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YumSugar Gift Guide: The Farmers Market Mother

partysugar — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 10:15:57 -0800

Wondering what to get your mother this year? Encourage her to head to the farmers market with a hook-and-go cart. She can hang her reusable totes packed with fresh produce and products on the side hooks.

If she's too busy to make it to the market bring the farmers to her with a community shared agriculture box. Each week local, in-season fruit and vegetables will be delivered to her door!

For more gift ideas, browse the selection below. Check out all the gift guides on HolidaySugar.

Trend Alert: The Casserole's Back

YumSugar — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 08:00:55 -0800

Casserole has long had a bad rap, but after many years, it appears to be shedding its negative image and staging a comeback.

These hot entrées hit their pinnacle of popularity in the 1960s, when housewives relied on the easy formula to put dinner on the table. Over the years, however, people grew to associate the word casserole with unappetizing mixtures of mystery meats and canned soups, and casseroles went the way of the tape player. Enter the current economic crisis, and casserole dishes have been reappearing everywhere. To see why,

Enter to Win a TasteBook!

partysugar — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 15:05:06 -0800

Wouldn't you love to have all of your favorite recipes bound in one fabulous, personalized cookbook? Just in time for Thanksgiving, we're partnering with TasteBook to give away three custom-made recipe books in the month of November. TasteBook is an online service that lets you create a personalized book of recipes. You can search the site's database (with recipes from countless professional sources like Epicurious, Food and Wine, and Better Homes and Gardens) or upload your family's favorites. You select 100 recipes, then TasteBook prints them out, binds them in a book, and sends you the finished product! If you don't have time to choose your own recipes, you can choose from a variety of already-made collections.To enter to win the first of three TasteBook giveaways, you must log in and take the TasteBook quiz below. Your eligibility is not based on getting the answers correct, just by completing the quiz once you are logged in. You do, however, need to be a TeamSugar member, and you must log in before taking the quiz. If you're not already a member, register here for an account. One quiz entry per person, as all repeat quizzes will be ignored.

The contest is open to US residents only and ends on Friday, Nov. 7, at 5 p.m. PST. Next week there will be another quiz to win the second book. Click here for official rules. Enjoy and good luck!

Five Trustworthy Thanksgiving Cookbooks

YumSugar — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 05:30:34 -0700

I know Halloween isn't over yet, but to wrap up National Cookbook Month, I thought I'd give you suggestions for the perfect Thanksgiving cookbook. The key to tackling one of the year's biggest holidays is choosing the right recipes that work for you, so that on the big day, you have more time to spend with your family and friends. Here are five favorites that will get you excited for turkey day.

Tyler Florence's 7 Kitchen Essentials

YumSugar — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 13:00:07 -0700

Yesterday, I dropped by a Macy's Culinary Council event to see Food Network star Tyler Florence. He was kicking off the tour for his two latest books, Stirring the Pot and Dinner at My Place. He talked to a packed audience about his recent move to California, his upcoming plans in the television, wine, and restaurant industries. My favorite part of the discussion, however, was when Tyler talked kitchen essentials.

"I can cook a meal on the top of a car in a junkyard," he declared. He believes anyone can cook with seven essential kitchen tools:

Skillet, for omelets and eggs
Saucepan, for soups and sauces
Larger pot for cooking steaks, tenderloin, and pork chops
Chef's knife, for cutting meat and vegetables
Paring knife, for cutting fruit and smaller items
Bread knife, with serrated edges
Cutting board, for all purposes

Not only were Tyler's tips helpful for those who are new to cooking, but he also demonstrated that one doesn't need to have a bunch of fancy tools to cook a fabulous meal. Are your kitchen essentials the same as Tyler's?

Source

Must-Read: Matthew Mead Halloween Tricks and Treats

partysugar — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 15:00:08 -0700

Move over Martha Stewart, there's a new kid on the crafty Halloween block, and his name is Matthew Mead. Mead is a producer, stylist, and author whose creative work has appeared in numerous publications including InStyle Weddings. To see what I thought of his Halloween Tricks and Treats ($19) book,

What's Cooking at Slashfood

partysugar — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 04:00:33 -0700

We love Slashfood so much that every Thursday we round up their most delicious stories. Here are this week's finds:

Learn how to get free drinks at your local watering hole.
75 percent frosting, 25 percent cake!
Do you write notes in your cookbooks?
The New York Yankees and Dallas Cowboys want you to eat better when at the ballpark.
Radicchio is in season; it pairs perfectly with raisins and pine nuts.
How important is it to preheat your oven?
It's a great time to enjoy pumpkin ale.

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Must-Read: Williams-Sonoma Soup

YumSugar — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 11:15:48 -0700

Although I've always been a fan of eating soup year-round, now that the weather has cooled down a bit, soup is a regular part of my meal rotation. That was my logic behind acquiring Williams-Sonoma Soup ($16.95). To see my thoughts on the cookbook,

What's Cooking at Slashfood

partysugar — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 03:00:52 -0700

An Ohio congressman thought a bag of bacon was a bomb.
As the economy spirals downward, cookbook sales increase.
A giant cranberry bog has taken over Rockefeller Center.
Would you pay $200 for a cookbook?
Eight scrumptious sweet potato pie recipes.
Don't let them freeze: bring herbs indoors to survive Winter.
Wheeled grocery store baskets lighten your load and your wallet.

Source

Must-Read: Giada's Kitchen

partysugar — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 12:30:08 -0700

Last week Giada De Laurentiis fourth cookbook, Giada's Kitchen ($32) hit bookshelves. The book release coincided with the relaunch of her website, Giadadelaurentiis.com. I was lucky enough to get my hands on a copy of the glossy hardback with Tiffany-blue interior. Yesterday I spent some time reading the book — which is full of pretty pictures and delicious-sounding recipes — to see what I thought of it,