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Turkey Accompaniment: Cranberry Sauce or Gravy?

partysugar — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 01:30:31 -0800

Source: Flickr Users Veganbaking.net and thebittenword.com

Can You Cut the Mustard?

YumSugar — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 05:50:45 -0700

We love mustard on YumSugar. Party admits to sometimes eating it with a spoon, and I even make my own.

So what might seem like a silly national day of observance has us pretty excited: this Saturday, Aug. 1, is National Mustard Day. Don't forget to celebrate by slathering some of the yellow stuff on your sandwich, hot dog, or anything else that suits your fancy. But first, see how much you know about this condiment by giving my quiz a squeeze.

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Know Your Ingredients: Worcestershire Sauce

YumSugar — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 13:00:53 -0700

From crab cakes to Caesar salad to Bloody Marys, many of Summer's staples share one ingredient in common: Worcestershire sauce. But what exactly is it?

Originally bottled in Worcester, England, Worcestershire sauce - commonly referred to as "Worcester sauce" - is a fermented flavoring that contains many ingredients. Lea & Perrins, the original purveyor, keeps its recipe a well-kept secret, but it contains a plethora of items that are left to mature in oak barrels for several months, including malt vinegar, molasses, corn syrup, anchovies, onions, salt, garlic, tamarind, cloves, and chili pepper extract. Worcestershire sauce is frequently added to cocktails, salad dressings, and gravies.

It is used around the globe in dishes ranging from Cantonese dim sum to Welsh rarebit. For those of you who are well-versed in cooking with Worcestershire sauce, what do you use it for? Are you surprised to learn of its manifold ingredients?

Yellow Mustard: Love It or Hate It?

partysugar — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 04:00:51 -0700

Mustard is quite possibly my favorite condiment. I love Dijon mustard so much that sometimes, when I'm making salad dressing or a cheese sandwich, I will lick the knife. However, my affection for mustard does not extend to Dijon's vibrant, all-American cousin, yellow mustard. Whether it's the bright color or the sweet, almost artificial taste, there's something about yellow mustard that I'm not so crazy about. How do you feel about it?

Make Your Own: Ketchup and Mustard

YumSugar — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:30:29 -0700

With Fourth of July right around the corner and the plethora of red, white, and blue foods, it dawned on me I wanted to try and make my own condiments for the holiday. Essential to slather on burgers and hot dogs, ketchup and mustard are surprisingly simple to make. Both require very little time in the kitchen, but the mustard seeds need two days to soak in vinegar and water.

The exceptional and robust flavor of homemade condiments is incomparable to those brought at the store. I made two different mustards - one made from yellow mustard seeds and the other from black mustard seeds. The yellow mustard is mild, whereas the black is spicy with a wasabi-like taste. The ketchup has a smoky depth thanks to a combination of chili powder, paprika, cinnamon, and allspice. Although I followed the recipes exactly, you could alter the amount of spices to suit your taste buds. To add extra pizazz to your Fourth with homemade ketchup and mustard, keep reading.

Make Your Own Harissa

YumSugar — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 15:00:50 -0700

Any gourmand with a hankering for something spicy would be right at home in my kitchen, where the fridge is stocked with scorching sauces from every corner of the world. From Tabasco to Sambal Oelek and Sriracha, I'm extremely well-supplied in the store-bought specialties department.

I recently came to the conclusion, however, that I'm lacking somewhat in the homemade hot sauce category. Enter harissa, a fiery garlic and chili paste that hails from Tunisia and is used in stews, pasta sauces, grilled meats, and couscous. Although the chili paste is sold in tubes and jars at many supermarkets, it's easy - and much more fulfilling - to make from scratch yourself. See how I did so when you read more.

Harissa
From Saveur

Ingredients

8 dried or 1 1/2 oz. new mexico chiles, stemmed and seeded
8 dried or 2 oz. guajillo chiles, stemmed and seeded (I substituted aji panca peppers)
1⁄2 tsp. caraway seeds
1⁄4 tsp. coriander seeds
1⁄4 tsp. cumin seeds
1 tsp. dried mint leaves
3 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, plus more as needed
1 1⁄2 tsp. kosher salt
5 cloves garlic
Juice of 1 lemon

Directions

Put chiles into a medium bowl, cover with boiling water, and let sit until softened, about 20 minutes. Heat caraway, coriander, and cumin in an 8" skillet over medium heat. Toast spices, swirling skillet constantly, until very fragrant, about 4 minutes. Transfer spices to a grinder with the mint and grind to a fine powder. Set aside.
Drain chiles and transfer to the bowl of a food processor with the ground spices, olive oil, salt, garlic, and lemon juice. Purée, stopping occasionally to scrape down the sides of the bowl, until the paste is very smooth, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a sterilized 1-pint glass jar and fill with oil until ingredients are submerged by 1⁄2". Refrigerate, topping off with more oil after each use. Paste will keep for up to 3 weeks.

