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Say Cheese

YumSugar — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 11:15:21 -0700

In case you don't already own cheese serving tools, I went shopping for stylish cheese serving trays and found a fabulous selection. They run the gamut from ornate and over-the-top to sleek and minimalist. My favorite is this marble tray with silver bamboo hardware ($78); it's got the perfect amount of flair and will look excellent displaying everything from a pungent blue to a sharp cheddar.

To scope out all my finds, click on the arrows below.

September's Must Haves

YumSugar — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 07:13:31 -0700

For many of us, September means back to school and new seasons of our favorite television shows. For others it means long hot days, and the opportunity to take advantage of the last few weeks of summer. No matter what it means to you, here are a few things that you must have and can't miss out on.

If you plan on curling up on the sofa for the season premiere of your favorite shows, then you'll definitely need a tv tray. There are many different kinds available, so find one that suits your needs (height etc.), but I really like the VPb_Veyko Ponyboy that I found via Design Sponge.
The final days of summer means that there's still time to get out and have a picnic. Before leaving, transfer your wine to a Klean Kanteen Wine Carafe before you head out.
If you've got little ones in school, then bake sales might be a part of your future. With the Best Bake Sale Ever Cookbook, your treats will surely sell out in no time.
Whether you're headed to school, work or a fun outing, Cowgirl Creamery's signature MT Tam cheese will definitely hit the right spot.
And finally, If you're learning to cook for one - like many students are - be sure to check out this useful recipe divider magnet.

Taste Test: Pizza Hut's Tuscani Lasagna

YumSugar — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 09:00:32 -0800

At the Food Fete that Party and I attended a few weeks ago, we ran into some representatives from Pizza Hut, who revealed that the fast food chain would be introducing yet another pasta to its delivery lineup: lasagna. After the intriguing taste test results of our Pizza Hut pastas, I was looking forward to giving the lasagna ($14.99) a try. It's impossible to go too wrong with any dish made of pasta, tomato sauce, and melted cheese. To check out more pictures and find out what I thought, read more.

Pizza Hut's Tuscani lasagna is made with three cheeses - ricotta, Parmesan, and Romano - as well as a meat sauce, so it's not an option for vegetarians. Upon first glance, it looked like a dead ringer for the meat marinara pasta I'd tried last month - that is to say, not so appealing. The tray was also a behemoth. The lasagna claims to feed a family of four, but I'd say that, considering it weighs in at over three pounds, it could easily feed a couple more mouths.

With a firm, chewy bite and a nice ratio of meat, cheese, pasta, and sauce, the lasagna was actually enjoyable. Both of us went back for seconds. We were, however, shocked by how sweet the dish was: the marinara was decidedly sweet, and the rest of the recipe compensated for this by being incredibly salty.

My advice to the Pizza Hut kitchen would be to cut back on both the sugar and the salt. If you're a big lasagna fan, don't want to bother with reheating and cooking, and can handle a bit of overseasoning, I'd say this could be the match for you.

Have you tried this dish yet? What did you think of it?

View 6 Photos ›

Off to Market Recap: Cheese Board

partysugar — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 15:18:33 -0700

Cheese is one of my all time favorite foods. Whenever I host an impromptu dinner party, cheese inevitably makes it into the first course. However, there is just one teeny weeny problem: I never know what to display the cheese on! My cutting boards are not exactly party ready, and a plate is okay, but doesn't do the cheese justice. That's why I recently asked you to help me find a wooden board that will be used only for cheese. You bookmarked your boards in the Yum Market on TeamSugar with the keyword tag Cheese Board.

I really love the modern metal and wooden eclipse cheese tray that mellie_608 found, but at an expensive $200 it's a little out of my price range. After all, I could get this fabulous space saving cheese board - complete with knife set - for $170 less! Talk about a deal. Great discovery SugarFreak! Take a look at all of the boards by browsing below.

GeekSugar has put together an explanation on how to use the fun bookmarking feature so check it out to learn more.

Come Party With Me: Heroes Season Premiere - The Look

partysugar — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 09:15:51 -0700

I am so excited for Monday night's season premiere of Heroes! As with any TV-watching party, make sure your viewing room is clean and comfortable.

