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Yummy Links: From Padma's Commercial to Beef Stew

partysugar — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 06:50:06 -0800

Padma Lakshmi will appear in an upcoming Hardee's hamburger commercial.- A Hamburger Today
The childhood game Operation goes porky in this fun recipe guide. - Woman's Day
Enter to win a Cuisinart standing mixer! - Al Dente
Use manzanita branches to create a stunning, but simple centerpiece. - Simply Stated
Got leftover pasta? Turn it into a filling frittata. - The Kitchn
Dear Bravo, please improve next season's Top Chef. - The Epi-Log
Hearty beef stew is an easy belly warmer. - Chow

Source

What Color Is Your KitchenAid?

partysugar — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 07:00:10 -0800

Do You Own a Standing Mixer?

partysugar — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 10:15:45 -0700

Win a KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer!

YumSugar — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 11:47:56 -0700

Everyone knows that I love my KitchenAid Mixer (you can often see it in the background of my 52 Weeks of Baking posts). And I know there's been some coveting, so to make it up to you, we thought we would give one away! The KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer is designed with enough power to prepare large batches of cake batter or cookie dough, but will also look super stylish on your counter.

All you have to do to enter is leave a comment below and we'll do a random drawing on Monday, July 23 at 5:00 pm, Pacific Time. Don't forget to email this to friends and family who may be interested in winning.

Click here for Official Rules. One entry per person - all repeat comments will be ignored. Also, you must be a TeamSugar member to comment, so if you're not a member, please register here for an account.

Good luck!

The Ultimate Kitchen: Mixer

YumSugar — Sat, 03 Feb 2007 11:50:39 -0800

This week's ultimate kitchen item is a great mixer. I know, it's a bit of a splurge, and not everyone is going to use it. However, if you bake a lot (or plan on becoming a better baker), then you might really want to consider one. And, if you're building a registry, it's a great item for people to chip-in and get for you, so go for it!

My personal favorite (the one I have and love love love) is a KitchenAid Pro 600. It's a little pricey (list price: $500, but most places sell it for less than $400), but it will do everything you want it to and more. It comes with a flat beater, a wire whip, dough hook and a clear plastic pouring shield. You also have the option of purchasing other attachments such as a meat grinder, pasta maker or ice-cream machine. If the Pro is too pricey, KitchenAid also has an Artisan model that has a bit less power and capacity.

Three more mixers, including one you can use even if you don't have the counter space, so read more

Growing up, my mom had a trusty goldenrod colored Sunbeam mixer. In fact, she still has it now. Assuming that Sunbeam's quality standards haven't declined in the last 25 years, then I'd have to say that for $99.99, this shiny red Sunbeam Stand Mixer is quite the bargain. It's available in other colors as well.

Another great mixer splurge is the DeLonghi Stand Mixer. Made from brushed aluminum, it can hold up to 7 quarts, has 6 power speeds and comes with a 10 year warranty. It's similar to the KitchenAid in that you can purchase many attachments and accessories and it comes with a high-ticket price. $440, is not an easy price to swallow, however these things are built to last.

Finally, if you don't have room for a full stand mixer, or can't see yourself using it often enough to justify the purchase, then be sure to get a small hand mixer. This small appliance can be stored in the cupboard and will really help out for things like beating eggs or whipping cream. Hamilton Beach has a 6 Speed Mixer that retails for about $30, but is on sale for $16.97. It also comes with a handy storage case.

2007 Winter Fancy Food Show - Part 3 (Alcohols & Mixers)

YumSugar — Mon, 29 Jan 2007 13:48:48 -0800

DSC_8290.JPGBelieve it or not, we're not finished with all of our Fancy Foods coverage. There are still a few trends that I wanted to discuss in a little more depth, so expect a few more posts throughout the week. Today it's the all things alcohol trend. Okay, so this isn't exactly a new thing, but it was definitely something I noticed a lot of. There were organic mixers, regular mixers; hand bottled infused alcohols, organic alcohols, new flavors and so much more.

One of my favorite things at the entire show was the Tamborine Mountain Distillery booth. At first I was just wild for founder Michael Ward (when you watch the video you'll find out why, he's so amazingly charismatic and fun!), but after tasting several of the infused liqueurs as well as the Australian Vodka Company vodkas, I was wild for their product too. They were all deliciously smooth (seriously, the Lemon Myrtle vodka was amazing) and beautiful (the liqueur bottles are all hand-painted). Besides, he's a great storyteller and like I said, I was wild for him too. To check out their history in Michael Ward's own words, watch the video (more show highlights below the video, so scroll down).

Two more products I liked, plus a gallery of others, read more

Another really interesting product was from 267 Infusions. Their hand-bottled "premium" spirits (which have been at all the latest celebrity parties) contain actual pieces of fruit inside of a perfectly pretty bottle. As they said, "their trick is how they get the fruit in, your trick is how you get it out." Normally, I would find something like this to be rather gimmicky. However their product stands up to the hype. Available in eight flavors (including olives & pearl onion vodka, and mango infused rum), a bottle of 267 will definitely bring a zing to your party.

