YumSugar

Would You Eat This Deep-Fried Pancake Stack?

partysugar — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 15:13:39 -0700

A little while back, YumSugar tasted and reviewed Batter Blaster, the pancake batter in a bottle. While she used the squirt-able batter to make surprisingly good-tasting pancakes, our friends at Grocery Eats recently used their batter blaster to make deep-fried pancakes. At first glance, these crispy pancakes look like delicious funnel cakes. But reading the fine print, one can see they are incredibly oily. I would probably eat one, Paula Deen would probably eat a bunch, but how about you? Would you eat this deep-fried pancake stack?

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Would You Eat This PizzaBurger?

partysugar — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 15:28:31 -0800

Giant burgers are all the rage these days. While you could order one from Mallie's Sports Grill and Bar, you could also make one in the comfort of your own home. Don't know where to find a giant burger bun? Use frozen pizzas! That's what Dustin and his friends did when they made this pizzaburger. The oversized beef patty is sandwiched between a couple of pizzas making for one mess of a meal. I'd probably just take a bite or two to try it out. How about you? Would you eat this pizzaburger?

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Would You Enjoy This Nacho Cheese Fountain?

partysugar — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 15:27:51 -0800

Nachos are one of my all-time favorite foods. So much so that on Super Bowl Sunday, I decided I would open San Francisco's first all nacho restaurant to fill a much-needed nacho niche. Naturally at Super Nacho - my restaurant's work-in-progress name - there would be a nacho cheese fountain. The nacho fountain first appeared on Serious Eats yesterday; DJ Grocery borrowed his wife's chocolate fountain and turned it into nacho lover's heaven. While I would dive headfirst into this nacho fountain, I want to know what you think about it. Would you eat nacho cheese served in a fountain?

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Do You Know How Much You Spend on Food?

partysugar — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 07:45:38 -0700

Earlier this week the San Francisco Chronicle published an interesting article about food spending. In the story, author Rob Baedeker unscientifically asks grocery store goers if they know how much they spend on food each month. The majority have no food budget and have never totaled their grocery and eating out receipts. I'll admit, I had no clue how much I spent on food and was a little surprised when I checked in with my bank. Between groceries and restaurant bills, I spend a whopping $500 on food! How about you?

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Top Chef Reunion Dinner: Did You Watch?

partysugar — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:30:43 -0800

The latest season of Top Chef was put on hold last night and instead of the regularly scheduled programming, Bravo brought us a little special. An all-star dinner hosted by season 5 fan favorite and upcoming reality star, Fabio Viviani. The best and most infamous competitors from the first five seasons of Top Chef gathered in Los Angeles to eat and relive their TC histories. Did you watch? Want to discuss? You know what to do: read more.

How fabulous was the intro? So fun to see the chefs now and then!
What with all the spinoffs, I can't help but wonder: Why doesn't Bravo do a Top Chef best of the best? And pit the final three chefs from the first 5 seasons against one another?
Who were you most excited to see? I didn't realize how much I missed Carla!
Has your opinion of any of the chefs changed?
Do you think the conversation was force fed by the producers?
What season did you start watching Top Chef?
What was your favorite line? Mine was when Harold said, "The Top Chef knife block needs to be napalmed, in my opinion."
How cute were Marcel and Ilan when they were grocery shopping?
What did you think of Fabio as the host?
Overall, did you enjoy the special?

Fast & Easy Dinner: Gnocchi With Chard and White Beans

partysugar — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 06:50:38 -0700

If you think gnocchi is a dish that can only be enjoyed in restaurants, think again! These days most grocery stores offer packaged gnocchi in the fresh or regular pasta sections. Why not make this staple a part of your busy-cook pantry? Then when you're in the mood for a comforting Italian-style meal, make this dish! The gnocchi is combined with hearty chard, stewed tomatoes, and white beans. The recipe calls for a topping of mozzarella and parmesan cheese, but if you are trying to eat healthy, simply omit them. Sound delish? Wait till you read the recipe.

