YumSugar

Fast & Easy Dinner: Singapore Noodles

partysugar — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 07:50:56 -0700

Brighten up the middle of your week with an exotic meal inspired by the cuisine of Singapore. This recipe combines everyday ingredients - shrimp, onions, peas, and ham - with Asian elements like rice noodles, fish sauce, and curry powder.

The resulting dish is complex, delicious, and wildly flavorful. Trust me, your family will be fully content while slurping on these noodles, so learn the method and read more.

Singapore Noodles
From The Nest

Ingredients

8 ounces dried rice vermicelli, soaked in water until pliable
24 small headless tiger shrimp, peeled and deveined
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 small onion, cut into thin wedges
1/2 cup fresh shelled green peas, or frozen peas, thawed
2 teaspoons Indian curry powder
6 ounces Cantonese roast pork or thick slice of ham, diced
1 1/2 tablespoons fish sauce
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
6 sprigs cilantro, trimmed

Directions

Bring a pot of water to a boil over high heat and cook the noodles until tender yet firm, about 10 seconds. Use a strainer and tongs to pick up the noodles and transfer them to a bowl.
In the same water cook the shrimp until opaque, about 1 minute, and drain.
Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large skillet or wok over high heat. Stir-fry the onion until golden, 3 to 5 minutes.
Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil, the noodles, and peas, and sprinkle the curry powder over the top. Toss well, making sure all of the noodles become yellow.
Add the pork, shrimp, and fish sauce, and continue to stir-fry until the noodles are heated through, about 5 minutes. Adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper, if necessary, and serve garnished with cilantro.

Serves 6.

Print recipe with images | without images

Noteworthy Nibbles - June 23-30, 2009

YumSugar — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 14:00:13 -0700

It's almost July, and the palatable parties just keep coming. If you're a wine enthusiast, head over to Pinot Days or the Telluride Wine Festival. Beer more your thing? Throw back some sake bombs at the Beer & Sake Festival, or hit up the Colorado Brewfest. Here in Fog City, the Best of the Bay looks to be one heck of a soirée. What happenings are you hitting up?

If you know of anything that's been left off the list, please go ahead and chime in below!

Sedona, AZ: Dine in Sedona Restaurant Fest - June 23-30
Hampton, SC: Hampton County Watermelon Festival - June 23-28
Gettysburg, PA: Gettysburg Festival - June 23-28
Portsmouth, NH: Taste of the Nation Portsmouth - June 24
London, OH: London Strawberry Festival - June 24-27
San Francisco, CA: Pinot Days - June 24-28
Wisconsin Rapids, WI: Cranberry Blossom Festival - June 24-28
San Diego, CA: Beer & Sake Festival - June 25
Milwaukee, WI: The 2009 Big Taste - June 25
San Francisco, CA: Best of the Bay - June 25
Ft. Lauderdale, FL: Taste of the Nation South Florida - June 25

To see the rest, read more.

Cedar Rapids, IA: Cedar Rapids BBQ Roundup _ June 25-28
Telluride, CO: Telluride Wine Festival - June 25-28
Luling, TX: Luling Watermelon Thump - June 25-28
Cleveland, OH: Cleveland Wine Festival - June 26-27
Emerson, AR: Purple Hull Pea Festival - June 26-27
Chipley, FL: Panhandle Watermelon Festival - June 26-27
Tacoma, WA: Taste of Tacoma - June 26-28
Long Grove, IL: Long Grove Strawberry Festival - June 26-28
Burlington, VT: Green Mountain Chew Chew Food & Music Fest - June 26-28
Chicago, IL: Taste of Chicago - June 26-July 5
Honolulu, HI: Slow Food's Honolulu Fish Auction Tour - June 27
Washington DC: National Capital Barbecue Battle - June 27-28
Fort Collins, CO: Colorado Brewfest - June 27-28
Pennington, NJ: East Coast Food & Wine Festival - June 27-28
New York, NY: Summer Rosé Celebration With Ariane Duarte - June 29

Source

Monday's Leftovers: Salmon With Sugar Snap Peas Over Rice

YumSugar — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 08:00:08 -0700

Salmon is remarkably versatile and can be cooked to perfection in a multitude of different ways, from roasting to searing to grilling. One of my favorite ways to prepare this pink-fleshed fish is by poaching it in water until it's just barely cooked through, which results in an ultra-moist piece of seafood.

