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Top 10 All-American Cocktails

partysugar — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 06:18:38 -0700

With the biggest holiday of the summer just two short days away, you might be scrambling for a fun cocktail recipe. Well lucky for you - and me! - reader hvnly34 bookmarked a couple of festive drinks. It looks like the fabulous folks over at Fine Living have put together a patriotic list of the top ten All-American cocktails. With names like American Punch and Summer Beer Cocktail, you are sure to find something tasty to serve your guests. I totally want to shake myself a Boston Pops Martini - it's garnished with cherry pop rocks and will be a sure fire conversation starter. To take a look at the top five drinks - have you heard of any of them? - just read more

The top five All-American Cocktails:

Boston Pops Martini
4th of July Shooter
Artillery Punch
Tropical Sky
All-American Whiskey Stone Sour

If the top five have peaked your interest, be sure to check out the rest of the list.

Celeb Style: Eva Herzigova

FabSugar — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:00:22 -0800

As we approach the holidays, I'm on the lookout for original party looks. Eva's wink may not be up to par, but the slick tuxedo-inspired look she wore to the 2010 Pirelli Calendar cocktail reception in London was beyond Fab. She dressed up her slight harem pants with delicate sandals, a draped white top, and a velvet blazer. Feminine details like a black lace peekaboo bra and radiant art deco earrings are suave touches. A jolt of red satin via her clutch is holiday-tastic.

Drape Front Top - $68.00	Bandeau Lace Bra - $7.00
NEW! Velvet one-button tuxedo jacket - $168.00	Zero + Maria Cornejo Gabi Pants - $250.00
Rouched Satin Fold-Over Clutch - $29.50	rsvp - Casey (Black Satin) - $84.00
Slivertone Link Bracelet Watch - $95.00	Nightcap art deco earring - $42.00

Check out CelebStyle for lots more celebrity street style!

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?

What's Yummy This Week - YumSugar Weekly Recap

YumSugar — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 09:30:25 -0800

This holiday, make a homemade crust with shortening for an apple pie you won't forget.
Enter to win our ultimate Thanksgiving package!
Top Chef took food into the bedroom; did you watch?
You'll want to make this Maryland-style crab dip again and again.
It's a tired turkey day no more, thanks to Party's bold flavorful Thanksgiving.
Can you identify which classic dishes were named after people?
Decide what seasonal cocktails to serve with your big feast.

What to TiVo: Friday

BuzzSugar — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 23:50:43 -0800

ABC is new with Supernanny, Ugly Betty, and 20/20
CBS is new with Ghost Whisperer, Medium, and NUMB3RS
FOX has repeats of House and Bones
NBC is new with Law & Order and Dateline NBC
The CW is new with Smallville and has a repeat of America's Next Top Model
USA is new with Monk and White Collar
Bravo has Legally Blonde
E! is new with The Soup
TLC is new with Say Yes to the Dress and Battle of the Wedding Planners
MTV has repeats of Southpark and Jackass, and has Kill Bill: Vol. 2
VH1 has Cocktail and a repeat of Sex Rehab With Dr. Drew
Late-night highlights include Terrence Howard and Sheryl Crow on The Jay Leno Show on NBC; Mariah Carey on The Late Show With David Letterman on CBS; Reese Witherspoon, Danny DeVito, and Kris Allen on The Tonight Show With Conan O'Brien on NBC; Diddy on Jimmy Kimmel Live on ABC; Harry Connick Jr. on The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson on CBS; Amanda Peet on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon on NBC; and Emmy Rossum on Last Call With Carson Daly on NBC

Killer App: Maryland-Style Crab Dip

partysugar — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:50:13 -0800

You know I'm a huge fan of dips and for my mom's recent birthday party, I decided to make her this insanely addictive crab dip. She was born in Maryland and loves crab, so when I found the recipe in The New Thanksgiving Table, I knew it would be the perfect start to a dinner that celebrated her. It would also make a nice beginning to any upcoming occasion be it Thanksgiving or a holiday cocktail party. Unlike some crab dips, the natural flavor of the crab is not overshadowed by cheese and mayonnaise. Although these are ingredients in the dip, they don't over power the shellfish, instead they subtly highlight and enhance the plump and meaty chunks of crab. The lemon panko topping adds a deliciously light and crunchy texture to the dip. I'll definitely be making this luscious and easy crab dip again. You should give it a try; get the recipe now and read more.

