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The Amazing Rice: Cilantro-Lime Rice

partysugar — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 10:15:52 -0700

In many cases, white rice is served alongside a saucy dish. When this happens, the rice is normally overlooked. However, white rice doesn't have to be boring, it can be delicious! Especially if you jazz it up with a simple stir-in of cilantro and lime juice. This recipe is incredibly easy — almost as uncomplicated as making white rice. Cilantro, garlic, and lime juice is blended with olive oil before being mixed into the cooked rice. If you don't like cilantro, get creative, white rice would be divine with a basil-lemon or parsley-orange oil folded in. To learn the technique,

Fast & Easy Dinner: Polenta With Chard

partysugar — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 07:45:30 -0700

A member of the beet family, Swiss chard is a dark, leafy green that's in season now. Chard's somewhat bitter taste can be neutralized by cooking.

In this vegetarian recipe, chard, the stellar ingredient, is sautéed with garlic. Placed on a bed of creamy polenta and topped with tangy blue cheese, this dish is filling and soothing. Bring Fall into your kitchen with this recipe when you

Fast & Easy Dinner: Frisée With Potatoes and Eggs

partysugar — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 07:45:56 -0700

Eating this uncomplicated, vegetarian meal is like taking a trip to the French countryside. With its crisp potatoes and oozing egg, this salad is simple, elegant, and pure deliciousness. Feel free to substitute your favorite green for the frisée. Serve with rustic, crusty bread and a French white wine for an enlightening experience.

To look at the recipe — which also makes a beautiful brunch —

Noteworthy Nibbles — Sept. 23-29, 2008

YumSugar — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 14:00:54 -0700

This week, spice up your free time with the chili cook-offs that are setting the country aflame. Whether you're looking for an epicurean adventure at the Bellagio, or something more along the lines of a back-country roadkill cook-off, you're in luck. Check out what's going on in your neck of the woods this week, and let us know if we've left anything off the list!

Sante Fe, NM: Santa Fe Wine & Chile Fiesta — Sept. 24-28
Las Vegas, NV: Gourmet's Taste of Bellagio — Sept. 25
New York, NY: Joy of Sake New York — Sept. 25
Providence, RI: Food for Thought — Sept. 25
London, KY: World Chicken Festival — Sept. 25-28

To see the rest,

Fast & Easy Dinner: Bread and Tomato Soup

partysugar — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 07:45:25 -0700

As much as I love complex cooking techniques and innovative recipes, sometimes I crave a pure, simple, delicious meal. A dish with no frills or exotic ingredients. A dish like this comforting bread and tomato soup.

Garlic and fresh basil act as awarding-winning supporters to the lush, sweet tomatoes. For a real treat, serve with a grilled cheese sandwich. To learn how to make this uncomplicated soup,

Noteworthy Nibbles — Aug. 27-Sept. 1

YumSugar — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 14:00:37 -0700

Labor Day weekend means food-happenings galore. At front and center is Slow Food Nation '08, the country's first ever slow food event, to be held in San Francisco. I'll be in attendance, so I can learn more about eating sustainably. Locals, perhaps I'll see you there! Here's the lineup; enjoy your long (and tasty) weekend.

Sparks, NV: Best in the West Nugget Rib Cook-off — Aug. 27
Millersport, OH: Millersport Sweet Corn Festival — Aug. 27
Honolulu, HI: Joy of Sake — Aug. 28
Morgan City, LA: Louisiana Shrimp & Petroleum Festival — Aug. 28-Sept. 1
San Francisco, CA: Slow Food Nation — Aug. 29-Sept. 1

To see the rest,

Scape: The Other Side of Garlic

YumSugar — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 03:00:47 -0700

When browsing the farmers market, I'm drawn to things I don't recognize. The minute I saw these beauties, I stopped to learn what they were. Called scapes, these vegetables are flowering stalks of still-developing garlic.Only certain varieties of garlic produce these delicate shoots. They are similar to the stems you find on leeks, scallions, and chives. When young, scapes are tender and have similar properties to green onions; when scapes mature, their stems grow too woody to eat, but they develop edible seed pods. To learn how I experimented with scapes in the kitchen,

Monday's Leftovers: Steak and Potato Pizza

partysugar — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 06:45:15 -0700

While it may not be a new idea to use leftovers as pizza toppings, leftover grilled steak pizza is definitely out of the ordinary. This recipe rethinks the quintessential steak and potatoes combination by putting the two on top of a pizza pie.

