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Garlic Fun Facts

partysugar — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 00:01:46 -0700

Today, April 19, is National Garlic Day. I thought I would take advantage of the holiday and put together a quick little round of fun facts for you all to enjoy. Usually, I only reserve my favorite pieces of worthless knowledge for major holidays like Easter and Christmas, but I thought, hey garlic is in practically everything and is used in most cultures throughout the world. Surely, this potent little vegetable deserves its own fabulous batch of fun facts. For example did you know that garlic is actually considered both a vegetable and an herb? Or that garlic has been used medicinally for thousands of years since ancient Greek and Roman times? To see how eating garlic can better your health, read more

Garlic is believed to ward off heart disease, cancer, colds, and flu. The consumption of garlic lowers blood cholesterol levels. and reduces the buildup of plaque in the arteries.

It was even once used to treat acne, warts, and toothaches.
The psychological term for fear of garlic is alliumphobia.
The origin of National Garlic Day is unknown and it is not recorded in congressional or presidential proclamations.
Garlic is said to fight off evil spirits and keep vampires away.
If your garlic has sprouted, it is still usable although it has lost some of its flavor and health benefits.
The smell of garlic can be removed by running your hands under cold water while rubbing a stainless steel object.

Garlic is a member of the onion family which also includes leeks and shallots.
Its pungent flavor is due to a chemical reaction that occurs when the garlic cells are broken. The flavor is most intense just after mincing.
The majority of garlic (90%) grown in the United States comes from California.
If your rose garden is being attacked by aphids, an excellent home remedy to get rid of them is to spritz the leaves and blooms with a mixture of crushed garlic and water.
When picking out garlic at the grocery store, choose firm, tight, heavy dry bulbs.
Garlic has been used to infuse vodka and as an ingredient to make cocktails.
Finally, to tie garlic into Wedding week here on the Sugar Network: at ancient Greek and Roman marriages the brides carried bouquets of garlic and other herbs instead of flowers.

Got a fun fact about garlic? Please add it to the list below!

Noteworthy Nibbles - Sept. 1-8, 2009

YumSugar — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 14:30:50 -0700

Even though Memorial Day seemed like yesterday, Labor Day's already crept up on us. If you don't have major travel plans for the long weekend, celebrate Summer's last hurrah with a gaggle of glorious food festivals, big and small.

Enjoy potjie, a three-legged South African cooking pot, in Texas, butterbeans in Alabama, and hamburgers in Pennsylvania.

The two events I'm really dying to attend? The famed Best in the West Rib Cook-Off and upstate New York's yearly Buffalo Wing Festival. Where will you make an appearance this weekend? Let us know in the comments below!

St. Paul, MN: Minnesota Cooks! - Sept. 1
New York, NY: Slow U: Ice Cream, From Sugar and Snow - Sept. 1
Millersport, OH: Millersport Sweet Corn Festival - Sept. 2-5
Sparks, NV: Best in the West Nugget Rib Cook-Off - Sept. 2-7
Morgan City, LA: Louisiana Shrimp & Petroleum Festival - Sept. 3-7
Village of Pinehurst, NC: Pinehurst Food & Wine Fest - Sept. 3-7
Sonoma, CA: Sonoma Wine Country Weekend - Sept. 4-6
Kerrville, TX: Kerrville Wine & Music Festival - Sept. 4-6
Indianapolis, IN: Indianapolis Rib America Festival - Sept. 4-7
Rusk, TX: Texas Potjie Festival - Sept. 4-7
Denver, CO: A Taste of Colorado – Sept. 4-7
Cleveland, OH: Taste of Cleveland - Sept. 4-7
Fallon, NV: Fallon Cantaloupe Festival - Sept. 4-7
Hamburg, PA: Taste of Hamburg-er Festival - Sept. 5

To see the rest, read more.

