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Seven Foods That'll Stick Around

YumSugar — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 03:00:45 -0700

"Why is it that food always tastes better when it's on a stick?" DearSugar mused the other day. I must say I concur. There's a playful element to eating kebabs; they're interactive and low-maintenance at the same time. Or maybe it always tastes better because I associate food on a stick with socializing over passed hors d'oeuvres. Regardless of what the reason is, I thought I'd share seven skewer combos that'll stick with you.

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Fast & Easy Dinner: Pork Chops on a Stick

partysugar — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 10:30:57 -0700

Bring the flavor of the Summer-fair season into your kitchen with this fun recipe. The pork chops are quickly marinated in a store-bought salad dressing before being shallow fried.

The final result is crispy, slightly sweet, and scrumptious. Serving the pork on a stick makes for a delicious presentation that both kids and adults will enjoy.

To check out the recipe, read more.

Pork Chops on a Stick
From Better Homes and Garden magazine

Ingredients

8 6-ounce boneless pork loin chops, about 1 inch thick
1/2 cup bottled Italian salad dressing
Peanut oil
8 8 x 1/4-inch-thick wooden skewers or dowels
Honey mustard or bottled barbecue sauce
cooked corn on the cob, for serving

Directions

Place chops in a resealable plastic bag set in a shallow dish. Pour salad dressing over chops.; seal bag. Marinate in the refrigerator for 30 hours, turning bag occasionally.
Meanwhile, preheat oil to 350°F. Drain chops, discarding marinade.
Insert a wooden skewer into a short side of each chop. Fry the chops, half at a time, for 5 to 8 minutes or until 160°F. To test for doneness, carefully remove one chop from the hot oil. Insert an instant-read thermometer into side of chop. Be cautious of splattering oil. Maintain oil temperature around 350°F.
Remove chops from hot oil and drain on wire racks. Serve chops with honey mustard and corn on the cob.

Serves 4.

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Sunday BBQ: Savory Tofu-on-a-Stick

YumSugar — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 06:00:23 -0700

When I'm in the mood for a light meal, I look for flavorful vegetarian options. These grilled tofu sticks - a play on the traditional corn dog - are the perfect alternative.

To give them a spicy kick, the tofu sticks are marinated overnight in a sweet-hot mustard. They're grilled, rather than deep-fried, like most corn dogs, so they're actually good for you.

If you are not a fan of tofu, you could substitute something else. Try marinating tempeh or portobello mushrooms. To get the recipe, read more.

Savory Tofu-on-a-Stick
From Whole Foods Market

Ingredients

1 16-ounce package firm or extra firm tofu
1/2 cup sweet and hot mustard
1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs
Pinch of chili pepper, or to taste
Spray can of olive oil

Directions

Place block of tofu on cutting board. With a sharp knife, cut into three equal sections lengthwise. Cut each section in half lengthwise so that you end up with six "tofu sticks."
Arrange several layers of paper towels on a plate and place tofu sticks on top. Place several layers of paper towels on top of sticks and press down to remove excess moisture from tofu.
Place tofu sticks in a container large enough to store them in a single layer. Using a knife or a brush, spread mustard evenly on all sides of the tofu. Cover container and place in refrigerator to marinate for at least three hours or overnight.
After marinating tofu, remove from refrigerator. Place seasoned breadcrumbs on a plate, add chili pepper and mix together with a fork. Place each tofu stick on a skewer.
Holding the skewer, one at a time, place each tofu stick into the breadcrumbs and coat on all sides. Place each skewered tofu stick on a plate after coating.
Lift each tofu stick off the plate using the skewer. Spray all sides of tofu with olive oil. Place back on plate to transport to grill.
Lightly spray grill with olive oil to prevent sticking. Grill sticks over medium heat, turning so that all four sides become browned and crispy. Remove from grill and serve on skewers.

Makes 6 skewers.

