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YumSugar Gift Guide: The Grillmaster

YumSugar — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 11:30:45 -0800

For the friend who lives for the backyard grill, there's no shortage of ideas. Indulge him in gadgets that do the grunt work, like this electric vacuum marinator, or give him the chance to sample new flavors with applewood planks and citrus rosemary skewers. He can finish his signature dish with a monogrammed flourish. And when that grilled steak is ready to eat, your gifts will keep on giving.

Want more gift ideas? Browse the selection below or check out all the gift guides on HolidaySugar.

Sunday Slow Cooker: Pork and Slaw Barbecue Rolls

YumSugar — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 06:00:25 -0800

Tonight I'm forgoing my usual soups, stews, and chowders for a relaxed Southern favorite: barbecue. This morning I'll literally be dropping my pork into the slow cooker, pouring in a few basic ingredients, and in six hours, the sweet aroma of North Carolina-style pulled pork will be wafting out of my kitchen. The fall-apart tender finished product, with its intensely tangy sauce, will no doubt become a family favorite. To get the recipe,

Bleeding Heart BBQ Tray: Love It or Hate It?

YumSugar — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 05:30:31 -0800

This barbecue tray with veins pokes fun at the juices that flow from grilled red meat. Its dark sense of humor is not for the faint of heart. What do you think of it?Source

Bleeding Heart BBQ Tray: Love It or Hate It?

Love it

Hate it

Undecided

Noteworthy Nibbles — Oct. 28-Nov. 3

YumSugar — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 14:00:33 -0700

This week is all about quality over quantity: There aren't as many festivals on our radar, but all of them are can't-miss events. The Giant Omelette Celebration is sure to be an egg-cellent time. Now that we have yet another excuse to drink beer, let's enjoy some at the Great World Beer Fest. And a festival that's all about tamales? Who couldn't get behind that?!

Know of anything we've left out? Drop us a line in the comments below!

Denver, CO: Denver International Wine Festival — Oct. 29-Nov. 1
Terlingua, TX: International Championship Chili Cook-Off — Oct. 30-Nov. 1
New York, NY: Great World Beer Fest — Oct. 31-Nov. 1
Apalachicola, FL: Florida Seafood Festival — Oct. 31-Nov. 1

To see the rest,

Noteworthy Nibbles —Oct. 7-13, 2008

YumSugar — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 14:00:12 -0700

It's the middle of Fall, and the festivities are bigger than ever. From Spencer, WV, to San Francisco, there's something for everyone, whether you've got a craving for candy or a hankering for ham. Know of something we've left out? Please feel free to add your comments below!

New York, NY: Food Network New York City Wine and Food Festival — Oct. 9-12
Denver, CO: The Celebrity Chef Tour Denver — Oct. 9
Denver, CO: Great American Beer Festival — Oct. 9-11
Spencer, WV: West Virginia Black Walnut Festival — Oct. 9-12
San Francisco, CA: San Francisco Magazine's Fallfest 2008 — Oct. 9-12

To see the rest,

Noteworthy Nibbles — Sept. 30-Oct.6

YumSugar — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 14:00:04 -0700

Across the country this month Oktoberfest celebrations are in full force. There's something for you, whether you want to savor the last of the Summer with a seafood festival or switch your mindset to Fall by enjoying one of the many harvest celebrations. Have a tip for another event? Leave it in the comments below!

Santa Clarita, CA: Loose Goose Wine Festival — Oct. 1-5
Corinth, MS: Kansas City Hog Wild BBQ Festival — Oct. 2-4
San Francisco, CA: Oktoberfest by the Bay — Oct. 2-5
Kansas City, MO: American Royal Barbecue — Oct. 2-5
Napa, CA: Domaine Chandon Pink Party — Oc. 2
New York, NY: Plate by Plate New York — Oct. 3
Carpinteria, CA: California Avocado Festival — Oct. 3-5

To see the rest,

McCain Shows Rachael Ray His Ribs

YumSugar — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 03:00:44 -0700

On Monday, John McCain took a detour from the typical campaign trail to make his special baby back ribs recipe on Rachael Ray's daytime show. Here are some interesting things I learned from watching him demonstrate his signature dish on TV:

Apparently, the potential president gets his ribs from Costco. Rachael Ray seemed surprised: "I've been to Costco, [but] I just didn't picture you two with a cart!"
To my surprise, McCain seemed very confident in his cooking skills. "Is he always this take-charge?" the host and chef asked Cindy McCain. Her answer was a definitive "yes."
The senator even had some good tips, such as always grilling bone side down, which helps to cook the meat from the inside out.

The segment was a fun way to get to know the candidate outside of his usual element. To check out the clip of McCain cooking with Ray,

Sunday BBQ: Grilled Pork and Pistachio Couscous

YumSugar — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 06:00:12 -0700

Pork tenderloin may not be the first thing that comes to mind when barbecuing, but it's just as easy to grill as other meats like chicken breast. In this rendition, grilled lemon and pork tenderloin are served with broccoli rabe and pistachio couscous. As this cut of meat is fairly lean, it makes for a healthy, well-rounded meal. To get the recipe, which is perfect for both Summer and Fall,

Noteworthy Nibbles — Sept. 16-22, 2008

YumSugar — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 14:00:25 -0700

In the height of good weather, food and festivity abound, and right about now, I'm wishing I could teleport myself around the United States. First I'd hit up Manhattan for Wine 2.0's wine sampling this week, followed by the Shrimp & Grits Festival in Georgia, and then some classic Eli's cheesecake in the Windy City. Don't miss out on these events — if you do, you'll have to wait another year!

New York, NY: The StarChefs Rising Stars Revue New York — Sept. 16
New York, NY: Epicurious Wine.Dine.Donate New York — Sept. 17
New York, NY: Wine 2.0 New York — Sept. 18
Atlantic City, NJ: Celebrity Chef Tour Atlantic City — Sept. 18
Shawnee-on-Delaware, PA: Delaware River Food & Wine Festival — Sept. 18-21
Nappanee, IN: Nappanee Apple Festival — Sept. 18-21
La Crescent, MN: Applefest 08 — Sept. 18-21
Leavenworth, WA: Wenatchee River Salmon Festival — Sept. 18-21

To see the rest,

Throw Some Fruit on the Barbie

YumSugar — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 16:15:41 -0700

I've always loved barbecued fruit, such as grilled pineapples and peaches. So for a recent dinner party, I fused shish-kebab style skewers with fruit to create a warm, juicy dessert! I used figs, nectarines, and pineapple, but other fruit such as apricots, mangoes, and cantaloupe would be equally delicious. As the fruit grills, the natural sugar caramelizes, enhancing the sweetness and creating perfect grill marks.

My guests gobbled up all of the kebabs. They were such a hit that my next gathering is going to be a three-course skewered meal!

I'll start with Party's Caprese skewers, follow with a simple meat and veggie kebab, and finish with these scrumptious fruit kebabs! To throw a little fruit of your own on the barbie,