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Come Party With Me: Bold Flavorful Thanksgiving - Menu

partysugar — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 07:50:48 -0800

Are you sick of the same old, boring Thanksgiving recipes? Then this year, why not shake things up and serve a menu that is bold, flavorful, and eye-catching? Start with fried polenta bites with spicy chorizo. The focal point is a vibrantly colored turkey coated in adobo and red-chile gravy. On the side: cornbread stuffing, chile scalloped sweet potatoes, cranberry citrus compote, and olive oil mashed potatoes with manchego cheese.

While the traditional elements are there, each of these recipes has a slight twist making them oh-so-modern. Use all to host a memorable meal or incorporate one or two into your menu. The recipes, after the jump.

Iron Chef America Goes to the White House

partysugar — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 10:15:28 -0800

Last month Bobby Flay, Emeril Lagasse, and Mario Batali headed to the White House. The chefs filmed a two-hour special of Iron Chef America that will open the upcoming season of Iron Chef on Jan. 3.

First Lady Michelle Obama got in on the fun, challenging the chefs to create a meal for America using only ingredients grown in the White House garden.

According to his Twitter, Flay joins forces with the White House chef Cristeta Comerford to battle Lagasse and Batali. The judges are a trio of females, chef Nigella Lawson, actress Jane Seymour, and swimmer Natalie Coughlin. Longtime host Alton Brown provides his usual enthusiastic commentary.

Over the past year the White House garden has spent plenty of time in the spotlight and I'm excited to get a better look at it on Iron Chef. How about you? Will you tune in?

Chicken Posole Two Ways - Beginner and Expert

YumSugar — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 05:50:53 -0700

I don't often throw big blowouts like Party does, but I still love an excuse to celebrate in my own way. So, to honor Mexican Independence Day (which just happens to be today - olé!), I'm making a spicy soup called chicken posole. With chicken broth, roasted chicken, hominy, and chiles, this rustic stew is down-home, South-of-the-border cooking at its best. Since I'm preparing ahead, I'll be putting together an elaborate rendition with homemade chicken stock, flash-fried tortilla strips, and pureéd ancho chiles, but in the future, when another posole craving inevitably strikes, I'll reach for a similar two-step recipe that does the trick, too. Decide which recipe's best for you

Rachael Ray, Ina Garten Nab Daytime Emmys

YumSugar — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 15:00:22 -0700

Rachael Ray, Bobby Flay, and Ina Garten took home top honors at the 36th Annual Daytime Emmys on Saturday night.

For the second year in a row, Rachael Ray won the outstanding talk-show prize for Rachael Ray, her daytime TV spot. Grill It! With Bobby Flay took home the award for best culinary program, beating out Barefoot Contessa, Giada at Home, Gourmet's Diary of a Foodie, and Simply Ming. But Ina Garten had her time to shine, too, prevailing with the award of outstanding lifestyle host for Barefoot, an honor bestowed on Giada De Laurentiis last year for her show, Everyday Italian.

But Giada De Laurentiis didn't go home empty-handed, either. Her newest project, Giada at Home, won for directing in a lifestyle program. Food Network's only Susan Lucci of the bunch? Sandra Lee, who lost both her nods - one in outstanding achievement in hairstyling and the other for makeup - to The View. Judging by her ultrapolished, Barbie-esque look at the awards, however, perhaps the Academy should reassess. Are you surprised to hear who the winners are?

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Say Cheese! Corn and Cotija Salad

partysugar — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 10:30:08 -0700

Cotija (pronounced co-tee-ha) is an aged, hard cow's milk cheese native to Mexico. It has a strong, salty flavor and firm quality that's ideal for grating or crumbling. Cotija is packaged and sold in blocks (or rounds) and sometimes comes pregrated. On the tongue, cotija is dry and grainy, thus it's employed to add texture to traditional Mexican dishes. To find out how I used it in this snappy corn salad, read more.

Cotija isn't much of a melting cheese, but the small shards stick to the corn kernels and provide a rich salty creaminess to this salad. Ancho chili powder packs a spicy punch, while lime juice gives a zesty tartness to the recipe. It's an excellent side to grilled steak and for a scrumptious and substantial lunch, serve over greens with avocado.