Before the show starts offer the grilled cheese appetizers on a large, black platter. The tomato soup looks scrumptious in Heroes shot glasses. Pour the cocktail into classic Tom Collins glasses.

Let guests eat on individual folding tables and serve the meal in foil TV dinner trays.

Light black candles and fold a couple of throw blankets over the back of a sofa. Place simple but chic plant arrangements around the space. A Heroes poster on the fridge is a delightful last detail.

Photos courtesy of NBC

Come Party With Me: Heroes Season Premiere - Menu

partysugar — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 09:00:05 -0700

When hosting a viewing party of any sort, there are two options for planning a menu. You can serve foods inspired by the show or popular dishes classic to the TV dinner. For my Heroes season premiere party, I've decided to do the latter and offer friends a tasty re-interpretation of the 1950s TV dinner. Guests will be greeted with shot glasses of spicy tomato soup. Mini grilled cheese sandwiches are an excellent companion. Beef, mashed potatoes, peas, and caramelized onions make up the main course that looks scrumptious served on a TV dinner tray. To get these comforting, delicious, timeless recipes, read more.

Spicy Tomato Soup
From Gourmet magazine

Ingredients

2 (28- to 32-oz) cans whole tomatoes in juice (preferably organic)
1 large onion, coarsely chopped (2 1/4 cups)
2 teaspoons finely chopped garlic
1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh jalapeño chile including seeds
2 teaspoons finely chopped peeled fresh ginger
3 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
2 1/4 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth (18 fl oz)
1 tablespoon sugar, or to taste
2 teaspoons salt, or to taste

Directions

Drain 1 can tomatoes, discarding juice, then purée with remaining can tomatoes (including juice) in a blender.
Cook onion, garlic, chile, and ginger in oil in a 4- to 5-quart heavy nonreactive pot over moderate heat, stirring frequently, until onion is softened, about 8 minutes.
Add cumin and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Stir in puréed tomatoes, broth, 1 tablespoon sugar, and 2 teaspoons salt and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, 20 minutes.
Working in 3 or 4 batches, blend soup in blender until smooth (use caution when blending hot liquids). Transfer soup as blended to a sieve set over a large bowl and force through sieve, discarding seeds.
Stir in sugar and salt to taste. Reheat in cleaned saucepan if necessary.

Serves 4.

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Grilled Mozzarella Sandwiches
From Martha Stewart

Ingredients

1 pound fresh buffalo mozzarella, cut into 4 equal pieces about 3-inches by 4-inches
8 1/2-inch thick firm white sandwich bread
2 large eggs
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
1 teaspoon coarse salt
A grating of nutmeg
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons unsalted butter

Directions

Place the mozzarella on 4 slices of the bread. Cover with the remaining slices to form sandwiches. Trim the crusts off to make perfect 4-inch squares.
In a wide shallow bowl, whisk the eggs. Add the cream, thyme leaves, salt, and nutmeg. Whisk until well blended.
In a 10 to 12-inch nonstick saute pan, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium-high heat until smoking. Add 1 tablespoon of the butter and cook until the sizzling subsides.
Dip 2 of the sandwiches into the egg mixture, turning to coat, place in the pan, and cook until golden brown on the first side, about 2 minutes.
Flip over and brown on the other side. Transfer the sandwiches to individual plates and repeat the process with the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 tablespoon butter, and 2 sandwiches. Cut in half, and serve immediately.

Makes 4 sandwiches or 16 triangles.

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Beef, Potatoes, and Peas
From Everyday with Rachael Ray magazine

Ingredients

2 large baking potatoes (about 1 1/4 pounds total)-peeled, quartered lengthwise and sliced 1/2 inch thick
3/4 cup heavy cream
Salt and pepper
1 pound ground beef sirloin
1 tablespoon flour
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 onions, thinly sliced
1 cup beef broth
3 tablespoons steak sauce, such as A.1.
One 10-ounce box frozen petite peas

