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Yummy Links: From Food Photography to Budget Weddings

partysugar — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 07:45:36 -0700

Tips for taking the most beautiful food photos. — Vegan Yum Yum
Learn how to participate in a hunger challenge. — Cooking With Amy
Simple and delicious: Asian pear and gouda grilled cheese sandwich. — Chow
More on Hershey's chocolate's new formula. — Candy Blog
Chopping chocolate is easy if you use a serrated knife.— The Kitchn
Hold a bake sale for kids' cancer.— The Epi-Log
Why do Italian noodles cost a lot more than their Chinese counterparts? — Serious Eats
Breakfast ideas to keep you full until lunch.— FitSugar
Tricks for keeping your wedding menu costs to a minimum. — InStyle Weddings

Taste Test: Crunch vs. Krackel

partysugar — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 11:15:01 -0700

Last Friday after hearing the news that Hershey's had changed its chocolate formula, YumSugar and I decided to perform a taste test. Luckily we had the perfect place to host a chocolate taste test — CasaSugar's space at Park(ing) Day! For the taste test, we pitted Nestle's Crunch against Hershey's Krackel. To check out the taste test in action watch the video below!

Get Flash to see this player.

To see the results,

Do You Know White Chocolate?

partysugar — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 03:00:59 -0700

Happy national white chocolate day! To celebrate this delicious day, I've put together a quiz that tests your white chocolate knowledge. Ready? Go!

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Hershey's Switching to Cheaper Ingredients

YumSugar — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 13:00:15 -0700

Hit by the worsening economy and the rising costs of raw materials, candy giant Hershey's has not only raised candy prices, but has also begun replacing cocoa butter, the ingredient that allegedly gives Hershey's candies their delicious flavor, with vegetable oil.

The formulas of candy products such as Whatchamacallit, Milk Duds, Mr. Goodbar, and Krackel, among other candies, have been changed. Since experts say that the change was meant to go unnoticed by consumers, why the copy edit? Because without cocoa butter, FDA rules will not allow the product to be called milk chocolate.

The new formula has little impact on the nutritional value of the chocolate, and a Today Show blind taste test showed that half of the consumers actually preferred the new vegetable oil formulations. Fans after the taste of authentic milk chocolate can still find the real deal in Hershey's Kisses, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, and the classic Hershey's chocolate bar. If in doubt, avoid labels that read "chocolate candy," "chocolaty," or "made with chocolate."

What do you think of this news? If you eat Hershey's candies often, have you noticed a difference? Do you feel cheated by the news of cocoa butter being removed?

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Theirs vs. Mine: Chocolate Caramel Cream Pie

partysugar — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 08:00:59 -0700

With its cookie crust, cool filling, and fluffy topping, who can say no to a slice of chocolate caramel cream pie? I should have taken advantage of Summer's glorious fruits, but honestly I prefer cream pies. Just writing the name makes my mouth water and entices images of pillowy whipped cream. The chocolate pudding filling is like a glossy pool, you can't resist diving in with your spoon.

As you can tell from my photo, patience is not one of my virtues. The pie needed more time to set, and although the flavor was pure, rich deliciousness, it was a tad soupy. To experiment with your own scrumptious pie,

Noteworthy Nibbles — Sept. 9-15, 2008

YumSugar — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 14:00:41 -0700

Events are all over the map this week, especially in New York and California. As usual, there's no shortage of festivals for the oenophile. The other activities, however, really demonstrate our country's appreciation for regional American foods, from shellfish on the Eastern seaboard to kolaches in Texas.

New York, NY: A Taste of the Village — Sept. 10
Murphysboro, IL: Murphysboro Apple Festival — Sept. 10-14
San Diego, CA: Spirits of Mexico — Sept. 11-13
Traverse City, MI: Traverse Epicurean Classic — Sept. 11-13
Charlotte, NC: Charlotte Shout Blues, Brews, & BBQ — Sept. 12-13
Grapevine, TX: Grapevine's GrapeFest — Sept. 11-14
Greenville, SC: Euphoria — Sept. 11-14

To see the rest,

Noteworthy Nibbles — Sept. 3-8, 2008

YumSugar — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 10:20:43 -0700

This week's so packed to the brim with festivals nationwide, you couldn't avoid one if you tried. There are food and wine classics all across the East Coast, and here in the West, we're planning on dropping by the chocolate festival in our neck of the woods. If we've left anything out, please chime in below.

