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Come Party With Me: Vampire Party - Menu

partysugar — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 07:50:29 -0700

Halloween happens to fall on a Saturday this year which makes it an ideal night for hosting a party. But don't just throw any party, select a theme, like vampires, and use this to inspire a ghoulish bash.

Start by sending our free vampire invitations specially designed for the online invitation service, Pingg. All you have to do is fill them out and send - how easy is that?

Once you've notified your friends, you can focus on more important things, like the menu. Select an assortment of finger-licking good foods that evoke the vampire culture.

Tomato soup filled test tubes resemble the addictive vampire blood popular in the HBO series, True Blood. Stefan Salvatore, the kind bloodsucker on the CW's Vampire Diaries who loves garlic, would devour a platter of garlic and cheese crostini. Guests will feel like Buffy the Vampire Slayer when they stake steak bites with skewers and dunk them into a bloody Mary dipping sauce. Finally, spicy sriracha doused chicken wings are so hearty they'd satiate even the toughest Cullen brother's hunger. Get these festive recipes when you read more.

Vampire Blood Tomato Soup
From Food Network

Ingredients

3 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 fennel bulb, chopped, about 2 1/2 cups
1/2 large onion, chopped, about 1 cup
4 cloves garlic, smashed
1 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon fennel seed
1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, optional
1 (28-ounce) can plum tomatoes, preferably San Marzano
2 cups homemade vegetable broth or low-sodium canned
2 cups tomato juice
6 basil leaves, torn
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Fresh ground black pepper, to taste

Directions

Heat olive oil in a medium sauce pot over medium-high heat.
Add fennel, onion, garlic, salt, fennel seed and crushed pepper, if using, and cook until vegetables soften and brown slightly, about 5 minutes.
Drain and reserve juice from the tomatoes, then crush tomatoes gently with your hands. Add the tomatoes, increase heat to high, and cook until they begin to brown slightly, about 5 minutes.
Add the reserved tomato juice, vegetable broth, tomato juice, and basil leaves. Bring to a boil, stir, reduce heat to medium low, cover and cook until vegetables are cooked through and soup reduces and thickens, about 30 minutes.
Remove pot from stove and puree the soup in batches, with an immersion, regular blender, or food processor. Stir in lemon juice and season with pepper to taste. Serve.

Serves 8.

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Garlic and Cheese Crostini
From Gourmet

Ingredients

24 (1/3-inch-thick) baguette slices (from a baguette at least
1/4 cup olive oil, divided
3/4 cup finely grated Pecorino Romano (preferably imported)
5 large garlic cloves, minced
Kosher salt
2 tablespoons finely chopped flat-leaf parsley

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F with rack in middle.
Arrange bread slices in 1 layer on a large baking sheet and brush tops with 3 tablespoons oil.
Stir together remaining tablespoon oil, cheese, garlic, 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a small bowl. Sprinkle each slice with about 1 teaspoon cheese mixture, mounding it slightly.
Bake until topping just starts to melt, 6 to 8 minutes. Sprinkle with parsley and kosher salt to taste. Serve warm.

Makes 24 hors d'oeuvres.

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Steak Bites With Bloody Mary Dipping Sauce
From Rachael Ray

Ingredients

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
1 small onion, finely chopped
1/2 cup vodka
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons hot pepper sauce
1 cup tomato sauce
1 rounded tablespoon prepared horseradish
Salt and pepper
1 1/3 pounds beef sirloin cut into large bite-sized pieces, 1 by 2 inches
Steak seasoning blend or coarse salt and black pepper
6 to 8 inch bamboo skewers

Directions

Heat a small saucepan over medium heat. Add oil and onions and saute 5 minutes.
Add vodka and reduce by 1/2.
Add Worcestershire, hot sauce, tomato sauce and horseradish. Stir to combine the dipping sauce and return the sauce to a bubble. Add salt and pepper and adjust seasonings.
Heat nonstick skillet over high heat. Coat meat bites lightly in oil. Season with steak seasoning blend or salt and pepper, to taste.
Cook the meat until caramelized all over, about 2 minutes on each side.
Transfer dipping sauce to a small dish and place at the center of a serving platter. Surround the dip with meat bites and set several bamboo "stakes" or skewers along side meat.

Serves 6.

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Spicy Sriracha Chicken Wings
From Food & Wine

Ingredients

10 pounds chicken wings, split
1/4 cup coriander seeds, crushed
1 teaspoon cumin seeds, crushed
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 tablespoons kosher salt
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
3/4 cup Sriracha chile sauce
1 1/2 sticks (12 tablespoons) unsalted butter, melted
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
Finely grated zest and juice of 3 limes
3 quarts vegetable oil, for frying

Directions

In a very large bowl, toss the wings with the coriander and cumin seeds, cinnamon, kosher salt and olive oil. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.
Preheat the oven to 375°. Spread the wings on 3 large rimmed baking sheets and roast for about 30 minutes, until firm but not cooked through. (At this point, if you don't want to fry the wings, you can roast them for 1 hour longer, until crispy and golden.)
Wash out the bowl. Add the Sriracha, butter, cilantro, lime zest and juice.
In a deep fryer or a very large saucepan, heat the vegetable oil to 375°.
Fry the wings in 4 or 5 batches until golden and crisp, about 5 minutes per batch; drain, shaking off the excess oil. As each batch is finished, add the wings to the sauce and toss well. Transfer the wings to a platter, leaving the sauce in the bowl for the remaining batches. Serve hot.

