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Yummy Links: From the Barefoot Contessa to Ginger Ale

partysugar — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 08:00:37 -0700

Go inside the Barefoot Contessa's downtown Manhattan apartment. - Serious Eats
The FDA has ruled that high fructose corn syrup is still considered natural. - Slashfood
Learn how to make the perfect martini. - Chow
Bake up a batch of strawberry goat cheese scones. - Baking Bites
If it's too hot to bake in your neck of the woods, consider cooling down with this no-cook biscotti mascarpone parfait. - GlamDish
America's sassiest lifestyle guru, Steve Kemble, teaches you how to host a high style, no stress party. - Hostess with the Mostess
Did you know okra is in season? - The Kitchn
Make homemade ginger ale for just .61 cents. - The Epi-Log

Come Party With Me: Memorial Day Barbecue - Drinks

partysugar — Thu, 22 May 2008 12:15:12 -0700

A cool and refreshing cocktail comes to mind whenever I hear the words Memorial Day, and this delicious kiwi lime drink is perfect for all types of Memorial Day barbecues. The recipe, which combines fresh chunks of kiwi, minced ginger, simple syrup, lime juice, and ginger ale, is nonalcoholic. However, vodka, gin, or a light rum can easily be added. Choose your favorite spirit and modify the recipe to suit your drinking needs. It's wonderful with or without the alcohol, so consider making and labeling two pitchers.

If the day is especially hot, remember to stock up on ice, water, sodas, and cooling beverages like lemonade or iced tea. For the recipe to this kiwi lime cocktail, read more.

Kiwi-Lime-Ginger Cocktail
From The Spirit Net

Feel free to modify this recipe by adding vodka, gin, or light rum.

Ingredients

Juice of 1/2 a lime, freshly squeezed
1 kiwi fruit, diced with some larger chunks for garnish
1/4 tsp finely minced ginger
Dash of salt (if desired)
Slightly crushed small piece of ginger
3 Tablespoons simple sugar syrup
8 oz. Ginger Ale
Ice
Kiwi and lime rind for garnish

Directions

Rub lip of chilled tumbler with ginger, drop into cup. Add ice.
In a separate mixing container, add sugar syrup, dash of salt, minced ginger, diced kiwi, and lime juice; mix well.
Pour ginger ale into chilled tumbler, and pour juice mix over soda, making sure to swirl minced ginger and kiwi back into suspension first.
Garnish with kiwi and/or lime rind. Enjoy!

Makes 1 cocktail.

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Taste Test: Thomas Kemper's Cane Sugar Soda

partysugar — Tue, 13 May 2008 13:15:09 -0700

In what's become a growing trend among soda manufacturers, Thomas Kemper has recently reformulated their soda recipes and updated packaging. Instead of using high-fructose corn syrup, the new beverages are naturally sweetened with pure cane sugar.

I tasted three - Black Cherry, Root Beer, and Ginger Ale - of the company's five sodas and was pleasantly surprised by the results. All of the sodas were refreshing with typical flavors that one would expect from a craft, bottled soda company. To find out how each one tasted, read more.

The root beer, with its vanilla-marshmallow smell and clear, classic taste, was my favorite. It was everything you want from a root beer - sweet and comforting. My least favorite was the black cherry. It had a strong artificial smell with a too-syrupy taste that reminded me of cough medicine. The fresh, clean, crisp ginger ale was my co-tester's favorite. They described it as a quality ginger ale that was "really good" with strong ginger flavor.

How about you? Have you tried the new Thomas Kemper formula? Did you notice a difference? Are you excited soda companies are eliminated the high-fructose corn syrup?

Sunday Dinner: Ginger-Aled Ham

partysugar — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 01:28:51 -0700

Nothing says Easter dinner more than a delicious baked ham. There are many liquids that you could glaze an Easter ham with - whiskey, coke, orange juice, etc. - but this recipe uses ginger ale. Isn't it a fun name? I want to make this ham because Ginger-Aled Ham sounds so delicious. Not to mention that brown sugar and mustard enhance the glaze resulting in a ham that is succulent and delicious. To get the recipe, read more.

Ginger-Aled Ham
From Real Simple magazine

Ingredients

1 1 1/2-pound fully cooked boneless ham
1 12-ounce can ginger ale
1/2 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
1/2 cup whole-grain mustard
6 medium red potatoes, peeled (if desired) and quartered
2 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 cup sour cream
3/4 cup (3 ounces) grated Cheddar
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves (optional)

Directions

Heat oven according to the directions on the ham package.
Place the ham on a rack in a roasting pan and pour the ginger ale over the top. Cover the pan with foil and bake according to the package directions.
Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the brown sugar and mustard. About 20 minutes before the ham is finished, remove the foil and spoon the mustard mixture over the ham. Continue to bake, uncovered.
Meanwhile, place the potatoes in a large pot with enough water to cover them. Add 2 teaspoons of the salt and bring to a boil. Simmer until tender, about 15 minutes.
Drain, then return the potatoes to pot. Add the butter, sour cream, Cheddar, pepper, and the remaining salt to the potatoes and roughly mash. Cover to keep warm until the ham is done.
Slice the ham, spoon the pan juices over it, and serve with the potatoes. Sprinkle with the parsley, if desired.

Serves 4.