Pinson, AL: Alabama Butterbean Festival - Sept. 5
Irvington, VA: Irvington Stomp - Sept. 5
Hatch, NM: Hatch Valley Chile Festival - Sept. 5-6
Millbrae, CA: Millbrae Art & Wine Festival - Sept. 5-6
Buffalo, NY: National Buffalo Wing Festival - Sept. 5-6
Shawnee, PA: Pocono Garlic Festival - Sept. 5-6
Arthur, IL: Amish Country Cheese Festival - Sept. 5-7
Bernalillo, NM: New Mexico Wine Festival - Sept. 5-7
Martin, TN: Tennessee Soybean Festival - Sept. 5-13
New Orleans, LA: The Big Two Revisted: Sazerac and Ramos Gin Fizz - Sept. 8

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Noteworthy Nibbles - July 21-28, 2009

YumSugar — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 14:00:15 -0700

Food events this week are all over the map, both literally and figuratively speaking. This weekend, I'm hoping to join some friends in a budget- and eco-friendly Slow Food potluck dinner. If I've got the time, I'd love to make it out to the world-famous Gilroy Garlic Festival, where garlic lovers come in droves to sample everything from garlic fries to garlic ice cream.

One day, I'd would enjoy making a trip to the Oxnard Salsa Festival and Indiana's Pierogi Fest. What will you be attending this week? Let us know below!

Fremont, MI: National Baby Food Festival - July 22-25
Farmerville, LA: Louisiana Watermelon Festival - July 23-25
Portland, OR: Oregon Brewers Festival - July 23-26
South Boston, VA: Virginia Cantaloupe Festival - July 24
Ypsilanti, MI: Summer Beer Festival - July 24-25
Frankfort, IN: Frankfort Hot Dog Festival - July 24-25
Summit, NJ: Summit Wine & Food Festival - July 24-26
Gilroy, CA: Gilroy Garlic Festival - July 24-26
Whiting, IN: Pierogi Fest - July 24-26

To see the rest, read more.

Chincoteague Island, VA: Chincoteague Blueberry Festival - July 24-26
Fredericksburg, TX: Gourmet Chili Pepper & Salsa Festival - July 24-26
Columbus, OH: Jazz & Rib Fest - July 24-26
Sugar Grove, IL: Sugar Grove Corn Boil - July 24-26
San Francisco, CA: Slow Food Potluck - July 25
Castle Rock, CO: Castle Rock Wine Fest - July 25
Seattle, WA: Ballard SeafoodFest - July 25-26
Oxnard, CA: Oxnard Salsa Festival - July 25-26
Courtland, CA : Pear Fair - July 26
San Mateo, CA: Festa Italiana Street Fair - July 26

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Noteworthy Nibbles - July 28-Aug. 4

YumSugar — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 14:00:27 -0700

Although I can't make it to the official celebration in Wisconsin, I'll be observing National Mustard Day this weekend. But I'm really salivating over the photos from the Maine Lobster Festival, and I'm curious to try a so-called Rocky Mountain oyster at the appropriately-dubbed Testy Festy. What looks most appetizing to you? Here's what's going on between now and next Tuesday in the food festival world.

Rockland, ME: Maine Lobster Festival - July 29-Aug. 2
Clinton, MT: Rock Creek Lodge Testicle Festival - July 29-Aug. 2
Seattle, WA: Taste of the Nation Seattle - July 30
Miami, FL: Taste of the Nation Miami - July 30
Atlantic City, NJ: Atlantic City Food and Wine Festival - July 30-Aug. 2
Norfolk, VA: 20th Annual Bayou Boogaloo & Cajun Food Festival - July 31-Aug. 2
Mammoth Lakes, CA: Mammoth Festival of Beers and Bluesapalooza - July 31-Aug. 2

To see the rest, read more.

Natchez, MS: Natchez Food and Wine Festival - July 31-Aug. 2
Deerfield Valley, VT: Deerfield Valley Blueberry Festival - July 31-Aug. 9
Mt. Horeb, WI: National Mustard Day Festival - Aug. 1
Vincennes, IN: Watermelon Festival & Jack Daniels Great American Grill-Off - Aug. 1
Loveland, CA: Gnarly Barley Brew Festival - Aug. 1
Cortland, NY: Cortland Arts and Wine Festival - Aug. 1
Penn Yan, NY: Fox Run Garlic Festival - Aug. 1-2
San Pedro, CA: Taste in San Pedro - Aug. 1-2
Kenosha, WI: Taste of Wisconsin - Aug. 1-2
Boulder, CO: Rocky Mountain Tea Festival - Aug. 1-2
New Orleans, LA: Taste of the Nation New Orleans - Aug. 2
Salt Lake City, UT: Taste of the Nation Utah - Aug. 2

