YumSugar

Yummy Links: From Canned Cool Whip to Homemade Cakes

partysugar — Tue, 06 May 2008 10:00:56 -0700

If you're too lazy to use a spoon to scoop cool whip from the tub, you're in luck! Kraft has just released their new canned cool whip. - Serious Eats
Food and Wine celebrates their 30th anniversary with a then and now look at the magazine. - Mouthing Off
Chicago chef and cancer survivor Grant Achatz discuss how he lost and found his ability to taste. - The New Yorker
A surprising look at the health inspections of certain celebrity chefs' kitchens. Violators include Gordon Ramsay and Emeril Lagasse.- Health Inspections via Barf Blog
Can you really make Nikki's whole roasted chicken and vegetables with ingredients from Whole Foods for under $10?- Karmic Kitchen
Learn how to properly take care of wooden cooking utensils. - The Kitchn
The best way to sample a chef's food is by ordering a bunch of appetizers - it cuts calories and cost! -The Wall Street Journal
Do you remember every cake you've ever made? - New York Times

The Ultimate Kitchen: Kitchen Spoons

YumSugar — Sat, 17 Feb 2007 04:17:11 -0800

If you ask any home cook what her favorite kitchen utensil is, I guarantee that at least half of them (if not more) will say her wooden spoon. A great kitchen spoon is a must have. Without one there is no tasting of broth, no mixing of cookies, none of that. When choosing a kitchen spoon, you want to make sure you pick one that is made from quality materials, if it's wooden, it shouldn't splinter and if it's plastic, it shouldn't melt. You also want to make sure that the spoon you choose is the correct length and size.

To get around the length problem, you might consider a set of 3 wooden spoons. These spoons are made from a French cherry hard wood with a closed grain and come in three different sizes. The sizes, which are 12", 14" and 16", are perfect for stirring items in a tall stock pot, or in a 1" frying pan. Set of three available for $17.50.

If you're more into fashion than form, you might be interested in the Happy and Cheeky spoon set. Available in several different colors (including orange, blue, red and green), these melamine spoons are sure to liven up the kitchen. I don't know how you couldn't smile at this dishwasher safe pair. Set of two for $10.00.

Two more spoons, including one with a unique design, so read more

Another wooden spoon worth looking at is the maple scraping spoon. This spoon, which is made from solid maple, has a unique flat end that is perfect for scraping the bottom of pans or bowls. It will be available beginning March 21 and will retail for $5.95.

Although these spoons aren't cheap (they're $9.95 each), the curvy spoons from the orka company, are made from brightly colored silicone. The best part about these ones is that not only are they great looking, but they're ergonomic, heat-resistant and dishwasher safe. The other thing I really like about them is that unlike wooden spoons, a complete silicone spoon won't run the risk of scratching non-stick surfaces.

What Do You Think of This Cocktail Machine?

YumSugar — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 08:00:48 -0700

What do a rake, a toy truck, a wooden spoon, and a bunch of ball bearings have in common? They have a supporting role in what's possibly the world's most complicated cocktail maker. This contraption was created by New Zealander Joseph Herscher, who is known for his other Rube Goldberg-style machine, the chocolate egg creamer. While Herscher created this apparatus to promote Kiwi vodka 42 Below, there is an easier way to make the falling water cocktail. Although the clip is fun, I personally think it's a bit over the top. What about you - do you think it's funny, or just stupid?

YumSugar Gift Guide: Jars of Joy

YumSugar — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 13:18:31 -0800

When I was a wee little kid, I remember our neighbors bringing us jars full of flour, sugar, and other dry ingredients as a Christmas present. They were wrapped with beautiful bows and ribbons, but I didn't understand how a jar full of dry ingredients equaled an awesome Christmas gift. Then, a few days later when my dad turned that jar into a batch of fantastic cookies I figured it out. They gave us the ingredients and the recipes needed to make something tasty.

If you were hoping to handout holiday cookies this year, but didn't quite get around to it, why don't you do the next best thing and give them the ingredients they'll need to make their own? It doesn't have to be cookies either, you could do pancake mix, soup mixes, cakes, or hot chocolate. To help you figure out where to begin I've rounded up some recipes, as well as tips on how to prepare them. To get inspired, read more.

Be sure to start with a clean, dry jar. Apply one layer at a time, packing each down tightly before adding the next. Decorate with a ribbon or bow, attaching wooden spoons or spatulas if desired. Make sure to include the recipe with your jar!

Source

Off to Market Recap: Gift Baskets

partysugar — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 16:18:33 -0800

My mentor recently moved to New York with his wife and new born baby. I miss him desperately and need to send him a housewarming gift. To show him my appreciation and send my well wishes, I want to get him a spectacular gift basket for Christmas. I asked you to help me find a gift basket filled with delicious goodies and awesome accessories. You bookmarked the goodies you discovered in the Yum Market on TeamSugar with the keyword tag Gift Baskets.

