It's almost Halloween, and I have a treat for all you vampire-crazed home cooks: it's The Complete Vampire Lover's Cookbook, Love at First Bite ($10). This ghoulishly good paperback is a festive cookbook with over 300 "suckulent" recipes. Although there are no pictures of the dishes, the tome is full of great ideas and delightful inspiration. Read on for more details!
This story was written by member Angelica and comes from the Savory Sights group in the YumSugar Community.I decided to make my own holiday hostess gifts this year instead of spending on wine or pre-made goodies. I found mini jam jars at Target and stocked up on pistachios, almonds, white chocolate chips and dried cranberries from Trader Joe's, which combine to make a tangy, sweet, and salty treat that can be enjoyed at the party, or weeks later. To add an extra seasonal flair I dressed the jars with a red ribbon and a simple stock card label, which I decorated with a rubber stamp. I made eight for about $50, which comes out to about $6 a piece. Personalized, pretty and not-so-pricey. The perfect holiday treat!
Have you eaten an awesome meal? Join the Savory Sights group, upload your photos and a description of the experience, and it could be featured on YumSugar! If you are new to the YumSugar Community, here's a detailed guide to posting to groups.
Do you have an iPhone? Then stop what you're doing right now and download the Nirvino (my preferred online drinking community) wine ratings guide. With over one million wines listed by name, price, grape varietal, flavor profile, region, and producer, the wine application is an amazing resource to always have at your fingertips.
Not only does it provide food pairing suggestions, but there's also lots of fun lists to browse. Food Network's Aida Mollenkamp shares her favorite wines to drink while cooking, Sommelier Mark Bright rounded up his top bottles from Whole Foods, and yours truly has even created a list!
I headed to Safeway to pick out the best wines — all of which are under $20 — for hostess gifts. I've tasted and enjoyed these wines and would bring them to a party. Be it a birthday bash at Hog Island oyster farm, an intimate Thanksgiving dinner, or an upcoming holiday soirée, there's a bottle for every occasion. To check out my list, keep reading.
Take note friends and family: These gifts are perfect for the ultimate party girl. I'm talking about the gal who hardly sleeps, is constantly in the process of planning a fabulous soirée, and considers party-hopping her favorite sport.
This gold crocodile wine caddy lets her transport bubbly in style. A pretty cocktail shaker and embellished martini glasses are ideal for mixing drinks at home. For a special splurge, give her a bottle of Cabo Wabo Uno tequila.
Check out the entire selection of party girl gifts below and head to HolidaySugar for more inspiring gift ideas.
Torn on what to give your guests at the end of your tea party baby shower? No worries, we've got you covered.
If you invested in inexpensive teacups for the shower, fill them with goodies and gift them to your party goers. Another idea is to wrap up beautifully decorated sugar cubes from Aida Opera Candies in cellophane and tie them off with a ribbon. Or, toss a few Twinings tea bags and the sugary sweets in the teacups to create an even prettier package.
To see another option, read more
I recently read a story about how you shouldn't bring food if the hostess says not to, and was wondering how you felt about it. When you go to a dinner party, do you bring food even if the hostess says to just bring your appetite?
I like to consider myself a hostess with the mostess. Entertaining is what I do; it's what I live for. So naturally, putting together a gift guide for the ultimate hostess was incredibly easy. I simply looked for fabulous gifts I would love to receive!
Give the party queens and kings in your life a gift that they can show off while entertaining.
A pretty pot holder, sleek cocktail shaker, or stylish tray are all wonderful options. Or give them a great conversation starter like these introductory cocktail napkins. They break the ice and totally eliminate small talk. For more ideas, scroll below!
I'm really intrigued by these edible shot glasses. They come in two fun kinds: candy cane and mint chocolate. After you shoot the liquor of your choice, you can munch on the shot glass itself! They also add a kick of flavor to anything you put in them. I think they'll make a fabulous hostess gift and am super curious to try them out. What do you think?