Food & Wine Magazine - Free E-Book

Who doesn't love getting something for free - especially when it involves food and wine. Yum!  I recently received an email from Food & Wine Magazine with a website to go to for a free download of their e-book entitled FOOD & WINE’s Favorite Healthy Recipes.  Why not check it out? I know I will.  Click here for your free recipes.

Food Network and Cooking Channel New Line Up

In an effort to keep programming fresh and exciting, the Food Network and the Cooking Channel have several new and exciting series premiering in the next few months.  I'm very excited about a few of them.  Do any of you have a favorite new show you are particularly excited about?

Food Network Primetime

• Have Cake, Will Travel: Go on the road with cake decorator Ashley Vicos. Premieres April 26, 9 p.m.
• Best in Smoke: America's barbecue masters go head-to-head in New York for $50,000. Premieres May 8, 10 p.m.
• Crave: Food writer Troy Johnson examines the history and appeal popular dishes and trends. Premieres June 20, 10 p.m.
• Heat Seekers: Aarón Sánchez and Roger Mooking are on a quest to find the best spicy foods countrywide. Premieres July 2011.
• Tough Cookies: A look at the squabbling, multigenerational family behind Crazy Susan's cookie shop. Premieres July 2011.
• Chef Hunter: Chef recruiter Carrie McCully puts rising star chefs on the line for an executive chef position at a prestigious restaurant. Premieres August 2011.
• Sugar High: Duff Goldman's back, and on a road trip to find the best desserts in America. Premieres August 8, 10:30 p.m.
• Halloween Wars: Five teams of cake decorators, candy makers, and pumpkin carvers compete to prove they're best in Halloween treats. Premieres October 2011.
• Supersizers: Two food adventurers step back in time to see what it's really like to live and eat in a bygone era. Premieres January 2012.

Food Network Daytime

• Pioneer Woman: Blogger and author Ree Drummond invites viewers into her home on the range, and shares her special brand of home cooking. Premieres August 2011.
• Food Network Star Winner Series: A new series from the season seven winner of Food Network Star. Premieres August 2011.
• Trisha Yearwood Series: This yet-to-be-titled series takes viewers into the kitchen of country star and cookbook author Trisha Yearwood. Premieres September 2011.

Cooking Channel Primetime

• Eat St.: Comedian James Cunningham travels across the country seeking out the best curbside eats. Premieres April 12, 8 p.m.
• Unique Sweets: An inside look at the most innovative desserts across the US. Premieres April 24, 10:30 p.m.
• The Originals With Emeril: Emeril Lagasse pays tribute to iconic establishments that have shaped America's culinary heritage. Premieres May 5, 10:30 p.m.
• From Spain with Love: Annie Sibonney uncovers the rich history behind Spain's food culture. Premieres May 27, 9 p.m.
• Hook, Line, & Dinner: Expert fisherman Ben Sargent is on the ultimate coastal road trip to discover the best shore food in the country. Premieres June 7, 10:30 p.m.

Cooking Channel Daytime:

• Ching-He Huang's New Series: In this still-unnamed San Francisco series, Ching-He Huang of Chinese Food Made Easy explores the recipes and ingredients behind Chinese cooking. Premieres July 2011.
• The Perfect 3: Cooking Channel spotlights three standout dishes in 13 classic categories, including burgers, brownies, sandwiches, and salads. Premieres July 2011.
• Baking Made Easy: UK baker Lorraine Pascale shares her knowledge of baking sweet and savory recipes. Premieres Fall 2011.

3 Tips for Buying the Best Scallops

I've always been a bit nervous buying scallops from the store and I think that part of the reason is because I never knew what to look for.  So, sometimes I would take a few home and they would turn out perfect while other times they would end up turning into a disintegrated mess.  Well, I finally found out what to look for when buying scallops to ensure that you will have the best possible luck in the kitchen.

1. Always buy fresh scallops.
2. Look for scallops that have been packed in dry ice.  When they are packed in ordinary ice or water the scallops absorb the water. Then later when you cook them the water is released into the pan and you end up steaming them more than searing. So, you don't get that delicious sear.
3. Only buy bright white scallops! If they are grayish or have pink spots just walk away.

Edible "Angry Birds" Cake Toppers

Angry Birds are everywhere lately and with this great tutorial by lizzomarek on Instructables you will be able to make them for your next themed party!

Butterfinger Blizzard Cupcakes

The weather in Chicago is starting to warm up and when it does there is never a lack of commercials advertising all of my favorite ice cream treats. So, with ice cream on my mind but it still being a little too cool for me to treat my self to something cold, I decided to look for alternatives that would satisfy my sweet tooth without cooling me down.  That is when I happened across "Your Cup of Cake's" recipe for Butterfinger Blizzard Cupcakes.  It is the perfect combination of chocolate cake, caramel sauce and Butterfinger buttercream frosting

A Top-Secret Doughnut Shop

Chicago is becoming more and more known for being fun and innovative when it comes to food and with restaurants like Alinea and Moto calling Chicago home its easy to see why.  The latest innovation comes in the form of doughnuts! The Doughnut Vault is a walk-up window in a former vault that has set to open its doors in Chicago's trendy River North.  However, you are going to have to keep your eye out for it as the owners plan on keeping this spot low key.  "An old-timey sign on the wall touts Buttermilk Old-Fashioneds, Chestnut Glazeds and Gingerbread Stacks—three mini doughnuts coated in a cinnamon glaze—along with $1 French press coffee. Eventually, you’ll find other flavors (most importantly: Bourbon Cream)"

The Doughnut Vault
401½ N Franklin St
(near Kinzie)
Chicago, IL 60654