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Reader Recipe: Potato Soup

YumSugar — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 15:00:47 -0800

Soup is one of my favorite meals to enjoy year-round, so when I caught this shot of homemade bacon and potato soup, I started salivating. All Mansionmogul did was free-form this recipe, and I dreamt of a steaming hot bowl of this velvety, chunky soup sitting in front of me, the grated cheese topping already in a blissful state of melted gooeyness.

Make this soup - perfect for a cold Winter night - when you read more.
Submitted by TeamSugar member Mansionmogul

Potato Soup
Original Recipe

So I made Potato Soup this week, and it turned out really awesome. I totally improvised and used basically just what we had around. The base is mostly mashed potatoes + water + dairy (of some sort). Add your accoutrements as desired.

Ingredients

6 slices bacon, baked or fried and crumbled
2 medium onions, chopped
2 carrots, chopped (if desired)
2 stalks celery, chopped (if desired)
1 cup corn (if desired)
3 pound (about 5 large) potatoes
3 1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup sour cream + 2 cup whole milk
(I didn't have sour cream on-had so ended up using 2 cups heavy cream and some extra milk to thin it out)
1/4 pound (1 stick) butter
1 tbsp black pepper
1 tbsp smoked paprika
4 scallions, thinly sliced (if you have them)
3/4 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese (for garnish)

Directions
I started with a basic recipe for potato soup and then improvised and changed it to what I wanted - you can change it up however you want.

Start by browning your onions, in the bottom of a large pot. Then add the celery and carrots and heat through. I peeled and cut half of the potatoes into thirds, and chopped up the second half into smaller pieces, leaving the skins on. Place all the potatoes in a large pot with water to cover, add 2 teaspoons salt, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook until the smaller potatoes are cooked but not too soft. I then separated the smaller potato chunks out to go into the pot (if you can think of a better way of doing this, let me know!). I cooked the remaining potatoes until they were very soft -- about 45 minutes. Drain the potatoes, discarding all but a tablespoon or two of the water, and return them to the pot. Mash them with a potato masher until smooth. Add the sour cream and butter and stir until melted. Add the mashed potatoes to the large pot with the milk, pepper, bacon, corn, and remaining salt and smoked paprika and bring the soup back to a simmer. Divide among 8 bowls and serve the soup hot, garnished with scallions, cheese, and bacon.

Makes 4 Servings

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Reader Recipe: Chicken Salad in Celery Ribs

YumSugar — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 15:00:08 -0800

Whenever I find myself in need of creative inspiration, I simply look to the Kitchen Goddess group. This week, I came across a killer app - mini celery boats stuffed with chicken salad and peas. I'm thinking these would make a great appetizer to bring to my next book club, since they're bite sized and not too messy. Apparently, I'm spot on: Jenious says they're such a big hit at gatherings that she always doubles the recipe. To make these for your next get-together, read more.

Submitted by TeamSugar member Jenious

Chicken Salad with Peas in Celery Ribs
Adapted from a recipe by Mary Barber and Sara Corpening for Food & Wine.

Easy to make, can be made ahead and assembled upon arrival or the day of the event. Adjust to your preferences by swapping herbs like dried Italian herbs or dill. Depending on desired consistency you can also adjust the amounts of chicken, mayo, and cream cheese. A toothpick in each helps guests serve themselves. Pulse in a food processor prior to adding peas and, talk about easy! I double the recipe since it's always a hit at gatherings.

Ingredients

8 wide celery ribs, trimmed
1/3 cup cream cheese (2 ounces), softened
3 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon finely chopped basil
2 teaspoons finely chopped tarragon
2 teaspoons finely chopped flat-leaf parsley
1/2 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
1/2 pound cooked chicken breast, finely chopped or shredded
1/2 cup frozen baby peas, thawed
3 tablespoons finely chopped red onion
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper

Directions
Using a vegetable peeler, peel the celery ribs so they sit flat, then cut them on the diagonal into 1-inch lengths. In a medium bowl, combine the softened cream cheese with the mayonnaise, lemon juice, basil, tarragon, parsley and lemon zest. Add the chicken, peas, and onion and stir gently until just combined. Season with salt and pepper. Spoon 1 teaspoon of the chicken salad onto each piece of celery.

