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Biscuits Two Ways — Beginner and Expert

YumSugar — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 03:00:41 -0800

You're practically set with your menu for tomorrow. Vegetables chopped? Check. Pumpkin soup made? Check. Turkey brined? Check. Cranberry sauce prepared? Check. Pumpkin pies done? Check. Bread? What about the bread?

Fret not. Here are two recipes for biscuits that turn flaky and golden in less than 15 minutes. With both the beginner drop biscuits and their expert cutout counterparts, the key is to keep the dough cold, and to avoid overworking it. To check out both recipes,

Regis and Kelly Dress as Celebrity Chefs

partysugar — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 02:00:23 -0800

For their Halloween special last Friday, Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa dressed up in fourteen different costumes, four of which included celebrity chefs. Regis yelled at the audience as Gordon Ramsay while Ripa's Paula Deen munched on a butter kabob that she washed down with a glass of oil. The real Guy Fieri showed up to cook a flank steak with the "chefs." Later Kelly licked chocolate from a bowl as Nigella Lawson and Regis overused the word "Bam" pretending to be Emeril Lagasse. The funny show demonstrates that the popularity and success of celebrity chefsdom is still on the rise. Check out the clip below!

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Pumpkin Soup Is a Perfect Thanksgiving Starter

partysugar — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 08:00:43 -0700

Last week my mother presented me with a beautiful little cooking pumpkin. Since the weather has been cooler, I knew I had to make a soothing soup. This easy recipe highlights the pure flavor of pumpkin. It takes time to make because the pumpkin has to be roasted before you can start the soup. It's worth it though: The finished result is luscious, warming, and delicious. To look at the recipe I used,

Happy Hour: Bloody Maria

YumSugar — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 14:00:20 -0700

Besides the requisite cup of coffee, my favorite brunch drink is the Bloody Mary. But after trying the Bloody Maria, I think I may need to reconsider.

A Bloody Maria is essentially a Bloody Mary made with tequila instead of vodka. While vodka is essentially flavorless, tequila packs a toasted, oaky, tart punch, adding even more kick to a drink that's already full of hot and tart flavors.

I love bold food and drink, so I thought this was absolutely delicious. Hail Maria, full of taste!

To get the recipe,

Happy Hour: Piña Colada Mojito

partysugar — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 16:00:46 -0700

The other day while searching for the ultimate piña colada recipe, I came across this recipe for a piña colada mojito. Intrigued, I decided to find out how lime and mint combine with pineapple and coconut. The final result was absolutely divine, a refreshing mix of tart, sweet, and creamy flavors. Since it's not blended, this cocktail is much lighter than the common piña colada, making it easier to drink a couple rounds. The ingredient list calls for both pineapple and coconut rums, but I used pineapple and regular rum because I wanted a less sweet variation. To learn how to make this tantalizing concoction,

Paella Two Ways — Beginner and Expert

YumSugar — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 13:00:21 -0700

Now is the time to eat specialties like shrimp and King salmon in season, and — as this chef knows —there's no better way to enjoy the bounty of the sea than preparing a seafood rendition of the traditional Spanish dish paella.

Paella has a reputation for being difficult to make because of its long cooking time, but the beginner recipe below takes 45 minutes or less to prepare from start to finish. If you've got a paella pan and a little more time on your hands, take a stab at the more advanced version, which is made on the grill. To check out both variations,

Yummy Links: From Better Tasting Coffee to Emeril Live

partysugar — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 06:45:47 -0700

Sick of the horrible tasting office coffee? Here are ten ways to make office coffee taste better. —The Epi-Log
Find the farmers market closest to you and discover recipes that feature the farm fresh products. —Culinate
M&M's premiums look so pretty I can't wait to get my hands on a bag.— Candy Blog
Learn all about Spain's most underrated wine: Sherry. — The Kitchn
Before you make homemade ice cream, read these tips for sweet creamy success. — Serious Eats
Help bring bitters back by making them at home. — Chow
What to eat before and after you work out. — FitSugar
Miss Emeril Live? Five never before seen episodes will be airing soon on his new network: Fine Living. — Fine Living

