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Definition: Phyllo

YumSugar — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 15:00:31 -0700

An unleavened dough made of flour, water, and oil spread into paper-thin sheets, phyllo (or filo) is characterized by crispiness and flakiness. Although it is traditionally made by hand using an exacting technique, today phyllo is typically produced by machine and sold frozen. It figures prominently into Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisines, and is a key component in Greek dishes such as baklava and spanakopita.

Source

Bite-Size Pumpkin Pies With a Baklava Twist

YumSugar — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 08:00:46 -0800

After drooling over Party's pumpkin cake and these pumpkin pies, I wanted to experiment with my own unique concoction: a traditional pumpkin pie filling with baklava-inspired crust and streusel topping. With a belly full of Thanksgiving fixings, eating a whole piece of pie can be a rather daunting task, so I made bite-size pies to satisfy everyone's sweet tooth. The pumpkin pie filling and walnut-oatmeal streusel are simple to make, but the cinnamon-sugar phyllo cups are more time consuming due to the very delicate nature of phyllo. All three of the components can be made in advance and quickly assembled and baked the day of, prior to serving. These mini pies are light, crunchy, and nutty with a scrumptious creamy pumpkin pie filling! To make your own tiny pumpkin pies with a baklava twist, read more.

Bite-Size Pumpkin Pies With Baklava Crust
Adapted from Martha Stewart Living magazine

Ingredients

Walnut-Oatmeal Streusel
6 tablespoons old-fashioned oats
3 tablespoons chopped walnuts
3 1/2 tablespoons flour
Pinch of salt
3 tablespoons light brown sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 tablespoon honey
Phyllo Crust
5 sheets of phyllo, thawed and room temperature
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup granulated sugar
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, melted
Pumpkin Pie Filling
7.5 ounces solid-pack pumpkin
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1/8 cup honey
1 egg
1/8 cup heavy cream
1 1/2 teaspoon cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon coarse salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

Directions

Make the walnut-oatmeal streusel: Preheat oven to 350. Combine oats, walnuts, flour, salt and sugar in a large bowl.
Melt butter in small saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in honey. Stir into oat mixture.
Spread streusel on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake, stirring occasionally until light gold and crunchy, 12 to 15 minutes.
Let cool on baking sheet on a wire rack. Streusel will keep, covered for up to 3 days.
Make the phyllo crust: Preheat oven to 350. Combine 1/2 cup sugar and 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon. Gently place one layer of phyllo dough on a large cutting board. Brush with a thin layer of butter and sprinkle cinnamon-sugar mixture. Repeat this step five times until all 5 sheets have been used.
Cut phyllo into 2 by 2 inch squares. Remove each square and gently press and fold the edges into the mini muffin tin. Bake for 5-8 minutes until phyllo cups are golden.
Make the pumpkin pie filling: combine pumpkin, brown sugar, honey, egg, cream, cornstarch, vanilla, salt, nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger in a large bowl.
Sprinkle a bit of streusel in the bottom of each phyllo cup. Spoon in a small amount of pumpkin pie filling in each phyllo cup. Bake at 350°F 15-20 minutes until the pumpkin filling is firm.
Sprinkle a little strusel on each and serve warm.

Makes 30 bite-size pies.

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52 Weeks of Baking: Experiments in Phyllo

YumSugar — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 16:02:31 -0700

I thought about skipping out on this week's 52 weeks of baking (I'm actually making cupcakes for Jimmy's birthday tomorrow, and I thought I'd double-up and have two for next week). However, 51 weeks of baking just doesn't have quite the same ring to it, so I ponied up and took the time between Top Model (secret vice) and Lost (not-so secret vice) to head to my kitchen and see what I could whip up.I contemplated making crackers, cookies, or muffins, but Molly's on vacation (and I know she'd be sad to miss out on the in-office treats), so I decided to try some phyllo dough experiments instead. Earlier in the week I had been inspired by these beautiful herbed phyllo breadsticks (I'm not the only one, this post is from over a year ago, and yet it's appearing on a bunch of blogs now) and wanted to see if I could make something similar. I ended up with a few different phyllo "breadsticks" and one "tomato pie."