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What's Yummy This Week: YumSugar Weekly Recap

YumSugar — Sat, 04 Aug 2007 08:57:31 -0700

This week we've been enjoying all things salad - including the difference between greens, two types of Caesar salads, a warm goat cheese salad, and how to make perfect salads.
This week also found us planning Molly's pup Oliver a super-fun puppy paw-ty. Check out our ideas and throw your own pooch a festive party!
If you've got time to lounge around and read, be sure to look through our summer reading selection. We'll be posting a new book every day in August.
Don't miss out on these August Must Haves.
Even though we've been celebrating all summer, Thursday was actually National Ice Cream Sandwich Day.
Speaking of national days, Friday was National Watermelon Day.
In reality tv news: I'm surprised by who got kicked off of Top Chef and I'm surprised by Gordon Ramsay's soft side.
Twenty-six people love ice cream and want to tell you all about it. These twenty-six folks sure know how to work their way into my heart.
I went to the garlic festival and ate pickled garlic, chocolate garlic, garlic fries, garlic ice cream, garlic chicken, garlic corn, well... you get the idea.
Although the filling in this deep dish lemon tart was absolutely smashing, I can't help but wonder what would happen if I could somehow smash it together with Twinkle's Swedish Strawberry Cake.
And finally, in one of the strangest things I saw all week: Christopher Walken teaches you how to cook a chicken.

Noteworthy Nibbles - Aug. 27-Sept. 1

YumSugar — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 14:00:37 -0700

Labor Day weekend means food-happenings galore. At front and center is Slow Food Nation '08, the country's first ever slow food event, to be held in San Francisco. I'll be in attendance, so I can learn more about eating sustainably. Locals, perhaps I'll see you there! Here's the lineup; enjoy your long (and tasty) weekend.

Sparks, NV: Best in the West Nugget Rib Cook-off - Aug. 27
Millersport, OH: Millersport Sweet Corn Festival - Aug. 27
Honolulu, HI: Joy of Sake - Aug. 28
Morgan City, LA: Louisiana Shrimp & Petroleum Festival - Aug. 28-Sept. 1
San Francisco, CA: Slow Food Nation - Aug. 29-Sept. 1

To see the rest, read more.

Denver, CO: A Taste of Colorado - Aug. 29-Sept. 1
Plymouth, IN: Marshall County Blueberry Festival - Aug. 29-Sept. 1
Indianapolis, IN: Rib America Festival Indy - Aug. 29-Sept. 1
Cleveland, OH: Taste of Cleveland - Aug. 29-Sept. 1
Pinson, AL: Butterbean Festival - Aug. 30
Buffalo, NY: National Buffalo Wing Festival - Aug. 30-31
Shawnee, PA: Pocono Garlic Festival - Aug. 30-31
Las Cruces, NM: Harvest Wine Festival - Aug. 30-Sept. 1
Arthur, IL: Amish Country Cheese Festival - Aug. 30-Sept. 1
Bernalillo, NM: New Mexico Wine Festival - Aug. 30-Sept. 1
Martin, TN: Tennessee Soybean Festival - Aug. 30-Sept. 7

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TV Dinners: Goodfellas - Meatballs & Garlic

YumSugar — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 16:04:58 -0700

Since today is National Garlic Day I naturally had to point out one of the most famous garlic scenes in movie history. Do you remember the prison dinner scene in Goodfellas? You know the one where Paul Sorvino is slicing ridiculously thin pieces of garlic with a razor blade?

"He was in a year for contempt and he had this wonderful system for doing the garlic. He used a razor and he used to slice it so thin that it used to liquefy in the pan with just a little oil. It was a very good system."

It's hard not to think of that scene whenever I chop up garlic. Same goes for making spaghetti sauce with meatballs. Also, I love how even though they're in prison, they have access to everything including bread, cheese, prosciutto, steak, salami and lobster.