Brigham City, UT: Peach Days — Sept. 3-6
Saratoga Springs, NY: Saratoga Wine & Food Festival — Sept. 4-6
Marion, OH: Marion Popcorn Festival — Sept. 4-6
Columbus, OH: Columbus Food & Wine Affair — Sept. 5
Chicago, IL: Windy City Wine Festival — Sept. 5-6
St. Louis, MO: Norton Wine Festival — Sept. 5-6

To see the rest,

Have Your Mint Popsicles and Eat the Stick Too!

YumSugar — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 16:15:28 -0700

Recently we brainstormed the ultimate Popsicle. In my ideal Popsicle, the pesky wooden stick would be replaced with something deliciously edible. I decided to experiment with Pepperidge Farm Pirouettes, a rolled, wafer cookie with cream filling, using the cookie as the stick. The result is an easy and entirely edible Popsicle, inspired by one of my favorite Girl Scout Cookies — Thin Mints! Making the Popsicles was simple: I filled small Dixie cups with ice cream and gently inserted the cookie stick. The chocolate coating proved more difficult. I intended to quickly dip the Popsicles in melted chocolate and crushed mint cookies.

Unfortunately, the chocolate froze faster than I could dip and roll, so I opted for a simple chocolate coating. The wafer sticks come in four flavors, so feel free to choose your favorite cookie/ice cream combination. To learn the technique,

Nutella + Wafer Cookies = Ferrero Rocher Frozen Pie

YumSugar — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 16:15:16 -0700

After drooling over PartySugar’s mojito cakes, I wanted to experiment with my own freezer pie. When searching for a recipe, I remembered one of my favorite frozen dessert cookbooks, Icebox Pies by Lauren Chattman. Since I'm crazy for Nutella, I decided to make her Gianduia Pie. Gianduia is a type of chocolate candy made with hazelnuts or almonds.
I was unable to find chocolate wafer cookies, so I substituted Fudge Stick cookies, a wafer sandwich-cookie covered in chocolate. To my delight, the creamy, chocolately, hazelnut filling and crunchy crust reminded me of delicious Ferrero Rocher chocolates, minus the gold wrapping! Learn how to make this divine yet minimal, no-bake pie when you,

Mars Gives M&M's a Makeover

YumSugar — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 08:08:12 -0700

Hoping to jump on the premium chocolate bandwagon, Mars has launched a brand-new line of M&M's candies called M&M's Premium. These newfangled M&M's are made from an entirely different chocolate recipe and have no candy shell. The chocolates are significantly larger in size and more irregular in shape than milk chocolate M&M's, and are filled on the inside with various flavorings that include white chocolate and mint. The M&M's are coated with a speckled metallic skin that corresponds to one of five flavors: mint chocolate, mocha, triple chocolate, raspberry almond and chocolate almond.

The new M&M's are in stores now, and are sold in a 6-ounce, upright package for $3.99. Have you tried any of the new flavors yet?

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Come Party With Me: Waterpark Party — Desserts

partysugar — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:00:42 -0700

Although we will be splashing around in bathing suits, I want to offer my friends one decadent treat at my waterpark party. A chocolatey brownie — kept cold in a cooler — is deliciously rich.

This wonderful recipe, from our friends at MyRecipes.com, is simple and straightforward. I'm not a fan of walnuts in brownies, so I'll substitute chocolate chips! To learn how to make this portable picnic dessert,

Homemade Chocolate-Covered Bacon

partysugar — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 10:15:33 -0700

A little while back the Internet went crazy for chocolate-covered bacon. Like every bacon lover, I fantasized about tasting the ultimate salty-sweet combination of bacon and chocolate. Instead of hopping in a car and heading to the Santa Cruz store that makes the pork-chocolate treat, I decided to experiment with my own variation. If I've been making chocolate-covered strawberries since I was 13, I can most certainly make chocolate-covered bacon! The process is straightforward: it involves two simple ingredients and an even simpler cooking technique. The result is an oddly delicious dessert with a rich, delicate balance of sugar and smoke. So scrumptious, homemade chocolate-covered bacon is the ultimate edible gift. To see the recipe,

Did This Snickers Commercial Go Too Far?

