YumSugar

Off to Market Recap: Spoon Rests

YumSugar — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 03:00:12 -0700

Last week, I explained my need for a spoon rest to keep my stovetop splatter-free. I asked you to keep your eyes peeled for spoon rests with fun flair. You saved your discoveries in the Yum Market on TeamSugar with the keyword tag spoon rests. I loved a lot of the bookmarks, but found the pot clips that erinlikestoplay saved to be especially cool. All the sauce from a spatula just drips right back into the pot for the most convenient cleanup ever! Plus, the gadget comes in six colors for easy identification (and a colorful kitchen). Scope out more choices below.

Off to Market: Spoon Rests

YumSugar — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 03:00:46 -0700

I am a bit of a slob in the kitchen, so at least every other week, I find myself wiping down a sauce-spattered cooking range. I couldn't live without my spoon rest, but it's a bit basic and blah, and I'm thinking of getting another one with more flair. Have you seen any choice picks? Bookmark your finds in the Yum Market on TeamSugar with the keyword tag spoon rests. Happy Hunting!

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

Don't know where to start searching? Check out a list of my favorite online stores when you read more.

Bed Bath & Beyond
CB2
Cooking.com
Crate & Barrel
Ikea
Linens 'n Things
NapaStyle
Pier 1
Plum Party
Pottery Barn
Sur La Table
Target
Restoration Hardware
Williams-Sonoma
Wishing Fish
World Market

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Off to Market: Spoon Rest

partysugar — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 07:50:36 -0700

A spoon rest is a handy kitchen tool that sits on stovetops. In between sautéing and stirring, it's a safe place to rest the spatula or spoon you're using. Sadly, I don't own one and the other day when I was making macaroni and cheese, I finally decided it's time to invest in this practical kitchen essential.

Can you help me find a fabulous, dishwasher safe spoon rest? All you have to do is search the Internet for spoon rests and bookmark your favorite finds. Be sure to save them in the Off to Market group and tag them with the keyword spoon rest. Good luck!

Interested in learning more about bookmarking? Check out the complete instructions here. Need some shopping inspiration? See a list of my favorite online stores when you read more.

Bed Bath & Beyond
CB2
Cooking.com
Crate & Barrel
Ikea
Linens and Things
NapaStyle
Pier 1
Plum Party
Pottery Barn
Sur La Table
Target
Restoration Hardware
Williams Sonoma
Wishing Fish
World Market

Off to Market Recap: Spoon Rest

partysugar — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 07:50:15 -0700

I asked you to help me find a fabulous, dishwasher safe spoon rest. You searched the Internet for spoon rests and bookmarked your favorite finds, then saved them in the Off to Market group tagged with the keyword spoon rest.

I absolutely love this colorful painted spoon rest that Bengalspice found. It reminds of the one my parents have at their house. The ceramic rest is dishwasher safe and at only $10, it's very affordable. Thanks Bengal!

Interested in learning more about bookmarking? Check out the complete instructions here.

Valentine's Day Gift Guide: Whimsical Kitchen Finds

YumSugar — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 11:43:17 -0800

Today's gift guide is all about the kitchen. Spruce his/hers up with one of these fun finds.

The folks at Alessi always come up with the niftiest products. This time they've created a glamorous way to serve up ice cream. The Big Love Ice Cream Bowl has a stainless center (which will help keep the ice cream cold longer) and a transparent fuchsia base. It also comes complete with a heart shaped spoon (which you can actually buy separately in a set of 6 for $36 or individually for $9).

The next item is something I actually put in the Yum Market a few months ago. However the Heart Tea Kettle is so appropriate for the season that I had to dig it back out and share it with you now. For $19.99 you can show your love with every cup of tea.

Two more Valentine's Day finds, so read more

This adorable, shiny Red Bread Bin will add a burst of cheer to anyone's kitchen counter. It will look wonderfully festive for Valentine's Day, but it will also look great year round.

Looking for something whimsical to brighten his/her day? How about this Heart Bended Spoon. Although it is meant to be bought in bulk (for wedding favors, etc.), you can purchase one for $2.99. The unique bending characteristic will allow you to easily rest the spoon in a cup or a bowl.

Killer App: Endive Boats

YumSugar — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 14:28:11 -0700

The other night I got home from work and was starving. Unfortunately we had late dinner plans that evening, so I couldn't chow down too heavily. We also had limited supplies in our cabinets; there was no bread, crackers, or fruit to snack on. Oddly there were several heads of fresh endives and I figured that was a good place to start.

