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Food Network's New Show Is Not About Competitive Eating

partysugar — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 10:51:22 -0700

Yesterday the Internet was abuzz with rumors about the Food Network's new competitive eating show.

However, I spoke with a source at the network today, and she informed me that, contrary to gossip, the Food Network is not filming a competitive eating series. According to PR manager Lisa Krueger, the show is more like a culinary version of The Amazing Race. Called Eat the Clock, Krueger says it will feature "two teams who will race through a variety of culinary hot spots and compete in challenges for the ultimate chowhound smack-down." Apparently the words "ultimate chowhound smack-down" were mistaken for competitive eating.

While I find competitive eating to be quite disgusting, a show about it has the potential to be a hit. Still, I'm interested to see what Eat the Clock is about. Will you watch? Are you more inclined to watch if competitive eating were involved?

Source

Yummy Links: From Sugar Cookies to Food Charities

partysugar — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 07:45:59 -0800

Tips for making the best sugar cookies. - Serious Eats
Fashion designers and models share their holiday recipes. - Style
How to roast and peel beets. - The Kitchn
A big top theme is perfect for a baby shower. - Hostess with the Mostess
The cheese clock makes pairing cheese with wine or beer easy. - The Epi-Log
This holiday give back: Here are 10 food charities to contribute to. - Chow

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Come Party With Me: Foodie Thanksgiving - Invite

partysugar — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 11:15:19 -0800

Thanksgiving is the biggest food holiday of the year; the entire celebration revolves around the meal. Thus, I'm planning a Thanksgiving dinner for foodies - those who love to cook and eat. From the invite to the decor I've got you covered. Take my ideas to make your own memorable and scrumptious Thanksgiving. Let's start by sending elegant, homemade invitations. To see how I made the invites shown here, read more.

To make a similar invite you will need the following supplies:

cardstock in several different Thanksgiving themed colors
leaf-shaped hole punch
scissors
glue

To assemble the invite:

Create a new document in Microsoft word. Choose a more formal font (I used Snell Roundhand Bold in size 16) to set the sophisticated mood of the dinner and write out the details:

You’re invited to a Thanksgiving Dinner
That celebrates the bounty of the season.

Thursday, November 27th
3 o’clock in the afternoon

PartySugar’s House, San Francisco
Please rsvp. 415.555.5555

Print on plain white paper and check for any errors.

Once satisfied with the look and feel of the text, print out on the colored cardstock.
Punch out leaf shapes in three colors.

Glue the leaves to the cardstock, creating a border on the top and bottom of the text.
Cut the invite down to size. Slide into an envelope and send.

View 9 Photos ›

Yummy Links: From Tomato Bites to Horchata

partysugar — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 06:45:01 -0700

Tomatoes, basil, and goat cheese combine to make a delicious and adorable appetizer. - The Food in My Beard
Meet Food Network's newest star, Aida Mollenkamp. - Chow
Wake up to the smoky smell of bacon with this bacon alarm clock. - Serious Eats
Candy is a sweet theme for a baby shower. - Hostess With the Mostess
Edible gifts for new parents. - The Kitchn
Are gummi bears good for your teeth? - Slashfood
Test your celebrity food knowledge by taking this fun quiz. - The Epi-Log
Are these musk-flavored candy sticks for real? - Candy Blog
The latest update on the salmonella outbreak. - FitSugar
Making homemade horchata is easy and cooly rewarding. - Baking Bites

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Come Party With Me: Passover - Part 1

partysugar — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 13:13:15 -0700

Next Monday night marks the first night of the eight day Jewish celebration, Passover (or Pesach as it is referred to in Hebrew). The traditional dinner known as the Seder usually takes place the first two evenings. DearSugar's lovely mom gave me a crash course in the strictly followed rules of the feast which celebrates the Exodus and freedom of the Israelite Jews from ancient Egypt. The Seder is similar to Thanksgiving with its importance of family custom and generations of tradition and one is supposed to walk away feeling as if they've been brought out of bondage and into freedom. Eating leavened foods (those that contain yeast or baking soda) is severely forbidden while foods that represent the bounty of spring (lamb, herbs, wine, egg, fruit, nuts, honey) are considered sacred. The meal begins with a reading from the Haggadah which is the narration of the Exodus and continues with the Seder plate. To see my invitation suggestions and the significance of each portion of the Seder, read more

When I think of Passover I picture the clean color combination of royal blue and white. I would make stark invites on either white or blue cardstock with a simple text along the following lines:

Miss PartySugar requests your presence at a traditional dinner to observe the Seder and the first night of Passover
Monday, April 2
7 o'clock pm
PartySugar's House, San Francisco
RSVP 415.555.5555

Send the invites in a dark blue envelope with the guests names written in metallic silver handwriting. I know it may be a little late to send a formal invitation through the mail and I would call each of your guests to personally request their attendance at your Seder. As the event falls on a Monday night, last minute invites are okay because rarely do people make important Monday evening plans. Make the conversation short and sweet by saying: Hi! This is PartySugar and I'm calling to see if you have dinner plans for next Monday night, April 2. I would love for you to join me in my celebration of Passover at 7 o'clock.

Understanding the Seder plate and the order in which the various dishes are consumed is essential to a successful and customary meal. Here is what each of the items signify:

Zeroa: The shank bone of a lamb. In ancient times lambs were sacrificed; the bone is a symbol of struggle and liberation -- that sacrifice is frequently the price of freedom.

Beitzah: The roasted egg, an additional temple sacrifice but it also symbolizes renewal and the cycle of life.

Matzo: The bread of haste at the beginning of the journey. Because there was no time to let it rise, it remains inert -- the essence of bread in its purest form.

Maror: Bitter herbs -- the sorrow of slavery. When one bites into horseradish or the more authentic rue, wormwood or chicory, tears spring to one's eyes. Piercy recommends a Passover salad of bitter greens such as arugula, chicory and endive.

Karpas: A vegetable, usually parsley, which represents spring and the seasons of the year and of life.

Charoset: Not originally part of the Passover plate, this chunky mixture of fruit, nuts and sweet wine was added later by rabbis who wanted something sweet to offset bitter herbs and also as a symbol of freedom.

How do you celebrate the Seder? Please share your family's traditions below. Tomorrow I'll be talking about the quintessential Passover meal so be sure to check back for the recipes.

Source: Pesach for the Rest of Us by Marge Piercy

Yummy Links: From Kisses to Hot Cross Buns

YumSugar — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 11:58:59 -0700

Discover the difference between Hershey's Kisses and Hershey's Chocolate Truffle Kisses. - Candyblog
The Discovery Health channel is giving Nathan Lyon, from last year's The Next Food Network Star, his own show: A Lyon in the Kitchen (oh and it starts tonight). - Serious Eats
I've recently discovered that I really enjoy parsnips and now I have a new recipe to try: parsnips boiled in sap. - Cookthink
I love lamb. I love tagines. I especially love lamb tagines - Spiceblog

Maybe I'll skip the baking this week and make some tasty, tasty salted butter and chocolate caramels instead. - Tartelette
Now you can take your drink wherever you go, introducing liquor flask sandals from Reef. - Liquor Snob
Unless you're a vegetarian, you're probably going to want a drool guard before looking at these German Beef Roulades. - What's For Lunch Honey
Learn how to make Hot Cross Buns just in time for Easter. - Becks & Posh
And finally, for weeks I've been meaning to point out the bacon alarm clock - now you can wake up to the smell of cooking bacon. - Daily Olive