Directions

In a small saucepan, combine the potatoes and enough salted cold water to cover. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer until tender, about 15 minutes. Drain, return to the pot and mash with 6 tablespoons cream, 1 teaspoon salt and a pinch of pepper. Set aside.
Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, combine the ground sirloin with 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Shape into 4 oval patties about 1/2 inch thick. Coat with the flour.
In a large, heavy skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the ground sirloin patties and cook until browned, about 2 minutes on each side for medium-rare. Transfer to a plate and cover with foil to keep warm.
Add the onions to the skillet and cook over medium heat, stirring, until slightly softened, about 5 minutes. Pour in the beef broth, steak sauce and remaining 6 tablespoons cream and bring to a boil. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens, about 4 minutes.
Meanwhile, cook the peas according to package directions.
Return the meat patties to the skillet and let simmer in the sauce for about 4 minutes.
Arrange the patties on plates and spoon the sauce on top. Serve the mashed potatoes and peas alongside.

Serves 4.

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Off To Market: Appetizer Tray

partysugar — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 15:22:39 -0700

Like a true fashionista with clothes, a hostess with the mostess can never have too many appetizer serving trays. There is such a wide variety of appetizer dishes - from crostinis and cheese bites, to chips and dips - that having a bunch of different platters is a good idea. I have a few cool platters, but want to supplement my collection with some new stellar pieces. Can you help me with your fabulous bookmarking skills?? Look for platters that are useful, yet stylish and that will endure a vigorous entertaining schedule. Search for all shapes and sizes, materials and textures. Save your trays (and bowls!) in the Yum Market on TeamSugar with the keyword tag Appetizer Tray. Happy hunting!

To learn more about the bookmarking feature of TeamSugar, please read through geeksugar's explanation.

Off to Market Recap: Appetizer Plates

partysugar — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 06:45:23 -0700

When you entertain as much as I do, it's important to have a selection of stylish appetizer plates. From small plates to decorative trays, these serving platters are essential to displaying delicious dishes. I'm always looking for interesting pieces and I invited you to help me add to my collection. You headed off to market in search of appetizer servingware. You saved your finds in the Yum Market on TeamSugar with the keyword tag, Appetizer Plates.

How fabulous are these giraffe print plates? Sofi discovered these stylish, modern plates that will look lovely displaying balls of goat cheese. High five sofi! To check out the entire collection, browse below.

Learn how to bookmark by reading geeksugar's directions.

You've Seen the Pics, Now See the Menu

YumSugar — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 15:16:31 -0800

The Oscars are just around the corner - fill in your ballot for a chance to win fab prizes! - and last week I tempted you guys with photos from the Governors Ball preview However, I didn't give a full rundown on what was going to be served. If you were wondering what was pictured in the sea of tastiness, get prepared. I've got the full list - it's huge, over 350 people are on the culinary staff! - and let me tell you, it reads as tasty as the photos. To check out the complete menu, read more.

Antipasti Platter
Smoked Salmon Oscars With Caviar and Crème Fraîche
Roasted Root Vegetable Salad With Citrus Chili Dressing
Thai Spiced Shrimp With Holy Basil and Candied Garlic
Bruschetta of Figs, Goat Cheese, and Organic Prosciutto
Smoked Eggplant With Toasted Flatbread
Asparagus and Chickpea Salad With Mustard Vinaigrette

Butlered Course
Gold Foil Wrapped Baked Yukon Gold With Tsar Nicoulai Caviar and Crème Fraîche

Entrée
Snake River Farms Wagyu Beef With Chinese Broccoli Shiitake Stir-Fry With Red Wine Sauce
Black Truffle Macaroni and Cheese

Vegetable Entrée
Roasted Winter Vegetables Wrapped in Leeks
Black Olive Couscous and Tomato and Radish Compote

Dessert
Sherry Yard’s Oscar Tribute - We'll have more on the dessert station next week!

