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Top Chef Quiz: Camping

partysugar — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 11:45:44 -0700

We played chefs and cowboys on last night's episode of Top Chef. On a ranch outside of Vegas, the chefs slept in tepees, made s'mores, then cooked over fire pits for a bunch of ranchers. Didn't you love when Mike I asked, "Is Padma sleeping in a tepee, too?" See how much you remember and take my quiz.

Photo courtesy of Bravo

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Top Chef 5.3 - Foo Fighters Thanksgiving Recap

partysugar — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 00:15:34 -0800

This week on a Thanksgiving episode of Top Chef, the Foo Fighters made a special appearance and award-winning chef and cancer survivor, Grant Achatz, was the guest judge. To discuss the episode (warning: spoilers ahead), read more.

Grant Achatz: kind of a hottie?
Watching the start of the quickfire, did you want the Top Chef cookbook? I did!
Do you like white asparagus?
Were you surprised that Leah selected the most confident chefs?
Do you consider Ariane a cougar?
Can you imagine cooking Thanksgiving dinner in a microwave?
Hosea made a fruit cobbler and referred to it as not his "most proud dessert." Would you serve a mediocre dessert to the judges?
What dish did you want to eat at Thanksgiving? I want to try Fabio's pumpkin tiramisu.
Was it weird how the elimination challenge had no winner?
Between Jeff, Richard, and Danny, who deserved to go home?

To learn how to dress like Padma, check out our new site, CelebStyle.

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Off to Market Recap: Fab Apron

partysugar — Fri, 23 May 2008 03:00:37 -0700

When I was prepping and cooking the food for our Sex and the City Marathon at Fab's house, I expected her to offer me a glamorously stylish apron. However, I was shocked to see that an apron is the one article of clothing that she does NOT own. So I decided we should find her one! You headed off to market in search of a fashionable apron that is pretty, fun, and Fab-worthy. You avoided aprons that are tacky or season specific and saved your finds in the Yum Market on TeamSugar with the keyword tag, Fab Apron.

I'm positive Fab will love this chic, almost Parisian red apron. Its black and white accents are classic yet fun and the fit is stylishly well cut. It's also reversible making it two fab aprons for the price of one. High five bengalspice! To look at all of the aprons you discovered, scroll to the right below.

To learn more about the bookmarking feature please read geeksugar's explanation.

Off To Market Recap: White Wine Glasses

partysugar — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 03:13:19 -0700

Last week I told you about my white wine glass dilemma. The white wine glasses I have all come from the remnants of wine glass sets given to my parents many many years ago. Meaning I have plenty of white wine glasses but none of them go together! This has been slowly driving me crazy especially after I went out and bought a few boxed sets of new red wine glasses. That's why I asked you to help me find a new set of white wine glasses that are chic, sophisticated, and uniform. You saved your stemware in the Yum Market on TeamSugar with the keyword tag White Wine Glasses. Here are my favs: Chellebaby found these gorgeous, delicate white wine glasses. Modern with a vintage twist, these sleek glasses will add an element of grace and elegance to my springtime entertaining.

Two more stylish stems so read more

Artistic wine glasses? Totally love it! colormesticky found these that could be cool for beer, soda, or even iced tea. A glass that is multi functional is awesome.

Of course I had to feature this stemless glass that kayleigh83 found. It's like the glass our YumSugar avatar is usually holding in her hand, so obviously I think it is tres fabulous.

Thanks for the great finds gals! Have no clue what the Yum Market is? It's fun you can bookmark stuff you find on the web!-Learn how-to by reading geeksugar's explanation.

Off To Market Recap: Cool Flask

partysugar — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 13:12:48 -0700

My girlfriend Kristen recently asked me if I could help her find a cool flask for her longtime boyfriend Chris. She has been going through some stressful times and he has been so supportive that she wants to surprise him with a small special gift. I asked you to head off to market in search of the coolest flasks around for Chris. The flask had to be functional and sleek, durable and modern to fit Chris' intelligent, super social great guy persona. You saved the flasks in TeamSugar with the keyword tag Cool Flask and here's what you found:

Katherine suggested this classic stainless steel flask that comes camouflaged inside a little book. From the outside the book resembles a Bible and from the inside it's a flask - so naughty I love it!

A few more so read more

This olive green plaid flask is perfect for golfing, skiing, or a night on the town. With its outside encased in leather, SU3 discovered this flask that's larger than it looks: it can hold up to 9 oz roughly 4 shots.

Both GiggleSugar and SU3 recommended this personalized leather flask that Kristen can have engraved with Chris' initials. He'll carry his spirits in style with its luxurious embossed croc finish.

Thanks for helping me and Kristen readers! I wonder which one she'll pick to give to Chris. To learn how to bookmark cool stuff from the internet on TeamSugar, refer to geeksugar's informative explanation.