Makes 1 cup.

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Barbecue Sauce: Love It or Hate It?

partysugar — Sat, 30 May 2009 04:00:45 -0700

During the Summer, my favorite fast and easy dinner is barbecued chicken. The combination of juicy, succulent meat with the sweet, smoky, sticky sauce is utterly divine.

But, I happen to love barbecue sauce, be it bottled or homemade. How do you feel about the grilling condiment?

Source

Black-Eyed Pea "Caviar" Is a Deep-South Delicacy

YumSugar — Mon, 18 May 2009 16:15:17 -0700

Don't let the name fool you: this "LA Caviar" is neither from Los Angeles nor made from caviar. Rather, the "LA" stands for "Lower Alabama," the coastal corner of Alabama that's home to Lulu's at Homeport Marina, a beachside restaurant owned by Jimmy Buffett's sister, Lucy Buffett. I borrowed this recipe from a Southern friend a few years back, and it's since become one of my favorite easy and healthy dips to whip up for parties.

Similar to a salsa, this chunky bean salad gets its tang from tomatoes and bell peppers, a touch of earthiness from the peas, and a delightful sweetness thanks to balsamic vinegar and sugar. To learn more and get the recipe, read more.

This dip is delicious on tortilla chips or crackers - I love to serve it with seeded flatbreads. It's a satisfying Summer dish, and since black-eyed peas are a good-luck food in the South, this makes a great New Year's Eve nibble, too.

Lulu's LA (Lower Alabama) Caviar
Lulu's at Homeport Marina via Atlanta Journal Constitution

Ingredients

3 (15-ounce) cans black-eyed peas, rinsed and drained
1/4 cup chopped red onion
3 tablespoons chopped green bell pepper
3 tablespoons chopped red bell pepper
3 tablespoons chopped yellow bell pepper
1/2 cup quartered cherry tomatoes
1/4 cup chopped parsley
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
Salt and pepper

Directions

Combine black-eyed peas, onion, peppers, tomatoes, parsley, vinegar, oil and sugar
Season with salt and pepper.
Marinate for 12 to 24 hours before serving.
Serve with crackers or tortilla chips.

Serves 10.

Per serving: 203 calories, 8 grams protein, 27 grams carbohydrates, 6 grams fiber, 8 grams fat (1 gram saturated), no cholesterol, 279 milligrams sodium.

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The Basics: Pico de Gallo

partysugar — Fri, 15 May 2009 08:00:34 -0700

During the Spring and Summer, you can almost always find the ingredients for pico de gallo in my fridge. This delightful Mexican condiment has a fresh tomato base and is flecked with raw onions and minced jalapeno. Just-squeezed lime juice adds a refreshing tartness. If I have cilantro, sometimes I'll stir that in, too.

To simply enjoy the pure flavor of pico de gallo, serve as a dip with crunchy tortilla chips. Or use the versatile mix in a number of creative ways. Place on top of grilled fish or steak. Stir into a salad of mixed greens or fold with cooked couscous. Toss with shredded chicken and you've got a quick filling for tacos or enchiladas frescos. Place in between soft tortillas with cheese and make quesadillas. Puree in the food processor for salsa.

See? The possibilities are endless. Get this recipe that you'll be making well into next Fall when you read more.

Pico de Gallo
From Emeril Lagasse

Ingredients

1 1/2 pounds plum tomatoes, cored, halved, and seeded (about 2 1/2 cups)
3/4 cup finely chopped white onions
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
2 tablespoons minced, seeded jalapeno or serrano chiles (about 2 medium)
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions

Cut the tomatoes into 1/4-inch dice and place in a bowl.
Add the remaining ingredients and stir well to combine. Cover and allow to rest at room temperature for 1 hour for the flavors to blend.

Makes about 3 cups.

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Definition: Mignonette

YumSugar — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 15:00:32 -0700

Mignonette
A classic condiment for raw oysters served on the half shell, mignonette sauce typically contains vinegar and shallots, and may also include oyster liquor, seasonings, and herbs.

Source