Work a savory salmon dinner into your hectic schedule tonight by adding leftover fillets to an already-simmering pot of rice. Cooking multiple elements of a dish together simultaneously not only saves time, but it also saves resources like water and energy. Bring together this one-pot dinner in under 30 minutes when you read more.

Salmon With Sugar Snap Peas Over Rice
From Real Simple

Ingredients

1 cup long-grain white rice
1 pound salmon fillet, skin removed
Kosher salt and pepper
4 ounces sugar snap peas, trimmed
1/3 cup low-sodium soy sauce
4 scallions, trimmed and sliced
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
1 tablespoon grated ginger
1 tablespoon dark brown sugar

Directions

Mix the rice and 2 1/3 cups water in a medium skillet. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer, covered, for 10 minutes.
Slice the salmon on a diagonal into four 3/4-inch-thick pieces. Season with 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Place on top of the partially cooked rice. Cover and cook 7 minutes.
Scatter the peas over the salmon and rice. Cover and cook until the rice and peas are tender and the salmon is opaque and beginning to flake, 3 to 5 minutes.
Mix the soy sauce, scallions, vinegar, ginger, and sugar in a small bowl. Spoon the sauce over the salmon, rice, and peas and serve.

Serves 4.

Nutritional information per serving: Calories 418, Protein 32g, Carbohydrate 49g, Sugar 5g, Fiber 2g, Fat 9g, Sodium 706mg

Print recipe with images | without images

Monday's Leftovers: Spring Farro Salad

YumSugar — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 08:00:48 -0700

Livening up your Monday night meals doesn't have to mean dedicating more time to dinner. Case in point: A Spring salad that tosses leftover asparagus and sugar snap peas with farro.

A nutrient-rich Italian grain with a nutty flavor and a satisfyingly chewy texture, farro can be found in most specialty stores and takes as much time to cook as pasta. Broaden your culinary repertoire when you read more.

Farro Salad with Peas, Asparagus, and Feta
From Bon Appétit

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups semi-pearled farro
12 ounces asparagus, trimmed, cut into 1 1/2-inch lengths
1 8-ounce package sugar snap peas
12 ounces grape tomatoes, halved
1/2 cup chopped red onion
6 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
1/2 cup olive oil
1/4 cup Sherry wine vinegar
1 7-ounce package feta cheese, crumbled

Directions

Cook farro in large saucepan of boiling salted water until just tender, about 10 minutes. Drain. Transfer to large bowl.
Meanwhile, cook asparagus and sugar snap peas in another saucepan of boiling salted water until crisp-tender, about 3 minutes. Drain. Add to farro with tomatoes, onion, and dill. Whisk oil and vinegar in small bowl. Season dressing with salt and pepper. Add dressing and feta to salad; toss to coat and serve.

Serves 4.

Print recipe with images | without images

Sunday Dinner: Spring Noodle Stir-Fry

YumSugar — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 06:00:34 -0700

For dinner tonight, opt for a straightforward meal that won't have you spinning wheels. Take advantage of market-fresh items like asparagus and sugar snap peas to make a healthy yet hearty vegetarian noodle stir-fry.

Apple cider vinegar and fresh ginger add zing, while a handful of walnuts add meatiness and crunch. To put this on the table in under half an hour, read more.

