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Name That Dish!

YumSugar — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 16:00:27 -0700

If you were throwing a Technicolor Luau like Party's planning with FabSugar, you could impress guests with this deep-fried seafood appetizer that's a quintessential part of tiki culture and cuisine. Can you name it?

Are You Comfortable Cooking Live Seafood?

YumSugar — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 11:45:06 -0700

Since now's the ideal time to consume copious amounts of shore food, it's only natural that I've come across a good share of recipes for freshly steamed lobsters served with drawn butter or wok-fried crabs tossed in garlic sauce. But I've got a confession to make: Although I frequently cook and eat the fruits of the sea, I've never actually prepared live seafood. Why? Because I'm slightly afraid of getting pinched by monster claws (anyone seen Annie Hall?), or ending a crustacean's life in a way that's less than humane. Do you feel the same?

Noteworthy Nibbles - July 7-14, 2009

YumSugar — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 14:00:31 -0700

July's biggest holiday may have come and gone, but there's still so much to celebrate in the realm of Summer eats - whether it's salmon, sandwiches, or super-sized ketchup. Next Tuesday, don't forget to raise your glass to France's independence day. I plan to hightail it straight to my nearest French bistro to enjoy some moules frites. What are your plans for Bastille Day?

If you know if anything else that's going on, please feel free to chime in below.

Traverse City, MI: National Cherry Festival - July 4-11
New Orleans, LA: Tales of the Cocktail - July 8-12
Hollywood, FL: Slow Food Glades to Coast Hot Tropical Night - July 9
Cordova, AK: Copper River Wild Salmon Festival - July 9-11
Park Ridge, IL: Taste of Park Ridge - July 9-11
Pleasanton, CA: Alameda County Fair's Rib Cook-Off - July 9-12

To see the rest, read more.

Brentwood, CA: Brentwood Cornfest - July 10-12
Cambridge, MA: Taste of Cambridge - July 11
Bedford, VA: Horse and Hound Wine Festival - July 11
Sandwich, MA: SandwichFest - July 11
Los Altos, CA: Los Altos Arts and Wine Festival - July 11-12
Coral Gables, FL: International Mango Festival - July 11-12
Buffalo, NY: Taste of Buffalo - July 11-12
Santa Barbara, CA: Santa Barbara French Festival - July 11-12
Collinsville, IL: World's Largest Catsup Bottle Festival - July 12
Providence, RI: Rhode Island's World of Flavors - July 12
Seattle, WA: Seattle Chocolate Salon - July 12
Los Angeles, CA: Bastille Day Los Angeles - July 12
Athens, OH: Ohio Brew Week - July 12-18
New York, NY: Softshell Crab Extravaganza - July 13
New York, NY: Bastille Day on 60th Street - July 13
New York, NY: Bastille Day: La Fête Nationale - July 14

Source

Crab Cakes Are an All-American, Unexpected Appetizer

partysugar — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 09:00:25 -0700

Since your guests are anticipating an array of grilled and classic appetizers that scream Fourth of July, this weekend, why not do something different? Surprise them with a platter of mini crab cakes! They're a luxurious appetizer and all-American favorite.

While I've never met a crab cake I didn't like, when I make them at home, I prefer to use a traditional Maryland-style recipe. My grandfather was born in Baltimore and his cakes are always wildly delicious, but insanely simple. Stirring in too many seasonings takes away from the pure flavor of the crab. Garnished with a dollop of garlicky aioli, these cakes are light and satisfying, and pair with everything from a glass of wine to an icy beer.

They're exceptional with fresh crab; however, if you don't have access to it, Costco sells a stellar can of crabmeat. Get the recipe.

Fast & Easy Dinner: Macaroni and Brie With Crab

partysugar — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 06:50:17 -0700

Feeling nostalgic? Treat yourself to a decadently grown-up version of the classic childhood favorite macaroni and cheese. Oozing melted brie and fresh flaky crabmeat are luxurious ingredients that turn this ordinary pasta into a restaurant quality dish. Just because the elements are fancy doesn't mean this meal will take forever to make. These gourmet individually sized mac and cheeses will be ready in under an hour. Get the recipe when you read more.

