YumSugar

Time to Get the Carrots Glazing

YumSugar — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:15:48 -0800

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays; however, eating the same dishes year after year can be a little monotonous, so this Thursday all the classics are getting a modern twist. Glazed carrots have always been an essential dish for my feast, but I crave more complex flavor. Pomegranate-balsamic glazed carrots fits the ticket perfectly.The sweet glaze combines honey, balsamic vinegar, and pomegranate juice. Topping the dish with fresh mint and a subtle touch of cayenne pepper balances the sweetness. Chopping the carrots requires some attention, but they can be prepped six hours ahead of time. This is a fast side dish and only requires about 20 minutes of cook time. Want a new glaze for your carrots? Then keep reading.

Come Party With Me: High School Graduation - Drinks

partysugar — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 12:50:52 -0700

At a party like a high school graduation that celebrates someone underage, be sure to have a plethora of nonalcoholic drinks on ice. Fill large buckets with canned or bottled sodas, and place pitchers of water - flavored with citrus, cucumber, or mint - on the tables.

Instead of juice, make pomegranate sodas. Their rosy hue and bubbly texture is festive and fun. The recipe calls for a maraschino cherry garnish, but since cherries are in season, set out a bowl of fresh cherries and let guests embellish the sodas themselves. For the recipe, read more.

Pomegranate Soda
From Everyday Food

Ingredients

1 cup sugar
1/2 cup pomegranate juice
Club soda, for serving
Maraschino cherries, for garnish (optional)

Directions

In a small saucepan, combine sugar and juice; bring to a boil over high, stirring until sugar has dissolved. Reduce to a simmer; cook, without stirring, until mixture is syrupy, about 2 minutes. (To store, refrigerate syrup up to 1 week; adjust consistency with water, if necessary.)
To serve: Fill 8 glasses with ice. Pour 2 tablespoons syrup in each glass, and top with club soda. Garnish with cherries, if desired.

Serves 8.

Print recipe with images | without images

12 Days of Edible Gifts: Homemade Grenadine

partysugar — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 08:00:10 -0800

With its bright red color, there is a common misconception that grenadine, the syrup used to flavor many cocktails, is made with cherries. The thick, sweet liquid is actually made with pomegranate juice (the word grenadine is derived from the French word for pomegranate, grenade).

When I realized that the sweetener was very simple to make, I decided to whip up a batch and present it to my sister, who enjoys the occasional "cherry" coke. Homemade grenadine is a great hostess gift, especially for someone who is into mixology. To look at the incredibly easy recipe, read more.

Homemade Grenadine
From Food and Wine Cocktails 2008

Ingredients

1 quart pomegranate juice
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/8 teaspoon orange flower water

Directions

In a medium saucepan, simmer the pomegranate juice over moderate heat until reduced by half.
Add the sugar and the orange flower water and stir until dissolved. Let cool, transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 weeks.

Makes about 1 1/2 cups.

Print recipe with images | without images

View 5 Photos ›

Come Party With Me: Tree Trimming - Drinks

partysugar — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 14:00:59 -0800

The holidays are a great time to break out the old punch bowl. I'll be dusting off mine Friday for a tree-trimming party and filling it with this sparkling pomegranate punch. Made with Prosecco and no hard alcohol, this red-hued concoction is a sublime blend of pomegranate juice, fresh squeezed orange juice, and limeade. You can mix the ingredients in advance and stir in the bubbly the moment guests arrive. Since it is the holidays, consider getting a sparkling jasmine tea for those who don't drink. Also have beer, water, and eggnog on hand. To look at the punch recipe, read more.

Sparkling Pomegranate Punch
From Food and Wine

Ingredients

1 quart pomegranate juice
2 cups fresh orange juice, strained
2 cups chilled limeade
One 750-milliliter bottle Prosecco
Lime and orange slices, for garnish
Ice
1 cup pomegranate seeds

Directions

In a punch bowl, combine the pomegranate juice, orange juice and limeade.
Pour in the Prosecco; float lime and orange slices on top. Ladle into 12 ice-filled glasses, sprinkle with pomegranate seeds and serve.

Serves 12.

Print recipe with images | without images

Come Party With Me: Wedding - Drinks

partysugar — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 14:31:19 -0700

One of the biggest expenses at a wedding reception is the drinks. Hosting a full open bar is a costly option, and if you don't have an unlimited budget, I would not recommend doing it. Instead offer guests one signature cocktail and an assortment of beer and wine. Another option is to host a day reception, because people don't drink as much when the sun's out. Be sure to ask the wait staff not to pre-open wine bottles. If they do, you may be left with a bunch of open, full bottles.

