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YumSugar Gift Guide: Wacky White Elephant

partysugar — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 10:54:13 -0800

A White Elephant is a type of gift exchange in which each guest is asked to bring an anonymous wrapped gift. Usually, there is a maximum amount of money that can be spent, and oftentimes the gifts are unpractical and eccentric. If you are attending a White Elephant party bring fun shaped ice cube trays. A set of Emeril's spices are hysterical and could provoke conversation about the future of Food Network. However, my favorite gift is this chicken kitchen timer. It's ten percent bizarre and 90 percent practical. I definitely wouldn't buy it for myself, but it would be fun to get at a White Elephant gift exchange.

For more wacky White Elephant gifts, browse below.

Ice cube tray ($1.99)	Chicken Kitchen Timer ($8.95)
Veggie Ornaments ($9.99)	Wine Bottle Gift Bags ($12.95)
Essence Assortment (Set of 4) by Emeril Lagasse ($14.95)	Way Cool Way Hot Mini-Fridge ($130.00)

Keep Your Cool - Fun Ice Cube Trays

YumSugar — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 12:01:39 -0700

Some of you might use filtered water, flavored water or even coffee, but do you ever think about the shape of your ice cubes? Why stick with boring squares when you can get cats, dogs, bunnies, stars, apples, jewels, and more. These cat and dog ice cube trays are $6.99 a piece or $12.99 for both. They'd make cute cubes for your summer punch, or alternatively, use the molds to make your own chocolates! They're guaranteed to be purr-fect! To check out some other great ice cube trays, scroll through the list below.

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Off to Market Recap: Ice Cube Trays

partysugar — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 05:30:58 -0700

The Summer is heating up and there is no better way to cool down than with a refreshing, cold drink. Although my fridge is a newer model, it doesn't have a built in ice maker: I have to use ice cube trays to make ice. Currently I have only two trays which is problematic for entertaining, so I asked you to help me expand my collection of ice cube trays. You looked for all types of ice cube trays in fun colors and shapes. You saved your finds in the Yum Market on TeamSugar with the keyword tag, Ice Cube Trays.

How cool are these synthetic rubber ice cube trays by Ikea? MsMO likes the long tray because she uses the skinny cubes in water bottles. However, I love her recommendation for the Fourth of July: she thinks the stars cubes would be fun in cocktails! Browse more trays below.

Interested in bookmarking? Read geeksugar's explanation of this feature to learn how to participate.

Off to Market: Ice Cube Trays

partysugar — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 05:30:57 -0700

The Summer is heating up and there is no better way to cool down than with a refreshing, cold drink. Although my fridge is a newer model, it doesn't have a built in icemaker. To make ice, I use ice cube trays. Currently I only have two trays, which is problematic for entertaining.

Can you help me expand my collection of ice cube trays? Look for all types of ice cube trays in fun colors and shapes. Save your finds in the Yum Market on TeamSugar with the keyword tag, Ice Cube Trays. I appreciate your help!

Interested in bookmarking? Read geeksugar's explanation of this feature to learn how to participate.

Find out where I like to shop online for food and entertaining accessories when you read more

Bed Bath & Beyond
CB2
Cooking.com
Crate & Barrel
Ikea
Linens and Things
NapaStyle
Pier 1
Plum Party
Pottery Barn
Sur La Table
Target
Restoration Hardware
Williams Sonoma
Wishing Fish
World Market

Frozen Smiles Ice Cube: Love It or Hate It?

YumSugar — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 04:00:18 -0700

While I was browsing online the other day, I came across this Frozen Smiles ice cube tray, which molds ice into dentures. It had me in stitches, and I think it would be a hilarious prank to pull on a friend. Do you agree, or does this ice cube tray gross you out?

Keep Your Cool With These Icy Finds

YumSugar — Thu, 15 May 2008 01:00:24 -0700

Lately, every kitchen catalog I receive insists on reminding me that Summer is just around the corner. One of the trends that's catching my eye is the use of ice. It seems that nothing cools down Summer like a few ice cubes. In fact there are so many icy items, I was able to compile a list for your browsing enjoyment. There were trays of appetizers on ice, salads on ice, and even martini glasses nestled in ice ($29.95). To discover all of my cool-as-ice finds, just scroll through below.