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Yummy Links: From Lucky Charms to Twinkle's New Kitchen

partysugar — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 06:45:53 -0700

Lucky Charms has a new charm: the hourglass. — So Good
An inside look at the party Martha recently threw for Emeril. — The Martha Blog
Lisa Garza, the Food Network's Next Food Network Star contestant: love her or hate her? — Serious Eats
Luscious looking lemon squares and more recipes that highlight the flavor of the sunny citrus fruit. — GlamDish
The best herbs to plant in a cocktail-garnish garden. — Imbibe Unfiltered
Use strawberries to make strawberry rhubarb jam. — The Kitchen Sink
Check out Kitchen Goddess Twinkle's amazingly redesigned new kitchen.— CasaSugar
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Not Your Regular Nachos: Crab Nachos

partysugar — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 11:41:19 -0700

What do you get when you combine crispy, salty chips with spicy, melty cheese and fresh, flaky crab? Some amazingly delicious nachos! Between the newly-picked crab, the homemade pico de gallo, and the pepper-jack bécamel, these nachos are more gourmet than ghetto — who said Mexican food can't be high end?

The recipe calls for blue corn tortilla chips, but any tortilla chip would work. I used frozen corn — make sure it's thawed, you don't want soggy nachos — because fresh isn't in season. These nachos were incredibly tasty and I'm definitely making them again. To look at the recipe,

Emeril Returns With Emeril Green

YumSugar — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 14:08:31 -0800

While Emeril Live may be a thing of the past, we can now look forward to Emeril Green, a daily show on Planet Green, the new eco-lifestyle network from Discovery. The new network is launching this Summer and Emeril Green begins in July. The series will highlight Emeril's love of fresh, top quality foods and will be shot entirely on location at Whole Foods locations across the country. He'll share how to create great meals using quality produce, meats, and seafood, and he's hoping to try and inspire families to use fresh and seasonal ingredients. Here's what he had to say:

Since my early days as a chef, I've always been passionate about using the freshest quality ingredients from farmers, fisherman, and ranchers. I try a little harder every day to think greener and be respectful of our environment and our resources. On Emeril Green we'll unearth how easy and fun it is to cook with what's fresh, tasty, and in season and find smart ways to make each day a little greener for you and your family.

Personally I think it'll be refreshing to see this side of Emeril. The BAM! antics always make me forget that he's a solid chef with a lot of skill.

What do you think? Will you tune in to Emeril Green?

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Martha and Emeril Offer Their Top Entertaining Tips

YumSugar — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 16:18:31 -0800

In their first appearance since Martha bought Emeril's empire, the duo appeared on the Late Show With David Letterman to provide their top 10 entertaining tips. There are some great gems including:

9. Run out of cream? In a pinch you can substitute Martha Stewart's White Semi-Gloss Paint

However I think the cleverest part is the fact that they're actually doing the show. Martha's a pretty savvy business lady, and I think this was a great marketing move. To check out the entire clip,

Martha Says Bam!

YumSugar — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 11:20:31 -0800

As I've mentioned in the past, there seems to be a lot of interesting things going down at the Food Network. Recently, Emeril Live was canceled, but his reps assured us that he wasn't leaving the network. Well, looks like someone had the wrong information or tried to keep things under wraps because this morning Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia announced that they bought the rights to the Emeril franchise. Their deal — currently at $50 million, but could potentially be valued at $70 million — will include Emeril's cookbooks, tv shows, food products, kitchen products, and cookware. The deal is not including his eleven restaurants.

Everything is expected to go through later this year. Susan Lyne, president and CEO of MSLO, said:

Emeril brings talent, energy, and legions of fans to the Martha Stewart family, along with a powerful brand and an attractive, profitable business franchise.

I was really hoping she'd just say, "BAM!" instead.

So what do you think of this move? Do you think it's smart for them to take on Emeril?