YumSugar — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 13:00:58 -0700

For the second time in two years, best-selling candybar, Snickers, has found itself in the middle of a controversy surrounding their latest ad campaign. Candy company Mars has yanked the ad from UK airwaves, where it received backlash from gay-rights activists for being homophobic. The commercial featured surly '80s icon, Mr. T, berating a speed-walking man, calling him "a disgrace to the man race." The tagline? "Get some nuts."

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation criticized Mars and its ad agency for perpetuating stereotypes of gay men. Mars issued a statement last night, saying that the commercial was intended to be funny, not offensive.

While I can see how the ad was meant to be funny, it might have taken things too far. After watching the spot below, let me know what you think. Do you feel the ad is cruel and insensitive, or was the whole situation blown out of proportion?

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Come Party With Me: Boy's Birthday — Dessert

partysugar — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 15:00:50 -0700

Although there a tons of different equally delicious desserts out there, for a child's birthday, let them eat cake. Ask the birthday honoree what type of cake they would like to celebrate their big day.

Kenny is a huge fan of Butterfinger candy bars, so this milk chocolate-peanut butter layer cake is perfect for him. It has a crunchy middle layer filled with almonds, peanuts, and rice krispies.

This scrumptiously rich cake is sure to impress any age, so get the recipe and

Reader Recipe: Cream Cheese Stuffed Cupcakes

YumSugar — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 15:00:07 -0700

Cupcakes are one of my favorite things, so I thought I'd died and gone to heaven when I saw Renees3's recipe. She starts with chocolate cupcakes, stuffs them with a white chocolate filling, ices them with a cream cheese frosting, and tops them off with a drizzling of seedless raspberry sauce. When Renees3 couldn't find an adequate cupcake recipe, she decided to adapt a bunch of different recipes to make her own customized cupcakes. To me, that's one of the true virtues of cooking: You can tailor any recipe to suit your needs, which can result in something even better! To see how her cupcakes came together,

Would You Eat These Chocolate Covered Insects?

YumSugar — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 05:30:22 -0700

While browsing online, I came across these chocolate-covered insects. Although insects are a category of food that Americans aren't accustomed to eating, they have long been a prized delicacy in places like Thailand, Australia, and China. The purveyors of this delicious product, which includes both crickets and larvae, describe it as tasting "like chocolate-covered popcorn." I think chocolate-covered popcorn is absolutely delicious, so I would want to try one of these. What about you: Would you try one? Which would you eat first, the larvae or the adult cricket?Source

Would You Eat These Chocolate Covered Insects?

Yes, I'll try anything once.

Yes. In fact, I've eaten insects before.

Only if I were forced to.

Not in a million years; I don't eat bugs.

Other — see my comments below.

Chocolate Crops to Become Endangered Species?

partysugar — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 10:15:40 -0700

With the production of African cocoa beans in a serious decline, the future of chocolate is questionable. A crop that's naturally grown in the rainforest, two-thirds of the world's cocoa beans are now harvested in in West Africa. However, the African soil degrades quickly, shortening the lifespan of the plants to 30 years or so. The director of Ghana's Nature Conservation Research Council, John Mason, explains the situation:

I think that in 20 years chocolate will be like caviar. It will become so rare and so expensive that the average Joe just won't be able to afford it. The way we farm is just not sustainable. I'm afraid by the time we wake up to that fact it will be too late. I've worked in Ghana for 25 years and I can show you huge areas that can no longer support a crop.

Drastic changes need to be made in order for the world to meet the chocolate demand. Together with international environment charity Earthwatch, Cadbury (which gets all of its cocoa beans from Ghana) is looking for a solution to the problem. I find this highly disturbing and can't imagine a world without chocolate. How about you? Will you start stockpiling chocolate now?

