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Canned Cranberry: Love It or Hate It?

partysugar — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 04:00:41 -0800

When I was growing up, canned cranberry jelly was a part of our menu every Thanksgiving. With it's rich color, cylindrical shape, and smooth coolness, it was one of my favorite parts of the meal. I have since learned to love a more sophisticated homemade fresh cranberry sauce, but the canned cranberry holds a special place in my heart. It's ideal for making leftover sandwiches. How do you feel about it?

Source: Flickr User busbeytheelder

Cranberries Move From Sauce to Sorbet

YumSugar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:28:15 -0800

Although Thanksgiving is all about tradition, I love to take a quintessential holiday ingredient and add a new twist to it. Cranberry sauce is essential to turkey day, but it's time to move this berry over to dessert - with a white wine and ginger infused cranberry sorbet. Normally sorbet is served between courses to cleanse the palate. However, I like to offer it after the feast for guests who prefer something lighter and more refreshing than pumpkin pie. If you're interested in moving your cranberries from the dinner table to the dessert table, keep reading.

Happy Hour: Cran-Limoncello

YumSugar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:00:49 -0800

Every few months, I host a book club in my home, and find it a lovely occasion to try out a new cocktail. This time around, I couldn't wait to incorporate ingredients that evoke the holidays, like cranberries and the zesty Italian after-dinner favorite, limoncello.

This three-ingredient sipper couldn't be easier to pull together; it simply calls for seltzer, limoncello, and cranberry juice - no shaker required. Yet the payoff is in spades: "What went into this? Can I have the recipe?" friends asked me throughout the night. I assured them that even the most bar-challenged could make this drink. For a pretty garnish that's a hint of what's to come, toss in a few fresh cranberries, too. Keep reading for the recipe.

Don't Forget the Sides: Caramelized Onion Cranberry Sauce

YumSugar — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:40:14 -0800

When I was younger, cranberry sauce was one of those Thanksgiving sides that wasn't given much thought; often, we ate something that was pre-made or canned. However, I have since learned that fresh cranberry sauce is light-years better than the canned variety. It's exceptionally easy to make and can be prepared up to three days prior to the feast.

The combination of sweet caramelized onions and tart cranberries is perfect to pair with turkey. While I might not be cooking my bird for a couple more weeks, I can't wait to use this sauce to top chicken or a meatloaf sandwich. If you want to give up the can and make your own scrumptious cranberry sauce, keep reading.

Happy Hour: The Normandy

YumSugar — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:00:03 -0800

Over the weekend, something monumental happened: I discovered what is quite possibly the world's most perfect Fall cocktail. The Normandy, as it's called, has cool weather written all over it, with ingredients like cranberries, green apples, and Calvados, a type of French apple brandy from - you guessed it - Normandy.

The tipple balances all the elements you'd ever hope for in a drink. It's simultaneously cool and warm, sweet and tart. Despite being incredibly basic, its elegant simplicity has more sophistication than most of today's overthought cocktails. My only problem? Now that the pursuit for The Thanksgiving Cocktail is over, what do I look forward to? The drink to end all other Autumn drinks, when you read more.

What Is Your Favorite Kind of Berry?

partysugar — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 10:15:15 -0700

Noteworthy Nibbles - June 23-30, 2009

YumSugar — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 14:00:13 -0700

It's almost July, and the palatable parties just keep coming. If you're a wine enthusiast, head over to Pinot Days or the Telluride Wine Festival. Beer more your thing? Throw back some sake bombs at the Beer & Sake Festival, or hit up the Colorado Brewfest. Here in Fog City, the Best of the Bay looks to be one heck of a soirée. What happenings are you hitting up?

If you know of anything that's been left off the list, please go ahead and chime in below!

Sedona, AZ: Dine in Sedona Restaurant Fest - June 23-30
Hampton, SC: Hampton County Watermelon Festival - June 23-28
Gettysburg, PA: Gettysburg Festival - June 23-28
Portsmouth, NH: Taste of the Nation Portsmouth - June 24
London, OH: London Strawberry Festival - June 24-27
San Francisco, CA: Pinot Days - June 24-28
Wisconsin Rapids, WI: Cranberry Blossom Festival - June 24-28
San Diego, CA: Beer & Sake Festival - June 25
Milwaukee, WI: The 2009 Big Taste - June 25
San Francisco, CA: Best of the Bay - June 25
Ft. Lauderdale, FL: Taste of the Nation South Florida - June 25

To see the rest, read more.

