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Off to Market Recap: TV Dinner Tray

YumSugar — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 03:00:43 -0700

With new seasons of all my favorite shows coming back on the air, I've been doubling up on the dining and viewing. I asked for your help looking for organized yet cute TV dinner trays. You saved your finds in the Yum Market on TeamSugar with the keyword tag TV Dinner Tray.
Look at this vast array of charming, compartmentalized trays to choose from! I love this stylish Lappers tray that shelleymonster found, especially its contemporary color scheme and kitschy dots. Browse the entire collection below.
Learn how to bookmark by reading geeksugar's directions.

Off to Market: TV Dinner Tray

YumSugar — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 03:00:25 -0700

I don't know about you, but with new seasons of The Hills and Mad Men, I've been spending a lot of mealtimes in front of the tube. I think it's time I got myself some TV dinner trays to fit in with my couch dining experience. Can you help me find some choice picks? Bookmark the trays in the Yum Market on TeamSugar with the keyword tag TV dinner tray. Happy Hunting!

To learn more about the bookmarking feature please read geeksugar's explanation.

Don't know where to start searching? Check out a list of my favorite online stores when you read more.

Bed Bath & Beyond
CB2
Cooking.com
Crate & Barrel
Ikea
Linens 'n Things
NapaStyle
Pier 1
Plum Party
Pottery Barn
Sur La Table
Target
Restoration Hardware
Williams-Sonoma
Wishing Fish
World Market

Thanksgiving Tip: Refill Your Ice Trays

YumSugar — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 07:50:35 -0800

Before a party or a big feast like Thanksgiving, there are a couple of minor - yet impactful - things I always make sure to do. One is to empty the dishwasher; another is to refill my ice trays completely with fresh water. There's nothing more annoying than reaching for ice to go with water, punch, or cocktails, only to find that there's one cube left.

Add a note to your Thanksgiving planner: The morning of the big dinner, fill your trays with distilled water, which will prevent ice from appearing cloudy in the center. When guests arrive, you'll be able to serve them drinks with a just-made batch of ice. What little tasks help you stay on top of all the Thanksgiving mania?

Nice and New: Ballard Designs Lily Tray Table

CasaSugar — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 13:00:44 -0800

Ballard Designs is hit or miss, but the new Lily Tray Table ($159) is a winner. The tray table folds up, so you can hang it when it's not in use, making it ideal for small studios. But it's no TV-dinner tray. I adore its cheerful garden-bloom accents surrounding the rim of the tray and, of course, it's mirrored tray. Isn't it charming? I mean . . . check out those dainty tripod legs. Of course, you don't have to use it for serving; you can also try one of my eight alternative uses for serving trays.

Fingerprint Drink Tray: Love It or Hate It?

partysugar — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 01:18:11 -0800

I've recently started collecting serving trays. They are wonderful for transporting food at dinner parties and make delightful gifts. However, one drink tray I will not be adding to my collection is this fingerprint drink tray. It has ugly bumps specially designed to fit your fingertips. It may seem practical, but the molded fingers really gross me out. They remind me of a dead zombie's hand coming out of a tomb. What do you think? Would you bring this tray home?

Come Party With Me: Heroes Season Premiere - Menu

partysugar — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 09:00:05 -0700

When hosting a viewing party of any sort, there are two options for planning a menu. You can serve foods inspired by the show or popular dishes classic to the TV dinner. For my Heroes season premiere party, I've decided to do the latter and offer friends a tasty re-interpretation of the 1950s TV dinner. Guests will be greeted with shot glasses of spicy tomato soup. Mini grilled cheese sandwiches are an excellent companion. Beef, mashed potatoes, peas, and caramelized onions make up the main course that looks scrumptious served on a TV dinner tray. To get these comforting, delicious, timeless recipes, read more.

Spicy Tomato Soup
From Gourmet magazine

Ingredients

2 (28- to 32-oz) cans whole tomatoes in juice (preferably organic)
1 large onion, coarsely chopped (2 1/4 cups)
2 teaspoons finely chopped garlic
1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh jalapeño chile including seeds
2 teaspoons finely chopped peeled fresh ginger
3 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
2 1/4 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth (18 fl oz)
1 tablespoon sugar, or to taste
2 teaspoons salt, or to taste

Directions

Drain 1 can tomatoes, discarding juice, then purée with remaining can tomatoes (including juice) in a blender.
Cook onion, garlic, chile, and ginger in oil in a 4- to 5-quart heavy nonreactive pot over moderate heat, stirring frequently, until onion is softened, about 8 minutes.
Add cumin and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Stir in puréed tomatoes, broth, 1 tablespoon sugar, and 2 teaspoons salt and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, 20 minutes.
Working in 3 or 4 batches, blend soup in blender until smooth (use caution when blending hot liquids). Transfer soup as blended to a sieve set over a large bowl and force through sieve, discarding seeds.
Stir in sugar and salt to taste. Reheat in cleaned saucepan if necessary.

Serves 4.