Off To Market Recap: Butter Bell

partysugar — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 11:58:21 -0700

A little while back I dramatically declared that YumSugar was desperately in need of our help. Ok that may be a little exaggeration but she recently spent a good amount of money on a special, creamy goat butter (which she expertly turned into delicious goatbread cookies). Before the butter goes bad she wanted to find a butter bell. A butter bell is a butter container that maintains the perfect temperature of the butter while protecting it from outside air. She did a quick search but could only find hideously ugly little butter bells with butter written in loopy letters. So she asked me to ask you to scour the web for a sleek modern butter bell that matches her unromantic kitchen and granite counter tops. I was surprised to see 2 whole pages filled with awesome butter bells. Here are the ones that I think Yum will like the best:

BellaCalla found this handsome porcelain and steel butter bell. It holds one stick of butter without refrigeration for up to one month.

Two more so read more

This modern butter bell discovered by cravinsugar will be functional and aesthetically pleasing to YumSugar's eye.

With this square, marble butter bell the water creates an airtight seal around the butter and allows it to soften and then it is easily spreadable. Thanks for finding this chic butter bell rubialala!

Don't know how to bookmark on TeamSugar? Check out geeksugar's guide.

Off To Market Recap: Chicken With Pasta

partysugar — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 11:58:19 -0700

My mom is hosting a dinner party and since she does not cook I promised her I would cater the event. To keep things simple she requested a meal that consists of chicken and pasta. Chicken and pasta are two dishes that really take on the flavorings of the food they are cooked and the possibilities are endless: Simple?! Make that stressful. Luckily I have you readers and you saved your best chicken and pasta recipes in the database on TeamSugar. You tagged your most innovative, crowd-pleasing recipes with the keyword Chicken With Pasta. Here are the most mouth-watering recipes:

Doesn't this Chicken Sylvia with Fettucine look absolutely delicious? I want to make a big plate of it for myself right now! This recipe by mandiesoh features Mediterranean ingredients: olives, canned tomatoes, and basil.

For more original chicken and pasta recipes, read more

Daisygirl1979's recipe for a Pasta w/ chunky Rose chicken & artichoke sauce sounds absolutely divine. The ingredient list is what caught my eye: not only does it include the requisite chicken and pasta, it incorporates tons of vegetables (leeks, mushrooms, tomatoes, garlic) and a few out-of-the-ordinary (for pasta) elements (cilantro, banana peppers). I can't wait to experiment with this in the kitchen!

Penne with Roasted Peppers Vermouth and Chicken sounds like another winner. Roasted red peppers, feta, vermouth, and turkey sausage mingle with the chicken and penne in this dish saved by quietriott.

Thanks for helping me! Don't know how to create and share recipes on TeamSugar? Have no fear, just quickly read geeksugar's explanation.

Off To Market Recap: Cocktail Shaker

partysugar — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 00:01:19 -0700

Andrew, my man about town artist friend from Cal, has begun to host sophisticated cocktail parties at his studio apartment in New York City. He lost the cocktail shaker that he stole from me years ago, so I thought it would be a great belated Christmas gift if I sent him a new cocktail shaker. I asked you to help me find a really cool cocktail shaker that is functional, modern, sleek, and artistic. You saved the shakers in the Yum Market with the keyword tag, Cocktail Shaker. The following shakers are ideal gifts for Andrew:

Chiringuito's are beach bars that pop up along the Spanish coasts during summer (I one day hope to open one!) and when I saw that this cocktail shaker was named the chiringuito shaker I knew Andrew had to have it. We've spent many days together enjoying the Spanish sun and sand, so when he uses this shaker he can be reminded of our beloved Costa Ballena. Both chlyn and rubialala spotted this shaker.

Two more = read more

Cupcake17 (and chellebaby) discovered this beautiful twisted cocktail shaker. It's made with special metal that mixes up super cool cocktails.

Andrew's nickname is AMO, which is actually his initials. This monogrammed cocktail shaker (discovered by rubialala) is elegant. I love the idea of personalizing it with his initials, that way no one can ever try to steal it.

Thanks for your help girls! Don't know what the Yum Market is all about? Read geeksugar's informative how-to.

Off To Market Recap: Apron

partysugar — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 12:58:39 -0700

My cousin Alli, who is in high school has recently developed an interest in cooking! To encourage her experimentation in the kitchen, I thought it would be fun to give her a cute apron. I asked you to help me find Alli an awesome apron. You looked for aprons that are, fun, colorful, and young. I want an apron she can wear while entertaining and down the road that she can bring when she goes off to college. Her style is classic and preppy so the apron shouldn't be too flashy or out there. You guys did an amazing job, I feel like you found every cute apron out there and saved them in the Yum Market with the keyword tag, Apron. Here are three aprons that are perfect for Alli, both fashionable and functional:

A half apron that is both modern and retro I love how it's girlie. Found by rubialala, the polka-dot print is timeless, I can just see Alli baking a chocolate cake while wearing this apron.

There's more so read more

Chlyn discovered this basic apron in bright stripes. The classic vertical strips in bold primary colors will add a bright splash of color to Alli's cream kitchen.

This two-tone apron was so popular it was saved by three different people: eruntale, atkoester, and geeksugar! It's a chicly beautiful apron that reminds me of a piece of art work. Great apron ladies!