Sushi Station
Maki Rolls - Spicy Tuna, Sweet Shrimp, Crab, Vegetable
Nigiri - Tuna, Sweet Shrimp, Yellowtail, Salmon, Snapper
Sashimi - Tuna, Yellowtail, Salmon, Snapper
Cucumber Salad, Edamame, Wasabi, Soy, and Pickled Ginger

Noodle Station
Pad Thai Noodles With Tofu, Egg, Bean Sprouts, Thai Basil, Mint, and Peanuts
Short Lo Mein Noodles With Pork, Scallions, Sweet Peppers, and Plum Ginger Sauce

Ceviche Station
Shrimp With Mango, Basil, Golden Tomatoes, and Habanero
Sea Bass With Avocado, Tomatillo, Cilantro and Jalapeño
Scallop With Tomato, Orange, and Chili

Shellfish Station
Shrimp, Oysters, and Crab
Cocktail Sauce, Mustard Sauce, and Mignonette

Tray Passed
Spicy Tuna in Sesame Miso Cone; Mini Kobe Cheeseburgers With Remoulade; Tomato Goat Cheese Tart; Miso-Glazed Black Cod on Rice Cracker; Cucumbers and Smoked Salmon, Steak Tartare Crostini, Spicy Chicken Mango Rice Paper Rolls, Vegetable Spring Rolls, Assorted Pizzas

If the menu has you captivated, check out the pics!

Come Party With Me: Christmas Caroling

YumSugar — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 00:05:22 -0800

I know it may be a little old fashioned but I think it's time we bring back Christmas caroling. That's right, you guessed it, let's throw a Christmas caroling party. Invite a group of people over (we all know a few American Idol wannabes) then put on your big coats and head out into the cold to sing for your neighbors. Afterwards invite everyone back in for some hot soup and a hot chocolate bar. Make this party particularly memorable and ask guests to wear their tackiest Christmas sweaters. To make this party your own read more

Invites: To emphasize the tacky sweater concept create mini sweaters for invites. Visit your local Goodwill to scout large, chunky, cheesy sweaters. Cut into pieces and glue onto red or green metallic card stock. Cut the card stock/sweater into mini sweater shapes about 4x5 inches (you want it to fit into a regular sized envelope). The front should look like a mini sweater and on the back you can write in the specifics of the party. Slide into an addressed envelope and send to your guests.

Menu: Keep the menu uncomplicated, serve a crab dip, crackers, and fresh sliced salami while you wait for all the guests to arrive. Leave a creamy tomato soup warming on the stove for after the caroling. Serve mini ham and cheese sandwiches with the soup. Pair chocolate fudge and rice crispy treats with the hot chocolate bar.

Decorations: This is one party where no decorations are necessary. The tacky sweaters are decorations themselves and act as conversation starters. Don't light candles and leave the house to go caroling because, potentially, this could lead to a fire risk. Create a booklet of lyrics to the Christmas songs you plan to sing and give each of your guests one upon their arrival. When you return from caroling ask a friend to light a fire and another to light your candles. Turn on some music and bowl up the soup.

Music: Pump up guests by playing a CD of the Christmas carols you are going to sing at the start of the party. For the after party portion when you return from caroling your friends may be Christmas caroled out so put a few of your latest favs on rotation. My picks: Gwen Stefani's Sweet Escape, Fergie's The Dutchess, and the Killer's Sam's Town.

Drinks: When guests arrive offer them an apple pie shooter to loosen up their inhibitions and put them in the singing spirit. For drinks you can plan a naughty & nice hot chocolate station. Start with a good hot chocolate base (which you can leave on super-low heat, stirring every so often) and leave out a tray of nice: mini-marshmallows, cinnamon sticks, whip cream, dinner mints, etc. and a tray of naughty: grand marnier, kahlua, irish cream, etc. If your guests are not interested in the hot chocolate you can always serve Port, sparkling wines (and juices) or mulled wine.

Yamazaki "Signature" Cheese Tray, 14" - $50.00	Agate Cheese Plates - $60.00
4 Piece Marble Cheese Set by All-Clad - $99.99	Georg Jensen Cheeseboard and Knife - $155.00
Stelton - stainless cheese plane by martin rosquist for stelton - $48.00	Petrified Wood Cheese Trays - $78.00
Silver Bamboo & Marble Cheese Set - $78.00	Cheese Board with Tools - $19.95
Michael Aram "Swiss Cheese" Cutting Board & Knife - $65.00	Granite Cheese Board with Hammered Metal Handles - $39.95
Fitz and Floyd "Ricamo" Cheese Tray with Knife, 14 1/8" - $62.00	Eclipse Cheese Tray by Nambé - $195.00
Michael Aram "Vine" Cheese Board with Knife - $79.00