Per Serving (158g-wt.): 180 calories (70 from fat), 8g total fat, 1.5g saturated fat, 3g dietary fiber, 17g protein, 14g carbohydrate, 0mg cholesterol, 730mg sodium

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Name That Dish!

partysugar — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 07:00:39 -0700

I find it hard to believe that so many of you were utterly disgusted by the bacon coated French fry on a stick. It's not that different from the fair favorite - which practically everyone consumed once in his or her life - pictured below. Do you know what it's called?

Would You Eat a Scorpion?

YumSugar — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 08:57:18 -0800

I recently went to China, and while in Beijing I stopped at the infamous street food market. I wasn't sure what to snack on, but since I'll try anything once, and had a slight obsession with Survivorman, I eventually settled for a deep fried scorpion. It was warm and crunchy, with a little tender meaty morsel in the center. And, most surprisingly, it wasn't that bad. In fact, I'd eat it again. How about you, would you ever eat a scorpion?

Do You Think Food Tastes Better When It's on a Stick?

YumSugar — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 11:45:32 -0700

After discovering my new favorite outdoor dinner fare, pork and mango skewers, and falling in love with Party's killer prosciutto, melon, and mozzarella brochettes, the two of us came to a consensus: certain foods simply taste better when they're served on a stick. Like nibbling on anything mini, there's something about the novelty of eating surf and turf, caprese salad, or pizza on a skewer that never seems to get old. I like to hope that the kebab trend will always stick around. What do you think? Does food taste better when it's on a stick?

Foodie Flashback: Space Food Sticks

YumSugar — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 07:28:11 -0700

For some reason I assumed energy bars were an invention of the 90s. However, I just discovered that back in the late 60s, Pillsbury developed "many special foods" for the space race. The first one was called Space Food Sticks and it was a "compact, nutritious, high energy food." And it was apparently good for everyone from astronauts - who strangely have a hole in their helmets for their space food stick to go through - to baseball playing tykes. And hey, it's only 44 calories.

They disappeared for a while, but now they're back in a slightly different format. You can get an entire case for about $30. Now you can blast off into outer space!

To check out the fantastic commercial for this fantastic flashback product, read more

If you're looking for more bizarre flashbacks, be sure to check out GiggleSugar.

Minnesota's 59 Foods-on-a-Stick

YumSugar — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 01:03:51 -0700

When I think of food on a stick, I think of state fairs, corn dogs and Summer. That's why I'm a bit confused on how an early day in Spring became Something-on-a-Stick Day. But hey, I like food-on-a-stick, so I'll play along.

To celebrate, I found this fantastic video from the 2006 Minnesota State Fair. From salmon steaks to key lime pie, the video features 59 different things-on-a-stick. It's really quite unbelievable and there's actually something for everyone. It doesn't take long to walk through them all, so watch the video now, just read more.

Dress Your Table With Cinnamon and Roses

partysugar — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 10:15:33 -0700

Walking around the tasting tent at the Food Network NYC Food and Wine Festival, I came across a fabulous decorating idea - it's perfect for Fall or the holidays - that I plan to re-create in a tablescape. You can to, here's how to:

Start by covering the table with a simple cloth. Arrange a thin layer of gauzy fabric over the tablecloth.
Sprinkle the table with rose petals in a color that matches the party's theme. Place the cinnamon sticks around the rose petals.

This is an inspiring idea that can translate into many different table decorations. You could wrap twine around cloth napkins and place a cinnamon stick inside each one. Or make placecard holders by cutting a slit into the side of the cinnamon and sliding a piece of labeled cardstock inside. What do you think? Have you ever used cinnamon sticks as party decor?

Would You Eat This French Fry-Coated Bacon on a Stick?

YumSugar — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 16:17:01 -0700

Every food has its moment, and bacon's moment is now. Honestly, the salty indulgence is showing up everywhere: covered in chocolate, wrapped around hot dogs, and tucked inside pig-shaped candy. Now, thanks to Last Appetite, I've discovered my new favorite bacon creation: French fry-covered bacon on a stick. Would you dare to taste it?

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