Spring Noodle Stir-Fry With Asparagus & Walnuts
From Every Day With Rachael Ray

Ingredients

1/4 cup dark sesame oil
2 1/2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 1/2 tablespoons finely chopped garlic
1 1/2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh ginger
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1/4 pound vermicelli or capellini pasta
1 cup walnuts, coarsely chopped
1 onion, coarsely chopped
1 pound asparagus, cut on an angle into 1-inch pieces
1/2 pound sugar snap peas, halved

Directions

In a small bowl, whisk together 3 tablespoons sesame oil, the vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, ginger and crushed red pepper.
In a pot of boiling, salted water, cook the pasta until al dente; drain.
Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the walnuts and toast, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a bowl, wipe out the skillet and heat the remaining 1 tablespoon sesame oil over high heat. Add the onion and asparagus and cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the sugar snap peas and the sesame oil sauce; cook for 1 minute over high heat. Lower the heat to medium, add the pasta and cook, stirring, until heated through, 2 minutes. Top with the walnuts.

Serves 4.

Print recipe with images | without images

In Season: English Peas

YumSugar — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 14:00:38 -0700

Although balmier weather and longer days clue me in to Spring, the season doesn't officially begun until the day I spot fresh garden peas at the farmers market. Although I take advantage of frozen peas to enjoy the legumes year-round, there's simply nothing that can replace the toothsome snap of a freshly-shelled English pea.

English peas - also known as shell peas and garden peas - enjoy a short-lived season during late Spring and early Summer, and are at their best in May. For peas that are sweet and crisp, start by looking for shiny, firm, brightly-colored pods that feel swollen and heavy. When cooking with English peas, buy much more than you think you will need, as one pound of peas will only equate to roughly one cup of shelled peas. While it's ideal to eat garden peas as soon as they're picked, they can keep for up to three days when wrapped tightly and placedin the coolest part of the refrigerator. For more pointers on preparing them, read more.

Unlike sugar snap peas or snow peas, the fibrous pods of English peas cannot be eaten (although they can be used to enhance the flavor of vegetable stock). Shell English peas immediately before they're to be cooked: Break off the stem and pull the fibrous string down the length of the pod. Press each pod between your thumbs and forefingers to open, pushing out the individual peas. Rinse and drain the peas, discarding pods, stems, and strings. Prepare them in a multitude of ways:

Boil peas in 1/4 inch of simmering water for 3 to 4 minutes until crisp and tender, then toss into your favorite warm pasta or pasta salad.
Add variety to a Springtime salad by tossing in just-boiled peas.
Simmer peas in boiling water alongside prosciutto and fresh herbs.
For a flavorful, light side dish, sauté shelled peas in olive oil with torn mint leaves.
Treat your family to spiced pea fritters.

Have you cooked with English peas before? What are your favorite ways to use them?

Come Party With Me: Easter - Menu

partysugar — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 09:00:40 -0700

While many people celebrate Easter over brunch, my family gathers together for a late lunch/early dinner. Since both Spring and Easter are about rebirth, serve a menu that highlights seasonal ingredients. Start with smashed peas and mint on crisp bruschetta. For the entree, offer guests a juicy leg of lamb roasted with garlic and rosemary and topped with a red wine reduction.

Traditional steamed artichokes get a modern makeover when paired with a quick tarragon mayonnaise. Luxuriously creamy scalloped potatoes with Parmesan cheese and thyme round out the rich holiday menu. To savor these dishes, get the recipes when you read more.

Smashed Peas With Mint Bruschetta
From Real Simple

Ingredients

1/2 baguette
1 10-ounce package frozen peas, thawed
1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Directions

Thinly slice half a baguette. Place the rounds on a baking sheet and broil them until they're golden brown (about 1 1/2 minutes per side).
Process the peas in a food processor until roughly chopped. Stir in the mint, oil, salt, and pepper.
Spread the mixture on the rounds. Garnish the bruschetta with fresh mint leaves, if desired.

Serves 4-6.