To check out what I did, read more

No real recipes this time, this was just me playing around with phyllo dough (which, for those of you who don't know, is paper-thin sheets of pastry dough that can be found in the freezer section of your supermarket). My first experiment was to take one sheet of dough, lay it open on a flat surface, brush melted butter on half (lengthwise), spread out some fresh basil (on the half with butter), scatter some parmesan cheese on top of that, fold the other half on top and then roll it up into a tube. I then baked the tubes in the oven at 375 for about 5 minutes on each side.

I did several variations of that general concept, one with cinnamon, sugar and nutmeg and one with cheese, salt and pepper and a few others with basil. The overall taste was light, salty, and crunchy - they'd make for a great quick snack. However I would only serve these at an outdoor party (so many crumbs! the phyllo dough is so flaky) and I wouldn't use basil again, it does that over-cooked black coloring that is blech!-looking.

I also ended up folding some phyllo dough into a ramekin, filling it with a mixture of tomatoes (which I should have fully de-seeded and salted to let some of the water drain out first), basil, parmesan cheese, and salt; and then topping it with more phyllo and brushing that with butter and sprinkling with garlic powder. I called the result "study for tomato pie" because it wasn't good enough to be a real pie, but definitely had the outline/prospects to become one.

When I was done with those few experiments, it was time for Lost to begin, so I closed down the kitchen and took my flaky snacks to the living room.

Have you ever worked with phyllo dough?
Tell me about it in the comments!

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Say Cheese! Potato, Bacon, and Asiago Pizza

partysugar — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 11:30:25 -0700

Asiago is a versatile Italian cheese. The texture and taste depends on its age and can range from smooth and mild to crumbly and sharp. In Europe, for a cheese to be considered asiago, it must be made in the alpine region of the Tento Province in Italy. However, outside the EU, asiago cheese is produced using similar techniques and cultures to those employed in Alpine Italy.

Asiago is made from cow's milk; since the cows graze on lush mountain pastures, they produce a thick, rich milk and, in turn, a distinctly flavored cheese. Its nutty, salty flavor makes fresh asiago an ideal table cheese. It's also nice in sandwiches. Semifirm aged asiago is perfect for grating and can be used like parmesan. To learn what I did with this type of asiago, read more.

When I think of grated cheese, pizza immediately comes to mind. Instead of doing a classic pie dough, I used phyllo dough to create this appetizer pizza. The chewy bacon, buttery potatoes, and crispy crust are nice complements to the slightly sweet tangy cheese. This dish would be a delightful addition to a brunch menu. For a vegetarian version, simply omit the bacon.

Potato, Bacon, and Asiago Pizza
From Savory Baking

Ingredients

8 ounces fingerling potatoes
salt
3 teaspoons finely chopped fresh thyme
2 tablespoons minced red onion
6 slices smoked bacon, cooked crisp, drained, and chopped
1/4 cup finely grated asiago cheese
1/4 cup finely grated parmesan cheese
8 ounces phyllo dough, thawed
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Put the potatoes in a small saucepan, cover with water, and add a little salt. Bring to a boil and cook until fork-tender. Drain, cool, and cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Set aside.
Put the thyme, onions, bacon, and cheeses in separate small bowls and set aside.
Unwrap and unroll the thawed phyllo dough, placing the stack on a work surface. Pat a 6-inch plate on top of the phyllo and cut around the plate and through the stack of dough with a small sharp paring knife. Continue cutting until all the dough is cut into circles. Discard the scrap dough and stack all the circles together. Lay a lightly dampened clean kitchen cloth over the top to keep the dough moist.
Preheat the oven to 400°F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper or nonstick baking mats.
Place three phyllo circles on each prepared baking sheet.
Lightly brush all six circles with melted butter. Place another circle of dough on top of each of the first circles and brush again with melted butter. Continue until all six pizza circles are stacked with six layers of phyllo and butter.
Put three to four slices of potato on top of each pizza stack.
Sprinkle thyme, onions, and bacon over the potato slices and top lightly with the two cheeses. Season to taste with pepper.
Bake until medium golden brown, 12 to 15 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board and cut each pizza into 4 wedges using a sharp chef's knife or pizza wheel. Serve immediately.