To check out the full dinner scene (which, is accompanied by one of my favorite songs, "Beyond the Sea," by Bobby Darin), and get a great recipe for a three-meat meatball (just like Goodfellas "Veal, beef and pork... you gotta have the pork."), read more

Meatballs a la Goodfellas
With a tiny adaption from The Best Meatballs at All Recipes

1/2 pound ground beef
1/2 pound ground veal
1 pound ground pork
2 cloves garlic, sliced razor thin then minced
2 eggs
1 cup freshly grated Romano cheese
1 1/2 tablespoons chopped Italian flat leaf parsley
salt and ground black pepper to taste
2 cups stale Italian bread, crumbled
1 1/2 cups lukewarm water
1 cup olive oil

Combine beef, veal, and pork in a large bowl. Add garlic, eggs, cheese, parsley, salt and pepper.
Blend bread crumbs into meat mixture. Slowly add the water 1/2 cup at a time. The mixture should be very moist but still hold it's shape if rolled into meatballs. (I usually use about 1 1/4 cups of water). Shape into meatballs.
Heat olive oil in a large skillet. Fry meatballs in batches. When the meatball is very brown and slightly crisp remove from the heat and drain on a paper towel. (If your mixture is too wet, cover the meatballs while they are cooking so that they hold their shape better.)
Place cooked meatballs into Marinara Sauce and cook for 15 more minutes.

Print recipe with images | without images

And if you're interested in more, here's a critique of Goodfellas - this is where I got the fantastic screencaps.

Happy Hour: Funky Garlic

YumSugar — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 13:18:37 -0700

When PartySugar told me that today was National Garlic Day, I immediately set out to find us a cocktail that uses garlic as an ingredient. And yes, yes, I know it sounds horrible, but done well I bet it would be good - think of a Bloody Mary, that sounds horrible on paper too...

At any rate, I was thwarted - turns out it may be a disgusting idea after all - and could not find any cocktail recipes featuring garlic. I did, however, find a recipe called Funky Garlic that actually sounds sort of refreshing (if not also somewhat terrible). It's a mixture of wine and soda, and it sounds dirty, yet light and bubbly. To check out the recipe (oh and if you know of any drinks that feature garlic, let us know), read more

Funky Garlic
From Drink Swap

4 oz Sprite
4 oz Coca-Cola
4 oz White Wine

Chill all ingredients prior to serving. Pour into a highball glass, and stir well.

Print recipe with images | without images

What's Yummy This Week: YumSugar Weekly Recap

YumSugar — Sun, 28 Oct 2007 11:00:49 -0700

For a crowd-pleasing appetizer, try making mini crab cakes a la Desperate Housewives.
Partysugar's Halloween Bash is fast approaching, and she needs help finding some special Halloween treats.
Pick a pumpkin baking project: pumpkin cream-cheese cookie bars or baby pumpkins with garlic custard.
If you're not a pumpkin fan, these spiderweb cookies are too cute to pass up.
National Nut Day has come and gone, but it's not too late to take our nutty quiz.
Is your favorite kind of bean an ingredient in this classic Italian soup? If so, can you name the dish?
Try a new twist on roasted pork with these easy red chile pork tacos.
Then tell me: How does this photo make you feel?
And finally, help us by taking the annual YumSugar survey!

All About Cherries

partysugar — Thu, 17 May 2007 08:21:32 -0700

Like strawberries, cherries are another of my favorite spring/early summer fruits. Since today is National Cherry Cobbler day, I thought I would take the time to let you know all about cherries. Cherries grow on trees and are a member of the stone fruit family - along with plums and peaches. When purchasing cherries avoid those with blemishes, mushy/light skin, or those that are shriveled. Cherries do not ripen after they have been picked, so choose those that appear plump, firm, smooth, dark/brightly colored with their stems pliable and attached (dry stems = old cherries). As they bruise easily, handle with care and thoroughly rinse and wash before consuming. Refrigerate to improve flavor and length of life, yet eat at room temperature for the best taste. Store cherries in a plastic bag in the refrigerator.

You should eat them in about three days. Generally speaking darker colored cherries are sweeter making them an excellent dessert. There are a wide variety of cherries on the market from Bing to Ranier to Queen Anne, and the peak cherry season is June/July. A sour variety is best for making pies, jams, and pastries - save the sweet ones for eating alone. To pit, slam with a knife as you would a clove of garlic to remove the skin or use a paper clip to slide in and stab the pit out.