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Fast & Easy Dinner: Chicken Potpie Empanadas

partysugar — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 06:45:08 -0700

The classic chicken potpie gets a portable makeover in this delicious recipe. Although a traditional potpie, with its homemade dough and slow-cooked chicken, takes time to make, this shortcut version uses refrigerated pie crusts and rotisserie chicken to cut the cook time. Kids will especially enjoy these empanadas because they require no eating utensils. For the recipe please, read more.

Chicken Potpie Empanadas
From Real Simple

Ingredients

1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1/2 yellow onion, diced
1 tablespoon flour
3/4 cup low-sodium chicken broth
1 10-ounce box frozen peas and carrots
1 3- to 4-pound store-bought rotisserie chicken, meat shredded
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 refrigerated 9-inch piecrusts (from a 15-ounce package, such as Pillsbury)

Directions

Heat oven to 400° F.
Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and cook for 3 minutes. Add the flour and cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute.
Still stirring, slowly add the broth. Cook until thickened, about 3 minutes. Add the peas and carrots, chicken, salt, and pepper. Remove from heat.
Cut each piecrust in half to form 4 half-circles. Spoon the chicken mixture over the bottom half of each half-circle, leaving a 1/2-inch border.
Using your fingers, wet the border with water. Fold the top of each crust over the chicken to form a quarter-circle. Press to seal. Make three 1-inch slits in each top crust.
Transfer to a baking sheet. Bake until golden, 15 to 18 minutes.

Serves 4.

NUTRITION PER SERVING
CALORIES 696.66(46% from fat); FAT 35.48g (sat 8.14g); CHOLESTEROL 142.95mg; CALCIUM 61.27mg; CARBOHYDRATE 42.72g; SODIUM 680.21mg; PROTEIN 50.47mg; FIBER 3.33g; IRON 4.29mg

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Will You Buy an Upgraded PSP 3000?

GeekSugar — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 14:00:09 -0700

I'm a fan of the PSP. It's got some amazing graphic capabilities, and since one of my favorite games is on the PSP, it's totally handy to have with me when I travel. But if I'm being honest, the PSP does have its drawbacks; most notably being the screen glare! I love that I can watch movies more comfortably than I could with my iPod, but contorting the console to get the best angle while on the go is kind of a bummer.

So the announcement of the spruced-up PSP, called the PSP 3000 – which will hit European markets in October – has me anticipating an upgrade. The $250 dollar PSP 3000 will have an improved LCD screen with reduced glare, so I can play games and watch videos outside comfortably, and will also boast a built-in mic for all those Skype calls I'll be making.

Since I'm still not sure how many of you own a PSP, tell me, will you buy a PSP 3000 when it hits the States?

Source

Get the Look: Colorful and Portable Rooftop Décor Part II

CasaSugar — Thu, 29 May 2008 15:00:57 -0700

I recently showed you some lighting and furniture that will help you to get the look of a colorful and portable rooftop environment. Well, a functional and comfortable rooftop can't be achieved without accessories and textiles, too. To hear about them, read more.

Rooftop Accessories: Pick up a picnic basket to bring up your food and tableware from the kitchen. Get a galvanized tub, bucket, or basket of some sort, and fill it with your entertainment - be it roll-up checkers, dominoes, horseshoes, or a 30 of beer. A flyswatter isn't a bad thing to have around, and if your rooftop has a fence or boundary, a lawn bowling set is a fun accessory as well.

Outdoor Textiles: Create a focal point with a bamboo or all-weather outdoor floor mat. Mix floor cushions and pillows in stripes, florals, and plain colors to give your rooftop a relaxed, cozy feel. Pick up a cushion storage bag to put them in when you head indoors. Be sure you've got some throws for when the temperature drops; if it's got a handle or rolls up easily, that's best.

