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Do You Own a Coffee Maker?

partysugar — Thu, 21 May 2009 06:50:34 -0700

Would You Rather Drink Espresso or Coffee?

partysugar — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 01:30:04 -0700

Let's Dish: What Is Your Daily Coffee Order?

partysugar — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 04:00:07 -0800

Whether it's the biggest food holiday of the year or just another regular day, one thing is consistent: I wake up in the morning craving coffee! While I could easily brew up a batch at home, I prefer to pick up my espresso from the closest coffee shop - be it a small boutique cafeteria or large-in-charge Starbucks. The coffee common denominator? My order. I get the same thing every day: a double short cappuccino. I have a feeling I'm not the only one out there who starts her morning (or afternoon) with a routine cup of joe, so I want to know: What is your signature coffee drink?

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Yummy Links: From Chocolate and Espresso to Cracked Crab

partysugar — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 07:45:55 -0800

Adding espresso to chocolate will enrich its flavor. - Epicurious
Ten pumpkin ales perfect for sipping now. - Chow
Meet Cookstr, the Internet's newest recipe resource. - The Kitchn
Talking turkey with Food and Wine editor Dana Cowin. - Serious Eats
Learn how to properly crack fresh crab. - 7x7

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Come Party With Me: Halloween Dinner - Dessert

partysugar — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 15:00:34 -0700

A ghoulishly good dinner requires an equally devilish dessert. Your guests will be stunned when they see this graveyard cake. Complete with bleeding chocolate glaze and espresso shortbread headstones, it's practically a masterpiece!

There are quite a few steps involved, so get started a couple of days before the dinner. To simplify the procedure, consider substituting store-bought cookies for the headstones. For the recipe, read more.

Graveyard Cake
From Martha Stewart

Ingredients

8 ounces (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened, plus more for pan
4 cups cake flour, plus more for dusting
4 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
2 1/2 cups packed light-brown sugar
4 large eggs
1 cup buttermilk
1 1/2 cups canned solid-pack pumpkin
Bleeding Chocolate Glaze, recipe below
Espresso Shortbread Headstones, recipe below
1 tablespoon ground ginger

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F. Generously butter a 9-by-13-inch cake pan. Line with parchment paper; butter lining. Dust with flour; tap out excess. Set pan aside.
Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves in a large bowl; set aside.
Put butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment; beat on medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes.
Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
Reduce speed to low; alternate between adding flour mixture and buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour. Add pumpkin, and beat until completely combined.
Pour batter into the prepared pan. Bake until golden and a cake tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 40 minutes.
Let cool in pan on a wire rack 15 minutes. Unmold; peel off parchment. Let cool completely on rack, top side up.
Set cake and rack on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Pour warm chocolate glaze over cake. Using a small offset spatula, gently smooth glaze over top of cake, letting it drip down sides. Let stand at room temperature, or refrigerate until set. Arrange 6 headstones on top; serve with the remaining.

Makes one 9-by-13-inch cake.

Bleeding Chocolate Glaze

2/3 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons honey
10 ounces semisweet chocolate, finely chopped

Stir together cream and honey in a small saucepan; bring just to a boil. Remove from heat.
Add chocolate; stir until smooth.

Makes 2 cups.

Espresso Shortbread Headstones

2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon finely ground espresso
8 ounces (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
2/3 cup confectioners' sugar, (sifted, then measured)
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
3 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped

Whisk together flour, salt, and espresso in a large bowl; set aside.
Put butter and sugar into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment; beat on medium speed until fluffy, about 3 minutes.
Beat in vanilla. Beat in flour mixture. Transfer dough to plastic wrap. Flatten into a disk; wrap. Refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour or overnight.
Preheat oven to 275 degrees.
On a lightly floured work surface, roll out dough to 1/8 inch thick. Using a paring knife, cut dough into 12 headstones shapes. Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Refrigerate 30 minutes.
Bake cookies until set but not browned, 25 to 30 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack, and let cool completely.
Melt chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water, stirring occasionally until smooth. Let stand until cool but not stiff.
Transfer to a pastry bag fitted with a very small plain round tip, such as an Ateco #2, or to a parchment-paper cone. Pipe desired design on cookies.

Makes 1 dozen.

Print recipe with images | without images

Latte Art: Love It or Hate It?

partysugar — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 04:00:28 -0700

As Starbucks's dominance slips, I hope more people will turn to local coffee shops for their daily caffeine fix. The number one thing I love about my neighborhood cafe, Murano, is that the cappuccinos come with a pretty foam heart. In my opinion, the best coffee drinks are made with love, and latte art of any kind demonstrates a true passion for coffee-making. How about you: Do you appreciate latte art?

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Test Your Coffee I.Q.

partysugar — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 03:00:04 -0700

You may drink it everyday, but do you know any other coffee drink besides the one you order? For example, what exactly is an Americano? Find out now when you take my quiz.

I'll list the definition and you match it to the drink's name.

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Take the quiz

Coffee and Tea, Please

partysugar — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 07:56:31 -0800

Unlike the seasonal changes in fruits and veggies, the consumption of coffee and tea remains constant year round. It's no surprise that even though warm weather is almost here, the Yum Market on TeamSugar is full of coffee and tea accessories. From teapots to cappuccino machines and coffee beans, you are eager to enjoy the rich brown beverages. Being an avid espresso drinker, I love this floral print espresso cup and saucer set. CupcakeGal10 saved these teeny cups that scream Spring! If you're crazy about coffee and tantalized by tea, browse the collection below.

Geeksugar has put together an article that explains how to bookmark on TeamSugar. Check it out for more details!

Handpresso: Love It or Hate It?

partysugar — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 01:03:13 -0800

I'm one of those people who gets a double shot of espresso each and every morning. Naturally, I got super excited when I saw this handy little gadget, the Handpresso. It's a hand-held contraption that produces tasty espresso anywhere, anytime. After watching the video, I imagined myself toting one in my oversized handbag. I could offer passengers waiting for the bus little glasses of espresso! Only when I read the fine print - it needs hot water to function - did I realize this might not be so cool. Still the luxurious thought of espresso anywhere, anytime entices me. What do you think? Is the Handpresso great or destined for a doomed fate?

Yummy Links: From Chocolate Keyboards to Espresso

YumSugar — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 08:01:31 -0800

Nom nom nom, I hope somebody takes this chocolate keyboard out of concept and into reality. - Serious Eats
Hamburgers and peanut butter? Would you eat any of these weird food combinations? - iVillage
Like granola? Try new Feed Granola. I've had a few bites and it is delicious - FitSugar
Still looking for another drink for the big game? Try mixing up Go Team! - Al Dente
Just in time for Valentine's Day, sweetheart cake pans. - Baking Bites
Asian Costcos seem a lot cooler than the ones in the US. - Slashfood
Don't miss out on these lined glasses from Cheong and Nogtev. - CasaSugar
Are Amou berries really the "Kobe Beef of Strawberries"? - Chow
This Handpresso espresso machine allows you to have coffee anywhere. - The Food Section
Can you replace espresso powder with espresso? - The Kitchn