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Is It Beer or Chocolate?

partysugar — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 03:00:02 -0700

Today July 7 is chocolate day. To celebrate I thought I'd create a second round of our wildly popular beer or chocolate quiz. I hope you studied your chocolates and beers because I'm going to list a bunch of different brands. You tell me if it's a beer or a chocolate. Sound like fun? Get started!

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Fudgesicles en Fuego!

YumSugar — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 16:15:39 -0700

A heat wave here in San Francisco inspired me to continue my popsicle kick. This time I combined childhood memories of fudgesicles with a passion for Mexican hot chocolate. Mexican hot cocoa is traditionally made with milk, chocolate, cinnamon, and a touch of chili. When frozen it translates terrifically into a fiery chocolate popsicle, aptly named fudgesicles en fuego!

The rich, chocolaty popsicles have a silky, creamy texture and slightly spicy flavor. To avoid making the popsicles too hot, add the chili slowly to taste. However, remember that once frozen, the flavor will be more subtle. If the finished popsicle is too spicy, simply dust with sugar.

To learn how to make these fantastic fudgesicles,

Come Party With Me: Summer Solstice — Dessert

partysugar — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 16:15:33 -0700

After serving the Italian style meal at your summer solstice dinner, wait at least a half an hour before offering guests dessert. Set up a decadent dessert buffet with fresh berries and store bought sorbet. Supplement the menu with one show stopping, homemade dessert. A cold, creamy chocolate silk pie is rich and delicious. The pie has to be made in advance making it an ideal finish to a party. To check out the recipe, which I found on MyRecipes.com,

Yummy Link: Strawberry Chocolate Chunk Shortcakes

partysugar — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 11:15:32 -0700

I love combining two desserts to make one new, delicious dessert. In this recipe for strawberry chocolate shortcakes and chocolate-dipped strawberries meets classic strawberry shortcake. What a wonderful way to wow guests! — Eggs on Sunday

10 Weird Ways to Celebrate National Candy Month

YumSugar — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 03:00:10 -0700

It's hard to believe it's been a year since our I Heart Candy challenge, but it's true: National Candy Month is here again! Throughout the month of June, we'll be celebrating all that the candy world has to offer, so I thought I'd kick things off with 10 of the weirdest candy offerings I could find. Have you tried any of these? Start the slideshow and tell me what you think.

Happy Hour: Trentadue Chocolate Amore

YumSugar — Wed, 28 May 2008 16:15:20 -0700

Most people know that red wine pairs amazingly with dark chocolate. However, the folks at Trentadue Winery have taken the amazing combo one step further. Their Chocolate Amore ($25) combines red wine with chocolate and is really the best of both worlds. Trentadue uses the traditional port-making technique but stops fermentation in order to trap more sugar. Once the wine is done aging, the winery adds a bit of chocolate extract to enhance the flavor. It's rich and decadent and goes well over vanilla ice cream. But be warned: It's not meant to be guzzled by the glass — I think you'd end up in a dessert coma — but is meant to be enjoyed sparingly.

So tell me, are you interested in trying this wine? Have you ever had a chocolate-infused wine before?

Chocolate Bruschetta is A Creative, Tasty Dessert

partysugar — Mon, 19 May 2008 16:15:42 -0700

When I saw this recipe for chocolate bruschetta, I had one of those why didn't I think of that? moments. Leave it to the folks at MyRecipes.com to come up with something so deliciously clever!

It takes one of my favorite appetizers — bruschetta — and turns it into a sweet, gooey treat. The chocolate-topped bread is seasoned with coarse sea salt and orange zest elevating the classic French breakfast — pain au chocolat — to a gourmet level.

Served with a glass of aged port, this would make an excellent finish to any dinner party. For the easy recipe, please

Would You Eat Chocolate-Covered Bacon?

YumSugar — Thu, 15 May 2008 10:30:30 -0700

Recently, writer Dan Savage posted about chocolate-covered bacon. The picture comes from Marini's in Santa Cruz, CA, and I happen to think it looks sort of tasty. I also happen to be pretty bummed that it wasn't available when I lived in Santa Cruz. I bet the combination of salty and sweet is amazing together. Besides bacon makes everything taste better, right? I know I'd devour a slice, how about you, would you eat this?Source

Would You Eat Chocolate-Covered Bacon?