PB Classic Stripe Outdoor Pillow - $29.00	Outdoor Floor Cushions - $29.99
Suzani Outdoor Pillow - $32.00	Terry Chaise Pillow - $20.00
Outdoor Cushion Storage Bag - $12.99	Umbrella Outdoor Pillow - $32.00
Fun in the Sun Pillow - $49.00	Missoni Home -harpo pattern throw by missoni home of italy - $195.00
Sunbrella® Striped Throw - $198.00	Basketweave Throws - $24.99
Mosaic Blooms Floor Pillow - $44.95	Outdoor Cushion Collection - $24.00
Paisley Outdoor Mat - $12.00	Turkish Pattern Reversible All-Weather Floor Mat - $89.00
Bamboo Mat 5x8 - $149.99	Floral Pattern Reversible All-Weather Floor Mat - $39.00
Missoni Home Pillows & Cushion - $69.00	Multistripe Outdoor Folding Mat & Half Bolster - $39.00
Water Hyacinth Pillows - $29.00	Solid Floor Cushion - $59.00
Maize Floor Cushions - $12.48	Thai Floor Cushions - $19.99
Oriental Pattern Reversible All-Weather Floor Mat - $84.00

Get the Look: Colorful and Portable Rooftop Décor Part I

CasaSugar — Thu, 29 May 2008 11:00:50 -0700

If you have rooftop access to your city apartment building, or even your own house, you'll be a popular gal this Summer. Be it breezy or balmy, your friends will be pounding on your door in hopes of taking a gander at your lofty views. Even if the sun's gone down, you can create a warm, colorful, and comfortable rooftop for your entertaining (or escaping) needs by picking up some portable décor. You may need to avoid leaving your rooftop furnishings out day in and day out due to landlord restrictions or bad weather, so I've hunted down and compiled some products for you, in a look that's both easy to carry and set up as well cheerful. To hear about rooftop lighting and furniture, read more.

Rooftop Lighting: Combine tiki torches, citronella candles, a lightweight or tabletop firepit, and ethnic, patterned lanterns to give you light and warmth, keep bugs at bay, and create instant style.

Portable Furniture: The temporary, portable furniture solution is to surround a folding tray table with folding beach chairs, or opt for a plastic or rattan tray to set on the ground as your "table." But, you'll need something to keep things from flying away and in place. If you'll be serving a meal on your rooftop, rather than just hanging, you can make it a bit more formal with folding café or director chairs and small folding table.

Stay tuned to hear about rooftop accessories and textiles!

Insignia Portable DVD Player Reviewed

GeekSugar — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 08:00:38 -0700

I've never been the target customer when it comes to portable DVD players because I hardly ever watch movies on small screens and when I do, I'm happy just using my laptop. Having recently spent some time with my friend's four-year-old, I learned that some people - particularly those who haven't lost their two front teeth yet - rely on portable DVD players for entertainment in planes, trains and other boring locations.

I got a chance to take the Insignia 10.2" 16:9 Widescreen LCD Portable DVD Player for a spin and was pleasantly surprised. I often think of Insignia as an "inexpensive" or "affordable" alternative to more pricey gadgets, but I was immediately intrigued by the player's compact size, light weight and sleek body.

To check out additional pictures of the player and read my full review, read more

I was most impressed with the player's design and usability. It features a fool-proof control wheel (yes, it vaguely resembles the iPod's clickwheel), as well as a small remote that fits into the body of the device for storage. It weighs 2.6-pounds, which is notably lighter than my laptop. While I'm still not sure I would travel with a portable player instead of my laptop, I see where this could be good alternative for keeping yourself or the kids entertained or even as a gift for a Luddite who wants to watch DVDs but doesn't want to deal with connecting a player to a TV (say maybe your great-grandama...).

The Insignia DVD player plays DVD, DVD+R, DVD+RW, DVD-R, DVD-RW, CD, CD-R, CD-RW, MP3 and JPEG formats, which means you can watch videos stored on your iPod on a slightly larger screen. You can also connect to video game consoles. It ships with an A/V cable, car power adapter, AC/DC adapter and remote. At first I thought the price tag of $190 was a little steep, but discovered most of the other portable players on the market are 8-inches or less. For comparison, the Panasonic 8.5" Portable DVD Player with 12 Hour Battery is $260.

