Fast & Easy Dinner: Sweet Potato Soup


Updated 02/08/12 10:48 AM · Posted by partysugar · 9 comments

Fast & Easy Dinner: Sweet Potato Soup

Sick of classic potato soup? Consider this scrumptious recipe for an innovative sweet potato variation. The creamy texture comes from evaporated milk and sautéed leeks provide a mild onion flavor. This vegetarian recipe is garnished with Parmesan cheese and fresh basil, but if you have cheddar cheese and chives on hand use those instead. To learn how to make this mouth-watering and filling Read more

Come Party With Me: New Year's Day Lunch — Menu


Updated 12/30/08 9:00 AM · Posted by partysugar · 4 comments

Come Party With Me: New Year's Day Lunch — Menu

Instead of hosting a crazy party on New Year's Eve, invite friends and family over for a decadent lunch on Jan. 1. Begin the soirée in the early afternoon (around 2:30) to allow late-night partygoers plenty of time to recover. Serve a menu that is rich, satisfying, and luxurious. Start with caviar on brioche toasts with creme fraiche. Slice smoked salmon and cream cheese frittata into bite-size Read more

Soup's On: Baked Potato Soup


Updated 02/07/12 3:47 PM · Posted by · 28 comments

Baked Potato Soup Recipe

There's nothing as comforting as a big bowl of soup on a cold Winter night, especially one that tastes just like a baked potato! If you happened to be baking a couple potatoes for dinner already, throw a couple more in the oven so you can make this amazingly delicious soup. Once you have your potatoes baked (I find it easiest while the potatoes are baking to bake the bacon in the oven at the Read more

Watch Out For These Top 10 Saltiest Foods


Updated 02/12/12 3:32 AM · Posted by · 3 comments

Top 10 Saltiest Foods According to the CDC

Collectively, we really love our salt. We eat so much more than we should, often because of high levels of sodium hiding in many of our favorite foods. A new report released by the Centers For Disease Control identifies the top 10 saltiest foods, and some may surprise you. Paying attention to the amount of salt hidden in your food is important because too much sodium in your diet can lead to Read more

Meet Me in Moscow: A Russian Food Primer


Updated 02/07/12 5:23 PM · Posted by · 4 comments

Russian Dishes and Ingredients

Whenever you're complaining about the ferocity of Winter, just remember things are much, much colder in other parts of the world. But while Russian Winters may be brutal, they've got plenty of amazing, comforting recipes with flavors designed to take that chill out of your bones. It's time to call up your babushka, put on your copy of Doctor Zhivago, and grab a tall glass of vodka, if you see Read more

7 Popular Chowders Across the US


Updated 01/31/12 11:08 AM · Posted by YumSugar · 1 comment

Types of Chowder Soups

Traditionally, "chowder" is considered a catch-all word for a variety of seafood and vegetable soups, but several regions have their own spin on the classic dish. Here's a rundown of the most popular chowders across the US, from classic New England clam chowder to San Francisco's Cioppino fish stew. Boston — New England Clam Chowder: Made with chopped clams, potatoes, and onions, this classic Read more

In Season: Carrots


Updated 01/30/12 10:30 AM · Posted by YumSugar · 0 comments

Carrot Recipes

You eat carrots regularly — but how much do you know about them? Although they can be grown year-round, all root vegetables thrive during the Winter season, protected from cooler temperatures by the earth. Carrots are known for their vibrant orange color, but there are also purple, red, yellow, and white varieties — mostly grown as novelty crops. The root itself is crunchy and sweet, while Read more

6 Ways to Take Your Soup Up a Notch — Without Adding Actual Cream


Updated 02/08/12 1:59 PM · Posted by · 4 comments

How to Make Soup Creamy

Clear-broth soups are delicious in their own right, but sometimes we just want something a little heartier and more indulgent. Cream-based soups are pretty simple to put together, but you can incorporate different elements — grains, lighter dairy products, or cruciferous vegetables — and end up with a delightfully creamy soup that doesn't actually contain a pint of cream. Add a cup of Read more

In Season: Parsnips


Updated 02/08/12 3:11 PM · Posted by · 0 comments

How to Choose and Cook Parsnips

A close relative of the carrot, who gets way less love, is the parsnip. Since ancient times, these vegetables have been cooked up and enjoyed, but for some reason in the US, most of us choose to pass the parsnip by without a second glance. Once cooked, the flavor of a parsnip is surprisingly sweet and buttery. It's starchy nature makes it a lighter stand-in for the potato, or a welcome Read more

What's Yummy This Week


Updated 01/14/12 4:25 AM · Posted by · 0 comments

Top Food Stories Jan. 9–13

Make a New Year's Resolution to make your own versions of store-bought staples. Get inspired in the kitchen with a cute new apron. We sat down for an interview with Ruth Reichl over dinner this week. Check out our Q&A. Expand your knowledge of Spanish food and your pantry with these essential ingredients. We taste test the new Starbucks blonde brew. And we finally got to sample the strange Read more