Do you even have to ask? It's chocolate-covered bacon, sign me up!

Maybe, only if someone else told me it was good.

No way, that sounds totally wrong.

I don't eat bacon.

I don't eat chocolate.

Other — I'll tell you in the comments.

Yummy Links: From Spanish Tours to Sandwich Showdowns

partysugar — Tue, 13 May 2008 09:00:57 -0700

Check out this sneak peek of Spain...on the Road Again. It looks like so much fun! — People
Bon Appétit has made over their website to feature their top 100 recipes. — The BA Blog
Update the classic rice krispie treat by using Fruit Cheerios instead of rice cereal. — Erin Cooks
Love chocolate? Be sure to read these tips for storing your beloved chocolate bars. — Candy Blog
How well does the pancake puff pan work? — The Kitchn
Get the 411 on which containers are best for storing food. —Culinate
Tyler Florence, Curtis Stone, and Ingrid Hoffmann battle to make the best sandwich on Oprah's Sandwich Showdown. Padma provides her two cents and announces the winner. — Oprah

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Noteworthy Nibbles — May 8-14, 2008

YumSugar — Thu, 08 May 2008 14:30:40 -0700

Looking for something to do this weekend? The spring food-festival season is still in full swing, so grab mom and treat her to a fun Mother's Day weekend event. From wine to bbq, there's bound to be something to enjoy. And if there's nothing in your neck of the woods, grab picnic basket, a bottle of wine and a blanket, and create your own outing!

If something is missing from this list, let us all know about it in the comments below!

Charlotte, NC: Charlotte Wine & Food Weekend — May 7-10
St. Louis, MO: Saint Louis Brewers Heritage Festival — May 8-10
Owensboro, KY: International BBQ Festival — May 9-10
Breezy Point, MN: Minnesota Governor's Fishing Opener — May 9-11
Addison, TX: Taste Addison — May 9-11
Norfolk, VA: Spring Town Point Virginia Wine Festival — May 10
Charlotte, NC: US Open Annual Homebrew Competition — May 10
Hopkins, SC: Lower Richland Sweet Potato Festival — May 10
Cleveland Heights, OH: Northeastern Ohio Chocolate Festival — May 10-11
San Francisco, CA: San Francisco Cocktail Week — May 13-19
Nantucket, MA: Nantucket Wine Festival — May 14-18
Buckhannon, WV: Strawberry Visions — May 14-18

Which Is More Important, Chocolate's Texture or Flavor?

YumSugar — Wed, 07 May 2008 09:00:21 -0700

During this year's Maker Faire, geeky chocolate maker Tcho Chocolate was performing a taste-test. Passerbys were given a sample of A, and a sample of B, and had to tell which they preferred. Tcho is still developing their signature recipe, and have been tweaking things for the last several months. In this case, sample A was fruitier and had a nicer flavor, but it was chalky and I didn't like the texture. However sample B had a really smooth texture, with a deep chocolate aftertaste, but wasn't flavorful. I ended up voting for A, but noted that B had a better texture. Some of my friends voted for B because while they liked the flavor, they didn't like the chalkiness of A. So tell me, which would you have voted for? Is texture more important, or is flavor?

Which Is More Important, Chocolate's Texture or Flavor?

Flavor is more important.

Texture is more important.

Who cares? It's chocolate!

I don't eat chocolate, so couldn't tell you.

Other — I'll tell you what I think of this taste test below.

Good Things Come in Small Chocolate Packages

YumSugar — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 16:15:15 -0700

I love to follow up a nice meal with a little something sweet. It doesn't have to be much, just a little morsel at the end. Keeping this in mind, I went out to find a simple, sweet bite and stumbled across this recipe for Ice Wine Truffles. It looks ridiculously easy and wonderfully tasty so I'm going to give it a try. If you want to join me, get the recipe when you

Who Put Gum in My Candy Bar?