Makes 6 pizzas.

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What's Yummy This Week - YumSugar Weekly Recap

YumSugar — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 09:30:31 -0700

Spice up your Summer with cilantro chicken panini.
Learn the science to assembling salads ahead of time.
What's your knowledge of drink toasts made around the world?
Asiago's versatility lends itself well to a potato, bacon, and phyllo pizza.
Get PartySugar's pointers on planning a high school graduation get-together.
The Next Food Network Star premieres tomorrow; meet this season's contestants!
You won't regret baking these blueberry shortcakes with lemon and thyme biscuits.

Must-Read: Sticky, Chewy, Messy, Gooey

YumSugar — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 03:30:04 -0800

Party recently polled you about dessert preferences, and it came as no surprise that most of you love dessert in any form. Many of you, however, singled out gooey, sticky sweets as your preference. Naturally, I had this in mind when I came across Sticky, Chewy, Messy, Gooey: Desserts for the Serious Sweet Tooth ($15.61) by pastry chef Jill O'Connor. To find out what I thought of this collection of puddings, cookies, cakes, and sweet pies, read more.

Pros:

Helpful primer explains everything from the differences between types of cocoa powder to the best bristles for a pastry brush.
Desserts strive to be complex, with innovative, sophisticated flavor pairings.
Whimsical, vintage-inspired graphic design makes for an aesthetically pleasing book.
O'Connell adds plenty of personal flourish, telling amusing anecdotes, explaining the story behind every recipe, and sprinkling poignant quips about desserts along the way.

Cons:

Some recipes, like Cap-n Crunch Crispy Treats, are basic, but others - such as a three-page recipe for Coconut Cream Puffs - are tricky and complex.
Unless you're cooking for a party of eight, you may need to cut the recipes in half.
As pretty as the typography is, the ingredient list is written in such small font that it can be difficult to read quickly.
Rather than being easily numbered, the steps are written in paragraph form.

Recipes: The recipes cover just about everything. A few that left my mouth watering:

Chocolate Mascarpone Cheesecake Pots With Shortbread Spoons
Coconut Milk-Cream Cheese Flan
Milky Way Tempura-on-a-Stick
White Trash Panini
Gingersnap Dulce de Leche Ice Cream Sandwiches
Dark Chocolate Soup With Cinnamon-Toasted Pound Cake Croutons
Double-Crumble Hot Apple Pies
Sweet Pink Grapefruit-Tangerine Mousse With Phyllo Ruffles

Imagery: Although only a third of the recipes have pictures, the photographs are vivid, lush, and beautifully arranged.

Overall Rating: If you're a dessert fanatic looking to experiment with creative recipes, this would be the perfect cookbook to turn to. It would also make a gracious hostess gift.

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All The News That's Fit To Eat - October 3, 2007

YumSugar — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 10:48:39 -0700

If you believe all the hype, then it's official: The Great Gin Comeback is in full effect. Plus, braised kabocha sqash and chicken dinner in 35 minutes. - Washington Post
As a new moon signals the end of Ramadan, the fast can end and the feast can begin. - Chicago Tribune

Even rats have figured out that organic food tastes better. Also, would you believe it? Grilled Cheese Sandwiches are becoming a huge trend, if not an "outright mania." - New York Times
One man is on an odyssey to discover the best pizza in the Bay Area, but first he'll sample some of the nation's best. - San Francisco Chronicle
Get creative and have fun! Potlucks aren't what they used to be. - Los Angeles Times
Iron Chef Morimoto fully believes in cooking outside the box. His new book encourages you to do the same. - Boston Globe