Along with the signature cocktail at Elena and Sean's wedding, guests will have a choice of Champagne, red or white wine, or a selection of local beers. The cocktail is a refreshing, delish blend of rum, cointreau, and sparkling pomegranate. It has a glorious hue that matches the wedding's color scheme.

For more wonderful wedding ideas, check out IDoSugar. To take a look at the recipe, read more.

Rum Pomegranate Cocktail
From Brides magazine

Ingredients

1½ oz. Bacardi White Rum
¼ oz. Cointreau (orange liqueur)
Splash of lime juice
2½ oz. Izze sparkling pomegranate juice
Colored sugar (for rim)

Directions

Dip rim of glass in water, then in colored sugar.
Combine rum, liqueur and juices with ice in the glass, and stir.

Serves 1.

Print recipe with images | without images

Would You Drink This Aloe Juice?

YumSugar — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 10:03:31 -0700

Last week I saw a can of juice I'd never seen before: pomegranate-flavored aloe juice from Korean company J1. The color was a vivid orange-pink, and although it looked like one solid color, there were actually bits of floating chunks in it. The almost-invisible chunks are the aloe, and they have the consistency of somewhat thick Jello. I was surprisingly pleased by this drink, and liked the way it tasted. It was a light pomegranate flavor and was cool and refreshing. The texture was a little odd - it was slimy and thick at the same time - and the whole thing made me think of dessert. I would definitely try it again, and yet I can see how the texture would really bother some people. Are you one of those people, or would you drink this juice?

Happy Hour: Pom Lime Vodka Cocktail

partysugar — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 12:01:18 -0800

A few weeks ago I helped my girlfriend host a girls-only birthday party. Instead of serving a full dinner we did appetizers, wine, and a vodka cocktail. The cocktail - with a rosy-pink hue - was a definite crowd pleaser. I doubled the recipe, made the mixture in a pitcher, and shook two servings over ice. The final drink was perfectly sweetened with a lovely effervescence. For an elegant presentation serve the concoction in champagne saucers instead of martini glasses. This cocktail would be fabulous served at a Valentine's Day party so get the recipe now.

Yummy Link: Sweet Yogurt Sundae

YumSugar — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 14:28:39 -0800

Even with a stack of cookbooks surrounding you, this sweet yogurt sundae with saffron and pomegranate makes you brush everything else aside. I think I know what I'm serving for dessert at my next dinner party! - Steamy Kitchen

Happy Hour: Mistletoe Mojito

partysugar — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 15:15:39 -0800

A great way to officially kick off the holiday season is to mix up a festive drink! How luscious is this Christmas cocktail? It features the flavors of a classic mojito - rum and mint - but contains a twist. Instead of being topped with soda water, Pomegranate 7UP is floated on top. The boring lime garnish is jazzed up with jewel-like pomegranate seeds. The final drink is visually stunning and dangerously delicious. To shake one up today, read more

Mistletoe Mojito
From 7 Up

1 oz. fresh lime juice
1 tbsp. superfine sugar
8 fresh mint leaves
2 oz. white rum
2 tsp. pomegranate seeds
4 oz. Pomegranate 7UP
1 mint sprig
1 lime wedge

In a highball glass, muddle lime juice, sugar and mint leaves until sugar is dissolved.
Add rum and pomegranate seeds.
Fill glass with ice and top with Pomegranate 7UP. Garnish with mint sprig and lime wedge. Enjoy.

Makes 1 mojito.

Print recipe with images | without images

Happy Hour: Pomegranate Cosmo

partysugar — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 13:13:33 -0800

Last Saturday night I found the words, "The Cosmo is so 2001," tumbling from my mouth. As soon as they escaped, I started to remember - and miss – my old friends: the classic, rosy hued cranberry juice Cosmo and her close cousin, the berry-colored pomegranate Cosmo. Monday morning, I was shocked to find a note from Angelica with a recipe for the pom Cosmo!

Could we be in the midst of a Cosmo renaissance? The pomegranate Cosmo is the perfect, festive, holiday-worthy cocktail. With its gorgeous color, and tart refreshing taste, it's a delicious aperitif or fun party drink. To join me in rekindling my love affair with Cosmos, get the recipe, just read more

Pomegranate Cosmopolitan
From The Lodge at Tiburon

1 cup Vodka
1/2 cup Cointreau liqueur or triple sec
3/4 cup POM pomegranate juice
1/2 cup fresh lime juice
Lime wedges, optional for garnish

Combine vodka, pom juice, Cointreau and lime juice in a container or pitcher.
In small batches, shake mixture with ice in a cocktail shaker, then strain into chilled cocktail glasses.
Garnish with lime twist, if desired.

Serves 8.

Print recipe with images | without images