Fresh garlic, slivered red onions, and lots of melted cheese complete this interesting dish. Don't eat meat? Make this pizza with wild mushrooms instead of steak. Pair it with a light green salad for a filling and delicious dinner. For the recipe,

Fast & Easy Dinner: Caribbean Pork and Plantain Hash

partysugar — Wed, 14 May 2008 05:30:27 -0700

When you're stuck in a middle-of-the-work-week rut, a great way to spice things up is through food. While this exotic meal may sound difficult to make — the ingredients are a bit unusual — the cooking techniques are simple and ordinary. Plantains are sautéed with onions, bell pepper, and garlic before being tossed with chunks of pork tenderloin. The final dish is mouth watering, exciting, and complex. To look at the recipe — I discovered it on MyRecipes.com —

Fast & Easy Dinner: Spinach-Feta Calzone Casserole

partysugar — Thu, 08 May 2008 08:00:27 -0700

Spinach and feta are a classic Mediterranean combination. The salty feta perfectly complements the fresh greens. Tonight use this dynamic duo to make a delicious casserole sized calzone. The vegetarian filling — reminiscent of spanakopita — is a mixture of wilted spinach, sautéed onion, crushed red pepper, garlic, and feta.

To take a look at the recipe that I found on MyRecipes.com,

Love Garlic? Love Chocolate? Why Not Try Garlic Chocolate?

YumSugar — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 13:43:19 -0800

Lisa at TokyoMango tipped us off to the latest trend in Japanese candy. The Japanese have become known for their interesting flavor combos, and this time a company in Aomori, one of Japan's top garlic-producing regions, is combining garlic and chocolate.

Their product is called "black garlic chocolate" and it is a piece of fermented black garlic, covered with chocolate and sprinkled in cocoa powder. A garlic truffle if you will. The black garlic is said to have a sweet-and-sour, prune-like taste.

Although Japan is usually the first to create such offbeat flavors, this is not the first time I've heard of chocolate and garlic. The folks at the Gilroy Garlic Festival have been doing this for years. However this may be the first time I've heard of fermented prune-like garlic. You know I'd love to try a piece? How about you?

Source

A Flash in the Pan: Fennel-Crusted Pork Chops

YumSugar — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 11:23:31 -0800

A few years ago, I picked up a book called A Flash in the Pan. It promised easy meals that could be created in one skillet; it also happened to be on sale. So I took it home and it has become one of my most inspirational books. The recipes are basic, yet flavorful, but everything is so simple and adaptable, that you can really take their ideas and transform them with what you have on hand. This time I decided to actually follow the recipe exactly and cooked up a batch of their fennel-crusted pork chops. The fennel is extremely fragrant and the charred lemons added a real nice balance. To get the recipe — it's one skillet and easy! —

Fast & Easy Dinner: Asian Chicken and Cabbage

partysugar — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 06:01:18 -0800

Pre-made salad mixes and bagged greens are wonderful time savers when it comes to making quick, middle of the week meals. Season packaged coleslaw with sesame oil pairs with broiled chicken for tonight's dinner. The chicken is glazed with a mixture of hoisin, garlic, and ginger, making for a moist and flavorful meal. The coleslaw adds a nice, cooling crunch to the sweetness of the chicken. To take a look at the recipe,

Kitchen Experiments: Baked Egg in a Ham Shell

YumSugar — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 10:03:38 -0800

Earlier this week, I wanted a simple, yet hearty breakfast. I knew I had some eggs and ham, but I didn't have a lot of time. I had to get ready for work, but also wanted something yummy. That's when I remembered baked eggs. Baked eggs are great because you can pop them in the oven, get ready for work, and have a warm breakfast before you leave.

