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Killer App: Bacon Wrapped Dates

YumSugar — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 16:15:29 -0700

Everything tastes better with bacon, and dates are no exception! I recently went to an end-of-Summer barbecue and couldn't stop eating these crispy bacon-wrapped dates. Of course, I had to ask the hostess for the simple recipe to share with you. This appetizer is super easy to make and can be prepared before the party, so your guests will be munching on the salty, sweet, and oh-so-satisfying bite-sized, bacon-wrapped dates the second they arrive at your home. Straight from the oven these apps are molten hot - be sure to allow time for them to cool. If you want to serve this addicting appetizer at your next party, keep reading.

Monday's Leftovers: Frisée Salad With Bacon and Dates

YumSugar — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 07:45:24 -0800

The (Super Bowl) party's over, and your stomach's really taken one for the team - it's still reeling from the buffalo wings and peanut butter brownies that you scarfed down.

If you've got leftover bacon, use it to accent the flavor on a leafy Winter salad. With its ruffled frisée leaves, peppery red onion, crunchy walnuts, and tart sherry vinegar, this refreshing salad might be the antidote you were looking for after a weekend of big league eating.

To make the recipe, read more.

Frisée Salad With Bacon And Dates
From Bon Appétit

Ingredients

3 bacon slices, chopped
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
4 teaspoons honey, divided
1/2 cup chopped pitted dates
1/2 cup thinly sliced red onion
2 tablespoons Sherry wine vinegar
1 large head of frisée, torn (about 4 cups)
2 1/2 ounces soft fresh goat cheese (about 1/2 of 5-ounce log), crumbled
1/3 cup walnut halves

Directions

Cook bacon in heavy small skillet over medium heat until crisp. Using slotted spoon, transfer to plate. Reserve 1 tablespoon bacon drippings in skillet.
Add olive oil, 3 teaspoons honey, dates, and onion to skillet. Stir in vinegar. Season dressing with salt and pepper.
Place frisée in medium bowl; add dressing and toss. Divide salad between 2 plates. Sprinkle with cheese and nuts.

Serves 2.

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Delve Into This Sticky Toffee Pudding

YumSugar — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 08:00:52 -0800

On Tuesday, I revealed what Barack Obama would be eating for his last supper before the big day. Many of you were impressed by the elegant-sounding menu - but in particular, you were dreaming of the dessert, a warm sticky toffee pudding with vanilla ice cream.

Our stars must be aligned: for my favorite uncle's birthday last weekend, I made this dream of a cake from a recipe in Sheila Lukins's stellar new book, Ten. In case you didn't know, sticky toffee pudding isn't actually a pudding. Rather, it's a traditional British dessert that's made with date-flavored sponge cake and drenched in a toffee sauce. With its moist cake and gooey, syrupy caramelized sauce, this dessert is bound to catch on in the United States. To make this simple cake for yourself, read more.

Sticky Toffee Date Cake
From Ten by Sheila Lukins

Ingredients

Cake:
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature, plus extra for greasing the pan
8 ounces pitted dried dates, chopped
1 teaspoon baking soda
5 tablespoons granulated sugar
2 large eggs, at room temperature
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 3/4 tablespoons baking powder
Sauce:
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
1/2 cup heavy (whipping) cream
1 cup (packed) light or dark brown sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Vanilla ice cream or whipped cream, for serving

Directions

Position a rack in the center of the oven, and preheat the oven to 350ºF. Butter the bottom and the sides of a 9-inch round cake pan. Set the pan aside.
Place the chopped dates in a small saucepan, add 1 cup water, and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Then reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 3 minutes. Stir in the baking soda (the mixture will bubble up slightly). Set the pan aside to cool.
Using an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar together in a large bowl until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 4 minutes. With the mixer on low speed, add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the vanilla and mix to combine.
Add the flour and salt, and mix to combine. Stir in the dates, including any liquid, and then stir in the baking powder.
Scrape the batter into the prepared cake pan, and bake until a wooden toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes. Do not overbake or the cake will be dry.
Let the cake cool in the pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Then remove the cake from the pan, and place it on a plate.
While the cake is cooking, prepare the sauce: Combine all the sauce ingredients in a small saucepan. Place the pan over medium-low heat and cook, stirring, until the butter has melted and the sauce is smooth, 2 to 3 minutes. Raise the heat slightly, and simmer until the sauce thickens slightly, 3 minutes. Let the sauce cool for about 5 minutes.
Using a skewer, poke holes all over the surface of the cake. Pour the sauce over the cake while both are still warm.
Serve the cake warm, with ice cream or whipped cream on top.

Serves 8.

Note: This cake can be frozen and reheated. To freeze cake, cool it completely, cut into wedges, and freeze each well-wrapped wedge for up to 2 months. A slice can be thawed and reheated. Reheat in a 350ºF oven for 10 minutes.

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Kitchen Experiments: Apple-Date Muffincakes

YumSugar — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 10:01:31 -0800

This weekend I was expecting houseguests and wanted to offer them a homemade treat. I figured a nice breakfast muffincake would be a good option, as it would work for breakfast, dessert, or an afternoon snack. However, I didn't know what kind I wanted to make, so I headed to my kitchen without a recipe and scoped out the ingredients. I was treading dangerously - no recipe - but I ended up with deliciously, moist apple-date muffincakes. If you'd like to see what I did, as well as what went wrong - so wrong that the cakes themselves were laughing at me and I've got the photo to prove it! - read more.