Warm Maryland Crab Dip With Lemon Panko Topping
Modified from The New Thanksgiving Table by Diane Morgan

Ingredients

For the dip
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 large shallot, minced
1/2 cup (4 ounces) cream cheese, at room temperature
1/4 cup heavy (whipping) cream
3 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1/3 cup thinly sliced green onions, including green tops
1 1/2 tablespoons minced fresh flat-leaf parsley
3/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon Old Bay Seasoning
1 pound fresh lump crabmeat, picked over for shells and well drained
For the topping
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
2/3 cup panko (Japanese bread crumbs) or other unseasoned bread crumbs
1 1/2 teaspoons freshly grated lemon zest
pinch of salt
crostini, for serving

Directions

In a medium skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the shallot and saute for about 2 minutes until soft but not browned. Remove from the heat.
Add the cream cheese, cream, mayonnaise, mustard, and lemon juice. Using a rubber spatula, stir to combine, then fold in the green onions, parsley, salt, and Old Bay. Fold in the crabmeat, breaking up any large chunks with a fork. Transfer the crab dip to a shallow baking dish. Set aside.
Position a rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat to 425°F.
To make the topping, in a small skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the panko and toast, stirring constantly, for about 2 minutes until the crumbs are golden brown and crisp.
Remove from the heat and stir in the lemon zest and salt. Scatter the topping evenly over the crab dip.
Bake until heated through and bubbly at the edges and the topping is golden, 12-15 minutes. Serve warm with the crostini.

Serves 8.

Do ahead: The crab dip, without the panko topping, can be prepared 1 day in advance. Cover and refrigerate. Remove from the refrigerator 1 hour before baking. The panko topping can be prepared up to 1 day in advance. Transfer to an airtight container and store at room temperature. Scatter the topping over the crab just before baking.

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Yummy Links: From Cranberry Bars to Drink Sticks

partysugar — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 06:50:34 -0800

Make your own Starbucks-style cranberry bliss bars. - Serious Eats
An inside look at New York's Top Chef season seven casting call. - Eater NY
Speaking of Top Chef casting calls, here's what the head of casting has to say. - Andrew Zimmern
Why you should give Spanish paprika a try. - The Atlantic
Jay Leno does his best impression of Gordon Ramsay. - Eat Me Daily
Feeling adventurous this Thanksgiving? Then learn how to deep-fry a turkey. - Chow
Catch up with Top Chef season three alum Chris CJ Jacobson. - Grub Street LA
At your next party, serve cocktails with homemade swizzle sticks. - Hostess With the Mostess

5 Fabulous Gifts For the Do-It-Herself Hostess

partysugar — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 07:50:27 -0800

She's the girl who makes snake cakes in her sleep. The gal who sends twenty-five handmade birthday invitations to a four course sit-down dinner that she cooks. She's already obsessing about her Thanksgiving menu and testing out Christmas cocktails. You know who I'm talking about, she's the hostess who does it all and she's giving Martha Stewart a run for her money. Always on top of things, this fun-loving gal is easy to shop for. Here are my holiday gifting suggestions for the party-princess in your life.

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Yummy Links: From a Drink Calculator to Stephanie Izard

partysugar — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 08:00:07 -0800

Hosting a New Year's Eve party? Use this drink calculator to determine how much alcohol you'll need. - Evite
A soup recipe for every season. - The Kitchn
Learn how to make the classic Champagne cocktail. - Cookthink
From cocktails to dinners to dessert, here are ten recipes that use vodka. - Chow
Barley risotto is healthy and delicious. - Serious Eats
Catch up with Top Chef Season 4 winner, Stephanie Izard. - The Epi-Log

Source

Killer Apps: Clams Casino

partysugar — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:00:38 -0800

Although appetizers aren't the first thing that come to mind when one thinks of Thanksgiving dinner, I like to give my family something to nibble on while they wait for the big meal. Usually I serve a luxurious bite like crab cakes or baked brie with mushrooms. This year, I'm offering a classic seafood crowd-pleaser, clams casino.

Even my mom, who's not into clams, enjoys these savory, finger-licking-good, bacon-and-shallot-topped clams. They can be assembled in the morning and baked later, making them ideal for an event like Thanksgiving. These delicious clams are also an excellent addition to a cocktail party menu, so bookmark the recipe now