Macaroni and Brie With Crab
From Better Homes and Gardens

Ingredients

1 medium sweet onion, halved and thinly sliced
5 Tbsp. butter
1 lb. dried medium shell pasta
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
3 cups milk
1 lb. Brie cheese, trimmed and chopped (reserve 8 small wedges for topping, if desired)
2 6- to 6.5-oz. cans lump crabmeat, drained, flaked, and cartilage removed
3 slices firm white bread, torn into large pieces

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly coat eight 14-to 16-ounce individual baking dishes with cooking spray; set aside.
In large skillet cook onion in butter over medium-low heat about 15 minutes or until tender and golden brown, stirring occasionally. Meanwhile, cook pasta according to package directions; drain and return to pan.
Add flour, salt, and pepper to onion in skillet; stir until combined, about 1 minute. Add milk all at once. Cook and stir until slightly thickened and bubbly.
Gradually add chopped cheese; cook over medium-low heat until cheese melts. Stir into pasta. Fold in crab. Transfer to baking dishes.
Place bread pieces in food processor; cover and process to coarse crumbs. Sprinkle crumbs over pasta mixture.
Bake, uncovered, 20 to 25 minutes or until heated through and crumbs are golden brown. If desired, add a wedge of Brie to each dish the last 5 minutes of baking time.

Serves 8.

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Fast & Easy Dinner: Red Chowder With Leek, Corn, and Crab

partysugar — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 06:50:07 -0700

Delight your family with this divine chowder recipe. The salty porkiness of the bacon is balanced by the oceanic freshness of the crabmeat, making for a soup that is filling and well-balanced.

It's also chock-full of vegetables - potatoes, leeks, red pepper, corn - which means it's a meal in a bowl.

Don't be intimidated by the long ingredient list; this chowder really is a cinch to throw together. Get the recipe now when you read more.

Red Chowder With Leek, Corn, and Crab
From Every Day With Rachael Ray

Ingredients

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
4 slices thick-cut bacon, chopped
2 large baking potatoes - peeled, halved lengthwise, and thinly sliced crosswise
2 leeks, split lengthwise and sliced 1/2 inch thick
4 ribs celery with leafy tops, chopped
1 bay leaf
Salt and freshly ground pepper
Half of a red bell pepper, chopped
2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme
1/2 cup dry sherry
One 32-ounce container (4 cups) chicken broth
One 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
2 cups frozen corn kernels
12 ounces lump crabmeat, picked over for pieces of shell
2 tablespoons Old Bay Seasoning
A generous handful of fresh flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
2 to 3 tablespoons chopped chives
Grated peel of 1 lemon or orange
Oyster crackers, optional for serving

Directions

In a soup pot, heat the oil, over medium-high heat. Add the bacon and cook until it renders fat and crisps at the edges, about 5 minutes.
Add the potatoes, leeks, celery and bay leaf, season with salt and pepper and cook for 5 minutes.
Stir in the red bell pepper and thyme, then stir in the sherry and reduce for 1 minute.
Stir in the chicken broth, tomatoes, corn, crabmeat and Old Bay Seasoning and simmer until potatoes are tender, 10 to 15 minutes.
Combine the parsley, chives and lemon peel and sprinkle over the chowder. Pass oyster crackers around the table.

Serves 4.

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'Wich of the Week: Dungeness Crab Roll

YumSugar — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 14:00:41 -0800

Crab season is a big deal in San Francisco, and if you've ever tackled a whole crab to extract the sweet, succulent meat, then you understand what the fuss is about. Since we're right in the middle of Dungeness Crab Week, I'm celebrating with a New England-style crab roll filled to the brim with fresh Pacific crabmeat.You could put crabmeat on pretty much anything and I'd eat it (I'm still drooling over this salad). I devoured the sandwich version at a New England-style seafood joint in SF called Woodhouse Fish Company.

The rainy-day-appropriate restaurant uses the split-top rolls popular in New England then fills them with Dungeness crabmeat that's West Coast all the way. But these are easy to make at home: The key is finding the freshest, most delicious crabmeat possible. To get the recipe, read more.

New England Crab Rolls
From Bon Appétit

The recipe calls for any kind of crabmeat, but if you can get access to in-season Dungeness, go with that. If not, any kind of fresh crab will do.

