YumSugar

Boxed Wine: Love It or Hate It?

YumSugar — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 05:30:24 -0700

Lately, I've heard an increasing amount of hype around how much wine in a box has improved over the years. Like screw-cap wines, boxed wine has become more widely accepted. Because of their unique dispensing system, the wines can last up to six weeks - much longer than the average bottle of wine, which can only survive a couple of days. I haven't tried a boxed wine in years, but I get a hangover just thinking about the boxed wine my friends and I used to buy in college. Perhaps I should seriously consider giving it another chance. What about you: Do you appreciate boxed wine?

Source

Zipper Wine Bag: Love It Or Hate It?

YumSugar — Thu, 24 May 2007 10:01:19 -0700

These zipper wine bags, designed by Beth Fuller, are an interesting way to sell and package wine. Each bag is made from organic cotton and is dyed with wine - so if you spill you'll actually be contributing to the pattern. The handle is a continuation of the zipper that holds the wine in place. I love the way they look and I can see it being used as a fun bag, even without the wine bottle. What do you guys think? Do you love them or hate them?

Giving The Gift Of Wine Glamorously

partysugar — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 14:27:57 -0700

When I'm invited to a dinner, party, or bbq and don't have the time to put together a special gift for the hostess, I'll stop by my local wine shop and pick up a bottle for her to enjoy at a later date. I include a nice appreciative note and package the bottle to look pretty. Tying a bow with a satin ribbon makes it look festive, but if you don't have a huge collection of ribbon like I do, think about buying a set of these wine bottle gift bags.

Printed with made up wine notes like, an explosion of blackberries and cranberry zing, these are cheeky and fun. The brown bag material gives them a sense of eco-awareness while the silver lettering makes them celebratory.

Although I don't advocate re-gifting, these bags can be recycled and reused for other wine gifts. Get them while they are hot, a set of 6 is only $12.00, and I don't know about you, but I'm ordering two.

Source: Hostess Blog

Merlot To Go?

YumSugar — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 11:13:08 -0800

One of the new laws that went into effect at the start of the new year has to do with wine in the state of Illinois. This year restaurant-goers in the state of Illinois will no longer have to down that bottle of wine before leaving. This makes them one in 40 states to do so.

The new law allows a patron to remove one unsealed and partially consumed bottle of wine for off-premise consumption, provided that the patron purchased a meal and consumed a portion of the bottle of wine with the meal on the restaurant premises. In addition, the partially consumed bottle of wine must be securely sealed by a restaurant employee or owner prior to removal from the premises and placed in a transparent, one-time-use, tamper-proof bag, and restaurant staff must provide a dated receipt for the bottle of wine to the patron.

See that part about the tamper-proof bag? That's where the folks over at Wine Doggy Bag come in. They make tamper-proof, transparent, one-time use bags that will meet the requirements of the law. With an easy to carry handle, it's the perfect way to get that merlot to go.

Find out whether or not your state lets you take home your wine.

Source: The Telegraph

Yummy Links: From Pumpkin Muffins to Easy Dinner Prep

partysugar — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 09:00:58 -0700

Celebrate Fall with these delicious-looking orange frosted pumpkin muffins. - Erin Cooks
Lace shopping baskets will make you look chic while browsing the farmers market. - CasaSugar
The right way to pour sparkling wine. - Chow
Behind the scenes of a home-cooked wedding. - The Kitchn
Travel the world in your own kitchen with 80 exotic and interesting recipes. - Epicurious
Show your love for serious eats with one of these fabulous t-shirts. - Serious Eats
Sweet meets savory in a scrumptious French toast and bacon sandwich. - Baking Bites
How to prepare dinner more efficiently. - Real Simple

Source

YumSugar Gift Guide: Wacky White Elephant

partysugar — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 10:54:13 -0800

A White Elephant is a type of gift exchange in which each guest is asked to bring an anonymous wrapped gift. Usually, there is a maximum amount of money that can be spent, and oftentimes the gifts are unpractical and eccentric. If you are attending a White Elephant party bring fun shaped ice cube trays. A set of Emeril's spices are hysterical and could provoke conversation about the future of Food Network. However, my favorite gift is this chicken kitchen timer. It's ten percent bizarre and 90 percent practical. I definitely wouldn't buy it for myself, but it would be fun to get at a White Elephant gift exchange.