Cedar Rapids, IA: Cedar Rapids BBQ Roundup _ June 25-28
Telluride, CO: Telluride Wine Festival - June 25-28
Luling, TX: Luling Watermelon Thump - June 25-28
Cleveland, OH: Cleveland Wine Festival - June 26-27
Emerson, AR: Purple Hull Pea Festival - June 26-27
Chipley, FL: Panhandle Watermelon Festival - June 26-27
Tacoma, WA: Taste of Tacoma - June 26-28
Long Grove, IL: Long Grove Strawberry Festival - June 26-28
Burlington, VT: Green Mountain Chew Chew Food & Music Fest - June 26-28
Chicago, IL: Taste of Chicago - June 26-July 5
Honolulu, HI: Slow Food's Honolulu Fish Auction Tour - June 27
Washington DC: National Capital Barbecue Battle - June 27-28
Fort Collins, CO: Colorado Brewfest - June 27-28
Pennington, NJ: East Coast Food & Wine Festival - June 27-28
New York, NY: Summer Rosé Celebration With Ariane Duarte - June 29

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Come Party With Me: Girls Winter Weekend - Drinks

partysugar — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 14:00:45 -0800

A girlie, rose-colored cocktail is the perfect way to kick-start a girls weekend getaway. If you're spending a couple of hours in the car, a drink upon arrival is necessary! Select a champagne cocktail - like this recipe for a Prosecco Royale - and make a toast to have a fabulous time together. A fresh cranberry-infused simple syrup provides the brilliant color. To allow time to chill, make the syrup the night before the trip. Don't be afraid to ask your friends to pitch in. Tell each girl to bring several bottles of a certain type of wine. That way, there will be plenty to go around. To look at the Prosecco Royale recipe, read more.

Prosecco Royale
From Everyday With Rachael Ray

Ingredients

1/2 cup sugar
1 cup fresh cranberries
One 750-ml bottle prosecco, chilled

Directions

Chill 6 champagne flutes.
In a small saucepan, stir the sugar and 1/2 cup water until the sugar dissolves, about 5 minutes. Add the cranberries and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer for 2 minutes. Strain, then refrigerate the syrup and cranberries separately.
Place a few cranberries in each flute and top with 1 tablespoon cranberry syrup; fill each glass with prosecco.

Makes 6 drinks.

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Yummy Links: From 12-Layer Cake to Mario and Tony

partysugar — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 06:45:35 -0800

I'm trying to work up the courage to make this gorgeous 12-layer mocha cake for Christmas. Wish me luck! - Gourmet
Twelve delicious cranberry recipes. - The Kitchn
What do recession dining and goat meat have in common? They're top food trends of 2008. - Time
At a time when everyone is craving comfort food, retro cookbooks are making a strong comeback. - The Epi-Log
A look back at the year in food. - Chow
Vote for your favorite finalist in the Inspire Me! Holiday Entertaining Contest. - Hostess With the Mostess
Mario Batali and Anthony Bourdain discuss fatherhood. - Serious Eats

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Homemade Cranberry Sauce Is Simply Delicious

partysugar — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 10:15:58 -0800

While some people swear by canned cranberry, in my opinion, nothing beats a homemade variation. Making cranberry is incredibly easy. All you have to do is combine the components in a pot and simmer for 20 minutes. From jelly to gelatin, there are many ingredients that can be mixed with the cranberries. In this recipe, plump dried cherries add a sweet tartness to the sauce, while fresh orange juice provides a nice acidity. When I was cooking it, I considered pureeing it in the food processor to make it smooth, but in the end, I decided the chunks of cranberry were necessary for a rich texture. To look at how I made it, read more.

Cranberry Sauce with Dried Cherries
From Martha Stewart

Ingredients

3 1/2 cups cranberries (one 12-ounce bag)
3/4 cup dried cherries
1/2 cup finely chopped shallots
2 tablespoons red-wine vinegar
zest and juice of 1 orange (about 1/2 cup)
2 teaspoons grated ginger, peeled
3/4 cup packed light-brown sugar

Directions

Combine cranberries, cherries, shallots, vinegar, orange zest and juice, ginger, and brown sugar in a medium saucepan, and cook over medium heat until cranberries pop.
Reduce heat to low; cook, stirring occasionally, until cranberries release their juices, about 15 minutes. If the cranberry sauce becomes too thick, add water until the desired consistency is reached. Transfer to a bowl to cool.

Makes 3 cups.

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