Get the food off the porch and into your bellies! Pumpkins make for some absolutely great eats. - Sacramento Bee
Store-bought phyllo dough has made traditional meals easy, so does anyone actually make their own phyllo dough? - Houston Chronicle
If you need simple no fuss food, check out these recipes that chefs prepare for themselves. - Dallas Morning News
Shake up your cocktail repertoire with fresh mint, sage and thyme. - Seattle Times

Source and Source

Come Party With Me: Foodie Thanksgiving - Menu

partysugar — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 09:00:44 -0800

With rich flavors, luxe ingredients, and complex cooking techniques, this delicious Thanksgiving menu is sure to wow your foodie friends. Start with brioche toasts topped with foie gras, date purée, and pomegranate seeds. Caviar with cream cheese on peppered crackers is another hors d'oeuvres option that comes together easily with elements from a gourmet grocery store. A slow-smoked turkey with cane syrup-coffee glaze is a showstopping centerpiece to the main event. Before being smoked, the bird is braised in a mixture of coffee, apple cider vinegar, and cane syrup, so make sure you have a pot large enough to hold a whole turkey.

A decadent stuffing with bacon, sage, and fresh-shucked oysters is a delightful accompaniment to the smoked bird. Sweet potatoes reach new heights when served in souffle form stuffed inside a phyllo dough. To get these recipes for the more advanced home cook, read more.

Foie Gras With Date Purée and Pomegranate
From Gourmet

Ingredients

1/4 pound Medjool dates (packed 1/2 cup), pitted
1/2 cup boiling-hot water
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon pomegranate molasses
1 large brioche loaf or challah loaf (1 to 1 1/2 pound)
1 (6 1/2-ounces) block foie gras, chilled
Garnish: pomegranate seeds (from 1 pomegranate)

Directions

Soak dates in boiling-hot water (1/2 cup) in a bowl 10 minutes. Transfer dates with a slotted spoon to a mini food processor or a blender along with 1 tablespoon soaking liquid. Add pomegranate molasses and purée until smooth.
Preheat broiler.
Cut enough 1/4-inch-thick slices from brioche to cut into a total of 32 (1 1/2-inch) squares (without crust).
Broil brioche squares on a baking sheet 4 to 5 inches from heat, turning once, until pale golden, about 1 1/2 minutes total. (Watch carefully; brioche toasts quickly.)
Dip a sharp paring knife in hot water, then dry it and halve foie gras lengthwise. Cut each half crosswise into 16 slices (32 total), dipping and drying knife after each cut. Put each slice as cut on top of a brioche toast, then top with a small dollop of date purée and a few pomegranate seeds.

Makes 32 hors d'oeuvres.

Make ahead: Brioche can be cut (but not toasted) 1 day ahead and kept in an airtight container at room temperature. Date purée can be made 3 days ahead and chilled, covered. Bring to room temperature before serving.

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Slow-Smoked Turkey With Cane Syrup-Coffee Glaze
From Food and Wine

Ingredients

2 gallons water
1 cup apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup ground coffee, preferably chicory coffee
1 large onion, halved
12 large thyme sprigs, tied together
1/4 cup kosher salt
1 tablespoon black peppercorns
2 cups light brown sugar or 3 cups cane syrup*
One 11-pound turkey
About 3 cups hickory chips
Vegetable oil, for brushing