For more wacky White Elephant gifts, browse below.

Ice cube tray ($1.99)	Chicken Kitchen Timer ($8.95)
Veggie Ornaments ($9.99)	Wine Bottle Gift Bags ($12.95)
Essence Assortment (Set of 4) by Emeril Lagasse ($14.95)	Way Cool Way Hot Mini-Fridge ($130.00)

In Season: Baby Artichokes

YumSugar — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 03:30:48 -0700

Along with English Peas and a number of lesser-known vegetables, baby artichokes are in abundance during March, April, and May. The petite-sized baby artichokes are simply a smaller version of any regular-sized variety that's been picked from the shaded, lower part of the artichoke stalk. They have little to no developed fuzz in their center and a greater amount of edible leaves. Because they're quick-cooking and almost entirely edible, they're relatively easy to prepare. Learn more about enjoying them when you read more.

When purchasing these miniature thistles, select ones that are firm, heavy, and consistent in size so they'll cook evenly together. It can be difficult to discern between small artichokes (which still need to have their chokes removed) and the choke-less baby artichokes, so it's best to ask your grocer for help. Once at home, sprinkle them with water, seal in a bag, and keep in the crisper drawer for up to five days.

To begin preparing baby artichokes, snap off the lower petals until you've reached a yellow-green core. Then, cut off the top inch of the artichoke. Finish by trimming the stem and remaining dark areas near the base, and soak in lemon juice water to prevent oxidation. At this point, they can be cooked in a multitude of ways:

Sauté them with garlic, lemon, and parsley.
Bring out their inherent sweetness by serving them fried with parsley.
Braise them with other vegetables in broth, water, or wine.
Season and grill them with lemon and olive oil.

What are your favorite ways to enjoy baby artichokes? Have you ever made them?

Yummy Links: From Chiles to Girl Scout Cookies

partysugar — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 06:50:32 -0700

Tips for taming the fiery heat of chilies. - Serious Eats
Anthony Bourdain on food television. - Eat Me Daily
The beers and wines that pair perfectly with stir-fry. - The Kitchn
An insider look at Barbie's 50th birthday bash. - Hostess With the Mostess
Use one bag of beans to make a week's worth of lunches. - Chow
Should Girl Scouts be allowed to sell cookies online? - The Epi-Log

Source

Come Party With Me: Oscars Viewing - The Look

partysugar — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 09:15:51 -0800

Last year's Oscars was all about golden opulence and red accents, but this weekend the Governors Ball is looking East for inspiration. You can too, when you create the look for an Oscars viewing party. Start by running a red-carpet-like runner down the middle of your table. Serve the popcorn in a big white bowl and let guests help themselves by filling movie popcorn bags. Place the gourmet hot dogs on a pretty floral-printed plate. Metallic river stones and matching candles provide a zen, glowing atmosphere. Place champagne buckets around the room and serve the sparkling wine and cocktail in stemless champagne flutes. Throw plush pillows on the couch and arrange orchids in oversize tubular vases.

Source

YumSugar Gift Guide: The Francophile

partysugar — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 07:00:27 -0800

With its creamy cheese, world-renowned wines, classic cooking techniques, and rich culinary history, it's hard not to love the fabulous country that is France. Know someone who longs to live near the Louvre? Take her there with a bag of imported fleur de sel and a block of foie gras. Encourage her to cook like an authentic French woman with Anne Willan's The Country Cooking of France, this year's winner of the James Beard international cookbook award.

Check out the entire selection of French finds below or check out HolidaySugar for other gift ideas.