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Grilled Mozzarella Sandwiches
From Martha Stewart

Ingredients

1 pound fresh buffalo mozzarella, cut into 4 equal pieces about 3-inches by 4-inches
8 1/2-inch thick firm white sandwich bread
2 large eggs
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
1 teaspoon coarse salt
A grating of nutmeg
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons unsalted butter

Directions

Place the mozzarella on 4 slices of the bread. Cover with the remaining slices to form sandwiches. Trim the crusts off to make perfect 4-inch squares.
In a wide shallow bowl, whisk the eggs. Add the cream, thyme leaves, salt, and nutmeg. Whisk until well blended.
In a 10 to 12-inch nonstick saute pan, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium-high heat until smoking. Add 1 tablespoon of the butter and cook until the sizzling subsides.
Dip 2 of the sandwiches into the egg mixture, turning to coat, place in the pan, and cook until golden brown on the first side, about 2 minutes.
Flip over and brown on the other side. Transfer the sandwiches to individual plates and repeat the process with the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 tablespoon butter, and 2 sandwiches. Cut in half, and serve immediately.

Makes 4 sandwiches or 16 triangles.

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Beef, Potatoes, and Peas
From Everyday with Rachael Ray magazine

Ingredients

2 large baking potatoes (about 1 1/4 pounds total)-peeled, quartered lengthwise and sliced 1/2 inch thick
3/4 cup heavy cream
Salt and pepper
1 pound ground beef sirloin
1 tablespoon flour
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 onions, thinly sliced
1 cup beef broth
3 tablespoons steak sauce, such as A.1.
One 10-ounce box frozen petite peas

Directions

In a small saucepan, combine the potatoes and enough salted cold water to cover. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer until tender, about 15 minutes. Drain, return to the pot and mash with 6 tablespoons cream, 1 teaspoon salt and a pinch of pepper. Set aside.
Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, combine the ground sirloin with 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Shape into 4 oval patties about 1/2 inch thick. Coat with the flour.
In a large, heavy skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the ground sirloin patties and cook until browned, about 2 minutes on each side for medium-rare. Transfer to a plate and cover with foil to keep warm.
Add the onions to the skillet and cook over medium heat, stirring, until slightly softened, about 5 minutes. Pour in the beef broth, steak sauce and remaining 6 tablespoons cream and bring to a boil. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens, about 4 minutes.
Meanwhile, cook the peas according to package directions.
Return the meat patties to the skillet and let simmer in the sauce for about 4 minutes.
Arrange the patties on plates and spoon the sauce on top. Serve the mashed potatoes and peas alongside.

Serves 4.

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Table Manners: Trays Help Keep Food on Table

babysugar — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 06:00:51 -0700

I can't help but adore Royal VKB's Kids Puzzle Dinner Tray, $55. It was designed to make eating more fun for tots, but is extremely practical for parents at the same time. Each utensil has a special slot, which allows children to use puzzle skills to learn the correct place settings.
To find out what else it offers, read more.
My lil one is a pretty clean eater, but keeping food and utensils on the table is a never ending battle. I love that this tray aims to teach kids where their fork and cup are supposed to go so being polite can feel like a game.

Come Party With Me: Heroes Season Premiere - The Look

partysugar — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 09:15:51 -0700

I am so excited for Monday night's season premiere of Heroes! As with any TV-watching party, make sure your viewing room is clean and comfortable.

Before the show starts offer the grilled cheese appetizers on a large, black platter. The tomato soup looks scrumptious in Heroes shot glasses. Pour the cocktail into classic Tom Collins glasses.

Let guests eat on individual folding tables and serve the meal in foil TV dinner trays.

Light black candles and fold a couple of throw blankets over the back of a sofa. Place simple but chic plant arrangements around the space. A Heroes poster on the fridge is a delightful last detail.

Photos courtesy of NBC

Lil Links: Oblo Didactic Puzzle

LilSugar — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 11:19:15 -0700

Oblo didactic puzzle - Alpha Mom
Father arrested for leaving son at restaurant - Parent Dish
Jamie and Jools Oliver offer their daughters balance - Celebrity Baby Blog
Guy Ritchie said Madonna will decide if they have more kids - Celebrity Baby Scoop
My mom ate my homework - The Poop
Feeling kinda sassy - Green Mom Finds
Puzzle dinner tray from Royal VKB - Ohdeedoh

Mommy's Lil Helper: Cupcake Carrier

LilSugar — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 09:00:08 -0800

Cupcakes are a childhood favorite because the decadent treats are just the right size for satisfying a small one's sweet tooth. But, transporting the tiny cakes to a class party or potluck dinner can be a bit of a pain.

Many a mother has driven cautiously while watching the sweets slide around in the top of a box or topple from a muffin pan. Recently, I came across this smart solution - The Cupcake Courier ($30). The translucent plastic carrier holds three trays of 12 cupcakes and bottom latches secure it while a handle provides convenient toting. And if you remove the trays, the carrier can hold a cake.