three days in advance. To serve this recipe at your next picnic, read more.

Blackberry Crumb Bars
From Everyday Food

Ingredients

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, and 1/2 cup (1 stick), room temperature, plus more for pan
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled), plus more for pan
1/2 cup packed light-brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 large eggs
2 containers (5 ounces each) blackberries

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter an 8-inch square baking pan. Line bottom with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on two sides; butter and flour paper, tapping out excess.
Make topping: In a medium bowl, whisk together melted butter, brown sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon salt; add 1 cup flour, and mix with a fork until large moist crumbs form. Refrigerate topping until ready to use.
In a medium bowl, whisk together remaining 3/4 cup flour, baking powder, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt; set aside.
In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat room-temperature butter, confectioners' sugar, and vanilla until light and fluffy; add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Reduce speed to low; mix in flour mixture. Spread batter evenly in pan; sprinkle with blackberries, then chilled topping.
Bake until golden and a toothpick inserted in center comes out with moist crumbs attached, 40 to 45 minutes. Cool completely in pan. Using paper overhang, lift cake onto a work surface; cut into 16 squares. To store, keep in an airtight container at room temperature, up to 3 days.

Makes 16.

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Come Party With Me: March Madness - Dessert

partysugar — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 11:30:59 -0700

No appetizer spread is complete with out a sweet dish. For my March Madness night with the fabulous ladies of Sugar, I'm serving a menu of sophisticated snacks. To keep up with the theme, I'll offer these lime squares with pistachio graham-cracker crust.

They're like key lime pie, but in bar form. This type of dish is the perfect party dessert because it can be made in advance and doesn't require utensils for eating. To take a look at the recipe, read more.

Lime Squares with Pistachio Graham-Cracker Crust
From Everyday Food

Ingredients

For the crust:
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted and cooled, plus more for pan
2/3 cup shelled pistachios
1 cup (4 ounces) graham-cracker crumbs
1/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoons grated lime zest
For the filling:
2 large egg yolks
1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup fresh lime juice

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brush an 8-inch square baking dish with melted butter. Line bottom with parchment paper, leaving a 2-inch overhang on two sides.
In a food processor, finely grind pistachios with graham-cracker crumbs, sugar, and zest. Blend in butter. Press mixture into bottom and 1 inch up sides of prepared pan. Bake until lightly browned, 8 to 12 minutes. Cool crust, 30 minutes.
To make the filling: In a large bowl, whisk together egg yolks and condensed milk. Add lime juice; whisk until smooth. Pour filling into cooled crust; carefully spread to edges.
Bake until set, about 15 minutes. Cool in pan on rack; then chill at least 1 hour before serving. Using parchment paper overhang, lift out of pan, and transfer to a cutting board.
With a serrated knife, cut into 16 squares, wiping knife with a damp kitchen towel between each cut. To store in refrigerator, cover with plastic wrap.

Makes 16.

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Party Foul: Mandatory Coat Check

YumSugar — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 13:00:04 -0700

A few weeks ago, I found myself with a large party at a Manhattan restaurant. As soon as we sat down, our hostess pointed us to the mandatory coat check. The restaurant and bar was by no means formal, and we weren't out at a club with a dance floor, so in this case, I really didn't see the point of it being requirement. Add to that the dilemma of tipping at a coat check. But the worst part of it all? It was the dead of Winter, and the restaurant was bone-chillingly cold, so all of us were shivering at the table.

As I sat there covered in goose bumps, I worried whether I would catch a cold, and wondered how this could be legal. After all, it's no different from built-in tips!

Have you ever been forced to give up your coat and tip on a mandatory coat check? Do share your thoughts and stories below.

The Future of the Pub Could Rely on Technology

YumSugar — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 13:00:39 -0700

Great Britain's pubs are in trouble. In the wake of the economic downturn, bars have been closing by the several dozen each week. So do British brewpubs have a future? One expert says yes and predicts technology could be the pub's saving grace.

Future trends analyst Ben Hourahaine tells the UK's Telegraph that, for taverns and pubs, microchips could be the wave of the future. He predicts that by 2259, when a loyal customer walks into his usual bar, a reader above the door will scan the individual's microchip, note the patron's usual order, and deduct a payment automatically. Raising another pint? That could be as easy as placing an order on one of the many touch-sensitive tables at the tavern. Buddy not able to make it? You could simulate enjoying a pint with a pal, thanks to hologram technology. Hourahaine added:

Despite significant developments in bar technology over the past 250 years, the majority of pubs have managed to retain their original character. Exciting technological innovations will only enhance the customer's experience, actively engaging them and inspiring them.

The technology may be years away, but Hourahaine has a point: Technology could be the impetus to keep certain establishments - such as neighborhood pubs - in business. What do you think of Hourahaine's prediction for the pub's future?

