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Did You Receive a Kitchen Gift This Holiday?

YumSugar — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 09:15:23 -0800

This Christmas, did you find the KitchenAid attachment that you've been wanting under the tree? Or perhaps receive the edible gift of your dreams?

Before the holidays, my friend Daisy presented me with some scrumptious peppermint bark, and I was elated!

If you did get the gourmet gift of your dreams, I'd love to hear what you received in the comments below!

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Off to Market Recap: Christmas Plate

partysugar — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 06:45:35 -0800

When I was growing up, we had a special Christmas plate that was reserved for serving Santa Claus. Every Christmas Eve, my sister and I would take the pretty plate, place the most perfect cookies on it, and set it out by the tree. To relive old memories, I went looking for the long lost plate. Alas, it was nowhere to be found. I asked you to help me find a replacement by heading off to market in search of a beautiful Christmas plate worthy of Saint Nick. You saved your discoveries in the Yum Market on TeamSugar with the keyword tag, Christmas Plate.

In what looks like it might be a Christmas miracle, CiaoBella has bookmarked the exact plate that used to be my special Christmas plate! She has the plate (whose design has been a holiday favorite since its introduction in 1938) and also serves cookies to Santa on it. Thanks for helping me restore a family tradition CiaoBella! To select your own Christmas plate, browse the collection below.

To learn how the bookmarking feature functions, please refer to geeksugar's explanation.

6 Uses for Christmas Leftovers

YumSugar — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 04:00:01 -0800

Christmas is over, and you're left with crumbled wrapping paper and way too much of last night's Christmas feast. Instead of eating cookies until you're blue in the face, transform your holiday leftovers into dramatically different gourmet dishes. To see some of our ideas, read on.

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Happy Holidays!

partysugar — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 07:00:15 -0800

On behalf of YumSugar and myself, I wish you and your family a very fabulous holiday! May your souffles rise and gravy thicken. May your roasts be succulent and your cakes moist. May your Champagne flute always be half full.

I hope the new year brings health and happiness to you and your loved ones. Cheers to the holidays!

Delicious Ways to Use Eggnog

YumSugar — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 05:30:20 -0800

Perhaps you were a little overzealous with the holiday grocery list. Or you decided to stock up on it since it's only around once a year. Either way, you've wound up with way too much eggnog.

Before you bust out your college chugging skills, consider using eggnog in other crowd-pleasing dishes. The drink can add depth to French toast and richness to a panna cotta. To see few of my favorite ideas, read more.

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Let's Dish: What Are You Having For Christmas Dinner?

YumSugar — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 03:00:19 -0800

Merry Christmas! I hope that you're relaxing somewhere warm and cozy on this festive Winter day. Since food plays such a monumental part in Christmas, I want to know what you're feasting on today. I'll be enjoying a roasted lamb loin, brussels sprouts, and a gingerbread trifle for dessert. What about you: will you be enjoying a longtime tradition, or trying out something new?

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Spread Holiday Cheer With a Bûche de Noël

YumSugar — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 10:00:43 -0800

I've been dreaming of classic Christmas desserts, so this holiday, I thought I'd bake a bûche de Noël. Rather than opting for excessive designs and detailed accessories, I made a modern cake roll that looked (and felt) effortless. My guests couldn't get enough of the moist, light mocha sponge cake, which was a nice contrast to the sweet and nutty German chocolate filling. Impress your guests when you read more.

German Chocolate Cake Roll
From Food Network Magazine

Ingredients

1 cup evaporated milk
1 cup plus 1-1/4 cups granulated sugar
3 large egg yolks plus 3 large eggs, at room temperature
1 stick cubed butter plus 1-1/2 sticks softened butter (2-1/2 sticks or 1-1/4 cups total)
1 teaspoon plus 2 teaspoons vanilla extract (3 teaspoons total)
1-2/3 cups sweetened coconut, toasted until light brown
1 cup chopped pecans
1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, plus more for dusting
1 ounce bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
1/3 cup strong hot coffee
1/3 cup buttermilk
Confectioner's sugar, for dusting

Directions

Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350ºF. Lightly grease a 13-by-18-inch jelly roll pan; line with parchment paper, letting it come up the short sides by about 2 inches. Brush the paper with oil or melted butter and lightly dust with flour.
Make the filling: Whisk the evaporated milk, 1 cup sugar, 3 egg yolks, and the cubed butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring constantly, until thick and creamy, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla, toasted coconut, and pecans. Set aside to cool completely, stirring occasionally.
Make the cake: Meanwhile, whisk the flour, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl.
In another bowl, whisk the cocoa and chocolate. Add the hot coffee to the cocoa mixture, stirring until smooth; stir in the buttermilk and the remaining 2 teaspoons vanilla.
Using a mixer, beat the softened butter and remaining 1-1/4 cups sugar in a large bowl on high speed until fluffy, about 4 minutes. Reduce the speed to low; add the 3 whole eggs, 1 at a time, incorporating each one before adding the next. Add the flour mixture in 3 parts, alternating with the cocoa mixture in 2 parts, beginning and ending with the flour. Beat until just blended; if necessary, fold the batter together with a rubber spatula.
Spread the batter evenly in the prepared pan. Bake until cake springs back when pressed lightly, about 16 minutes. Cool slightly in the pan.
Run a knife around the edge and slide the cake with its paper onto a work surface. Spread the coconut filling evenly over the cake. Roll the cake from one of the short ends, pulling it away from the parchment into a tight cylinder; transfer to a platter. Cool completely and dust with the confectioners' sugar or cocoa.

Serves 8 to 12.

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How Many Holiday Parties Are You Attending This Year?

YumSugar — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 08:30:08 -0800

Since corporate holiday parties are at an all-time low, I thought I'd take an unofficial poll to find out how many parties you'll be attending this season, if any. This count includes company-sponsored functions, house parties, tree trimmings, and Christmas Eve dinners, or any other holiday-related events. Did you still throw a party of your own? Did you and your friends party less this year?

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Can You Match the Country to the Christmas Dinner Tradition?

YumSugar — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 05:30:45 -0800

Fruitcake, gingerbread men, eggnog: for Americans, the mere mention of these bring to mind yuletide festivities. Other parts of the world, however, have different dishes that hold similar meanings. Do you know which dishes are customary to eat in other countries celebrating Christmas? You'll find out when you take our quiz!

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Definition: Panettone

YumSugar — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 15:00:19 -0800

Panettone
A cylindrical, domed Italian dessert bread, panettone originated in Milan and is traditionally enjoyed during Christmas and the New Year. Like fruitcake, the fluffy bread contains candied citrus peel and raisins; however, the bread's natural leavening process, which requires dough to cure for several days, means panettone is difficult to recreate at home.

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