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Fast & Easy Dinner: Ginger Pork Chops With Spinach Salad

partysugar — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 06:46:34 -0700

Savor the last of Summer's strawberries with this flavor-packed meal. The berries add a delightful sweetness to both the salad and sauce. The pork chops are seasoned with fresh ginger, and the scrumptious sauce combines juicy ginger with the plump berries.

An unexpected ingredient, frozen lemonade concentrate, brings a syrupy tartness to the sauce. Served atop a bed of spinach, this meal is balanced and filling, so get the recipe and

Come Party With Me: Olympics Viewing — Drinks

partysugar — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 12:15:54 -0700

When guests arrive at your Olympic viewing, surprise them at the door with a chilled shot of Canton Ginger Liqueur. The shot will loosen up shy friends and get the conversation flowing. Next offer guests a glass of strawberry-lychee punch. Muddled with fresh strawberries, China's most cherished fruit sweetens this delicious rum cocktail.

Also have beer, wine, and sparkling water on hand. To learn how to make this cool, refreshing strawberry-lychee concoction,

Come Party With Me: Housewarming Party — Dessert

partysugar — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 15:00:32 -0700

When selecting a dessert recipe for a housewarming, choose a dish that can be eaten on the go without any utensils. Cookies and cupcakes are delicious, but empanadas keep up with the tapas-themed menu. These tasty, small pastries are filled with berries and goat cheese. If you don't have the time or expertise to make dough, simply use premade refrigerated pie crust.

To learn how they are made,

My Plan for a Simple, Last Minute Brunch

partysugar — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 05:30:34 -0700

A couple of weeks ago, I hosted a last minute brunch. All of the food was made either the evening before or the morning of the brunch. The easy menu featured something for everyone, with dishes that were both vegetarian and meat friendly. To find out what I made and check out my tips for recreating this exact brunch in your backyard, click the "Start" button.

Get Your Final Fix of Strawberries With Strawberry Pie

partysugar — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 15:00:03 -0700

The other day I was going on about wanting to make strawberry pie (I saw the recipe in Gourmet's June issue) when my friend interrupted me. She pointed out that sadly, strawberry season is almost over! Determined to make the pie, I headed to my local market in hopes of finding the last of the season's berries. Lucky me, they still had some left!This pie is sweet, delicious, and surprisingly easy to make. It takes time to set and chill, so make it the night before you plan on serving it. If you want to taste this pie, make it soon, before strawberry season ends. To check out the recipe,

Noteworthy Nibbles — June 19 to 25, 2008

YumSugar — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 14:00:07 -0700

This Saturday is the Summer solstice, and if you're looking for a way to enjoy the longest day of the year, there are still oodles of food festivals happening all over the country. Strawberry season is in full force, peaches are popping up in Alabama, and a massive barbecue competition is going down in our nation's capital. Take a look at some of the best fests happening in the next week.

Costa Mesa, CA: Summer Food & Wine Festival — June 19
Cincinnati, OH: National Homebrewers Conference — June 19-21
Brooklyn Park, MN: Tater Days — June 19-22
Fort Wayne, IN: BBQ Ribfest — June 19-22
Wisconsin Rapids, WI: Cranberry Blossom Festival — June 19-22
Norfolk, VA: Bayou Boogaloo and Cajun Food Festival — June 19-22
Burgaw, NC: North Carolina Blueberry Festival — June 20-21
Glenwood Springs, CO: Strawberry Days — June 20-22
Clayton, NY: Great New York State Food and Wine Festival — June 20-22
Champaign, IL: Taste of Champaign-Urbana — June 20-22
Long Grove, IL: Long Grove Strawberry Festival — June 20-22
Clanton, AL : Chilton County Peach Festival — June 20-28
Washington, DC: Safeway 16th Annual National Capital Barbecue Battle — June 21-22

More local food events, so

A Snappy Summer Side: Strawberry Mint Salad

YumSugar — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 14:01:48 -0700

After enjoying a pizza topped with strawberries, mint, and feta, I've been looking for other creative ways to eat my favorite Summer fruit. The other night, when I needed a side salad to go with eggplant parmesan, I borrowed the berry, mint, and feta combo and added sugar snap peas, which are almost as delicious as strawberries right now. To contrast the delicate flavors, I used slivered almonds and a garlicky, almond-infused balsamic dressing. I was afraid the results might be too sweet, but the salad was well-balanced: light and summery but also bold. With the feta cheese, it's an excellent starter to serve before an Italian or Mediterranean meal. To get the recipe,

Berries Soaked in Booze Are Better For You?

FitSugar — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 16:00:00 -0700

If you're a fan of cocktails, you'll appreciate this tidbit just in time for berry season and Summer-drink mixing. According to studies conducted by Thailand's Kasetsart University and the USDA, soaking berries in liquor increases their antioxidant capacity.

While testing methods for preserving strawberries, the scientists discovered that soaking them in grain alcohol also upped their antioxidant levels. According to the article:

Colored berry fruits like strawberries contain compounds known as polyphenols and anthocyanins. Consumption of these compounds has been linked to the prevention of diseases ranging from cancer to neurodegenerative disorders. . . . Similar benefits of alcohol treatment was found with blackberries, which means that soaking in alcohol will likely improve the antioxidant value of a variety of berries.

Celebrate this fun finding by making a drink with Summer berries, like this Raspberry Herb Cocktail from Martha Stewart. Though the study doesn't say how long you need to soak the berries, be sure to marinate them in the vodka before mixing your cocktail.

Noteworthy Nibbles — June 12 to 18, 2008

YumSugar — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 15:00:47 -0700

Well, you all know what I'm doing this weekend: Heading to the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen, one of the food world's most important and awesome events. But if you can't join me, don't worry: There are plenty of food festivals to go around. From strawberries and sushi to barbecue and banana splits, the yummy celebrations are all over the map (literally). Here's a look at some of the highlights from around the country:

Winston-Salem, NC: Twin City Rib Fest — June 12-14
Lockhart, TX: 36th Annual Chisholm Trail Roundup BBQ — June 12-15
Wilmington, OH: Banana Split Festival — June 13-14
Crawfordsville, IN: Strawberry Festival — June 13-15
Aspen, CO: Food & Wine Classic — June 13-15
Long Beach, CA: Sushi and Sake Festival — June 14
San Francisco, CA: 54th Annual North Beach Festival — June 14-15
Niagara, ON: Niagara New Vintage Festival — June 14-22

More local food events, so

Yummy Link: Strawberry Chocolate Chunk Shortcakes

partysugar — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 11:15:32 -0700

I love combining two desserts to make one new, delicious dessert. In this recipe for strawberry chocolate shortcakes and chocolate-dipped strawberries meets classic strawberry shortcake. What a wonderful way to wow guests! — Eggs on Sunday