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Happy Hour: Twilight

partysugar — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:13:04 -0800

Well, folks, the moment everyone's been waiting for is here. The second movie in the Twilight series, New Moon, finally comes out today. Whether you're dying to see it or excited that the hype surrounding it will die down, there's only one way to celebrate - with a cocktail! Not just any boring old drink, but an aptly named concoction created by one of San Francisco's illustrious bar owners, Jon Gasparini. A couple of weeks ago when Jon (of one of my favorite bars, Rye) tweeted about a new cocktail called Twilight, I knew I needed the recipe.

Jon describes it as having a beautiful color and balance, and I couldn't agree more. The complex gin and Prosecco drink is easy to put together and elegant enough to serve at a Thanksgiving dinner or holiday soirée. To get his recipe, read more.

Twilight
From Jon Gasparini of Rye

Ingredients

3/4 ounce creme de violette
1 1/2 ounces gin
dash orange bitters
dash simple syrup or agave syrup
1 ounce Prosecco or other sparkling wine

Directions

Combine the violette, gin, bitters, and sweetener in a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
Strain into a chilled Champagne coup and top with the Prosecco.

Makes 1 drink.

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5 Fabulous Gifts For the Do-It-Herself Hostess

partysugar — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 07:50:27 -0800

She's the girl who makes snake cakes in her sleep. The gal who sends twenty-five handmade birthday invitations to a four course sit-down dinner that she cooks. She's already obsessing about her Thanksgiving menu and testing out Christmas cocktails. You know who I'm talking about, she's the hostess who does it all and she's giving Martha Stewart a run for her money. Always on top of things, this fun-loving gal is easy to shop for. Here are my holiday gifting suggestions for the party-princess in your life.

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Yum's November Must Haves

partysugar — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 12:50:31 -0800

Fall is flying by and it's time to start prepping for the most food-centric holiday of the year, Thanksgiving. Turkey day requires special ingredients, cooking equipment, and entertaining supplies, so we've rounded up some important items that will help you out during November. Here are our must haves for this month.

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Food Section Sampler - Apr. 29, 2009

YumSugar — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 12:50:48 -0700

Which type of coffee pot is the perfect match for you? - Chicago Tribune
Forget the gizmos, Michael Ruhlman suggests investing in a kitchen scale. - Los Angeles Times
Food service companies have threatened to boycott Florida tomatoes if growers don't improve farm workers' wages and conditions. - Washington Post
Restaurateurs have been showing appreciation for their regulars with extra-special perks. - Boston Globe
Fava leaves are just as satisfying to eat as their legume counterparts. - San Francisco Chronicle
Familiarize yourself with the right cooking techniques for inexpensive cuts of meat. - New York Times
Italian Prosecco is inexpensive, wildly available, and better-tasting than ever. - Wall Street Journal

Source

Come Party With Me: Girls Winter Weekend - Drinks

partysugar — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 14:00:45 -0800

A girlie, rose-colored cocktail is the perfect way to kick-start a girls weekend getaway. If you're spending a couple of hours in the car, a drink upon arrival is necessary! Select a champagne cocktail - like this recipe for a Prosecco Royale - and make a toast to have a fabulous time together. A fresh cranberry-infused simple syrup provides the brilliant color. To allow time to chill, make the syrup the night before the trip. Don't be afraid to ask your friends to pitch in. Tell each girl to bring several bottles of a certain type of wine. That way, there will be plenty to go around. To look at the Prosecco Royale recipe, read more.

Prosecco Royale
From Everyday With Rachael Ray

Ingredients

1/2 cup sugar
1 cup fresh cranberries
One 750-ml bottle prosecco, chilled

Directions

Chill 6 champagne flutes.
In a small saucepan, stir the sugar and 1/2 cup water until the sugar dissolves, about 5 minutes. Add the cranberries and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer for 2 minutes. Strain, then refrigerate the syrup and cranberries separately.
Place a few cranberries in each flute and top with 1 tablespoon cranberry syrup; fill each glass with prosecco.