Yummy Links: From Katie Lee to Top Chef 7

partysugar — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 09:15:43 -0700

Katie Lee admits that having the last name Joel helped her career get started.- New York Magazine
Black ravioli with pumpkin is the perfect Halloween dinner.- Saveur
Feeling sick? Start eating these flu-fighting foods.- The Epi-Log
Here are 10 creepy but festive Halloween recipes- Endless Simmer
An inside look at Ad Hoc at Home, Thomas Keller's new cookbook. - Eat Me Daily
Celebrate Fall by turning tortillas into leaf-shaped chips. - Eddie Ross
Singing and dancing in the grocery store is so much fun! - Serious Eats
Get a glimpse of the Top Chef season seven casting call. - 7x7

Showcase Fresh Red Currants in a Stunning Granita

YumSugar — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 14:00:48 -0700

On a recent trip to the grocery store, I caught sight of something new to the produce aisle: red currants. I'd never seen fresh red currants, and I was enamored by the dainty clusters of berries, each reminded me of a brilliant garnet cabochon. Needless to say, I brought a carton home - despite having no idea what to do with them.After some preliminary tasting and research, it became clear that although it's possible to eat red currants out of hand, reducing them in sugar helps round out their piquancy. Ultimately, I blended their slightly tannic flavor with raspberries in a granita creating the perfect ending to an Indian Summer day. Learn one great application for red currants when you read more

Sales Surge at Salvage Supermarkets

YumSugar — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 11:30:41 -0700

As customers search for deeper discounts, they appear to be moving away from traditional grocery stores. In recent months, sales have soared at salvage supermarkets, no-frills operations where shoppers can buy food that's discounted, sometimes by more than 50 percent. The lower price, however, comes at a cost. Consumers may be buying crushed cereal boxes, dented canned tomatoes, or salad dressing bottles past their sell-by date. Inventory isn't consistent; availability is contingent on what brokers ship to the store. Many shoppers are middle-class consumers who buy the majority of their food from regular grocery stores, but see salvage grocers as an opportunity for bargains. Like their conventional counterparts, these markets must also face inspections and regulations. Although inspectors aren't concerned about sell-by dates, as manufacturer dates don't imply when something is safe to eat, but rather when quality is best. Are you familiar with the salvage grocers in your area? Would you be interested in visiting one?

Make Your Own Salsa

partysugar — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 13:00:41 -0700

For the first 23 years of my life, I thought salsa was something purchased at the grocery store or enjoyed at a Mexican restaurant. Then one day, I realized I could make it at home using fresh ingredients and everything changed.

The entire experience of eating salsa (with tortilla chips, of course) was enhanced. The juicy sweetness of tomatoes, the spicy heat of jalapeños, the subtle smokiness of chili powder, the crunchy bite of raw onion - it was like tasting salsa for the first time.

Don't be intimidated if you've never made salsa before, it's wildly easy and domestically rewarding. While having a food processor allows you to make salsa in mere minutes, it can also be done the old-fashioned way by finely chopping the ingredients. To check out my favorite salsa recipe read more.

Tomato Salsa
Original Recipe

Ingredients

4 large ripe tomatoes
juice of one lime
2 garlic cloves, peeled
1 jalapeño, seeded (optional) roughly chopped
1/2 small white onion, roughly chopped
1/4 cup cilantro
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon chili powder
salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Fill a large pot with water. Bring to a boil. Fill a bowl with ice and water. Place next to the stove.
With a small knife, slice an X into the bottom of each tomato, being careful not to cut all the way through. Drop each tomato into the boiling water and boil until the skin starts to peel off, about 45 seconds to a minute. Remove immediately and place in the ice water bath.
When the tomatoes are cool enough to handle, peel off the skins and discard. Slice the tomatoes into large wedges.
Squeeze the lime juice into a food processor. Add the garlic, jalapeño, onion, cilantro, spices, and tomatoes.
Process until the vegetables are finely chopped and the mixture is chunky. Taste and adjust seasonings to your liking. If you prefer more heat, add another jalapeño or more chili powder. Enjoy with tortilla chips or however you desire!

Makes about 2 cups.

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