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Soup's On: Sweet Pea Soup

partysugar — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 12:33:31 -0700

I couldn't let St. Patrick's Day pass without making a vibrantly green soup. This soup gets its brilliant color from peas. The recipe involves minimal chopping so it's super simple to make. The texture is smooth and velvety, and the flavor is rich and comforting. This soup would be an elegant starter to a St. Patrick's Day dinner or Spring-themed shower. To make it vegetarian, substitute vegetable broth for chicken broth. To see how I made it,

Come Party With Me: Chinese New Year — Drinks

partysugar — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 14:28:31 -0800

Kick-start your Chinese New Year dinner party with an elegant cocktail. A lychee martini is sophisticated, cool, and festively flirty. When you sit down to dinner offer guests a dry Riesling, fruity Sauvignon Blanc, or crisp Chenin Blanc; all would pair nicely with the menu. If you really want to serve a red, look for a light, smooth Pinot Noir. Don't forget water and sparkling water. A refreshing option for non drinkers is lemonade. To see the recipe for the lychee martini,

Come Party With Me: Fall Dinner - Drinks

partysugar — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 06:57:13 -0700

To salute fall's arrival, I will make a big pitcher of a signature cocktail for my fall dinner party. The cocktail, an orange tequila concoction, has the gorgeous color of an autumn sunset. Make the cocktail an hour or two before the party starts. When guests arrive all you have to do is shake over ice and strain into the prepared champagne flutes.

Get several bottles of the same wine — one white and one red — to pair with dinner. When pairing wine with roast chicken, pay attention to the chicken's seasonings — in my case it's lots of fresh herbs, so a Cabernet Sauvignon or a Barbera would suffice. A delicate and buttery Chardonnay is an excellent choice for a white. At dinner, pour guests a cool glass of water with orange slices and rosemary sprigs.

For the recipe to the orange tequila cocktail please,

Come Party With Me: Housewarming Party - Drinks

partysugar — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 14:28:39 -0700

Much like the christening of a boat, to start the celebration off at your housewarming party, pop open a bottle of champagne and invite everyone to join you in a toast to your future in the new house. Guests can enjoy the glass as you show them around the space. Once the game night portion of the party gets started, offer an assortment of beers, wines, and a big bowl of "player's punch." Serve the watermelon punch in a pitcher because it will be easier to pour while playing games. Also be sure to pour the drinks in to real glasses (you registered for them so might as well use them!). A nice, light red - such as Beaujolais - or a crisp white unoaked Chardonnay will pair nicely with the pizzas. For those who do not drink alcohol, sparkling water on the rocks spiked with fresh watermelon puree and slices of cucumber or mint makes a festive and refreshing mocktail. You'll find the player's punch recipe after the break, so

Yummy Link: Tyler Says "I Do"

YumSugar — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 06:28:19 -0700

Since we're in high wedding mode here at the Sugar Network, it would be a shame if I didn't point out the fact that celebrity chef Tyler Florence's wedding was highlighted in the latest InStyle Wedding Magazine. I found the full InStyle article on Tyler's website, but here are a few gems and classic FNA catty commentary. - Food Network Addict

Today's Special: Easy Chicken Potpies

YumSugar — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 09:02:31 -0800

Comfort Foods have made a real comeback in the past few years at some of the nation's top restaurants. Never one to overlook a trend, I like to make my own variations at home, adapting my grandma's recipes to suit today's palate. Tonight I'm making an easy chicken potpie that uses frozen vegetables and puff pastry instead of pie crust. I ripped this recipe out of an Instyle magazine way back in January of 2002. To make this for your family