YumSugar

This Trend Is For the Birds

YumSugar — Thu, 01 May 2008 01:00:48 -0700

Recently CasaSugar and I were chatting about how nature's inspiring a lot of current design trends. The hot trend lies with our feathered friends. From cocktail plates to vegetable peelers, they're cropping up everywhere. Perhaps designers realized they needed things to hang out in all those empty branches?

To see all the birds I found over at ShopStyle Living just scroll through below.

Novelty Cocktail Plates - $19.00	Jan Barboglio Bird Bowl - $350.00
Two Of A Kind Dishtowel, Birds - $18.00	Villeroy & Boch "Golden Garden" Birds Mug - $44.00
Roost Arbor Collection - Vases - $44.00	Alessi - OrienTales paradise birds collection by stefano giovannoni for alessi - $29.00
Art Class Pitcher - $68.00	Backyard Cardinal Teapot - $28.00
Jason Miller Seconds Tall Teapot - Goldfinch - $95.00	Chatty Birds Dishtowel - $18.00
CLOSEOUT! Animal House Bird Veggie Peeler - $9.99	Bird-In-Hand Apron - $32.00
Patchwork Bird Dishtowel - $18.00	Bird-In-Hand Oven Mitt - $12.00
Placemat Birds N Trees Brown - $22.00	Passaro Napkin - $3.95
Flora & Fauna Placemats - $64.00	Ricci Silversmith - $84.90
Pop Ink Bird Feed Melamine Plate Set - $36.00	Parrot Cup & Saucer - $12.00
Parrot Dishtowel - $18.00	Herend - $60.00
Bird Plate - $55.00	Woodland by Spode Dinnerware Collection - $30.00
L'Objet Set of 4 Bird Napkin Rings - $99.00	Coaster Notz set of 4 Birds Gold & Silver - $23.00
Alessi - parrot corkscrew waiter's friend by alessandro mendini - $57.00	Gien Oiseau "Bleu" Square Plate - $170.00
Modern-Twist Vinotagz Designed Set - $14.00	D. L. & Co. Love Birds Plates - $175.00
Philippe Deshoulieres Pergola Fine China - $279.99	Cul De Sac Design Bird Square Sushi Dish - $48.00
Lenox Simply Fine Dinnerware, Chirp Collection - $18.00	Parrot Bottle Stoppers - $12.00
Ink Forest Dinner plate - $12.00	Villeroy & Boch "Golden Garden" Dinnerware Collection - $15.00

Peacock Melamine Tray: Love It or Hate It?

YumSugar — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 03:18:33 -0800

I was flipping through the latest Pottery Barn catalog when I came across this Peacock Melamine Tray (was $19 now $12). On one hand I think it's lovely and I absolutely adore birds. On the other, there's something rustic about it that irritates me to no end. I'm a bit torn, how about you? Would this tray find a place in your home?

Bird Jug & Mug: Love It Or Hate It?

YumSugar — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 03:58:39 -0700

I have a thing for little birds, they're pretty darn cute and add a nice rustic flair to modern elements. They're also pretty trendy right now, which is okay in my book. Yesterday I saw this lovely bird jug and mug set and just swooned. The mug is £4.95 ($10) and the jug is £19.95 ($40). What do you guys think, love it or hate it?

Source: Another Shade of Grey

Ann Wood's Adorable Handmade Cake Toppers

YumSugar — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 11:58:31 -0700

Every now and again I will find a product that stops me in my tracks, takes my breath away, or makes me squeal a super-high pitched "I neeeeeeds it!"

Well, these little birdie wedding cake toppers by Ann Wood actually made me do all three. Made from mostly vintage fabrics, trims and laces (including some from old too fragile to wear wedding dresses), these little birds will look absolutely darling on top of your wedding cake. They're handmade, and each set is pretty unique, she even does different variations - the standard bride/groom, as well as bride/bride and groom/groom versions. Each set is absolutely amazing and will look great on just about any wedding cake. However, since they're so unique and personal (she can actually do custom orders incorporating your own fabric and ideas), be prepared to spend a little bit of money on them - the sets start at $240 and top off at $400. But it's your big day and you're worth it, aren't you?

Source: Oh Joy!

Yummy Links: From Pie Birds to Bird Flu

YumSugar — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 07:59:18 -0800

What exactly is a pie bird and how does it work? - Serious Eats
Is the idea of going local a luxury? - Culinate
If you haven't gotten enough Thanksgiving, here's an entire day of Thanksgiving. - Slashfood
Are you still looking for a Thanksgiving dessert? Why don't you try this chocolate pumpkin pie - Baking Bites
Do women have worse service when ordering coffee? - Chow

The results are in, the Mrs. Field's 30th Anniversary contest winning cookie is an Oatmeal Peanut Butter Scotchie. Add it to the baking list! - iVillage
These NSFW cupcakes are sure to cause a rise. Don't say I didn't warn ya! - TeamSugar
What are the best Black Friday deals for cooks? - Apartment Therapy @ The Kitchen
Learn more about Michael Ruhlman and his new book. - Amazon's Al Dente
Sadly, the bird flu has hit a turkey farm in England. - Yahoo News UK & Ireland

Thanksgiving Tip: How to Buy a Bird

partysugar — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 14:00:15 -0800

Buying a turkey can be a daunting task: it should be big enough to feed a crowd, but have plenty of meat for leftovers. It also has to fit inside your oven, deep fryer, or brining vessel. Then there's the question of fresh versus frozen? No worries, I'm here to help! To learn how to order the turkey that's right for you, read more.