I was originally going to have a simple egg, but then thought about lining a ramekin with ham in order to make a self-contained meal. Next I decided to toss in some tomatoes sautéed in garlic. To find out how it all turned out and get the recipe I used,

Sunday Dinner: Loin of Pork With Fennel and Garlic

YumSugar — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 01:31:19 -0800

Pork happens to be one of my favorite meats. Yet strangely, I don't seem to eat it very often. I like the way the meat has a ton of flavor, and yet it doesn't feel too heavy. Tonight I'm hoping to fix up a loin of pork and chow down on a delicious feast. The flavor in this recipe comes from a fennel and garlic paste that is generously rubbed on the outside. After roasting for over an hour, the flavor is sure to penetrate through and make for a wonderful Sunday dinner. To get the recipe, just

Soup's On: Roasted Onion Soup

partysugar — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 09:58:30 -0800

The other day I was in the mood for onion soup. I didn't have time to caramelize the onions and simmer for several hours like the standard French onion soup recipe requires. Instead, I popped the onions in the oven for an hour. The whole house filled with a luscious fragrance creating a warm, comforting atmosphere. I pureed the onions with chicken broth and roasted garlic. The final result was a delicious, creamy soup with sweet onion flavor. I recommend passing the soup through the blender twice for a super smooth texture. To see how I did it,

What Would You Make?

partysugar — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 10:18:33 -0800

Here's the scenario: You are at home and hungry for food. You have to cook up something scrumptious for you and your boyfriend/girlfriend/spouse/child/friend, but the ingredients you have on hand are limited.

You have canned pumpkin puree, garlic, and fresh parsley. Using these products, along with whatever you currently have on hand in your cupboard and refrigerator, what would you make?

To see what I would whip up,

52 Weeks of Baking: Baby Pumpkins with Garlic Custard

YumSugar — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 08:13:33 -0700

I was flipping through the lastest issue of Sunset magazine when these cute little pumpkins caught my eye. Not only were they adorably festive, but they were full of custard too! I immediately sent YumJimmy to the store to find pumpkins, while I prepped the kitchen for baking. Unfortunately, the store didn't have baby pumpkins, so I had to make do with mid-sized ones. The custard, which is a savory one, came out wonderfully silky — almost like a silken tofu — and the flavor was subtle — almost too subtle, I actually had to load up on salt and pepper afterwards — and it was so fun to look at too!

While this particular recipe is savory —and, if using the right pumpkins, comes together in 30 minutes — the pumpkin vessel can be used for any flavor custard. I definitely plan on trying it again with a pumpkin custard!

If all of this pumpkin talk has you interested, check out the recipe, just

Sunday Dinner: Roast Chicken Drumsticks With Garlic

YumSugar — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 04:28:33 -0700

Sometimes you need a great dinner for your family, but only have a little bit of time to put it together. On days like those, the idea of putting a full roast chicken on the table seems a bit daunting. However, with a little shortcut — replacing a full roast with just drumsticks — you can cut out the excess roasting time and have dinner on the table in 30 minutes. To get the recipe for a quick Sunday dinner,

Birthday Dinner Side: Garlic Roast Potatoes

partysugar — Sat, 06 Oct 2007 04:28:31 -0700

Tonight is my grandfather's birthday dinner. We are having a small party and naturally I was in charge of planning the menu. It's a classic, simple meal that focuses on the best ingredients around and one of the side dishes will be these fantastic garlic roast potatoes.