YumSugar — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 15:11:19 -0700

This morning Mars Inc — makers of M&Ms, Snickers, Skittles, and more — announced that it would buy gum manufacturer Wrigley for $23 billion. If you recall, the Wrigley company recently announced new packaging and flavors, in order to help sluggish gum sales.

The deal will create the world's largest confectionary company, and could possibly force Hershey's and Cadbury to join forces — there's been previous rumors of these two combining in the past.

The Wrigley portion of the company will continue to run as an independent unit, and it will be helmed by current Chairman Bill Wrigley. The deal is seen as a win-win on both parts, as Wrigley will now have a bigger infrastructure to help them with marketing and distribution. The interesting foodie tidbit is that current nonchocolate Mars brands — Starburst, Skittles, etc. — will now become part of the Wrigley portfolio.

So tell me, what do you think of these two powerhouses joining forces? Do you care if it is one giant company? Do you think it will affect the way the candy tastes?

Source and Source

Yummy Link: Chocolate Cookie Tartlets

partysugar — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 03:18:51 -0700

Since I'm a sucker for mini desserts, I really want to try these chocolate cookie tartlets. They look dainty and delicious. — Pittsburgh Needs Eated

Yummy Link: Dark Chocolate and Bacon Cupcakes

YumSugar — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 02:57:19 -0700

This dark chocolate and bacon cupcake looks almost sinister. However, I think it just proves that cupcakes don't need to be fluffy and pink to be amazing. — A Good Appetite

Would You Rather Eat Cheesecake or Chocolate Cake?

partysugar — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 01:09:33 -0700

Source

Would You Rather Eat Cheesecake or Chocolate Cake?

I'm crazy about smooth, creamy cheesecake.

I love chocolate cake.

I want the best of both worlds: chocolate cheesecake.

Neither, I prefer _______ (fill in the blank below).

I don't eat cake of any kind.

Come Party With Me: Passover — Dessert

partysugar — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 09:13:33 -0700

Although it's traditionally standard to serve macaroons and matzo brei at a Seder, why not shake up the customs and make a decadently modern dessert?

This chocolate torte is one hundred percent Passover friendly because it is made with nuts and matzo cake meal instead of flour or baking soda. The scrumptious fudge glaze is made using a popular vegan technique that combines nuts with water to create a milk like substitute.

To get the recipe for an extravagant finish to an elegant dinner, please

Everyone Was at the SF Chocolate Salon, but in Case You Missed It...

YumSugar — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 05:28:33 -0700

This weekend I got to enjoy the second annual SF Chocolate Salon. Actually, make that almost enjoy. There were too many people and it was held in such a small space; the line was ginormous and the crowd packed. All the free chocolate couldn't persuade me to stay, and I fled in about 30 minutes. It was a tough call to make; there were loads of great chocolatiers handing out samples, and I know I didn't get to try everything. However, the event organizers are ensuring that next year it will be in a larger venue and will be a much better planned event. In case you were one of the three people on the planet who didn't make it, here's what you missed out on. Click the "Start" button to check it out.

Reader Recipe: Chocolate-Peanut Butter Fudge

YumSugar — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 14:27:46 -0700

Looking for something sweet to cook up this weekend? Then be sure to check out what TeamSugar member sue85 posted in the Kitchen Goddess group. She found a recipe for a melt-in-your-mouth peanut butter fudge, and served it up with grated white chocolate and strawberries. To find out how she did it, get the recipe, just

Noteworthy Nibbles — April 10-16, 2008

YumSugar — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 14:28:31 -0700

Looking for something tasty to do this weekend? Here are some noteworthy events you might want to check out. There's a lot going on this weekend, and from strawberry fairs to chocolate salons — I'll be at this event! — there's something for everyone. If you know of an event that's not listed, please let us know in the comments below!

