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Yum's November Must Haves

partysugar — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 12:50:31 -0800

Fall is flying by and it's time to start prepping for the most food-centric holiday of the year, Thanksgiving. Turkey day requires special ingredients, cooking equipment, and entertaining supplies, so we've rounded up some important items that will help you out during November. Here are our must haves for this month.

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Yummy Links: From Peanut Butter Bacon Pie to Alton Brown

partysugar — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 06:50:08 -0700

Must make: frozen peanut butter pie with candied bacon. - Gourmet
Find out which cheap olive oils taste good.- Serious Eats
Learn the basic technique for teriyaki chicken. - Chow
Erik Trinidad teaches Nightline how to make fancy fast food. - Eat Me Daily
An inside look at the ultimate New York City pop-up event. - The Epi-Log
Who knew Tom Colicchio had so many lookalikes? - Eater
Madonna is "not a cheese person." - Grub Street
Alton Brown disses his fellow Food Network chefs. - Food Network Humor

Scoop Your Own Olive Oil and Pine Nut Ice Cream

YumSugar — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 16:15:32 -0700

On the hot days of Summer, there is nothing like a scoop of ice cream to cool down. While I've enjoyed my fair share of store-bought ice cream, it was finally time to start making my own, so I recently purchased the ice cream attachment for my Kitchenaid. I was nervous about making ice cream (the custard can quickly curdle) and unfortunately, my nerves got the best of me: when I turned up the heat too high my first batch curdled at the very end of cooking!While I was disappointed with my first go, I had to give it another shot and I am glad I did. With a little more patience, I kept the heat lower and the second custard batch was a complete success. Intrigued by David Lebovitz's interesting ice cream combinations in Fine Cooking, I decided to make his unique roasted pine nut and fruity olive oil ice cream. The flavor definitely caught my guests off guard, but once they took a bite, they loved it! The pairing of olive oil and pine nuts is actually reminiscent of the more traditional butter pecan. If you are screaming for ice cream this Summer, keep reading.

Do You Use Other Cooking Oils?

partysugar — Tue, 26 May 2009 09:15:35 -0700

Yummy Links: From Homemade Baby Food to Alice Waters

partysugar — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 08:00:16 -0700

Homemade baby food is easy and cheap. - Chow
Lighter than nachos, chilaquiles rojos are a deliciously authentic Mexican dinner. - Serious Eats
Feeling sick? Make your own bourbon cough syrup. - The Kitchn
Learn what it's like to attend an olive oil tasting. - Cooking With Amy
Choose your own food adventure! - The Epi-Log
Ten white wines under $20.- Bon Appétit
In case you missed it, here's a recap of Alice Waters on 60 Minutes. - Eat Me Daily

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Rock Star Sting Produces Fields of Gold

YumSugar — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 09:00:58 -0700

Meet Sting, Grammy-winning singer, songwriter - and organic farmer.

Last night at a town theater in Figline Valdarno, Italy, the rock star opened up about his 300-hectare Tuscan estate, which includes a 100 percent organic farm. There, he produces extra virgin olive oil, chestnut and acacia honey, fruits, vegetables, jam, salami, and other food products that are popular among fellow Tuscans.

"I came here and I decided to stay and be a farmer, because I wanted to nourish my family with genuine quality products in a healthy environment," the singer explained. "With this business in Tuscany I am trying to help myself and those who are close to me to live better in a natural context."

The celebrity also spoke about another highly anticipated product of his estate: his own label of wines, scheduled to roll out in September. The line will include a Chianti and a Toscana made primarily from Sangiovese grapes grown on his estate. The first release will be 30,000 bottles of 2007 vintage that have been cellared for two years.

Although I knew Sting was a notable environmental activist, I must admit that I had no idea he had a 100 percent organic farm that produced goods such as olive oil and salami. Would you buy Sting's wine to support his efforts?

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Would You Rather Eat Bread With Olive Oil or Butter?

partysugar — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 01:30:44 -0800

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Connecticut First State to Tackle Counterfeit Olive Oil

YumSugar — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 03:00:47 -0800

Everyone from health experts to Rachael Ray has touted the benefits of olive oil. As demand for expensive, higher-quality olive oil has grown, however, so has the problem of fraud. Last year, Connecticut officials discovered that some of that state's olive oil was a little too slick. As a result, beginning next month, the state will be the first in the country to set quality standards for olive oil. The state's new regulations prohibit additives and define virgin olive oil as "obtained from the fruit of the olive tree solely by mechanical or other physical means . . . which have not undergone any treatment other than washing, decanting, centrifuging and filtration." California and New York have expressed interest in enacting similar standards because counterfeit olive oil poses a potential health risk to consumers. Some people experience adverse reactions from unscrupulous olive oil, possibly as a result of food allergies to soybeans, tree nuts, and peanuts.

Often, when I'm buying cooking olive oil, I look for bargain prices. Now I'll take more interest in the brands that I choose. Will you do the same? Does this type of criminal activity surprise you?

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Yum's October Must Haves

partysugar — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 05:30:52 -0700

Hard to believe October is already here! Although I'm not a fan of colder weather, I am looking forward to everything October has to offer. From harvest meals to Halloween, it's sure to be an exciting month. Here are my top picks for properly enjoying this fabulous Fall month to the fullest.

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Food and Drink Factoids From Slow Food Nation

YumSugar — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 05:30:12 -0700

I learned a great deal during my experience at Slow Food Nation - not just about sustainable eating, but also all about gourmet food in general, from rice to coffee. To share all my foodie facts with you, I've put together a fun quiz. How much might you learn? There's only one way to find out!

Take the quiz