Directions

In a large saucepan, bring 1 gallon of the water to a boil; keep warm. In a large stockpot, combine the cider vinegar, coffee, onion, thyme, salt and peppercorns with 1 3/4 cups of the brown sugar and the remaining gallon of water. Bring to a boil.
Holding the turkey by the legs, carefully ease the bird into the hot brine, neck end down. Add enough of the hot water to the stockpot to cover the turkey and bring to a simmer. Simmer for 1 1/2 hours.
Carefully remove the turkey from the stockpot. Strain 2 cups of the braising liquid into a heatproof bowl and stir in the remaining 1/4 cup of brown sugar. Discard the remaining braising liquid.
Meanwhile, light a charcoal grill or preheat a gas grill. A few minutes before the turkey has finished simmering, add 2 cups of the hickory chips to the coals. When the chips start smoking, brush the turkey breast with oil.
Set the turkey, breast side down, on the grill. Cover and smoke over a low fire or flame for 15 minutes. Baste the turkey with the reserved braising liquid; turn it breast side up and baste again.
Cover the grill and continue smoking the turkey for about 40 minutes longer, basting occasionally with the braising liquid and adding more coals or hickory chips to the grill as necessary.
The turkey is done when an instant-read thermometer inserted in the inner thigh registers 165°. Transfer the turkey to a cutting board and let rest 20 minutes before carving.

Serves 10 with leftovers.

*Cane syrup is available by mail order from Steen's.

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Oyster Stuffing
From Saveur

Ingredients

11 cups 1⁄2" cubed white French bread (about 14 oz.)
6 slices bacon, cut crosswise into 1⁄4" strips
6 tbsp. unsalted butter, melted, plus more for
greasing the pan
6 shallots, thinly sliced
4 ribs celery, thinly sliced
40 medium oysters, such as bluepoints, shucked (about 1 lb.), with 1 cup of the liquor reserved
1 cup chicken stock
1⁄4 cup madeira or port
1⁄3 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley leaves
2 tbsp. chopped thyme leaves
2 tbsp. chopped sage leaves
1⁄2 tsp. Tabasco
1⁄4 tsp. fresh grated nutmeg
1⁄8 tsp. ground cloves
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Directions

Heat oven to 250. Arrange bread cubes on a baking sheet in a single layer and bake, stirring occasionally, until dried but not browned, about 15 minutes. Let cool.
Put bacon into a 12" skillet; cook over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until crisp and its fat has rendered, about 10 minutes.
Add 4 tbsp. of the butter and heat. Add shallots and celery, reduce heat to medium, and cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are soft, about 10 minutes.
Add oyster liquor, stock, madeira or port, parsley, thyme, sage, Tabasco, nutmeg, cloves, and salt and pepper.
Bring to a boil over high heat and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes. Scrape the mixture into a large bowl and stir in the bread cubes and oysters. Set aside to allow the flavors to come together for 10 minutes.
Raise the oven temperature to 400°. Transfer mixture to a buttered 2-qt. oval baking dish and cover with foil.
Bake for 30 minutes, remove foil, drizzle with remaining butter, and continue baking until golden brown and crusty, about 30 minutes more. Serve immediately.

Serves 8-10.

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Sweet Potato Souffle Pie
From Martha Stewart

Ingredients

2 medium sweet potatoes, pierced with the tines of a fork
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 large eggs, separated
2 tablespoons packed light-brown sugar
1 cup whole milk
1 2-inch piece peeled fresh ginger, thinly sliced
1/4 cup unsalted butter, plus 1/2 cup melted, plus more for pan
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup plus 1/4 cup granulated sugar, plus more if needed
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon, plus more if needed
9 sheets phyllo dough, (17 by 12 inches) thawed if frozen
Pinch of cream of tartar