Serves 10.

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How Do You Prefer Your Chicken Wings?

YumSugar — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 09:00:00 -0700

Buffalo Chicken Two Ways - Beginner and Expert

YumSugar — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 03:00:07 -0800

From pickled jalapeños to chipotle chile chocolate bars, I love spicy food, but if I were forced to pick a favorite, I'd have to go with spicy buffalo chicken. Not only is it the ultimate comfort food, but the tender chicken is also crispy, zippy, and tangy all at once.

Whether you're looking for the perfect Super Bowl party platter or you simply want something to fulfill your quest for spice, look no further than these buffalo chicken recipes.

The first, made with breast tenders and breaded for crunchiness, is a simplified version of the classic buffalo wing. Alternately, pull out your frying pan and try your ~~wing~~ hand at a traditional recipe for buffalo chicken. Both are definite crowd pleasers.

To see either recipe, read more.

Beginner Buffalo Chicken
From Every Day With Rachael Ray

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups breadcrumbs
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
4 large eggs
4 chicken tenders
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons butter
6 tablespoons hot pepper sauce
3/4 cup crumbled blue cheese

Directions

Preheat the oven to 425°F. In a medium bowl, combine the breadcrumbs, salt and pepper. In a shallow bowl, beat the eggs. Coat a chicken piece with the breadcrumbs, dip in the eggs, then coat again with the breadcrumbs; place on a plate. Repeat with the remaining chicken.
In a large, heavy skillet, heat 1/4 cup olive oil over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add half of the chicken tenders and cook, turning once, until golden, about 4 minutes. Transfer to a baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining chicken. Bake until cooked through, about 10 minutes.
Microwave the butter at medium power until melted, 45 seconds. Stir in the hot sauce.
Place the chicken tenders on a large platter, drizzle with the sauce and top with the blue cheese.

Serves 6.

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Expert Buffalo Chicken
From Gourmet

Ingredients

Blue-cheese dressing:
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup plain yogurt
2 ounces crumbled blue cheese (about 1/2 cup)
Wings:
3 pounds chicken wings (12 to 14)
2 tablespoons vegetable oil (if grilling) or 6 cups vegetable oil (if deep-frying)
1/4 cup unsalted butter
3 to 4 tablespoons hot sauce such as Frank's or Goya
1 1/2 tablespoons cider vinegar
4 celery ribs

Directions

Make dressing: In a bowl, whisk together mayonnaise and yogurt and stir in blue cheese (dressing will not be smooth). Dressing may be made 8 hours ahead and chilled, covered.
Cut celery into thin sticks. Soak celery in a bowl of ice and cold water at least 30 minutes and up to 1 hour.
Deep fry wings: In a large (5- to 6-quart) deep heavy kettle heat 6 cups oil until a deep-fat thermometer registers 380°F. Just before oil reaches 380°F, pat dry 6 or 7 wings. Carefully lower wings into oil and fry, stirring occasionally, until cooked through, golden, and crisp, 5 to 8 minutes. With a slotted spoon transfer wings to paper towels to drain. Pat dry and fry remaining wings in same manner, returning oil to 380°F between batches.
Make sauce: In a large skillet melt butter over moderately low heat and stir in hot sauce, vinegar, and salt to taste. Add grilled or fried wings and toss to coat.
Serve chicken wings warm or at room temperature with dressing and celery sticks.

Makes 6 hors d'oeuvre servings.

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Buffalo Chicken Cheese Dip Raises Breast Cancer Awareness

partysugar — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 10:15:19 -0700

After publishing her first cookbook, Around My Mother's Table, Ribbon Chick Lisa Burton, continued her crusade to raise breast cancer awareness with A la Pink, a breast cancer survivors recipe contest. Over the past year she's invited women to share their story and their best recipe. The winner, Tina Herold and her scrumptious recipe, buffalo chicken cheese dip, were announced in September.Herold used her experience to open a wig shop that provides support and compassion for women with cancer. Not only is she an inspiring role model, but she's also a great cook. The recipe is easy to make and perfect for a crowd. When I served the dip, I told my guests Herold's story, further raising awareness for the cause. You can, too, so get her winning recipe and read more.

Buffalo Chicken Cheese Dip
From Tina Herold

Ingredients

2 (8-ounce) packages reduced-fat cream cheese
3/4 cup (6 ounces) cayenne pepper sauce* (I used Crystal)
1/2 cup ranch dressing
1 1/4 - 1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breast halves, cooked and chopped (3 to 4 chicken breast halves or about 3 cups chopped)
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
tortilla chips, crackers, or vegetables, for serving

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 1 1/2-quart casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray.
Combine cream cheese, pepper sauce, and ranch dressing in a small saucepan. Heat, over low heat, stirring frequently, until melted.
Stir in chicken and about half of the cheddar cheese. Stir until combined.
Spoon into prepared dish. Sprinkle with remaining cheese.
Bake 15 minutes or until hot and cheese is melted.
Serve warm with tortilla chips, crackers, or vegetables.

Makes about 6 cups.

*For milder flavor, reduce cayenne pepper sauce to 1/2 cup.

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