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Steamy Sam Talbot Is Glad

partysugar — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 06:01:31 -0800

Glad has announced the results of this summer's steamiest chef contest. A promotion for their microwave steaming bags, the contest allowed online readers to vote for the best looking Glad chef. Surprise, surprise, the winner is ~~my future husband~~ Sam Talbot. The fan fave from Top Chef Season 2 totally blew away the rest of his steamy competitors.

As his reward, Glad's donating $30,000 to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Sam's charity of choice. The money isn't the only thing Glad's giving away. They've created a free downloadable calendar featuring all five of the chefs and their recipes. I've already printed out mine and will be hanging it in the kitchen where I can read the recipes and admire the good looking chefs!

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The Search For America's Steamiest Chef

YumSugar — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 07:01:31 -0700

Some of you were upset with our list of the hottest guys on Food Network, so to make up for it, I have to tell you all about Glad's new "steamy chef" contest.

To promote their new SimplyCooking Microwave Steaming Bags, the folks at Glad have selected five chefs - they're calling them the "Culinary Fab Five" - who will compete for the title of America's Steamiest Chef. The chefs don't have to do much, as it's up to you to decide who's "steamiest." The winner of the contest will have $30,000 to donate to a charity of their choice, while the other four chefs will donate $5,000 each.

So who's in the running to be the steamy chef? The current leader is Top Chef Season 2 fan-fave Sam Talbot, but he's followed closely by Dave Lieberman, Govind Armstrong, G. Garvin and Aaron Sanchez. Of these five guys, who would you want steaming up your kitchen? And while you're voting, don't forget to enter the contest. The winner gets to go to Miami for a Top Chef VIP prize and dinner with the Steamiest Chef!

Source: PR Newwire

Nachos Two Ways - Beginner & Expert

partysugar — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 15:13:39 -0700

More tex-mex than authentic Mexican food, nachos are one of my all time favorite foods. What could be better than crunchy chips, melted cheese, and creamy toppings? Seriously just thinking about nachos gets me all excited! There are endless varieties and ways to make them, but whatever way you do it, every home cook must master nachos. If you are short on time and skill, pop open a few cans (refried beans, salsa, jalapenos, etc.), pour the contents over a bag of chips, zap it in the microwave and within minutes you have a heavenly, gooey treat. If you have tons of time and lots of culinary experience, fry up some tortilla chips, mix up some guac, salsa, and an oozing cheese sauce in order to create a gourmet version of this stadium standby. Check out both recipes to decide which one suits your needs, just read more

Beginner Nachos
From Young & Hungry by Dave Lieberman

One 16-ounce can refried beans
1/2 cup reduced-fat or regular sour cream
3/4 cup bottled salsa
1 cup shredded Cheddar or Mexican Blend cheese
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro, plus more for garnish
A few big handfuls of yellow corn tortilla chips

With a large spoon spread out the beans in a ring on a large microwave-safe dinner plate, leaving clear about 4 inches in the center of the plate. That's where you're going to pile the chips.
Smear the sour cream and then the salsa over the beans.
Sprinkle about half of the cheese and then the cilantro over everything. As you build up the layers, be sure to leave the space in the center of the plate empty.
Microwave on high for 2 minutes. Remove the plate from the microwave, pile the chips in the center of the plate, and sprinkle the remaining cheese over the chips.
Return the plate to the microwave and nuke again on high for 1 minute, until the cheese has melted.
Use a pot holder to take the plate out of the oven; it will be hot. Dash with a couple pinches of chopped cilantro. Serve hot.

Makes 1 large platter.

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Expert Nachos
Modified from Bobby Flay & Scott Leibfried

For the smoked chicken:
1 whole chicken
2 pounds wood chips (flavor of choice)
1 tablespoon olive oil
Flour Tortilla Chips:
1 gallon vegetable or canola oil
2 tablespoons kosher salt
2 tablespoons your favorite dry rub (recommended: Hog Wild Special Dry Sauce)
24 (10-inch) flour tortillas
Nacho Cheese/Queso Sauce:
1 pound pasteurized cheese (recommended: Velveeta)
8 ounces shredded Cheddar
8 ounces shredded Monterey jack cheese
1 (14-ounce) can tomatoes with green chilies (recommended: Ro-tel)
1 tomato, diced
1/2 jalapeno pepper, finely diced
1/2 red onion, finely diced
2 green onions, chopped
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon ancho or chipotle (or other) ground chile pepper
Kosher salt
For the assembly:
2 heirloom tomatoes, diced
4 jalapenos, sliced very thin
2 cups sour cream
1 cup cilantro leaves
1 cup chopped chives