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Bake potatoes until tender, 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes. Remove from oven; let stand until cool enough to handle.
Peel potatoes, and press through a ricer into a large bowl (you should have about 1 cup); let cool completely. Stir in ground ginger, vanilla, salt, egg yolks, and brown sugar; set aside.
Meanwhile, heat milk and fresh ginger in a medium saucepan over medium heat until just under a boil. Remove from heat; let stand 30 minutes. Pour through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl.
Melt 1/4 cup butter in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Whisk in flour; cook, whisking, 1 minute. Whisk in milk mixture. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium, and cook 1 minute. Stir into potato mixture.
Butter a 9-inch springform pan, and place on a baking sheet; set aside.
Stir 1/3 cup granulated sugar and the cinnamon in a small bowl.
Brush 1 phyllo sheet with melted butter. Sprinkle lightly with cinnamon-sugar mixture. Fold in half crosswise; brush with butter. Sprinkle lightly with cinnamon-sugar mixture, and fit into prepared pan, folded side in, allowing a 2 1/2-inch overhang. Repeat, overlapping sheets to cover bottom.
Put egg whites into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment; beat on high speed until foamy. Add cream of tartar; beat until soft peaks form.
With machine running, gradually add remaining 1/4 cup granulated sugar; beat until stiff glossy peaks form. Whisk one-third of the egg whites into potato mixture. Gently but thoroughly fold in remaining egg whites.
Pour over phyllo; fold overhang over filling. Sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar mixture (if needed, combine 1 to 2 tablespoons more sugar and a pinch of cinnamon).
Reduce oven temperature to 375 degrees. Bake pie until puffed and just set in center, 45 to 50 minutes. Remove from oven; let stand until slightly cooled and center has fallen, about 20 minutes.

Serves 10.

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Reader Recipe: Pumpkin Wontons

YumSugar — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 15:19:10 -0800

Tired of pumpkin pie and feeling quite adventurous, our very own TeamSugar decided to create bite-size pumpkin treats. She experimented with phyllo dough, pie crust, and wontons. The wontons won out, and she ended up serving them for Thanksgiving. However, baked pumpkin pillows made with super-thin pie crust was a wonderful second place. If you'd like to check out her technique and recipes, all you have to do is read more

Update Here are the pumpkin wontons (above) I served for Thanksgiving! They were a hit and looked lovely!

This past weekend, my boyfriend and I set out to test run and invent our dessert for Thanksgiving! I love pumpkin flavor but hate the texture of pumpkin pie, so we decided to attempt a pumpkin ravioli or something along those lines! Thanks for all of the ideas !

For the recipe, I knew I couldn't use a traditional pie filling as it would be too runny and would probably cause a disaster once they were fried. So Saturday morning, I set out baking my first sweet pumpkin. I cut it in half and scoop out the seeds and stringy stuff! Placed it cut side down on tin-foil and covered with tin foil. Baked it for 2 hours on 350 degree. Once it has cooled, just scrap out the innards and place in a bowl.

I tested out two recipes by dividing the pumpkin in half and tested ricotta cheese and cream cheese. The ricotta cheese added a grainy texture but the cream cheese was smooth and creamy. Below is my favorite pumpkin recipe for one small pumpkin.

Pumpkin Filling with Cream Cheese
1 small sweet pumpkin
9 tablespoons brown sugar
3 cardamom pod fresh ground
6 tablespoons powdered sugar
6 tablespoons Hazelnut
12 grates of whole nutmeg
6 oz cream cheese

After making what I think is one of the best pumpkin fillings, it was then onto which would be best for my bite sized pumpkin treats, wontons, pie crust, phyllo dough?

With the help of my boyfriend, we fried all three kinds and had a winner! The pie crust although it was crispy on the outside, the inside still was a little mushy, a little too similar to pumpkin pie. The phyllo was crispy but wasn't as flaky as I was expecting. (phyllo on the left and pie crust on right)

As you can probably guess, the wontons were really delicious! The wonton remained crispy and so delicious!

Since I had already tested so many different possibilities, I thought perhaps the pie crust and phyllo deserved another chance but in the oven this go around. I rolled out the pie crust, so it was on the thinner side and prepared a couple sheets of phyllo. Surprisingly, I liked the pie crust better than the phyllo as it has such a distinct taste that is overpowered the pumpkin. The pie crust pumpkin "pillows" were delightful with all of the pumpkin pie taste and absolutely none of the texture as the crust was crispy!