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10 Chimney-Free Portable Fireplaces

CasaSugar — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 09:00:33 -0700

This is the dawn of a new era of home heating. Traditional fireplaces with chimneys have always been something that adds value to a home; turning your heater up just doesn't have the same effect as sitting around a cozy fire. But now there's a wide range of portable fireplaces that burn eco-friendly ethanol ready to replace traditional fireplaces. They offer that same cozy vibe, but they can be used in any home, in any room - chimney or not - and can be taken with you when you move. The only problem is that many seem to be more modern in form, which doesn't appeal to everyone's taste. Come take a look!

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Coolest Portable Digital Video Player In the World?

GeekSugar — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 15:01:38 -0800

I know people often expect the "best" gadget in a category to be universal, however it seems each country's portable player tastes are as unique as their native cuisine.

This month's WWD Magazine featured a fun insert with a list of the coolest portable digital players from around the world. Italians pick the Zen Vision M by Creative as the coolest portable player.

The Zen Vision, $374, has long played second or third string to the iPod and other portables in the US, but apparently, Italians love the player's 2.5-inch high res LCD screen and the freedom to download videos and music in various formats.

Japan picked the Phillips PET725/44, Australia goes ga-ga for the fifth generation iPod, Brazil likes the Philips PET725/44, Japan loves the Sony DVP-FX810 and the US apparently adores the Panasonic DVD LS 91. To each his own, right?

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Nice and New: Travelmate Portable Fireplace

CasaSugar — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 08:30:14 -0700

When it comes to most of the products I recommend, finances are usually the only thing keeping you from taking them home. OK, maybe your husband would be opposed to mirrored furniture, but, moving on . . . There's one thing that's never been an easy purchase, and that thing is a fireplace. Why? Because a fireplace requires a chimney, which requires a contractor, bricks, etc.
To find out how to get around those pesky requirements, read more.

Lucky for all of us, that reality is no more, thanks to the Conmoto Travelmate Portable Fireplace ($3,300), a portable, stylish suitcase of black powder-coated steel and glass that holds a smokeless fire, burned from bio-ethanol liquid fuel. The Travelmate allows you to burn a fire literally wherever you want (so long as it's a flat surface): on your coffee table, in your bedroom, on the lawn, next to your favorite reading chair . . . on wood, on carpet, on stone, anywhere! Talk about house warming! That's right, FDR, you're not the only one who can have fireside chats.

Roll-Up Checkers - $39.00	Camo Dominoes - $29.00
Alessi dr. skud fly swatter - $15.00	Horseshoe Set - $69.00
Lawn Bowling Set - $89.00	Large Buckets with Creativity Liner - $20.00
Bamboo 21-Piece Insulated Picnic Basket - $39.99	Thermal-Lined Picnic Basket - $59.00
Martha Stewart Collection Picnic Basket - $65.00	Libbey® 7-Piece Deck Party Set - $19.99
Galvanized Tub with Handles - $34.95	Galvanized Flower Bucket - $35.00
Galvanized Tray with Handles - $24.95	Natural Canvas Buckets - $24.00

Tabletop Gel Firepit Small - $92.50	Oil Lamp with Clear Glass Shade - $115.00
Golden Globe Lights - Clear - $39.00	Striped Torch - $7.95
Bamboo Torch - $7.95	Citronella Bucket Candle - $16.95
Citronella 3-Wick Striped Cache Pot - $14.99	3-Wick Citronella Candle in Striped Bowl - $19.99
Solar Tiki Torch (Set of 2) - $19.99	Torch Lights - $12.99
Copper Fire Bowl - $139.00	Gondolier's Lantern - Square - $74.00
Clear Hanging Swirl Lantern - $19.99	notNeutral NotNeutral Season Lantern - in black - large size - $180.00
notNeutral NotNeutral Season Lantern - in persimmon - $50.00

Format Tray - $34.95	Palau Bed Tray - $54.95
Lacquer Bed Tray - $49.95	Folding Tray Table - $59.00
Hapao Scallop Tray - $50.00	Wood Beach Chair - $39.99
Bali Club Chair or Canvas - $20.00	Veneto Adjustable Folding Chair Sunbrella® Cushion - $130.00
Folding Cottage Side Table - $79.95	Set of Two Cafe Folding Chairs - $119.00
notNeutral - Melamine Tray - $17.00	Patio-Perfect Tray - $28.00
Rattan Serving Tray - $49.00