Roast potatoes are super easy to make as the oven does all the work. They complement almost everything and are excellent plain or with an aioli dipping sauce. Get the recipe to this versatile side now, just

Monday's Leftovers: Garlic-Rosemary Lamb Pita

YumSugar — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 06:57:13 -0700

If you have any of yesterday's delicious lamb leftover, then dinner is going to be a real snap. These lamb pita pockets come together super easily, especially if you're using already cooked meat. And if you don't have any leftover lamb, don't fret, I've found a great recipe that won't take up much time at all. Plus, the refreshing mix of yogurt and cucumbers will be the perfect way to start the week. Check out the recipes,

Sunday BBQ: Pomegranate Grilled Lamb Chops

YumSugar — Sun, 09 Sep 2007 01:18:19 -0700

I was trying to figure out what this week's Sunday BBQ should be, when I realized that we haven't talked about grilled lamb. For some reason, many people think of lamb as difficult and exotic, however it's really quite easy — if you can do pork chops, you can do lamb chops — and is wonderfully delicious. This particular recipe calls for a wonderful pomegranate marinade, you should let it soak overnight if you can, but don't worry if you can't. To wow your friends with a deceptively simple grilled meal,

Monday's Leftovers: Ground Beef Omelet

YumSugar — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 07:51:38 -0700

On a busy work night, one of my favorite things to do is whip up breakfast for dinner. An omelet full of meat (or beans), tomatoes and potatoes is a hearty and filling dish, and yet whips up together in very little time. You can use ground beef, or leftover beanburger, as the main protein, or change it to suit your needs. For a simple recipe for a jampacked omelet,

You Won't Find This Pickled Garlic at the Garlic Festival

YumSugar — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 13:13:18 -0700

This weekend I had the opportunity to head over to the 29th annual Gilroy Garlic Festival for the first time. Although I've lived close enough to attend, I had never made it there before. However when faced with promises of "food laced with over two tons of fresh garlic," I knew I had to attend.

The overall vibe was like most county fairs - loud music, dusty makeshift stalls, funny shaped drink goblets, booths full of cute knick-knacks, etc. - however, unlike other county fairs, this one bombarded you with the potent smell of garlic. Everywhere you turned it was garlic, garlic, garlic - there were garlic fries, garlic bread, garlic chicken, garlic sausage and even garlic ice cream, shaved ice and chocolate! And maybe I'm crazy, but the food just wasn't garlicky enough. Also I was hoping to see garlic funnel cakes, garlic donuts, or garlic waffles, but no such luck. I did however, stumble upon some really fantastic pickled garlic. The sweet, salty and spicy combo pairs really well with the crunchy fresh garlic. You can purchase an 8 oz. jar for $5.98 or if you prefer, you can make your own!

My mom recently perfected her recipe, to check it out,

Sunday BBQ: Grilled Tuna with Sweet Onions & Garlic

YumSugar — Sun, 20 May 2007 00:18:32 -0700

I love grilled fish, there's just something about those dark smokey lines across the flesh that makes my mouth water. The best part is that everyone can have theirs done the way they want it (make mine rare!). This particular recipe is a combination of delicious tuna, sweet onions and potent garlic. Pair it with a fantastic side salad, and call it a meal! To check out the recipe,

Easy Appetizer Idea

partysugar — Thu, 17 May 2007 11:13:22 -0700

A few weekends ago I attended a huge picnic on a ranch. The hosts provided the meat, drinks, and entertainment while the guests were asked to bring an appetizer, salad, or dessert-pot luck style. As I was hitting the appetizer side of the giant flatbed (where all of the food was laid out) I discovered a super easy, totally tasty appetizer that made me wonder, why didn't I think of that? Roasted garlic with tiny croutons. Someone had roasted up a bunch of garlic heads and crisped up pieces of bread. The guests were allowed to stab a clove or two of the gooey, sweet garlic and smear it on to a piece of crusty bread. Bite-sized and delicious, I made a whole plate full of these before heading back over to my friends. This is great for feeding a crowd, a picnic potluck, or a wine tasting party at an art gallery. To roast garlic, cut about 1/4 inch off of the top of a garlic head. Place in a baking dish, drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper and toss to coat. Sit garlic cut side up, cover with foil and bake at 350°F until garlic skin is golden brown and cloves are tender-about 45-55 minutes. Serve with Croutons and voila, instant appetizer!

TV Dinners: Goodfellas - Meatballs & Garlic

YumSugar — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 16:04:58 -0700

Since today is National Garlic Day I naturally had to point out one of the most famous garlic scenes in movie history. Do you remember the prison dinner scene in Goodfellas? You know the one where Paul Sorvino is slicing ridiculously thin pieces of garlic with a razor blade?