NUTRITION PER SERVING: CALORIES 1057.03(45% from fat); FAT 53.33g (sat 25.65g); PROTEIN 54.99mg; CHOLESTEROL 170.46mg; CALCIUM 252mg; SODIUM 3205.37mg; FIBER 4.74g; CARBOHYDRATE 93.3g; IRON 4.23mg

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TV Drinks: 30 Rock - Nancy Drew AKA Hardy Boy

YumSugar — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 15:28:31 -0800

A few weeks ago, there was a great moment on 30 Rock that made me laugh out loud. Alec Baldwin's character, Jack Donaghy, says to the bartender, "I'll have a white rum with diet ginger ale and a splash of lime." Fast forward a few seconds later and the bartender presents him with his drink, "The Nancy Drew." Naturally, a man as masculine as Jack cannot be seen ordering a Nancy Drew, and therefore corrects the bartender by saying, "For men, it's called a Hardy Boy."

Sadly, there isn't actually a drink called a Nancy Drew - or a Hardy Boy for that matter - however that doesn't mean we can't make one. After all dark rum and ginger beer is perfect in a Dark and Stormy, so a lightened up version featuring ginger ale and light rum must also be delicious! To get the recipe and see the hysterical clip for yourself, read more

Nancy Drew AKA Hardy Boy
Inspired by 30 Rock

1 1/2 oz. white rum
diet ginger ale
splash of lime

Pour rum into an old-fashioned glass over ice cubes.
Fill with diet ginger ale and a splash of lime.
Garnish with lime wedge.

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Happy Hour: Mamie Taylor

YumSugar — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 13:28:33 -0800

The weather has started to take a turn towards Winter - it's San Francisco and we go immediately from Summer to Winter - and while I love the sound of pouring rain, I'm not quite ready to part with Summer. On days where the gloom takes over, I like to mentally transport myself to a warmer place by mixing up a Summer cocktail. This one - a perfect mix of scotch and ginger ale - is called a Mamie Taylor and was very chic in the early 1900s. Today it's relatively unknown, but I think we should change that. To get the recipe, just read more

Mamie Taylor
From Domino

3 oz scotch
1 tbsp fresh lime juice
3/4 cup ginger ale
Lime slice for garnish

Pour Scotch and lime juice into chilled highball glass.
Add 3 or 4 ice cubes; top with ginger ale and garnish with lime slice.

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Yummy Link: DIY Ginger Ale

YumSugar — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 14:30:47 -0700

Looking for a tasty way to fight colds this Winter? Try this recipe for homemade ginger ale made from lime, cinnamon, and ginger syrup. Sounds like a refreshing alternative to hot tea. - Apartment Therapy: The Kitchen

Happy Hour: Hennessy Shanghai

partysugar — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 13:13:41 -0700

Cognac, like Champagne, is a type of alcohol whose production is limited to a specific region of France. It's a type of French brandy that is produced in Cognac and the surrounding regions. Although cognac is used to make an assortment of specialty cocktails in America, it has only recently been accepted as a mixing ingredient in French bars. In the past, the French preferred the liquor alone, but now, with the help of popular Cognac brands like Hennessy, it's making its way onto the scene. In this cocktail it's mixed with ginger ale, bitters, and an orange peel for a refreshing taste treat. Take a look at the recipe, just read more

Hennessy Shanghai
From Kevin In Blog

1 1/2 ounces Hennessy
3 1/2 ounces Ginger Ale
A few dashes of Angostura Bitters
1 twist of Orange Peel

Pour all of the ingredients over a ice. Stir to combine.

Serves 1.

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Red, Hot and Ginger Ale

YumSugar — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 14:43:21 -0800

My earlier post about Shirley Temples got me thinking about my favorite ginger ale, Blenheim's. A few years ago, I came across Blenheim's Hot Ginger Ale and WOW! it completely knocked my socks off (in fact, that used to be one of their slogans). Originally formulated in 1903 by Dr. C.R. May and A.J. Matheson as a stomach treatment, Blenheim's is now available in four flavors.

Hot
Not as Hot
Diet
Ginger Beer

I've never actually had anything but the Hot, but it is truly great. It's a high-quality beverage with an intense ginger burn that will make your head sweat and your mouth tingle. It does however, have a glorious sweet finish that makes you want to drink more. If you like your ginger ale spicy then hunt down a bottle, because it's well worth it. If you can't find it near you (it's tough to find), you can buy Blenheim's online for $1.49 a bottle.

If you've tried it before, let us know what you thought in the comments below.

Happy Hour: Shirley Temple

YumSugar — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 12:45:16 -0800

When I was growing up my parents enjoyed going out to restaurants and having a nice glass of wine or a refreshing cocktail. Naturally, I always insisted on having one too. I remember thinking how grownup I felt when the waitress would bring me my own drink. There are even stories of me getting so "drunk" I would insist on stopping. Now, before you start yelling and saying "What kind of parents did you have!?" let me clarify. I had an overactive imagination and was only drinking Shirley Temples. No alcohol involved, but all the fun. To make a good ol' classic Shirley Temple of your own, read more

Shirley Temple

4-6 oz of Ginger Ale (I like the strongest kind I can find)
1 oz lime juice
1 oz grenadine

maraschino cherry
orange slice or lime wedge

Put ice into tall glass.
Pour ingredients in and stir.
Garnish with cherry and citrus.

To mix it up, I'll sometimes muddle mint with the ice before adding the other ingredients. When I do this, I'll garnish with a cherry and mint instead of a cherry and lime.

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