Turns out I asked the right people; you were super enthusiastic about gift baskets! In fact, TeamSugar member Country Betty put together an amazing list. I really like the simple elegance of the oil and vinaigrette gift basket that she found. The wooden spoon and fork are both a lovely and practical touch.

Thanks for your help! To see what everyone found, browse through all the baskets below.

Read GeekSugar's guide to bookmarking on TeamSugar to better understand how to use this fun feature.

Reader Recipe: Southwestern Stuffed Acorn Squash

partysugar — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 16:15:41 -0700

If you are interested in experimenting with a new type of Fall ingredient, why not try acorn squash? That's what TeamSugar reader llendril did recently. She expertly stuffed the squash with a scrumptious mixture of chicken sausage, black beans, onions, and peppers. The final result was a delicious and divine meal with a gorgeous presentation. These stuffed squash would be a wonderful impromptu dinner party dish! To see how she made them, read more

Southwestern Stuffed Acorn Squash
From reader llendril

My love affair with all things Autumn continues.
Well, all things Autumn save for the clothing. I am at a complete loss when it comes to dressing for cooler weather - and I'm afraid to imagine what will happen come wintertime. I was out shopping today, moseying through stores filled with sweaters and coats and scarves (oh my!). The only thing I could think to do? Head to the back, to the sale racks, to the tank tops. I bought a tank top today. It should really do me well, oh, six months from now.

But you are probably here to read about food. So I will get to that now.
I am at least adapting well to the changing of seasons as far as the kitchen is concerned. This time around, I decided to try acorn squash - a variety I have never eaten before.

Southwestern Stuffed Acorn Squash
Adapted from Eating Well magazine, October 2007

1 acorn squash
2 ounces chicken sausage, sweet Italian style
1/3 small onion, chopped
1/4 medium red bell pepper, chopped
1 small clove garlic, minced
1/2 tablespoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
2/3 cup chopped cherry tomatoes
5 ounces canned black beans, rinsed
pinch of salt
1/3 cup shredded light jarlsberg

1) preheat oven to 375°. Lightly coat a baking sheet with cooking spray
2) cut squash in half horizontally. scoop out and discard seeds. place squash cut-side down on baking sheet and bake in oven for about 45 minutes, until tender
3) meanwhile, coat a skillet with cooking spray. heat over medium heat
4) add sausage and cook about 3 to 5 minutes, breaking up with a wooden spoon
5) add onion and bell pepper. cook, stirring often, about 3 to 5 minutes
6) stir in garlic, chili powder, and cumin. cook about 30 seconds
7) stir in tomatoes, beans, and salt
8 ) cover, reduce heat, and simmer about 10 to 12 minutes, until tomatoes are broken down
9) remove squash from oven and reduce oven temperature to 325°
10) fill squash halves with sausage mixture. top with cheese. place on baking sheet (cut-side up) and bake until filling is heated and cheese melts, about 10 minutes

I had a really good feeling about this recipe. I knew that I would love it, and it certainly did not disappoint. The sweetness of the squash married quite well with the slight spiciness of the filling (the original recipe calls for hot sauce, which I omitted). The entire dish felt warm and hearty - very comforting, in that respect - and yet is still quite good for you. I love cooking with black beans (and that love only intensified once they made the list of eight foods you should eat every day) and this was a fantastic way to combine them with the very autumn-y squash. Not much else to say about this one except for it's delicious. enjoy! and I look forward to blogging about more fall-inspired recipes soon!

The Ultimate Bar: Muddler

partysugar — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 11:53:12 -0700

With spring break narrowing in on us, (woo-hoo! even though I'm not in school anymore I celebrate spring break each year by spending a long weekend away), it's the appropriate time to stock up on a bar tool that you will use a lot once the warm weather hits hard. A muddler is essential to making juicy, refreshing mojitos and caipirinhas. Sure you could substitute a long wooden spoon, but I find nothing crushes a lime and releases the essence of mint as well as a muddler. The handy, crushing one I have at home is this simple beachwood muddler. It's $5.00, a pretty reasonable price considering all of the use you'll get out of it and I get double the use out of mine by using it as a pestle to crush herbs and spices. I prefer wood over any other material because it's easy to clean and will last forever. However if you want something a little more fancy, check out these options and read more

This more pricy-$21.00-stainless steel muddler is specially designed to easily and quickly release citrus juice and the skins natural oils. The bright green head is crafted to hold the fruit in place and its extra long (10 inch) handle makes it perfect for mixing drinks in tall, slim glasses.

For the style conscious homemaker, may I suggest the fashionable silicon, stainless steel elongated muddler? It's $15.00 and will stand a lifetime of drink making so muddle away!