Ingredients

6 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon grated lemon peel
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
3/4 pound fresh crabmeat, picked over
3 tablespoons finely chopped green onions
2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) butter, room temperature
4 hot dog buns, sides split open
4 red leaf or Bibb lettuce leaves

Directions

Whisk together mayonnaise, lemon juice, lemon peel, and cayenne pepper in medium bowl. Mix in crabmeat and chopped green onions. Season crab salad to taste with salt and pepper.
Spread butter on insides of hot dog buns. Warm large skillet over medium heat 1 minute. Place buns, buttered side down, in preheated skillet and toast until golden, about 5 minutes.
Place 2 toasted buns on each of 2 plates. Place 1 lettuce leaf inside each bun. Divide crab salad among buns and serve.

Makes 2 sandwiches.

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Reader Recipe: Tropical Crab Salad

YumSugar — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 15:00:14 -0800

It's Dungeness crab season right now in San Francisco, and I can't wait to take advantage of the extremely fresh catch. After seeing TeamSugar member lengel's recipe for tropical crab salad, I already know what I'll be making with my crabmeat. With ingredients such as mangoes, avocados, cilantro, and radicchio, the salad looks crunchy, sweet, savory, bright, and zesty all at the same time. To see the healthy recipe, read more.

Submitted by TeamSugar member lengel

Healthy & Easy Crab Salad
Elie Kruger The Food You Crave

I stumbled upon this easy crab salad while flipping through Ellie Krieger's cookbook The Food You Crave. If you don't already own this book I suggest you snag one for your cookbook collection. It's full of awesome recipes that are lighter and healthier, yet oh so yummy.

Ingredients

For the Salad
1/2 pound lump crab meat, picked over for shells and cartilage
1 stalk celery, finely diced (1/4 cup)
1/2 cup peeled and finely diced ripe mango
1/4 cup thinly sliced scallions
2 tablespoons coarsely chopped cilantro
1/4 cup coarsely chopped radicchio

For the Dressing
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 teaspoon finely grated lime zest
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
2 tablespoons olive oil

Directions
In a medium sized bowl, gently toss together the crab with the celery, mango, scallions, cilantro and radicchio. For the dressing, in a small bowl whisk together the lime juice, lime zest, salt, pepper and red pepper flakes. Next, slowly whisk in the olive oil until an emulsion begins. Add the dressing to the salad and gently toss to combine.

Served any way you like!

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Noteworthy Nibbles - Feb. 24-Mar. 2, 2009

YumSugar — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 14:00:30 -0800

With Mardi Gras parades and festivals going on today across the country and a handful of restaurant weeks still going strong, this week's a great time to pay a visit to your favorite food events: If you live anywhere nearby, celebrate dungeness crab season in Northern California, as well as the beginning of Florida's strawberry season. And if you're attending the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, perhaps I'll see you there!

Got any fine food events that you see left off this list? If so, chime in below. Will you be going to any of this week's events?

New Orleans, LA: New Orleans Mardi Gras - Feb. 24
St. Louis, MO: St. Louis Mardi Gras - Feb. 24
New York, NY: NYC Restaurant Week - Feb. 24-27
Chicago, IL: Chicago Restaurant Week - Feb. 24-27
Orange County, CA: Orange County Restaurant Week - Feb. 24-28
San Francisco, CA: Dungeness Crab Week - Feb. 24-Mar. 1
Houston, TX: Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo Championship Bar-B-Que Contest - Feb. 26-28
Minneapolis, MN: Minnesota Monthly Food & Wine Experience - Feb. 26-Mar. 1

To see the rest, read more.

Plant City, FL: Florida Strawberry Festival - Feb. 26-Mar. 8
Albuquerque, NM: Fiery Foods & BBQ Show - Feb. 27-Mar. 1
New York, NY: New York Wine Expo - Feb. 27-28
Boca Raton, FL: Boca Bacchanal - Feb. 27-Mar. 1
San Francisco, CA: San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition - Feb. 28
San Francisco, CA: 7th Annual Celebrity Crab Fest - Feb. 28
Comstock Park, MI: Winter Beer Festival - Feb. 28
Grant, FL: Grant Seafood Festival - Feb. 28-Mar. 1
New Orleans, LA: Culinary Inspired Seasonal Mixology - Mar. 2

Have You Ever Been to a Crab Feed?

partysugar — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 06:50:56 -0800