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Jambalaya Two Ways — Beginner and Expert

partysugar — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 13:41:31 -0800

I make chili around the Super Bowl and I enjoy cooking up jambalaya to celebrate Fat Tuesday. Jambalaya is a signature Creole dish that combines a variety of ingredients ranging from poultry and sausage to shellfish and green peppers. This classic one-pot rice dish is a must for every cook's recipe collection. It's hearty, scrumptious, and great for entertaining a crowd. I've got two recipes for you to choose from, all you have to do is

Sunday Dinner: Classic Meatloaf

partysugar — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 01:38:31 -0800

Thanks to the high-end comfort food trend, meatloaf is suddenly seriously scrumptious. A nostalgic dish, meatloaf is a super-flavorful, filling meal. Several types of meat add a great complexity, finely chopped vegetables and herbs act as seasonings, and a tomato sauce keeps the meat moist and succulent. To get the recipe for this soothing Sunday night supper,

Yummy Links: From Foodie Tees to Emeril Live

YumSugar — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 08:03:18 -0800

Love food and whimsical tees? Check out this great foodie tee gift guide. — Baking Bites
The real Gordon Ramsay might not have the time blog, but the Fake Gordon Ramsay sure does. — Serious Eats
Don't miss these top ten food and drink hacks. — LifeHacker
Looking for a vintage pasta sauce? Try this walnut sauce from Gourmet magazine circa 1978. — Slashfood
This holiday season, give the gift of food. — iVillage
I'm not sure if you really want to know, but here are the top 20 fast food items highest in calories. — FitSugar
If your friend leaves a poor tip, how do you tactfully add to it? — Chow

Learn how to create these easy ornament place cards. — CasaSugar
If current cake molds impress you, check out these vintage ones. — The Kitchen: Apartment Therapy
Emeril Live! has been cancelled, but Emeril's not done with Food Network just yet. — Amazon's Al Dente

My Most Delicious Cake Yet

partysugar — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 12:29:33 -0800

My mother's birthday was last week, so I set out to make her the perfect birthday cake. I suggested a layer cake filled with dulce de leche and she delightfully obliged. When searching for a specific recipe, I couldn't find one that matched the cake in my mind, so naturally it ended up being my own creation. The end result was better than I could have imagined!

The melt in your mouth vanilla-almond cake layers were light and fluffy. The caramel colored dulce de leche filling was thick and rich. The buttery caramel frosting was smooth and creamy. The three parts came together perfectly to create a divine birthday cake that even impressed the pastry chef of the restaurant where we dined! To see the recipe,

Come Party With Me: Classic Thanksgiving — Menu (Dessert)

partysugar — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 14:28:33 -0800

After you have finished your Thanksgiving meal, clean the kitchen and take a nice, leisurely walk. By the time you return home you will feel refreshed and ready for a piece of pie and a glass of champagne. Pumpkin pie is the obvious choice for a decadent dessert. Jazz yours up with an amaretto whipped cream. Serve a second dessert option in the form of a chocolate pecan pie. Slice up any leftover pie and give to guests as they leave. For the recipes to these divinely delicious desserts, please

Disgust Your Guests With Brain Cookies

partysugar — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 16:15:08 -0700

Halloween is a great time to get creative with experimental baking. Take these cookies, for example: The dough is arranged in long tubes and shaped to look like a brain. You will need an entire bottle of food coloring to make the deep red blood glaze. If you don't like nuts or are allergic, simply omit them from the recipe. Normally I would never recommend grossing out your guests, but that is what Halloween is all about! To see how to make these mini brains,

Turkey Chili Two Ways — Beginner & Expert

partysugar — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 15:30:00 -0700

In my opinion, every home cook should know how to make a good chili. With its hearty beans and spicy sauce, it's a comforting American classic that can be served at many different functions, so it's insane not to have a recipe (or three) in your repertoire. It's easy to adjust the quantity of a chili recipe, it travels well, and the stuff is a genuine crowd pleaser. If you are short on time and skill, try my beginner recipe, and if you have time to soak the beans over night, practice with the expert recipe. Choose which one suits your needs when you

Happy Birthday Emeril!

partysugar — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 01:15:59 -0700

Today is celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse's 48th birthday. Emeril is known for his exuberant personality, energetic catch phrases, and his Creole, Cajun and Portuguese cooking styles. To celebrate his birthday, I've put together a little quiz. Take it now to see how much you know about Emeril and his empire.