Tallahassee, FL: Florida Wine Festival — April 10-12
Blowing Rock, NC: Blue Ridge Food & Wine Festival — April 10-13
Austin, TX: Texas Hill Country Wine & Food Festival — April 10-13
Bozeman, MT: Montana Beer Festival — April 11

Fort Lauderdale, FL: Wine & Culinary Celebration — April 11
San Diego, CA: California Wine Festival — April 11-12
Novi, MI: Michigan International Wine Expo — April 11-12
York, PA: Pennsylvania Herb Festival — April 11-12
Lancaster, PA: Mid-Atlantic BBQ Expo — April 11-12
Ponchatoula, LA: Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival — April 11-13
Poteet, TX: Poteet Strawberry Festival — April 11-13
St. George, SC: World Grits Festival — April 11-13
Palm Springs, CA: Palm Springs Food & Wine Festival — April 11-13
Moulton, AL: Alabama Chicken & Egg Festival — April 12-13
San Francisco, CA: San Francisco International Chocolate Salon — April 13

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Portable Birthday Brownies

YumSugar — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 16:13:55 -0700

A few weeks ago, I headed out to celebrate a friend's birthday at the Rogue Ales Public House in San Francisco. While there, the group of us drank from the huge selection of beers and noshed on delicious Kobe-style burgers and onion rings. The celebration was a big success, and near the end, my friend's wife pulled out a plastic container full of mini brownie muffins. She stuck candles in a few of them and we all sang a round of Happy Birthday.

After the birthday boy had his first bite, everyone dug in and the next thing we knew we'd each devoured several mini muffins. They were moist, chocolatey, and paired perfectly with our beers. I asked Kerrie — the wife and baker extraordinaire — which recipe she used, and surprisingly she was able to take out a piece of paper and give it to me right then and there! If you want her recipe for delicious bites — the batch makes 72! — then just

Alumnae Bars = Easy Delicious Dessert

partysugar — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 16:21:31 -0700

Recently my family and I had a dessert so delicious that my parents started acting funny: my mom insisted we eat the bars before dinner and my dad took an entire plateful for himself! What was the dessert? A simple, yet scrumptious chocolate butterscotch bar. Dubbed Alumnae Bars by my great aunt, these bite-sized treats are easy to make and are delightful crowd pleasers. They are completely portable making them perfect for a potluck, picnic, or bake sale. To take a look at the recipe — it's great for using up the "odds and ends" of chocolate chips —

Noteworthy Nibbles — March 27 - April 2, 2008

YumSugar — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 15:25:51 -0700

Looking for something tasty to do this weekend? Here are some noteworthy events you might want to check out. If we missed one, let us know in the comments below!

Pebble Beach, CA: First annual Pebble Beach Food & Wine — March 27-30
Macon, GA: Cherry Blossom Festival — March 28 - April 6
Ybor City, FL: International Rum Festival — March 27-29
Kona, HI: Kona Chocolate Festival — March 27-29
Washington, DC: National Cherry Blossom Festival — March 29 - April 13
Gilbert, AZ: Slow Is Local: Farm Tour and Dinner — March 30
Cincinnati, OH: Cincinnati Wine Festival — March 28-29
Hermann, MO: Wurstfest — March 29-30
Las Vegas, NV: International Pizza Expo — April 1-3

Yummy Link: Marbled Caramel Chocolate Slices

partysugar — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 13:48:11 -0700

Ever since I made lemon ripple bars, I've been wanting to experiment with other swirled desserts. This marbled caramel chocolate slice looks to die for. At first I thought the white swirls were cream cheese, but they are actually white chocolate, mmm! — Taste and Tell

Bacon and Chocolate Together? Only If Pigs Fly!

YumSugar — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 10:01:58 -0700

There's no doubt about it, I really dig on bacon. I also really enjoy chocolate. Recently I had the opportunity to try Vosges Mo's Bacon Bar, which is a deep milk chocolate bar with tiny crumbles of applewood smoked bacon and Alder wood smoked salt. As a bar, it was interesting, I wasn't sure I needed to have it again — believe it or not, bacon is not my favorite flavor, it's up there, but it's not my favorite — but I definitely thought it was intriguing and worth trying. The folks that got to taste it were split in half, some thought it was "just wrong," while others thought it was heavenly.

Not happy with just a chocolate-bacon bar, the folks at Vosges have recently released the Flying Chocolate Pig ($12). The pig-shaped chocolate confection — which was originally created for their friend's wedding — is filled with applewood smoked bacon, Alder wood smoked salt and lots of deep milk chocolate. It would make a great gift for any bacon or chocolate lover in your life.

