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Brunch, With a Side of Cholesterol

FitSugar — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 03:00:03 -0700

Cholesterol is created by our bodies, so it's one thing we can do without when it comes to our diet. Animal products are the culprit here, and many weekend dishes are made with them. So take this quiz to see what you know about cholesterol.

Source: Flickr User thebittenword.com

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Fast & Easy Dinner: Poached Eggs With Baked Feta

partysugar — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 07:50:26 -0700

As a little girl, I used to love it when my mom declared that we were having "breakfast for dinner." This meal usually involved pancakes, bacon, and scrambled eggs. Nowadays when I enjoy breakfast for dinner, the menu is a little more sophisticated and always includes poached eggs. The next time I am craving eggs for dinner, I'll be making this vegetarian recipe. With its slab of broiled feta cheese and dusting of spicy ancho chili powder, it's a masterpiece of simple, elegant cooking. Briny olives, crispy focaccia, and fresh sage finish off the dish while providing a Mediterranean feel to the meal. To serve with a glass of chilled fruity Rosé, get the recipe and read more.

Poached Eggs With Baked Feta
From Food & Wine

Ingredients

Six 3-inch squares of rosemary focaccia, halved horizontally
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for brushing
10 ounces feta cheese, cut into 6 slabs
Aleppo pepper or ancho chile powder, for sprinkling
6 large eggs
Salt
18 pitted kalamata olives
1 tablespoon chopped sage

Directions

Preheat the broiler and position a rack 6 inches from the heat. Bring a large deep skillet of water to a simmer. Brush the focaccia with olive oil and broil until lightly toasted.
Put a slab of feta into each of 6 individual gratin dishes. Drizzle each slab with 1 teaspoon of the oil. Sprinkle lightly with Aleppo pepper and broil for 2 to 3 minutes, until lightly browned and sizzling.
Meanwhile, crack the eggs one at a time into a small bowl, then slide them into the simmering water. Poach until the whites are set but the yolks are still runny, about 4 minutes.
Using a slotted spoon, transfer the eggs to the gratin dishes and season with salt. Sprinkle with Aleppo pepper, the olives and sage. Serve with the focaccia.

Serves 6.

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Sir Mix a Lot

partysugar — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 10:15:59 -0700

My younger sister is one of those people who absolutely adores breakfast foods – she finds herself eating them all day long. So I was shocked when she said she was swearing off one of her a.m. staples: granola. Always health-conscious, she discovered how high in fat and calories a serving could be. I suggested she try the granola from MixMyGranola, a website that allows you to customize the fixings in your granola and check the fat and calorie content of each serving before ordering. Find out how it works after the jump

Yummy Links: From Lobster to Burgers

partysugar — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 06:50:27 -0700

Lobster: Get it while it's cheap! - The Atlantic
Meet TasteStopping, the website that takes Tastespotting's rejects. - Eat Me Daily
Spice things up with Padma's chili honey butter. - Serious Eats
What’s the right answer to “Can I bring anything?” - Chow
Deep dish blueberry maple French toast. Enough said. - Endless Simmer
The next time you host a baby shower be inspired by the letter B . - Hostess With the Mostess
In September, David Chang and Wylie Dufresne will let a group of French chefs take over their kitchens. - Eater
21 top-rated burger recipes, including beef, turkey, cheese, and veggie varieties. - Epicurious

Say Cheese! Potato, Bacon, and Asiago Pizza

partysugar — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 11:30:25 -0700

Asiago is a versatile Italian cheese. The texture and taste depends on its age and can range from smooth and mild to crumbly and sharp. In Europe, for a cheese to be considered asiago, it must be made in the alpine region of the Tento Province in Italy. However, outside the EU, asiago cheese is produced using similar techniques and cultures to those employed in Alpine Italy.

Asiago is made from cow's milk; since the cows graze on lush mountain pastures, they produce a thick, rich milk and, in turn, a distinctly flavored cheese. Its nutty, salty flavor makes fresh asiago an ideal table cheese. It's also nice in sandwiches. Semifirm aged asiago is perfect for grating and can be used like parmesan. To learn what I did with this type of asiago, read more.

When I think of grated cheese, pizza immediately comes to mind. Instead of doing a classic pie dough, I used phyllo dough to create this appetizer pizza. The chewy bacon, buttery potatoes, and crispy crust are nice complements to the slightly sweet tangy cheese. This dish would be a delightful addition to a brunch menu. For a vegetarian version, simply omit the bacon.