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Back To School Dessert: Apple Crisp To Go

partysugar — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 15:43:22 -0700

Ah, apple crisp. It's my favorite fall dessert and is sublimely simple and absolutely delicious. Apples mixed with sugar, cinnamon, and butter make for an old fashioned, comforting dessert. Apple crisp is tasty when warm, at room temperature, and even cold, so pack it up and surprise your kids or spouse by placing this treat in their lunchbox. It would also make a nice finish to a picnic, and a great addition to a tailgate menu. Get the recipe now when you

What Do Chefs Feed Their Children?

YumSugar — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 15:59:31 -0700

Ever wonder if the children of famous chefs eat better than yours (or you for that matter)? This past weekend Parade magazine ran an article where five well-known chefs discuss what they put in their children's lunches.

Surprisingly, while wonderfully delicious and healthy, their tips are actually effortless and easy to recreate in your own kitchen. Wolfgang Puck opts for cold pre-pressed paninis, while Emeril Lagasse — whose children seemed the most adventurous — suggests shrimp spring rolls with fresh veggies.

However my favorite quote comes from Tyler Florence who sends his son Miles to school with wraps filled with grilled veggies and goat cheese.

"If he happens to trade what I made for him when he gets to school, it’s a great way to break the ice with the girls."

How adorable is that?!

To eat like Tyler and his son do, check out the recipe for Tyler's BLT with a Twist,

Let's Eat Cake: Coconut Cream Cake

partysugar — Mon, 14 May 2007 13:18:39 -0700

The last few cakes I've made have been totally heavy on chocolate, peanut butter, and ganache. Therefore I'm totally in the mood to make a light, fluffy, creamy white cake - with coconut! It's a little early for piña colada, but in a cake it's perfect for the middle of May. The flavor of coconut always makes me think of summer and I can't refuse a smooth cream cheese frosting (it's my favorite kind of frosting). If you don't like pecans, simply omit them from both the cake and the icing. If you're in the mood for coconut cake - like I am - then please,

Root Beer Heaven

partysugar — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 15:58:31 -0700

When I lived in Spain for two years, one of the things I missed most was root beer. This is quite odd because I'm not a huge root beer drinker, although I have been known to have one every few months with a hot dog or in the form of a root beer float. Anyways, when my dad became friends with a young American who worked on a US army base in Spain, he offered to buy me some root beer from the base so I could enjoy a taste of home. That night I had the best root beer float ever. The simple combination of vanilla ice cream with the sweet almost syrupy fizzy soda (I call it soda) is to die for. Throw in a few bananas and a tiny bit of bourbon and you'll have one floating sundae. Dying to dive into a root beer float? Get the recipe and

Food Network Awards

YumSugar — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 11:58:32 -0800

For the last six years, the South Beach Wine & Food Festival is a big deal in the foodie world. It's a "star-studded" event that keeps growing year after year. This year the event, which is sponsored by the Food Network, has a new feature to offer: the "first-ever Food Network Awards." The event, which takes place on February 23, will be hosted by Emeril Lagasse and will honor "achievements in the world of food and entertaining."

Some of the presenters include Catherine Zeta Jones & Aaron Eckhart (they're in an upcoming film called "No Reservations" a remake of "Mostly Martha," a European film about a chef) as well as all the usual Food Network stars (Rachael, Giada, Bobby, Paula, Alton, and everyone's favorite Sandra Lee).

To learn more, including what kind of awards they're giving - and surprisingly they're actually food awards and not just Food Network based awards -

Sunday Dinner: Ham with Bourbon and Coca-Cola

YumSugar — Sun, 11 Feb 2007 00:11:08 -0800

When I was younger, ham was usually something reserved for Christmas or Easter. Occasionally, my parents would make one at some other time of the year, and I always found it to be a tasty treat. In fact, I love it so much, I say we have it any time of the year! A nice juicy ham definitely takes a little time, but it's actually quite simple, you just have to be committed. To check out PartySugar's favorite ham recipe (which involves bourbon & Coca-cola and will go great with her Champagne Risotto),