Preheat an outdoor grill and split the chicken in 1/2 from head to tail. Soak the wood chips in water for about 10 minutes. This will prevent the wood chips from burning as soon as they come in contact with the fire. Place the wood chips in the bottom of a grill below the grates. Set the flame on 1 side of the grill to medium and the other side to medium high.
Place the chicken, skin side up, on the medium side of the grill. Cover and allow the chicken to smoke and grill at the same time. This should take about 15 to 20 minutes. Allow the chicken to cool completely before shredding the meat off the bones. Reserve for the assembling of the nachos.
Meanwhile, make the tortilla chips: place oil in a deep fryer or in a large, heavy-bottomed Dutch oven. Heat oil to 325 degrees F.
Combine salt and dry rub in a small bowl. Cut tortillas into chip-sized triangles.
When oil is 325 degrees F, carefully add cut tortillas and deep fry for about 3 minutes, turning at least once until a light golden brown.
Remove chips from oil and dust with salt-dry rub mixture.
Make the nacho cheese sauce: combine all ingredients in a double boiler and stir until melted. Season with salt, to taste.
Form an assembly line with all of the ingredients. Start with the serving dish, then the chips, chicken, cheese, tomatoes, jalapenos, sour cream, cilantro and chives.

Serves 8-10.

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Food Network Awards - Red Carpet Part 2

YumSugar — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 09:55:32 -0800

As promised, here's the rest of the Food Network Awards red carpet coverage. These chefs really look glamorous when they're out of their day-to-day clothes (I must say I loved Alton suited-up and Nigella looks stunning here). And I know that by saying stuff like this I am just propagating the whole celebrity & beauty over actual amazing food (notice that these food awards somehow didn't include any prominent restaurant chefs and even the likes of Batali and Bourdain are absent from this red carpet moment). But hey! these are (for the most part) talented folks on a red carpet, enjoying their moment. So let's cut the industry some slack...

To check out more red carpet coverage, including pictures of Rachael Ray, Katie Lee Joel, Dave Lieberman and others, read more

Here we have Rachael Ray, Nigella Lawson, Jason Kapono (I guess sports figures have to eat too), Robin Miller, Ingrid Hoffman, Dave Lieberman, Paula Deen (and the California Raisins??!?), Tyler Florence, Michael Chiarello, Dan Smith and Steve Mc Donagh, Robert Irvine, and Katie Lee Joel (remember her from Top Chef Season 1)?

View 14 Photos ›

Image Source (all but Katie Lee Joel)
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Hottest Men On Food Network

YumSugar — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 08:01:31 -0700

The other day Stuff Magazine created their list of the top ten hottest women of Food Network. Many of you thought their list wasn't quite right, but the rest of you thought we should come up with our own list of the top ten hottest men of Food Network. When I mentioned this idea to PartySugar, she quickly agreed and handed over her list. After a little bit of tweaking (I really wanted Alton higher on the list!), we finally settled on our top 10.

#10 - Robert Irvine
The host of Dinner: Impossible always manages to whip up a meal while under pressure. His fast thinking ways, body builder physique and British accent have garnered him a spot on our list.

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#9 Emeril Lagasse
Despite his success and his "BAM"itude, Emeril is devoted to great food and fresh ingredients. His toothpaste ads may have pushed him down a few notches, but his passion for getting everyone in the kitchen solidifies his place on this list.

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#8 Duff Goldman
In addition to owning and operating Charm City Cakes, he's also a sculptor, artist and musician. Besides, any man that can cook up fancy wedding cakes has earned a place on this list.

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#7 Bobby Flay
Bobby's bad-boy attitude (remember when he stood on the cutting board during Iron Chef?), charm and grill skills makes him a rock-solid addition to this top ten list.

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For the rest of the list, read more

#6 Michael Chiarello
If you're not careful, Chiarello will charm your socks off. His local food loving, grape growing and down-to-earth self (not to mention his adorable smile) is enough to make any gal swoon.

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#5 Mario Batali
Mario is a wonderful educator whose passion oozes out of every pore. His cuddly teddy bear looks and the fact that he hob knobs with celebrities are just added bonuses. Oh and I know you all don't agree with me, but I love the fact that he wears shorts and bright orange crocs.

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#4 Dave Lieberman
With his boyishly good looks and culinary talent, Mr. Lieberman is often called "America's Naked Chef." Oh and any man that loves a good deal earns bonus points in my book.

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#3 Alton Brown
If I had my way, Alton would've been the top of the list, however I know his know-it-all dorky attitude isn't for everyone. Personally I love how everything in his kitchen can be explained with props and that I always feel smarter after hanging out with him. Oh and he broke his collarbone all in the name of good eats, how hot is that?!

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#2 The Deen Brothers
Two for the price of one! The dynamic duo known as Bobby and Jamie Deen travel around the country hoping to educate viewers on unique and interesting products. Their frat-boy looks and Southern charm make them memorable, and their soft cuddly insides and tough exterior make them just like their mama's deep fried butter balls!

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#1 Tyler Florence
I think that almost every lady watching Food Network has had a mini-crush on Tyler at some point in time. Whether he's boiling water, or making a delicious Sunday roast, Tyler's boy-next door looks and fantastic personality just light up the screen. His perspective in the kitchen is amazing - he knows what people want to eat and how to make them want to make it. For that he earns the number one spot on our list!

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