Do You Cook With Butternut Squash All Year Round?


Updated 06/13/11 11:26 AM · Posted by · 8 comments

Is Butternut Squash a Year-Round Ingredient?

The other day my best friend asked me if I had a good butternut squash macaroni and cheese recipe. I was a little surprised because it's practically Summer, and I've got nothing but apricots, tomatoes, and corn on the brain. However, the squash came from her parents garden, so she wanted to make good use of it. Then I remembered looking at a seasonal restaurant's menu recently; I noticed a couple Read more

Tom Colicchio's Kitchen Staples


Posted by · 4 comments

Tom Colicchio's Staple Ingredients

Unlike some chefs who don't cook at home, Top Chef head honcho, Tom Colicchio, often prepares quick and delicious dinners for his wife and two young boys. The key to throwing together a fast meal? Keeping your kitchen stocked with certain ingredients! At a recent event hosted by Electrolux, Colicchio and sous chef Kelly Ripa, fixed a tasty meal in minutes. Tom also shared his essential Read more

What Ingredients Do You Splurge On?


Updated 05/23/11 1:33 PM · Posted by · 13 comments

Splurge-Worthy Ingredients

When grocery shopping, the majority of the time, I try to select the cheapest ingredients. However, there are some items that I splurge for. My dad introduced me to this local, organic, European-style butter and I've become obsessed with it! It's more expensive than regular butter, but I think it's worth it. It makes the best toast. Ever. Browsing the new food market on Gilt Taste has me Read more

Do You Judge a Recipe Based on the Number of Ingredients?


Updated 10/04/10 4:13 PM · Posted by partysugar · 14 comments

Do You Judge a Recipe Based on the Number of Ingredients?

My sister refuses to make a recipe if it has a long ingredient list; she can't be bothered with a dish that has tons of items. She swears that the simpler a recipe, the better the final result is. I, on the other hand, am not afraid of long ingredient lists and have been known to make dishes with tons of ingredients. How about you? Do You Judge a Recipe Based on the Number of Read more

Burning Question: French vs. Italian Vermouth


Posted by YumSugar · 2 comments

What's the Difference Between Dry and Sweet Vermouth?

A well-stocked home bar should have two versions of vermouth, and trust me: you don't want to confuse the two. Dry vermouth, also called French vermouth (pictured), is light in color and often found in similarly shaded cocktails. Dry vermouth mixes into a classic dry martini, as well as some of my favorite finds, including the Corkscrew and El Presidente cocktails. Not surprisingly, Italian (aka Read more

Healthy Ingredient Substitutes


Updated 09/01/11 1:15 PM · Posted by FitSugar · 10 comments

Healthy Ingredient Substitutes

You don't have to go drastic with your diet choices to up the health factor. There are ways to swap out ingredients in your favorite dishes without sacrificing them altogether. I've listed some of these ingredient substitutions below. Have any to add? Feel free to share your ideas in the comments! Agave nectar for sugar: While it should still be used sparingly, agave nectar is sweeter than Read more

Know Your Ingredients: Anchovy Paste


Updated 07/26/10 10:56 AM · Posted by YumSugar · 1 comment

What Is Anchovy Paste? How to Use Anchovy Paste

Does the notion of using anchovy paste in cooking sound fishy? If so, perhaps it's time to reconsider your stance: Anchovy paste is a versatile, convenient method of enhancing flavor in everything from soup to nuts. Widely available in specialty stores, anchovy paste is a potent, salty paste made from ground anchovy fillets, water or olive oil, vinegar, and sugar to mellow out the ingredient's Read more