Print recipe with images | without images

Leg of Lamb With Garlic and Rosemary
From Gourmet

Ingredients

1 (7-pound) semi-boneless leg of lamb, aitchbone removed, fat trimmed to 1/4 inch thick, and lamb tied
4 garlic cloves
1 tablespoon fine sea salt
2 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 cup dry red wine or beef broth

Directions

Pat lamb dry and score fat by making shallow cuts all over with tip of a sharp small knife.
Pound garlic to a paste with sea salt using a mortar and pestle (or mince and mash with a heavy knife) and stir together with rosemary and pepper. Put lamb in a lightly oiled roasting pan, then rub paste all over lamb. Let stand at room temperature 30 minutes.
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Roast lamb in middle of oven until an instant-read thermometer inserted 2 inches into thickest part of meat (do not touch bone) registers 130°F, 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 hours. Transfer to a cutting board and let stand 15 to 25 minutes (internal temperature will rise to about 140°F for medium-rare).
Add wine to pan and deglaze by boiling over moderately high heat, stirring and scraping up brown bits, 1 minute. Season pan juices with salt and pepper and serve with lamb.

Serves 8.

Print recipe with images | without images

Steamed Artichokes With Tarragon Mayonnaise
From Martha Stewart

Ingredients

2 lemons
6 to 8 artichokes
1/4 cup water
2 cups mayonnaise
1 1/2 teaspoons chopped fresh tarragon
3 dashes hot sauce, such as Tabasco
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

Directions

Squeeze juice of 1 lemon into a large bowl of cold water.
Trim stem of 1 artichoke flush with bottom. Snap off outer leaves. Using kitchen shears, cut off tips of remaining leaves. Place in lemon water. Repeat.
Drain artichokes, and place in a pot in a single snug layer (in batches if necessary). Add 1/4 cup water. Bring to a simmer, cover, and steam until tender, about 35 minutes. Remove from pot. Let cool. Cover, and refrigerate for up to 2 hours.
Meanwhile, zest and juice remaining lemon. Whisk zest, 2 tablespoons juice, the mayonnaise, tarragon, hot sauce, salt, and pepper. Serve alongside artichokes.

Serves 6 to 8.

Print recipe with images | without images

Scalloped Potatoes
From Tyler Florence

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups heavy cream
1 sprig fresh thyme
2 garlic cloves, chopped
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Butter
2 pounds russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/8-inch thick slices
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup grated Parmesan, plus more for broiling

Directions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
In a saucepan, heat up the cream with a sprig of thyme, chopped garlic and nutmeg.
While cream is heating up, butter a casserole dish. Place a layer of potato in an overlapping pattern and season with salt and pepper. Remove cream from heat, then pour a little over the potatoes. Top with some grated Parmesan. Make 2 more layers.
Bake, uncovered, for 45 minutes. Sprinkle some more Parmesan and broil until cheese browns, about 5 minutes.

Serves 4-6.

Print recipe with images | without images

Sunday Slow Cooker: Split Pea Soup With Ham

YumSugar — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 06:00:13 -0800

As a kid, I thought the concept of pea soup was gross. But in my adulthood - and particularly this Winter - I've become obsessed with split pea soup.

With its complex characteristics - it's smoky, creamy, porky, and fresh flavored all at once - this soup is nothing short of sophisticated.

The only simple aspect of this rendition is the slow cooker preparation, it really requires no attention at all. To see the recipe, read more.

Split Pea Soup With Ham
From Whole Foods

Ingredients

1 (16-oz) package dried green split peas, rinsed
1 meaty ham bone, 2 ham hocks or 2 cups diced ham
1 cup sliced baby carrots
1 cup chopped yellow onion
2 ribs celery plus leaves, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 bay leaf
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
Salt and pepper to taste
6 cups chicken broth

Directions

Layer ingredients in slow cooker in the order given, adding the broth last. Do not stir ingredients.
Cover and cook on high 4-5 hours or on low 8-10 hours until peas are very soft and ham falls off the bone.

Serves 4 as a meal or 8 as a starter.