Potato, Bacon, and Asiago Pizza
From Savory Baking

Ingredients

8 ounces fingerling potatoes
salt
3 teaspoons finely chopped fresh thyme
2 tablespoons minced red onion
6 slices smoked bacon, cooked crisp, drained, and chopped
1/4 cup finely grated asiago cheese
1/4 cup finely grated parmesan cheese
8 ounces phyllo dough, thawed
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Put the potatoes in a small saucepan, cover with water, and add a little salt. Bring to a boil and cook until fork-tender. Drain, cool, and cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Set aside.
Put the thyme, onions, bacon, and cheeses in separate small bowls and set aside.
Unwrap and unroll the thawed phyllo dough, placing the stack on a work surface. Pat a 6-inch plate on top of the phyllo and cut around the plate and through the stack of dough with a small sharp paring knife. Continue cutting until all the dough is cut into circles. Discard the scrap dough and stack all the circles together. Lay a lightly dampened clean kitchen cloth over the top to keep the dough moist.
Preheat the oven to 400°F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper or nonstick baking mats.
Place three phyllo circles on each prepared baking sheet.
Lightly brush all six circles with melted butter. Place another circle of dough on top of each of the first circles and brush again with melted butter. Continue until all six pizza circles are stacked with six layers of phyllo and butter.
Put three to four slices of potato on top of each pizza stack.
Sprinkle thyme, onions, and bacon over the potato slices and top lightly with the two cheeses. Season to taste with pepper.
Bake until medium golden brown, 12 to 15 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board and cut each pizza into 4 wedges using a sharp chef's knife or pizza wheel. Serve immediately.

Makes 6 pizzas.

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Is Your Mother's Day Celebration Brunch or Dinner?

partysugar — Sun, 10 May 2009 01:30:40 -0700

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Come Party With Me: Bridal Brunch - The Look

partysugar — Fri, 08 May 2009 08:00:14 -0700

Pretty pastels make for a welcoming and elegant look at a bridal shower brunch. Since people will bring gifts, designate an area away from the buffet for them to place the presents. Cover the tables with a floral printed cloth.

Serve the frittata on a round white serving platter and the smoked salmon on floral printed ones. Layer the parfait in a large trifle dish. Fill glass pitchers with citrus juice and arrange pink tumblers nearby.

Don't forget napkins and at least one bouquet of beautiful roses.

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Celebrate Mom With Breakfast in Bed

partysugar — Thu, 07 May 2009 03:30:40 -0700

This year instead of bringing mom out for brunch, why not treat her to a homemade breakfast in bed? Taking the time to make a special meal is the best way to show her you care. It's also rewarding knowing your mother will enjoy something you created. For inspiration, I've rounded up our best breakfast recipes.

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Come Party With Me: Bridal Brunch - Dessert

partysugar — Wed, 06 May 2009 11:30:58 -0700

Brunch is an ideal time to throw a bridal shower. The female-only event is normally hosted by a nonfamily member or the maid of honor. If you're invited to a bridal shower, it's customary to bring a gift. Often the shower will have a gift theme (like all kitchen gear, lingerie, etc.) and games. For Ronda's bridal brunch, we're keeping things simple and sophisticated with a smorgasbord of delicious breakfast foods. After the main course has been devoured, guests can enjoy coffee or tea with a scrumptious cherry breakfast cake. To look at the easy make-ahead recipe that would be welcome on any Mother's Day menu, read more.

Cherry Breakfast Cake
From Everyday with Rachael Ray

Ingredients

4 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 cups firmly packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon salt
3 sticks (12 ounces) unsalted butter, melted
1 large egg
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
Two 10-ounce bags frozen cherries, thawed and drained

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350°. Grease a 9-by-13-inch baking dish.
In a medium bowl, using your fingers, combine 3 cups flour, the brown sugar and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Mix in all but 2 tablespoons butter until large crumbs form; set aside.
In a small bowl, whisk together the remaining 2 tablespoons butter, the egg and the buttermilk.
In a medium bowl, stir together the remaining 1 1/2 cups flour, the granulated sugar, baking powder and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt. Add the egg mixture and stir to form a thick, smooth batter.
Fold about a third of the reserved crumb mixture into the batter; spread evenly into the prepared baking dish.
Scatter the cherries over the batter; sprinkle the remaining crumb mixture on top. Bake the cake until golden brown, 35 to 40 minutes. Transfer to a rack to cool for about 20 minutes before serving.

Serves 8-12.

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Which Brunch Food Contains More Calories?

FitSugar — Sat, 02 May 2009 07:30:00 -0700

When the weekend comes, my family loves to get together and make all the tasty brunch items we don't have time for during the week. In case you were wondering how they compare calorie-wise, take this fun little quiz.

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