Source

Come Party With Me: My Half Birthday - Dessert

partysugar — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 11:30:11 -0800

If you've been a fan of YumSugar for a while, you'll know that I have a thing for dulce de leche, the thick, milky caramel from South America. From layered cakes to ice cream sandwiches, I'm always looking for new ways to highlight my favorite sweet.

For my half birthday, I'll be experimenting with a recipe for chocolate dulce de leche bars.

A crisp shortbread crust balances out the rich mixture of dulce de leche and chocolate. They're portable, making them perfect for a picnic at the Hog Island Oyster Company. To see the recipe, read more.

Chocolate Dulce de Leche Bars
From Gourmet

Ingredients

For shortbread crust:
1 stick unsalted butter, softened
1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup all-purpose flour
For chocolate dulce de leche:
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup dulce de leche
4 large egg yolks
5 ounces 60%-cacao bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped (preferably in a food processor)

Directions

Make shortbread crust: preheat oven to 375°F with rack in middle. Butter a shallow 9- to 9 1/2-inch square baking pan (1 to 1 1/2 inches deep). Line bottom and 2 sides with parchment paper, leaving an overhang. Butter parchment.
Blend together butter, brown sugar, vanilla, and salt in a bowl with a fork. Sift in flour and blend with fork until a soft dough forms.
Spread dough evenly in baking pan using an offset spatula or back of a spoon, then prick all over with fork.
Bake until golden, 15 to 20 minutes, then cool completely in pan on a rack, about 30 minutes.
Make chocolate dulce de leche: bring cream and dulce de leche to a simmer in a small heavy saucepan, stirring with a wooden spoon until dulce de leche has dissolved.
Whisk together yolks in a bowl, then slowly whisk in hot cream mixture.
Return to pan and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until pan is visible in tracks of spoon and mixture registers 170°F on an instant-read thermometer. Remove from heat and whisk in chocolate until melted.
Make bars: pour chocolate mixture over cooled shortbread and chill, uncovered, until cold and set, about 2 hours.
Run a small knife around edges to loosen, then transfer to a cutting board using parchment. Cut with a hot clean knife (dip in hot water and wipe clean between cuts) into 24 bars. Chill until ready to serve.

Makes 24 bars

Make Ahead: Chocolate dulce de leche bars can be chilled in an airtight container up to 1 day.

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Party Foul: Saying One Thing, Serving Another

partysugar — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 10:15:25 -0800

Recently I attended the opening reception for a new bar in San Francisco. Like most bars these days, the establishment had a list of tantalizing specialty cocktails. According to the menu, the cocktail I ordered, a Bloodhound, was a mixture of Hanger One vodka, Campari, and grapefruit juice. However, when I watched the bartender mix the drink, he made it with Smirnoff! Listing out specific ingredients and making a dish with different components is not okay. Can you imagine the repercussions if a restaurant did this and served an item that caused an allergic reaction? When hosting a party of any sort, be sure to give guests exactly what is described on the menu.

Have you ever been in a similar situation? Where you asked for one thing and got something totally different? Please share your stories below!

Source

Toffee Crunch Bars Marry Coffee and Chocolate

YumSugar — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 08:00:39 -0800

A couple of weeks ago, I hosted a dinner party at my house for some of my girlfriends. I had the menu down - crudités with romesco sauce and bagna càuda, pasta tossed with Tuscan kale - but no dessert. I panicked about finding the perfect fast, do-ahead, crowd-pleasing close to the meal, until I came across Molly Wizenberg's recipe for these coffee crunch bars in this month's Bon Appétit. When she described them as "the best cookies I had ever tasted," I knew I'd be making them.

Indeed, they were a hit at dinner, with their burnt caramel flavors, almond undertones, and biscotti-like crunch. It goes without saying that they pair perfectly with coffee. To see more pictures and make the exceedingly easy recipe, read more.

Coffee Crunch Bars
From Bon Appétit

Ingredients

2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) plus 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
1 1/4 cups (firmly packed) dark brown sugar
2 tablespoons instant espresso powder*
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup sliced almonds

Directions

Preheat oven to 325°F. Whisk first 3 ingredients in medium bowl to blend.
Using electric mixer, beat butter and sugar in another medium bowl until blended, about 2 minutes. Add espresso powder and almond extract; beat 1 minute. Stir in flour mixture in 3 additions, mixing until just absorbed after each addition. Stir in chocolate chips and almonds (dough will be thick).
Turn dough out onto ungreased rimmed baking sheet. Using hands, press dough into 12-inch square. Pierce all over with fork at 1-inch intervals.
Bake until edges are lightly browned and beginning to crisp, 45 to 50 minutes. Cool on sheet 1 minute. Cut into 48 bars. Immediately transfer to rack; cool (bars will crisp as they cool).

Makes 48.

Make Ahead: Can be made 5 days ahead. Store in airtight container at room temperature.

*I substituted the darkest roast of instant coffee available and doubled the amount to 4 tablespoons.

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