Thanks to all those who participated. Please keep on saving your fab foodie finds in the Yum Market. Don't know how to bookmark on TeamSugar? Refer to geeksugar's easy to understand guide.

Slippage Aside Bailey's Chocolate Layer Cake Is Divine

partysugar — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 14:56:19 -0700

My half birthday was last Friday, and to celebrate I made myself a decadent chocolate layer cake. The recipe was something I personally devised by combining several different cake, pudding, and frosting recipes. The Bailey's pudding was an excellent consistency for the inside of a cake and the intense creamy flavor intense and insanely delightful. Even those who don't enjoy sipping a glass of Bailey's will enjoy this pudding. I have a delicious chocolate cake recipe that I use whenever I make chocolate cake, but this time I decided to experiment with a new devil's food cake recipe. In the end, I preferred my original recipe over this devil's food cake, but this one came out pretty good too.

Let the frosting rest for several hours instead of just one and you will have a smooth, luscious, deep brown icing. I had a horrible crisis when I went to assemble the cake, the layers were slipping like mad. The frosting would not stick because each layer was sliding every which way. Extreme times call for extreme measures and I asked my dad to help me align the cake with skewers (conveniently he was prepping shish-ka-bobs for the grill and had the skewers handy). We placed a circle of skewers in the cake which looked like birthday candles and easily averted disaster. I popped the whole cake in the fridge for a few hours to chill and it firmed up expertly with the frosting cooling to a ganache like state. The final product was a cake that was dense and delicious, moist and super chocolatey. I can't wait to have another piece today when I finish dinner. For the recipe and a gallery of photos, read more

Party's Half Birthday Chocolate Irish Layer Cake
Modified from Epicurious and Martha Stewart

For pudding:
1 1/4 cups chilled whipping cream
12 tablespoons Baileys Original Irish Cream
3/4 cup (packed) golden brown sugar
6 large egg yolks
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
For cake
1 1/2 Cups (3 sticks) unsalted butter, plus more for pans
3/4 Cup Dutch-process cocoa powder, plus more for pans
1/2 Cup boiling water
2 1/4 Cups sugar
1 Tablespoon pure vanilla extract
4 large eggs, lightly beaten
3 Cups sifted cake flour, (not self-rising)
1 Teaspoon baking soda
1/2 Teaspoon salt
1 Cup milk
For the syrup
2/3 cup sugar
5 tablespoons water
5 tablespoons Irish whiskey
For the frosting
3/4 cup chilled whipping cream
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 1/2 tablespoons light corn syrup
9 ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, chopped
1 1/2 tablespoons kirsch (clear cherry brandy)

Make pudding: combine 3/4 cup cream, 6 tablespoons Baileys liqueur, sugar, yolks and nutmeg in large metal bowl. Place over saucepan of simmering water (do not allow bottom of bowl to touch water).
Using electric mixer, beat until custard thickens and thermometer registers 160°F, about 8 minutes.
Remove from over water and beat until cool, about 8 minutes.
Mix in remaining 6 tablespoons liqueur.
Beat remaining 1/2 cup cream in medium bowl to medium peaks. Fold into custard.
Cover and chill at least 4 hours or overnight.
Make cake: heat oven to 350 degrees; arrange two racks in center of oven. Butter three 8-by-2-inch round cake pans; line bottoms with parchment. Dust bottoms and sides of pans with cocoa powder; tap out any excess.
Sift cocoa into a medium bowl, and whisk in 1/2 cup boiling water. Set aside to cool.
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter on low speed until light and fluffy.
Gradually beat in sugar until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes, scraping down sides twice.
Beat in vanilla.
Drizzle in eggs, a little at a time, beating between each addition until the batter is no longer slick, scraping down the sides twice.
In a large bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, and salt.
Whisk milk into reserved cocoa mixture.
With mixer on low speed, alternately add flour and cocoa mixtures to the batter, a little of each at a time, starting and ending with flour mixture.
Divide batter evenly among the three prepared pans.
Bake until a cake tester inserted into center of each layer comes out clean, 35 to 45 minutes, rotating the pans for even baking.
Transfer layers to wire racks; let cool, 15 minutes.
Turn out cakes, and return to racks, tops up, until completely cool.
Make syrup: Combine sugar and water in small saucepan. Stir over low heat until sugar dissolves. Increase heat and bring to boil. Remove from heat. Mix in whiskey. Cool. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and let stand at room temperature.)
Make frosting: bring first 3 ingredients to simmer in heavy medium saucepan. Reduce heat to low. Add chocolate and stir until melted and smooth. Mix in kirsch. Remove from heat. Let stand until spreadable, whisking occasionally, about 1 hour.
To assemble the cake: remove parchment from bottoms of cakes. Reserve the prettiest layer for the top. Place one cake layer on a serving platter; drizzle with syrup, and spread 1 1/2 cups Bailey's pudding over the top. Add the second cake layer, and drizzle with syrup spread with another 1 1/2 cups frosting. Top with third cake layer. Drizzle with remaining syrup.
Cover outside of cake with the frosting. Serve.

Makes 1 eight-inch-round layer cake.

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