Corn and Cotija Salad
From Bobby Flay

Ingredients

8 ears fresh corn, silks removed, husk on, soaked in cold water 30 minutes
Canola oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup creme fraiche
2 limes, juiced and 1 zested
1 tablespoons ancho chili powder
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
1/4 cup grated cotija cheese

Directions

Heat grill to high. Grill corn until charred on all sides, 10 or so minutes.* Take off the grill and remove the kernels with a sharp knife.
While you are cutting the corn, put a cast iron skillet on the grill to heat.
Add the corn and the remaining ingredients to the hot pan and cook, stirring occasionally, until creamy and heated through.

Serves 8.

*When I made this dish, instead of grilling it, I opted to roast the corn in the oven at 450°F for 30 minutes.

Print recipe with images | without images

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Yummy Links: From Bobby Flay to Chicken McConfit

partysugar — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 06:50:23 -0700

Bobby Flay may be the world's worst horse race caller. - Grub Street
Find out where Bernie Madoff used to eat. - Eater
Got old school photos of your parents partying? Send them here. - Keggers of Yore
The nation's top 10 food trucks. - GQ
Must make: caramelized onion, potato, and blue cheese tart. - Serious Eats
Ten ways to barter for food. - Chow
Meet Rani Cheema, the lady who makes the Food Network's fake food labels. - Sunny Anderson
The latest trend to hit the beverage scene? Bartenders who farm. - Gourmet
Learn how to turn chicken McNuggets into chicken McConfit. - The Feedbag

Happy Hour: Watermelon-Tequila Cocktails

partysugar — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 16:00:45 -0700

Since today is National Tequila Day (cheers!), I thought I'd share my latest obsession with you. While I'm a huge fan of the classic margarita combination of tequila and fresh-squeezed lime juice, it pales in comparison to the delightful pairing that is watermelon juice and tequila. I'm so crazy about this dynamic duo that I've already made three different cocktails with it. The one seen here - my current fav - is a mixture of watermelon, tequila, mint, blueberries, and lime juice. With its sweet, minty flavor, refreshing thirst-quenching quality, and beautiful blushing color, this cocktail is almost perfect. I say almost because it's far too easy to drink. A problem that's quickly solved with a generous float of tequila. To get the party, or the weekend, started, make this drink tonight

Move Over Cabbage, Jicama Takes Coleslaw

YumSugar — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 16:00:41 -0700

Every Fourth of July, I make the ultimate burger. This year I slathered my burger with homemade mustard and ketchup and covered it with a crunchy jicama slaw. If you are not keen on coleslaw as a condiment, it's also a refreshing and crunchy side dish for hot Summer days. A complex slaw, this recipe doesn't exclusively use jicama, but combines radishes, carrots, bell peppers, and cucumbers in a sweet and spicy dressing. Although it's simple, it does take time to prepare - many of the vegetables are grated. It goes fast with one person grating and another chopping, so get someone to help you out (like I did!). To make this colorful and crisp Summer slaw, keep reading.

Bobby Flay Shares Suggestions For Making Supreme Burgers

YumSugar — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 09:00:49 -0700

Although he'd just given President Obama a lesson on grilling steaks, Bobby Flay was back on the burger track at his seminar in Aspen, where, like fellow Iron Chef Michael Symon, he had plenty of his own venting to do. "I've never met a vegetarian burger that I like," he declared, as he wowed the crowd with a Cheyenne burger (barbecue sauce, bacon, cheddar, and onion rings), garlic-parsley bistro fries, and a chocolate milkshake. "And I can't stand a cheeseburger that's not fully melted." To right all the world's burger wrongs, Bobby offered plenty of pointers for plating the perfect burger patty. Be burger-equipped for the holiday weekend when you read more

Yum's July Must Haves

partysugar — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 05:50:07 -0700

With the arrival of July, it's safe to say that Summer is in full swing. Currently I'm obsessed with hearty salads, planning picnics, eating outdoors, and homemade ice cream. I've rounded up the month's most important items - I either can't live without them or I'm dying to get my hands on them. In order to enjoy a spectacular July, here's what you must have.

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