Figure out how much you'll need. For each guest you will need about one and half pounds of turkey. For 8 people, get a 12-14 pound turkey. For 10 people, a 15-16 pound bird will do. For 12 people, an 18-20 pound turkey is necessary. For 14 people, get a 21-22 pounder. A 24-pounder will feed 16 people. For a group larger than 16, you'll need more than one turkey.
Be familiar with the terms used to describe turkeys:
- Self-Basting turkeys are injected with additives like water, broth, and butter.
- Fresh turkeys are birds that have not been cooled below 26°F.
- Frozen birds are stored at or below zero degrees.
- Free-Range means the bird is not raised in a cage and is permitted to graze on grass and grains.
- Organic turkeys are raised free range without the use of additives or pesticides.They are fed an organic diet.
- Kosher turkeys are farmed according to the Jewish dietary customs and are treated with a salting process after slaughter. Because of this technique, you should not brine a kosher bird.
- Heritage birds are farmed like they were before the 1920s, meaning they have a slower growth rate, richer flavor, and more dark meat.
- Wild birds are the most similar bird to what the Pilgrims ate. They have lots of dark meat and little fat.
When purchasing a frozen turkey look for the bird with the latest sell-by date because that means it's the freshest. Avoid leaky or sticky packaging and never buy a bird with a bad smell. Buy several days before Thanksgiving to allow time for defrosting.
Fresh turkeys keep in the fridge for only two days, so order now and pick up later.
If you are worried about the turkey fitting in your oven, measure it before ordering the bird. However, most standard ovens can hold a 25-pound turkey.
Birds can be ordered and purchased from Whole Foods, Williams Sonoma, and Heritage Foods.

Have you ordered your turkey yet? What kind do you plan on making?

Source

Wind-Up Bird Salt and Pepper Shakers: Love It or Hate It?

partysugar — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 01:31:31 -0700

The other day I was browsing Shopstyle Living when I came across these disturbingly ugly wind-up bird salt and pepper shakers. Seeing these circusy, clown-like shakers on a dinner table might scare me. And "Please pass me the pepper" becomes, "Please wind up the pepper birdie and send it rolling over," which is fun, but could be dangerous. What if the bird is too wound up, flies right off the table, and spills salt all over the floor? Am I the only one who finds these shakers revoltingly tacky? What do you think?

Last Chance to Enter Our Thanksgiving Giveaway!

partysugar — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:16:47 -0800

From our free downloadable planner to our favorite recipes for stuffing, sides, and desserts, we're dedicating November to all things Thanksgiving. We're taking it one step further by partnering with our friends at Williams-Sonoma® to bring you the ultimate turkey day prize! There's everything you need to host the perfect Thanksgiving.

We're sending you the bird, a free-range organic Willie Bird turkey from California. Then, we're throwing in all the necessary tools for creating a juicy and flavorful roast turkey. There's a stainless steel roaster, a baster, turkey lifters, brining bags, and probe thermometer. We couldn't forget about the side dishes, so there's a kitchen timer to ensure everything cooks properly; a potato ricer is a must have for smooth and fluffy mashed potatoes; and a ruffled pie dish and Fall forest piecrust cutters are essential for picture-ready pies. All of these products form a giveaway package that's worth more than $500!

To enter to win, you must log in and take the quiz below by 1 p.m. EST on Friday, Nov. 20. Your eligibility is not based on getting the answers correct; completing the quiz once you are logged in makes you eligible to win. You do, however, need to be a PopSugar Network member before taking the quiz. If you're not already a member, register here for an account. One quiz entry per person. See the official rules here.

Take the quiz

Let's Dish: What Kind of Turkey Are You Having This Year?

YumSugar — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:00:49 -0800

Right now at the office, there are few things that PartySugar and I can talk about besides our Thanksgiving menus. For the first time ever, Party's making a deep-fried turkey, and she can't stop obsessing about it! This year, for some reason, I'm not really feeling Thanksgiving traditions, so I'm mixing it up with a bacon-wrapped, mushroom-filled turkey roulade. And Sugar staffer Alexis is going the classic route, with a buttered, basted, stuffed roast turkey. What kind of bird are you having this year?

You Won't Miss the Turkey With This Savory Squash Pudding

YumSugar — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:00:27 -0800

Planning an almost meatless feast or vegetarian meal this Thanksgiving? If you were fretting about a main course that can compete with the bird as the star of the supper, you can stop worrying; I've found one for you!

I'm not sure if any entrée can ever be all things to all people, but this savory bread pudding is as close as it gets. It's wholesome, with kale, butternut squash, and shallots, yet at the same time hearty and satisfying. Want to impress herbivores and carnivores alike? Keep reading.