Endive is great in that you can trim the bottoms off and use the leaves in lieu of crackers. Sometimes I just dollop a mixture of blue cheese and candied walnuts on the ends, and other times I use a tapenade or a hummus. This time I ended up ~~cleaning out my pantry~~ blending canned tuna, hummus - it was a nice replacement for mayonnaise - sundried tomato/olive tapenade, and chopped cherry tomatoes into a creamy mixture. I then placed a small spoonful on each end. It ended up being the perfect snack and I was able to save the rest of the mixture - which I put on top of a bed of leafy greens - for lunch the next day.

If you've never had endive, I suggest you give it a try. The outer leaves tend to be more bitter than the inner ones, which are creamy and mild. Just think of them as carb-free savory crackers, and top them with whatever you feel like! They're a great personal snack and make for an elegant appetizer. Most people are always thrilled by them, so give it a go and let us know what you make!

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Algorithm for Perfect Pho

YumSugar — Wed, 30 May 2007 08:47:32 -0700

One of my favorite places for pho is Pho Y #1 in San Jose. The pho there is pretty great and the entire place smells amazingly of basil. However my favorite part of the experience is the menu. On the back of the menu there is an algorithm of pho service. I snagged a picture last time I was there, click on the picture for a larger view, and if you're having a hard time reading it, here's what it says:

Algorithm Of Pho Service
The Health-Concious Choice!

Chef Block
1. Start
2. Prepare & Cook Bouillon for 8 hours - Beef steak, beef bones, water and special spices
3. Steam Rice Noodle - Best brand, approved by the US Customs & Health Dept
4. Slice Raw or Well Done Fresh Beef Steak - Approved by USDA in the market
5. Serve the above in a bowl - May be yours first, second, or third bowl ordered
6. Prepare side dish of fresh vegetable - Available seasonal

To see the rest, read more

Customer Block
7. See Menu - Choose your item number
8. Look at Your Bowl! - A good bowl of PHO should stimulate all your senses
9. Add spices, black pepper, chili and hoisin sauce - according to your taste
10. Mix the ingredients - Use chopsticks, a soup spoon, and/or a fork to eat PHO
11. Squeeze a piece of juicy lime yet? - To arouse the flavor of PHO

If your answer is no then:
12. Do it now - go back to step 11

If your answer is yes then:
13. Enjoy! - Relish until the last spoon

14. Do You Want More?

If your answer is yes then:
15. Please order again - go back to step 7

If your answer is no then:
16. French coffee and/or dessert is recommended - Make your choice
17. End - Please welcome back again and again!

A courtesy of Pho Y #1 Noodle Soup for your enjoyment of the most popular and traditional Vietnamese national dish.

View 4 Photos ›

Plan the Perfect Picnic!

YumSugar — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 15:40:11 -0700

Now that you've got all the items needed for a great picnic, I thought I'd help you out with a few picnic tips.

When packing a picnic, keep non-perishable foods (potato chips, fruit, etc.) separate from perishable ones. This way you'll save cooler space & ice for items that need it. Remember, the more stuff you pack in the cooler, the less cold it will be. An ideal ratio is 75% food and 25% ice, although I think 50/50 is even better!
Pack your cooler in reverse order. Put your dessert in first, the main course second and the appetizers third. This way you won't have to dig around in your cooler to find the items you need. This will save you time, effort and will help keep the cooler cold longer.
Freeze drinks (unless they're in cans) the night before. This will help them stay cool, as well as act as supplement ice in your pack. If you're worried about messy condensation, wrap them in aluminum foil (which may keep them frozen longer) or store in ziploc bags. Even if you don't freeze them, make sure they're already cool. It'll keep the cooler colder longer if the items are already cold.

To read the rest of my picnic tips, read more

If you've got the tupperware, pack things in individual servings. This way you won't have to worry about serving spoons and you'll save time when dishing out the food.
If you're packing a cook-out picnic, be sure to keep the raw foods away from the cooked foods. Ideally they would be in separate coolers. You don't want to worry about cross contamination.
Thanks to the picnic pack list, you'll never forget your blanket again. But what happens if the ground is wet? To ensure a nice dry spot, consider bringing along a tarp as well.
When looking for the perfect picnic spot, find one that fits the weather. If it's hot, look for one in the shade (keep the cooler there too!), if it's windy consider one tucked on the side of a hill (preferably the side without the wind!), and if it's cool find one that is nice and bright (don't forget the sunscreen!).
Picnic baskets are very chic, but consider bringing a cooler since it can keep food cold and double as a table.
If your food will be exposed, keep flies away by keeping it covered when not in use. Consider napkins with weights (such as small rocks) placed on each corner.
Even if it was delectable, throw away any perishable food that has been left out for more than a few hours.