Aside from flavored and infused liqueurs, there were several different mixer companies. One of the ones that stood out was Mixerz (which actually launched the first day of the show). I had an opportunity to speak with one of the founders (Al Williams) and he told me that the company was born due to the resurgence of retro cocktails and that he wanted to make a product that was "bar-chef quality - something that would be easy to make in the home or in the bars." Personally I enjoyed their Sour Apple mixer, it was nice and crisp and lacked the awful sweetness found in most apple mixers (also, it wasn't bright green). After the apple, I tasted the Bloody Mary mixer, and thought it was okay, but a tiny bit thick. Based on some of the things I overheard, it seems that fruit is the way to go.

Stirrings was also around. I've been a fan of their company for a while now. In addition to mixers, they now offer bar ingredients (grenadine, bitters, triple sec, etc.), as well as cocktail essences (rose martini, rosemary martini, etc.).

To go along with your mixers, there were also several organic alcohols. Most of the ones we saw were imported from England (such as Juniper Green and UK 5 Vodka). Both PartySugar and I found these to go down easily and both lacked a weird aftertaste. I definitely think I'd hunt these down again.

Overall there were many mixers (even Jelly Belly had some new slushy options) and many alcohols to taste. The biggest trend was definitely more all natural and organic products. And if you ask me, if all natural and organic means tastier and easier to drink, then I'm all for it.

Check out some pictures of the alcohols and mixers:

View 17 Photos ›

Last Chance to Win: The Ultimate Easter Baking Giveaway Ends Today!

partysugar — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 07:50:30 -0700

Looks like the cupcake craze isn't over yet: we were so excited about the overwhelming response to our last giveaway, we decided to offer another lucky reader the chance to win the ultimate baking package. This time, we've partnered with Williams-Sonoma to provide everything you'll need for an Easter baking extravaganza. We're giving away a KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer and all of the necessary tools for baking the best cupcakes. Yellow melamine mixing bowls? Check. Yellow silicone spatulas in three sizes? Of course. Yellow apron to ensure that your clothes don't get dirty? Done. If you're not the most sophisticated baker, don't fret; we're including four (chocolate, red velvet, vanilla, and banana) Sprinkles cupcakes mixes and a set of 12 Silicups. To help you channel your inner ace of cakes, we're also giving away beautifully colored decorating sugars.

No prize package is complete without pretty platters; you can place the cakes on vintage bunny band plates or a cupcake stand. Finally, you'll be able to take your baked goods on the go with the ingenious cupcake courier. All of these prizes combine to make a total package worth over $500!

To enter to win this incredible prize, you must log in and take the quiz below. Your eligibility is not based on getting the answers correct; completing the quiz once you are logged in makes you eligible to win. You do, however, need to be a TeamSugar member before taking the quiz. If you're not already a member, register here for an account. One quiz entry per person, all repeat quizzes will be ignored.

The contest is open to US residents only and ends on Wednesday, April 8, at 12:00 noon, PDT. Click here for official rules. Good luck!

Take the quiz

A Round of Applause For. . .

partysugar — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 03:30:06 -0700

YumSugar reader daddio49! She is the lucky winner of our Ultimate Easter Baking giveaway. Our friends at Williams-Sonoma are sending her everything she needs to go cupcake crazy. She's the recipient of a new KitchenAid standing mixer and a bunch of fabulous accessories. I hope she enjoys her prize and shares the delicious treats she makes with us on TeamSugar. Congrats to daddio49!

Announcing the Winner of Our Valentine's Day Giveaway!

partysugar — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 07:50:33 -0800

Please join me in congratulating scooterbrown! The New Orleans resident is the lucky winner of our Sweet Valentine's Day Giveaway.

Our friends at Williams-Sonoma are sending her a deluxe KitchenAid standing mixer and all of the necessary tools for baking, including measuring bowls, spatulas, and chocolate cake mix.

I hope she enjoys her prize and shares the delicious treats she makes with us on TeamSugar. Cheers to scooterbrown!

Come Party With Me: Fast Thanksgiving - Drinks

partysugar — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:30:11 -0800

As much as I love cocktails made from fresh, seasonal ingredients, sometimes there simply isn't time - especially when you need Thanksgiving dinner ready in a hurry - to juice 20 blood oranges. The grocery store liquor aisle is crowded with generic and overly-sweet cocktail mixers, but there's one brand I trust for excellent mixers: Stirrings. With their blood orange flavor you can make a quick batch of blood orange bellinis.

Serve wine at mealtime. Call your local wine shop and ask them to set aside a couple of Thanksgiving-friendly bottles for you. Use their expertise to save time. You won't have to research wine pairings or stand in the wine aisle wondering what to buy. Don't forget sparkling apple cider, water, and soda for the kids. To look at the easy blood orange bellini recipe, read more.

Blood Orange Bellini
From Stirrings

Ingredients

1 oz. Stirrings Blood Orange Mixer
4 oz. dry sparkling wine or champagne

Directions

Chill a champagne flute.
Pour the blood orange mixer into the prepared glass.
Slowly top with sparkling wine. Garnish with blood orange wheel, if desired.

Makes 1 drink.

Print recipe with images | without images