Come Party With Me: St. Patrick's Day — Dessert

partysugar — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 10:15:10 -0700

Don't forget to provide guests with some sort of sweet at your St. Patrick's Day event. It's a party, so give the option of indulgence in the form of a dessert. These chocolate shots are great because they highlight the flavor of Bailey's Irish Cream, are gorgeous to look at, and are guaranteed to impress your guests. Even though they look complex, they are surprisingly easy to put together when you use packaged chocolate cups. The filling is a delicious mix of chocolate ganache, Baileys, and orange zest. To take a look at the recipe,

Happy Birthday Doughnuts

YumSugar — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 08:11:51 -0700

Every year I always ask YumJimmy if he'll make a cake for my birthday, and every year he says someday. I really thought this was going to be the year, but he had something else up his sleeve. Instead of a birthday cake, he decided to make me birthday doughnuts. The recipe comes from John T. Edge's book Donuts: An American Passion, and it whips up quite quickly. Sadly we were out of powdered sugar, but luckily we had some chocolate that was melted down for a quick glaze. Topped with a layer of hot pink sprinkles, this is one birthday treat to remember! If you want to check out the recipe for yourself — it was pretty easy, just give it a try! —

Introducing the One and Only

YumSugar — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 07:03:51 -0700

A little while ago, I was browsing the candy aisle at Circuit City — I know, weird place to look for candy, but I was there waiting for someone else to make a purchase — when I came across a candy I had never seen before. Called 1&Only, it was a monstrous offering of Chocolate Chip Cookies, Peanut Butter Cups, Oreos, M&Ms, white chocolate chips, and more chocolate. It sounded a bit awful, so naturally I had to buy one.

So how was it? To find out and see close-up pictures,

Yummy Link: Beautify Blah Brownies

partysugar — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 03:48:11 -0700

Have you ever made a botched up batch of brownies? You know, batches where they end up too dry or crispy or just not good? Well I have, and I wish I had this recipe for mini brownie trifles to hide the mess. It looks so good I might make a batch of brownies to give it a try. — Rah Cha Chow

Yummy Link: Reese's Peanut Butter Whoppers

YumSugar — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 12:28:31 -0800

Candy alert! Looks like Whoppers has introduced a Reese's Peanut Butter flavor. I say it's time for a taste test! — Sugar Savvy

Test Kitchen: The Internet's Most Famous Chocolate Cake

partysugar — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 16:15:51 -0800

I finally got around to making the internet's most-clicked chocolate cake recipe last weekend. The recipe is simple and easy to make, and the resulting cake is dense and delicious. However, I didn't think this was the best chocolate cake ever. It's definitely good, but I'm not desperate to make it again.

The cook time given for the cake was over an hour, but mine finished in about 35 minutes, so be sure to check it while baking. Also, allow plenty of time for the frosting to cool and thicken, at least an hour for a rich consistency.

To form your own opinion about this chocolate cake, make it, and try it for yourself. Get the recipe, just

Does Coffee Dream of Electric Chocolate? New Starbucks Chocolate Reviewed

YumSugar — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 08:30:31 -0800

This summer a press release went out with limited fanfare. The folks at Hershey's were teaming up with Starbucks. At the time there was very little news available, other than an upcoming Starbucks-branded premium chocolate. The news piqued my interest, but there was no word on when the products would hit the shelves. Turns out it's today.

Using the expertise of Artisan Confection Company — a division of Hershey's that includes Scharffen Berger and Joseph Schmidt — Starbucks has created a line of products to sell in stores. There are three types of chocolate bars, tasting squares and filled truffles. Thanks to FabSugar — who hand-carried these samples back from New York — we were lucky enough to give them a try. If you want to learn more about each flavor, as well as what we thought of them,

Yummy Link: Chocolate Mascarpone Brownies

partysugar — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 15:15:51 -0800

I couldn't let chocolate month end without tantalizing your taste buds with one more mouthwatering chocolate recipe. Chocolate mascarpone brownies, need I say more? —The Recipe Girl