While, the pie crust pumpkin "pillows" were a close second and a little easier as they require no frying! For Thanksgiving, I will be mass producing a pumpkin wonton with fresh cardamom whipping cream and cinnamon drizzle!

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I Heart Candy Roundup

YumSugar — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 13:28:39 -0700

I was so excited to open up my inbox and see it stuffed with I Heart Candy submissions. You guys are really amazing and totally impress me, from cookies to truffles and everything in between, you guys really love your candy! There are 20 entries total, so let's just get this candy-loving party started!

Oh and if you sent one in and it didn't appear here, use the contact form above to drop me a line and I'll get it added!

Entry #1
Our first entry comes from TeamSugar member calibabi who wrote in to share her recipes for Rolo Cookies and Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Cookies. I think I know what I'll be baking this weekend!

Entry #2
Kate from A Way To Eat took her home state Vermont into consideration when she made maple walnut pepper crunch. This looks fantastic over ice cream, but I bet I could eat handfuls on its own!

Entry #3
Amy from Seattle's Nook & Pantry melted my heart with green tea truffles. I've had these once before and have always wanted to make my own. Thanks for submitting these!

Entry #4
Utah-based Heather from dustbunnies wrote in to tell about her favorite new candy: Bertie Botts Every Flavored Jelly Bean. As someone who's a big Harry Potter fan, I was excited to hear that she and her family love to play Bertie Botts russian roulette. Hope you don't end up with the vomit flavored one!

For SIXTEEN more sweet entries, read more

Entry #5
Manila-based SweetPleasures got inspired by the film Chocolat and made us some lovely homemade chocolates. I gotta make my own someday too!

Entry #6
Bon Vivant's own Colorado-based Chelsea decided to make an English Toffee Inspiration Sundae. Is it bad that I am craving this so early in the morning?!

Entry #7
Candied blood orange peels end up being the secret weapon for Nina of Sweet Napa. Her orange creamsicle birthday cake will surely beat the Los Angeles heat!

Entry #8
Based in the Philippines, Chef KC wrote in to say that it's fun to play with your food, especially if it's candy!

Entry #9
Minko of Couture Cupcakes sent these vodka soaked Red Skins cupcakes all the way from Australia. I've never even heard of Red Skins (a raspberry "flavoured" hard candy), but I really want to try these!

Entry #10
TeamSugar member Karla Sugar wrote in to say that although it sounds odd, she thinks water with lemon tastes just like candy! Especially if it's room-temp or cool (not ice cold). What do you guys think?!

Entry #11
Maryland based TeamSugar members crispet1 and beamer1, did three entries! First they created a selection of adorable candy filled phyllo purses and then they created cute cupcakes and a drink they call "Gummy Worm" - can't wait to try them all!

Entry #12
Our very own GeikoSera has decided to list her favorite candy. Mallo Cups... mmm....

Entry #13
Molly was able to capture a pic of the elusive Knut the polar gummi bear!

Entry #14
Canada-based Sweetheart_450 sent her recipe for Peanut Butter Buckeyes. She says they're the most delicious sweets she's ever tasted and a must try for everyone!

Entry #15
Team member Bonne sent us a recipe for rock candy and then wrote in to tell us how she used to eat all the fundraiser candy! Shhh.. don't tell!

Entry #16
SU3 of TeamSugar treated us with two delights: M&M's Kisses pretzels and Butterfinger popcorn balls. I can't decide which treat I want to try first!

Entry #17
TeamSugar member poetess treated us to a quick poem about candy.

Entry #18
The office went wild for the Heath Bar Cake that PartySugar made. So delicious!

Entry #19
Our pal TeamSugar shared her weakness for Milk Duds and Dots (just not at the same time)!

Entry #20
And finally, I started the whole shebang by creating Reese's PB Cup Cookies.

Not enough candy? Be sure to check out some more candy related posts. There's still some time left in June, so it's not over yet!