Got a great picnic tip? Share it with us below!

Come Party With Me: Engagement Party - The Look

partysugar — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 05:59:13 -0700

One reason to choose a long engagement after your man pops the big question is so you can have an engagement party. This week I'm planning one for julieulie and her fiancé Scott who recently got engaged, but aren't getting married until Memorial Day 2008. I thought it would be fabulously fun and original to throw a dessert party instead of a typical dinner or cocktail party. Desserts as meals are an up and coming trend, and more and more restaurants that are devoted to only desserts are showing up all over the place.

Julie & Scott's close friends and family have received their invitations to the fiesta that will start on a Saturday night at 8:30. The menu will consist of a dazzling array of divine desserts including brownie cupcakes, strawberry shortcakes, and a cheese and fruit plate. The champagne will flow like water as the invitees toast Julie and Scott's eternal love. I've painted a pretty picture of this party, but what about the decor? To see my romantic, chic, and elegant ideas, read more

A bride that knows what she wants, Julie has already selected the colors of her wedding (light blue, white, and black), so I will use these to guide me in my decorating scheme. No worries if you have yet to decide the colors of your wedding, a simple color scheme of white, black and a bold or metallic accent color will work wonderfully. Likewise, there should be no pressure to stay with these colors if you suddenly change your mind and opt for different colors.

First find the location of the party. Will it be held in the intimate living room at the bride's parents' house or the large, modern kitchen at the groom's aunt's ranch? Walk around the space and envision a party there. Where can guests sit and chat? Where should the buffet be set up? Are there tables/counters for the champagne buckets and flutes? These are the types of questions you should be thinking when you envision your fete.
To adorn the dessert buffet, begin with a long flat table that will be your canvas to create a beautiful presentation of candies, cakes, fruits, and cheeses. Place upside down cardboard boxes and large pots on the table. With an over-sized satin tablecloth, or piece of light blue fabric, cover both the table and boxes/pots pressing the fabric down the sides of the boxes/pots. The look you will achieve is one with various heights and dimensions. Now the platters of brownies can be placed on a square box and the strawberry shortcakes in martini glasses can rest at a different height on a circular pedestal.

Fill small clear bowls with the couples favorite grocery store candies: white m&m's, silver chocolate kisses, blue jelly beans.
Large clear vases in diverse shapes, a few oval, a few square, maybe one triangular, will create a stunning background when filled with water and one simple long stemmed flower such as a white orchid or gardenias. Place the flowers on each end of the buffet tables and on windowsills, banquets, or small coffee tables.

Don't forget small white plates, white napkins, and silver spoons for the dessert table.
Black accents in the form of satin ribbons, velvet pillows, and mesh runners will add a touch of mysterious sophistication.
A glowing and warm atmosphere is necessary and to achieve, so light as many candles, votives, tapers, pillars, and the like as possible. Keep the look uniform with all white candles and black votives and candelabra.

White or light blue tiny Christmas lights can be wrapped around the windows, the rim of the room, or any pillars and columns that enhance the architecture.

Got a decoration idea perfect for Julie's party? Please share it with us below. Tomorrow I'll talk about the appropriate music for an engagement party. Equally important to the look of the engagement party is the correct behavior. If you are attending, hosting, or planning an engagement in the near future, I highly recommend reading DearSugar's tips for proper engagement party etiquette.

Smelly Garlic Hands Be Gone!

partysugar — Fri, 05 Jan 2007 09:47:19 -0800

The other day my girlfriends, Maite, Luisa, and I were chatting about, yep you guessed it, cooking! I was saying how much I love cooking with garlic but I hate the stench it leaves on my hands for the rest of the night. They told me an old wives secret and I tried it out and it worked. So here's the deal: once you have finished chopping your garlic, gently take the knife in your hands. Under a stream of cold water hold the knife in with your fingers pressed against the metal for about thirty seconds. So I went home and did a little bit of research. Turns out that you can do the same thing with stainless steel sink faucets, spoons or a Stainless Steel Bar of Soap. I'm not sure what occurs scientifically (please write me if you know), but the steel and cool water neutralize the odors (it should work for fish and onions or any other pungent smell, too!). I can't believe I didn't know about this trick before.

DearSugar also has a list of ways to combat the smell of garlic.