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Yummy Links: From Chinese Noodles to the Pork Party

partysugar — Fri, 29 May 2009 06:50:45 -0700

Chinese noodles are a simple and delicious meal.- Cooking With Amy
Costco is now accepting food stamps at two New York City locations. - Serious Eats
A new movie, Fresh, puts the food industry into perspective. - Epicurious
Should teens be taught more about alcohol? - Alcademics
Don't miss this crazy video of the 2009 Cheese Roll. - Eat Me Daily
Move over margarita, here's 10 other tequila cocktails to enjoy this Summer. - Chow
The latest on the frozen yogurt front: the Pinkberry Fruit Parfait. - Eater
Wouldn't you love to eat at this pork party for the ages? - The Feedbag

Reader Recipe: Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeno Thingies

YumSugar — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 15:00:36 -0700

When it comes to bacon and jalapeno, I'm not terribly discriminating. I'm so crazy about both flavors that I can't imagine how any combination of these two foods could taste bad, which is why I love this recipe for bacon-wrapped jalapeno "thingies" that Wren posted in the Kitchen Goddess group. They're jalapenos, they're wrapped in bacon, and they're stuffed with cream cheese. Enough said. Might as well just call them "thingies."

Better yet, these yummy party foods on a stick look relatively easy to make, with just three ingredients and no utensils required. Plus, Wren says they taste great served hot or at room temperature. To see the recipe, which comes from Pioneer Woman, and Wren's step-by-step photos, read more.

Submitted by TeamSugar member Wren

Pioneer Woman's Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Thingies
The Pioneer Woman Cooks! at http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2007/07/bacon-wrapped_j/

I've been wanting to make these for awhile...today I did! They were extremely good and worth the 15 minute or so prep time.

Ingredients

Fresh jalapenos, 2-3 inches in size
Cream cheese (softened)
Thin, regular bacon, sliced into thirds

Directions
Cut jalapenos in half, length-wise. With a spoon, remove seeds and white membrane (the source of the heat; leave a little if you like things HOT).
cheese me, please!
Smear softened cream cheese into each jalapeno half.
wrap me up!
Wrap jalapeno with bacon piece (1/3 slice). Secure by sticking toothpick through the middle (at this point you can freeze them, uncooked, in a Ziploc bag for later use)
heat me up!
Bake on a pan with a rack (I used a cooling rack and it worked great) in a 375-degree oven for 20-25 minutes. You don't want the bacon to shrink so much it starts to squeeze the jalapeno. If, after 20 minutes, the bacon doesn't look brown enough, just turn on the broiler for a couple of minutes to finish it off. These are best when the jalapeno still has a bit of a bite to it.
eat me!
Serve immediately in you want 'em hot, or they're great at room temperature.
yummy goodness
They turned out so delicious and are very addictive!

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'Wich of the Week: Salami and Pickle Party Sub

YumSugar — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 14:00:18 -0700

Perhaps it's no surprise that when I host a party, I like to serve some type of sandwich. (You know, like a Caesar wrap at an Ides of March party.) The easiest thing to do is make one long party sub then slice it into individual servings. If you're serving the sandwich as a way to soak up booze (which is often the case at my parties), you can't go wrong with a salty but simple combination of salami, cheese, and pickles.

Though rather minimalist in its ingredients, this sub is incredibly easy to prepare, and your guests will gobble it up. Plus, the lack of any wet components, aside from a smear of mustard, means no messy sauces dripping all over your house. The crunchy pickles, creamy cheese, and decadent salami keep the sandwich from being dry. To get the recipe, read more.

Salami and Pickle Party Sub
Original recipe

Ingredients

2 rustic baguettes, sliced lengthwise
3 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1/4 pound salami
1 8-oz. pack of presliced sharp cheddar cheese
60 bread-and-butter pickle slices for sandwiches

Directions

Coat the bottom half of each baguette with 1 1/2 tablespoons mustard (or more to taste).
Evenly distribute the salami over the mustard-coated slices, so that you have a single layer of salami on each baguette.
Cut each cheese slice diagonally in half to make two triangles. Distribute the cheese triangles evenly atop the salami.
Arrange the pickle slices on top of the cheese, so there is a single layer of pickles covering the cheese.
Top each ingredient-covered slice with the other half of baguette.
Slice each loaf into 10 servings and lay on a platter.

Serves 20.

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When You Go to a Party, Do You Bring the Host/Hostess a Gift?

YumSugar — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 06:57:19 -0800

Source

Come Party With Me: Celebration You - Menu (Appetizers)

partysugar — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 06:55:19 -0800

Party, after party, after party, man sometimes, even I, PartySugar, get tired of all these parties. So every now and then I like to throw a party that is the equivalent to getting your beauty sleep. This party celebrates the most important person in your life: you! So cancel your plans and roll up those sleeves, it's time to plan an evening in which you pamper yourself! Yesterday I advised you to write yourself a note to remind you that this Friday you're taking care of yourself by throwing a personal party for one.