Apple-Date Muffincakes
A Kitchen Experiment by YumSugar

1 cup chopped and pitted dates [I had 14 Medjool dates]
1 apple, peeled, cored, and grated
1/2 cup apple cider
2 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1 stick of butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup organic white sugar
4 oz. cinnamon applesauce
2 eggs

frosting:
1 stick of butter
2 cups powdered sugar
1-2 tbsp. milk

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line 18 muffin tins with cupcake liners.
In a medium bowl place dates and apple. Pour apple juice on top. Let soak for 15-30 minutes [I soaked it until I was ready to use them.]
In another medium bowl, sift flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon together. Set aside.
In a mixer, cream butter and sugars together.
Add applesauce, mix thoroughly.
Add eggs, one at a time. Making sure each one is fully incorporated.
Gently add in 1/3 of flour mixture. When incorporated add in 1/3 of date mixture (including liquid). Mix completely. Continue until all flour and date mixture is incorporated.
Completely fill each cupcake liner with batter. You should be able to fill 18 liners.
Bake for about 20 minutes, or until toothpick inserted comes out clean. You want the tops to be slightly golden brown.
While baking, make frosting (aka glaze). For the glaze, mix all ingredients in a large bowl until creamy. Adjust sugar amount as necessary. Do not try to frost your cakes before they are cooled. This will result in a glaze. Mine were glazed, but I was actually hoping for a dollop of frosting. As you can see, one is laughing at me for not waiting.

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Is Cooking a Way to Heat up a Date?

partysugar — Thu, 01 May 2008 15:33:34 -0700

Being single, I've had my fair share of online dating experiences. However no online dating service seems as exciting as this cooking show that FitSugar told me about. The interesting website - Feed Me, the Brooklyn Cooking Dating Show - invites two singles into the kitchen. They cook together, and the date is filmed and then posted for all to see on the site.

I love the concept behind this idea: that food and cooking can bring two people together. However, you won't see me on an episode anytime soon - the service is for New York residents only.

It did get me thinking about cooking and the effect it can have on romantic relationships. What do you think about the service? Is cooking a way to heat up a date?

Source

What Do You Know About Beaujolais Nouveau?

YumSugar — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:50:36 -0800

As the French like to proclaim: Le Beaujolais Nouveau est arrivé! Raise your glass, because Beaujolais Nouveau - the first wine of the harvest season in the Northern Hemisphere - has finally arrived. Yesterday was the annual release date for the wine, which is welcomed on what's called "Beaujolais Nouveau Day" with a colossal celebration across France each year.

Since the wine - which certainly isn't for snobs - makes such a splash each year, I thought I would throw out some questions and see if you can, ahem, arrive at the answers. What do you know about Beaujolais Nouveau? Let's find out.

Take the quiz

Fabulous Ways To Save The Date

partysugar — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 12:25:15 -0700

These days people rarely get married without sending save the date cards. They are wonderful because they let your guests know well in advance about your wedding. Although it's not absolutely necessary, if you're having a destination wedding, be sure to send save the date cards so your friends and family can think about travel arrangements. Once you have decided on the date and location of your wedding, mail the save the date cards out to your guests, at least 6-12 months in advance. There are many different ways to save the date - you don't just have to send cards! For some creative save the date card ideas click the "Start Slideshow" button. Source

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What Do You Eat On A Date?

partysugar — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 05:45:13 -0700

The other day my gal pal DearSugar was talking about sharing food on the first date. The whole conversation got me thinking about what is the perfect date food. What do you guys think? What do you eat on a date?

Image Source

Yummy Links: From Hot Cocoa to Date Foods

YumSugar — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 06:58:12 -0800

Looking for the best hot cocoa? Check out the results to this hot chocolate taste test. - Serious Eats
It's good to read that women wield the power in today's wine world. - Napa Valley Register
Going on a road trip? Here are a few tips on how to eat healthy while traveling. - FitSugar
Shipping goodies to someone for the holidays? Read these tips for shipping baked goods before you do. - Baking Bites

Folks tend to pack on the pounds during the holidays, this 580 calorie slice of pizza probably doesn't help. - Slashfood
Is your tree lacking something? Try this easy plan for an edible garland. - lilsugar
As the weather gets colder, try one of these ten comforting cool-weather drinks. - iVillage
Got some great lighting ideas? Be sure to get your casa cravings in! - CasaSugar
Going out on a date? Here is some advice on which foods to avoid. - Chow

Must Read: Field Guide to Candy

YumSugar — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 10:30:04 -0700

With tomorrow being Halloween, we've unofficially opened the Pandora's Box that is Fall sweets season. That's why the Field Guide to Candy ($16) couldn't have come at a better time. Pastry chef Anita Chu, who authored the Field Guide to Cookies, has come out with a second book, which promises to teach you "how to identify and make virtually every candy imaginable." Does it live up to its promise? To find out, keep reading.