Per serving (about 14oz/393g-wt.): 260 calories (40 from fat), 4g total fat, 1g saturated fat, 30mg cholesterol, 690mg sodium, 34g total carbohydrate (13g dietary fiber, 6g sugar), 23g protein

Print recipe with images | without images

Fast & Easy Dinner: Crunchy Wasabi Salmon

YumSugar — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 06:45:16 -0800

Spicy wasabi peas can kick up your party-food spread, and this popular snack can do the same for a thick piece of salmon. The sinus-clearing punch of horseradish mellows out when the peas are ground up and used as a coating on roasted fish. Zest of lime and shredded cabbage make for a pretty plate, while another pea - sugar snap - offers even more crunch with a touch of sweetness.

I've made this dish several times, and it's always far more satisfying than it is a challenge. See how simple it is to make when you read more.

Crunchy Wasabi Salmon With Lime
From Bon Appétit

Ingredients

3/4 cup wasabi peas (about 3 ounces)
4 (8-ounce) salmon fillets with skin (each about 1 inch to 1 1/4 inches thick)
1 tablespoon finely grated lime peel
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
6 cups thinly sliced red cabbage (about 1/2 large head)
1 (8-ounce) package trimmed sugar snap peas
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
Lime wedges

Directions

Preheat oven to 400°F.
Blend wasabi peas in processor until ground but with some coarsely crushed pieces.
Lightly oil rimmed baking sheet. Arrange salmon fillets, skin side down, on prepared baking sheet. Sprinkle fish with salt. Press ground wasabi peas onto tops of salmon fillets to adhere, covering tops completely. Sprinkle grated lime peel over salmon; drizzle with 1 tablespoon oil.
Roast salmon just until opaque in center, about 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add cabbage and sugar snap peas; sauté until vegetables are crisp-tender, about 5 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Transfer 1 salmon fillet to each of 4 plates. Drizzle with lime juice. Mound cabbage-snap pea mixture alongside. Garnish with lime wedges and serve.

Serves 4.

Print recipe with images | without images

Reader Recipe: Chicken Salad in Celery Ribs

YumSugar — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 15:00:08 -0800

Whenever I find myself in need of creative inspiration, I simply look to the Kitchen Goddess group. This week, I came across a killer app - mini celery boats stuffed with chicken salad and peas. I'm thinking these would make a great appetizer to bring to my next book club, since they're bite sized and not too messy. Apparently, I'm spot on: Jenious says they're such a big hit at gatherings that she always doubles the recipe. To make these for your next get-together, read more.

Submitted by TeamSugar member Jenious

Chicken Salad with Peas in Celery Ribs
Adapted from a recipe by Mary Barber and Sara Corpening for Food & Wine.

Easy to make, can be made ahead and assembled upon arrival or the day of the event. Adjust to your preferences by swapping herbs like dried Italian herbs or dill. Depending on desired consistency you can also adjust the amounts of chicken, mayo, and cream cheese. A toothpick in each helps guests serve themselves. Pulse in a food processor prior to adding peas and, talk about easy! I double the recipe since it's always a hit at gatherings.

Ingredients

8 wide celery ribs, trimmed
1/3 cup cream cheese (2 ounces), softened
3 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon finely chopped basil
2 teaspoons finely chopped tarragon
2 teaspoons finely chopped flat-leaf parsley
1/2 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
1/2 pound cooked chicken breast, finely chopped or shredded
1/2 cup frozen baby peas, thawed
3 tablespoons finely chopped red onion
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper

Directions
Using a vegetable peeler, peel the celery ribs so they sit flat, then cut them on the diagonal into 1-inch lengths. In a medium bowl, combine the softened cream cheese with the mayonnaise, lemon juice, basil, tarragon, parsley and lemon zest. Add the chicken, peas, and onion and stir gently until just combined. Season with salt and pepper. Spoon 1 teaspoon of the chicken salad onto each piece of celery.

Print recipe with images | without images