I know this concept may be a little crazy for some of you, but seriously a night that lets you relax at home alone does wonders for your well being. And with my half birthday, St. Patrick's Day, and my sister's birthday all in the next couple of weeks, I'm going to need my party energy! This party is all about you and your preferences, so if you hate to cook, order in from your favorite restaurant. But if you're like me, take some time to plan out a decadent special menu that you wouldn't normally have. The party starts the second I arrive home on Friday and I want a sweet snack ready and waiting. To see what I'm making myself, read more

Ever since I had candied walnuts while I was wine tasting the other day, I've been craving these sweet treats like mad. Excellent when paired with olives, wine, and cheese, these are a luxurious snack that will be the perfect start to my all-about-me meal.

Candied Walnuts
From Simple Recipes

1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups raw walnut halves
1/8 teaspoon coarse salt

Preheat oven to 350°F. Use middle rack in oven.
Lay walnuts out on a baking sheet in a single layer. Bake for 5 minutes. Test for doneness. If not quite toasted enough, toast for 1 or 2 more minutes. Be careful not to burn. Remove from oven and let cool in pan on a rack.
Pour sugar into a medium saucepan with a thick bottom. Have walnuts nearby, ready to quickly add to the pan at the right time. Cook sugar on medium heat, stirring as soon as the sugar begins to melt. Keep stirring until all the sugar has melted and the color is a medium amber. As soon as sugar is melted and the color is a medium amber, add the walnuts to the pan, quickly stirring and coating each piece with the sugar mixture.
As soon as the walnuts are coated with the sugar mixture, spread them out on a rimmed baking sheet, lined either with a Silpat non-stick mat, or with wax paper or parchment paper. Use two forks to separate the walnuts from each other, working very quickly. Sprinkle the nuts with the salt. Let cool completely.

Makes 1 1/2 cups.

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What will you make when you celebrate yourself? Tell me about it below and check back in a little bit to see what I'll be serving my super self for dinner and dessert!

Jazzed Up Candles

partysugar — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 16:09:32 -0800

I love using sparkle-y glitter covered candles as decorations. Instead of spending a fortune on a bunch of expensive textured candles, buy an assortment of simple white pillars in varying widths and heights. Head to your local craft store and pick up loose glitter tubes, bright beads, or rock salts in the colors of your choice. Apply white glue to the candles and roll in the glitter, beads, or rock salt. Arrange your festive candles as a centerpiece or in a long row along a mantel, banquet, or bar.

Chic Parties and Food At Sundance

partysugar — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 14:58:11 -0800

PopSugar and BuzzSugar have been doing an awesome job covering the celebrity gossip and movie premiere action at the Sundance Film Festival...but what about the parties? Sure Pop fills us in on who was seen where and when but I want to know about the fiesta details! What did the stars eat? How were the rooms decorated?

I've put together a gallery of images taken from several parties throughout the last 8 days of Sundance. The food is chic and delectable, the decorations surprisingly minimal - most of the events were without themes (unless it was for a movie in which case the theme was derived from the movie), hosted in restaurants, and the atmosphere swanky winter chic. To see the pics of the parties attended by Samuel L. Jackson, Cuba Gooding Jr, and Eddie Murphy at Park City's Claim Jumper and Harry O's, read more

View 18 Photos ›

Absolut (Pears) Decor

partysugar — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 14:29:45 -0800

PopSugar reported about Carmen Electra hosting last night's launch of Absolut Pears (the latest flavored vodka installment from Absolut) and I, PartySugar, am here to report the fabulous details surrounding the atmosphere and decor of the party. The party was sort of a take on the Adam and Eve theme with young good looking guys and gals dressed in scantily clad nude body suits with strategically placed leaves. One of the girls performed with a live large boa constructor above the bar. The color scheme was (not surprisingly) pear and ivy green, with hundreds of real pears stacked around the locale and draped ivy all over the bar and walls. The lighting was moody and low with tons of pearly white candles. My personal favorite were the pear tree topiaries that adorned each side of the bar. To see all of the pictures of the decor at the Absolut Pears launch, read more.

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Bottomless Champagne Glasses: Love It or Hate It?

partysugar — Mon, 22 Jan 2007 12:32:11 -0800

When I was in Spain over the holidays I was out and about looking for the perfect gift to give to my hostess for Reyes Mago (the Spanish equivalent to Christmas that falls on January 6). I went into one of my favorite Spanish home stores, Casa where all this great New Year's party stuff was on sale (it was right after New Year's). While there, I saw these bottomless champagne and thought wow, those are totally cool, I want them! Then I thought, wait a minute...what if you want to put your champagne glass down? You have to place it back in the champagne holder vase, not too practical, but they really look fun and come in pretty pastel colors. I still can't decide. What do you guys think: bottomless champagne glasses, love it or hate it?

What's Your Favorite Kind of Party?

YumSugar — Mon, 15 Jan 2007 09:48:01 -0800