"He was in a year for contempt and he had this wonderful system for doing the garlic. He used a razor and he used to slice it so thin that it used to liquefy in the pan with just a little oil. It was a very good system."

It's hard not to think of that scene whenever I chop up garlic. Same goes for making spaghetti sauce with meatballs. Also, I love how even though they're in prison, they have access to everything including bread, cheese, prosciutto, steak, salami and lobster.

To check out the full dinner scene (which, is accompanied by one of my favorite songs, "Beyond the Sea," by Bobby Darin), and get a great recipe for a three-meat meatball (just like Goodfellas "Veal, beef and pork... you gotta have the pork."),

Garlic Fun Facts

partysugar — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 00:01:46 -0700

Today, April 19, is National Garlic Day. I thought I would take advantage of the holiday and put together a quick little round of fun facts for you all to enjoy. Usually, I only reserve my favorite pieces of worthless knowledge for major holidays like Easter and Christmas, but I thought, hey garlic is in practically everything and is used in most cultures throughout the world. Surely, this potent little vegetable deserves its own fabulous batch of fun facts. For example did you know that garlic is actually considered both a vegetable and an herb? Or that garlic has been used medicinally for thousands of years since ancient Greek and Roman times? To see how eating garlic can better your health,

Colorful Side: Garlicky Cherry Tomato Bread Gratin

partysugar — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 00:10:10 -0800

When you hear the word gratin does a calorie/fat packed, decadent, cheesy, creamy potato dish come to mind? That's what used to pop into my mind until I realized that a gratin can be baked with all sorts of vegetables and minimal amounts of cheese. Now my preferred type of gratin is a tomato one rather than the classic potato version. Slow roasted tomatoes taste sweetly savory and scrumptiously succulent-even in winter-and this side is a colorful addition to any menu. Simple to make, it works great as a pot luck or dinner party dish because it can be made in advance. To add this must make favorite side recipe of mine to your collection,

Sunday Dinner: Beef Stir Fry

YumSugar — Sun, 21 Jan 2007 00:28:32 -0800

Yesterday I invited my sister over for dinner because I decided that we were going to try and master one of my mom's classic dishes. It's best described as stir fried beef with gravy and vegetables, but we lovingly call it "na ge niu rou" (which literally translates to "that cow meat").

Now, my mom has made this dish (or a variation of this dish) a thousand times and you'd think that I'd have tried cooking it by now. However, I never knew where to begin. See, my mom's a fantastic cook (in fact, she actually used to teach classes), but she never measures anything and getting a recipe from her is nearly impossible. So when I went home for Christmas, I followed her around with a pen in one hand and a camera in the other and forced her to come up with a recipe.

My end result ended up being pretty tasty (although I didn't cut my meat as thin as I could have) and I'm surprised by how easy it was. It wasn't as tasty as my mom's dish (but come on, is ANYTHING ever as good as mom's?), but I think with practice I'll be able to make it my own. To learn what goodies my mom cooks up in the kitchen,

Smelly Garlic Hands Be Gone!

partysugar — Fri, 05 Jan 2007 09:47:19 -0800

The other day my girlfriends, Maite, Luisa, and I were chatting about, yep you guessed it, cooking! I was saying how much I love cooking with garlic but I hate the stench it leaves on my hands for the rest of the night. They told me an old wives secret and I tried it out and it worked. So here's the deal: once you have finished chopping your garlic, gently take the knife in your hands. Under a stream of cold water hold the knife in with your fingers pressed against the metal for about thirty seconds. So I went home and did a little bit of research. Turns out that you can do the same thing with stainless steel sink faucets, spoons or a Stainless Steel Bar of Soap. I'm not sure what occurs scientifically (please write me if you know), but the steel and cool water neutralize the odors (it should work for fish and onions or any other pungent smell, too!). I can't believe I didn't know about this trick before.

DearSugar also has a list of ways to combat the smell of garlic.