Makes 6 drinks.

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7 Festive Sparkling Wines

YumSugar — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 03:00:42 -0800

Are you faced with the same dilemma every New Year's Eve of what wine to select from the Champagne aisle? We hear you. There are a growing number of bubblies that fall in the range between Cook's and Cristal, and choosing the right one can be tricky. Here's a tip: The bargains lie in sparkling wines outside of the Champagne region of France. We've compiled some of our favorite Champagne alternatives, so you can choose the perfect sparkler for your celebration.

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Come Party With Me: Italian Christmas Eve - Drinks

partysugar — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 12:30:22 -0800

For an Italian-style seafood dinner on Christmas Eve, plan on pouring Italian wines and an Italian cocktail called sgroppino. This icy concoction is made with vodka, Prosecco, and lemon sorbet. The recipe serves 2, but it's easily alterable to make a large batch.

Purchase extra Prosecco for those who prefer a glass of bubbly solo.

With the feast of seven fishes offer guests a Tuscan white like Vernaccia, and a light, fruity red like Sangiovese. To look at the cocktail recipe, read more.

Sgroppino
Giada De Laurentiis

Ingredients

1 cup chilled Prosecco (Italian sparkling white wine)
2 tablespoons chilled vodka
1/3 cup frozen lemon sorbet
1/4 teaspoon chopped fresh mint leaves

Directions

Pour the Prosecco and vodka into two champagne flutes, dividing equally.
Spoon a scoop of sorbet into each flute. Sprinkle with mint and serve immediately.

Makes 2 drinks.

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Happy Hour: Collalbrigo Prosecco Brut

partysugar — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 16:15:31 -0800

Looking for a effervescent bubbly to kick-start your Thanksgiving festivities? Well you'll find it in this lovely Italian Prosecco by Collalbrigo.

With its straw color, delicate bubbles, and apple-pear aroma, it's a refreshingly easy sipper. Its smooth, light intensity is sure to be a crowd-pleaser at your party. At $10.99 it's an affordable wine that won't break the bank.

Grown on a hilltop in northern Italy where noble Venetians have produced wine for thousands of years, serve this fabulous bubbly with oysters, salumi, or crostini.

Happy Hour: Fantinel Prosecco

partysugar — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 16:15:31 -0700

If you are looking for a refreshing, celebratory sparkling wine that won't break the bank, I highly recommend Fantinel Prosecco ($12.99). Uncomplicated and light, this Prosecco makes an excellent aperitif or a delightful bellini.

It has a pale straw color, a subtle touch of sweetness, and a citrus floral aroma. The bubbles are robust instead of delicate making for a lovely body.

This bottle is smooth solo, but it would pair nicely with spicy Chinese or Thai food. It also makes a perfect hostess or housewarming gift!

Happy Hour: Bellini

partysugar — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 16:00:56 -0700

During the Summer's peach season, I love to enjoy bellinis. Similar to a mimosa, a bellini is Prosecco diluted with fresh white-peach puree. When made with perfectly ripe peaches, this glamorous cocktail is slightly sweet and delicately bubbly.

Named for the 15th-century Venetian painter, Giovanni Bellini, the drink was created at Harry's Bar in Venice sometime between 1934 and 1948. Now it is considered a classic cocktail and can be found on menus across America.

To make the peach puree, score a cross on the bottom of each peach with a knife.

Drop into a pot of boiling water for a couple minutes, plunge into an ice-water bath, and remove the skin. Chop into chunks, puree in the blender, and strain through a fine mesh sieve. For the proportions of this sublime concoction, read more.

Bellini
From Tony Abou-Ganim

Ingredients

3 ounces Prosecco or other sparkling wine
2 ounces fresh white-peach puree

Directions
Mix and serve in champagne flute.

Makes 1 cocktail.

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