Condiments On Ice - $24.99	Salad on Ice - $19.99
Appetizers On Ice - $29.99	Wine Enthusiast Set of 2 Martini Chillers - $29.95
Caviar Server - $29.95	Waring Ice Maker - $399.95
Cool Shooters Ice Tray - $7.95	Star Ice Pop Molds - $14.95
Hamilton Beach® Icy Treats Maker - $24.99	Slush-Ease Home Slushee Maker - $49.99
Cool Jewels Ice Cube Tray - $7.00	Yamazaki "Signature" Double Wall Ice Bucket - $55.00
Entertain with Style 8 Piece Vodka Set - $29.99	Italian Kufra Pitcher with Ice Container - $9.95
DuraClear® Icing Pitcher - $45.00	Magppie - tor ice bucket by karim rashid for magppie - $181.00
Stainless Steel Insulated Oval Wine/Ice Bucket - $79.99	Party Ice Luge - $19.99
Insulated Ice Buckets - $19.99	Ice Kabobs - $8.00
OXO Steel Ice Bucket with Tongs - $49.95	Jumbo Acrylic Ice Bucket - $19.99
Kim Seybert Ice Scoop- Black - $35.00	Kim Seybert Croco Ice Bucket & Tongs - $150.00

Chef's Tip: Freeze Extra Sauce In Single Serving Portions

partysugar — Mon, 14 May 2007 06:03:51 -0700

I went to dinner the other night with the ruggedly down-to-earth Nick (Michael Chiarello's sous chef!) who cooks restaurant style meals in his tiny kitchen at home. He gave me a great tip that I just had to share with all of you. If you live alone, or are only cooking for two, make a large batch of sauce like a red-wine lamb reduction (that was his total cheffie example, but you could do the same with tomato sauces, pesto, etc.) and freeze it in ice cube trays. Once frozen, pop the sauce cubes into a ziplock for easy storage. When you are cooking for one or two, you can pull out a couple of cubes and not have to defrost your whole quart or more of sauce. This is the easiest way to freeze/defrost alot of sauces and reductions.

Thanksgiving Tip: Refill Your Ice Trays

YumSugar — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 07:50:35 -0800

Before a party or a big feast like Thanksgiving, there are a couple of minor - yet impactful - things I always make sure to do. One is to empty the dishwasher; another is to refill my ice trays completely with fresh water. There's nothing more annoying than reaching for ice to go with water, punch, or cocktails, only to find that there's one cube left.

Add a note to your Thanksgiving planner: The morning of the big dinner, fill your trays with distilled water, which will prevent ice from appearing cloudy in the center. When guests arrive, you'll be able to serve them drinks with a just-made batch of ice. What little tasks help you stay on top of all the Thanksgiving mania?

Must Read: Pestos, Tapenades, & Spreads

YumSugar — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:00:48 -0800

Much like PartySugar, I'll be paying special attention to the oft-neglected starters when I host this year's Thanksgiving meal. I've not yet determined what they'll be: should I serve soup? Dip in a bread bowl? So I am excited for a new book, Pestos, Tapenades, & Spreads ($17) by Stacey Printz, which offers up an array of spreads to serve when entertaining on the run. Were its offerings worthy of being on the Thanksgiving table? Find out when you read more.

Burning Question: Why Are Ice Cubes Cloudy in the Center?

YumSugar — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 14:00:09 -0700

When I pulled out the ice tray to make a whiskey lemonade over the weekend, I couldn't help but notice that the ice had a cloudy white spot in the middle of it. This prompted me to ask: why is it that some ice I buy at the store is crystal-clear, but the frozen cubes at home in my freezer appear murky and white in the center?

Ice cubes develop cloudiness when water is frozen quickly. As ice begins developing on the surface of water, certain gases can no longer remain dissolved and begin to surface as microscopic bubbles. An already-developed outer layer of ice traps all the bubbles inside the frozen cube. Another reason for the white color may be traces of calcium carbonate or impurities, which are small and flaky in appearance but are completely harmless.

Ice makers are able to achieve a clear, see-through effect by distilling water, then freezing it in stages, and by using a mechanism that allows bubbles to be washed away as ice cubes develop.

Got a burning question? Contact us.