CHOW » Entertaining http://www.chow.com Recipes, cooking tips, resources, and stories for people who love food Latest News from CHOW.com http://www.chow.com/images/logo_chow.gif http://www.chow.com Wed, 30 May 2012 19:33:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 3-Ingredient Patio Cocktails http://www.chow.com/food-news/115874/3-ingredient-patio-cocktails/ /food-news/115874/3-ingredient-patio-cocktails/#comments Tue, 29 May 2012 20:54:12 +0000 John Birdsall /?p=115874 [PageNumbers location='upper']

Prize Fighter

At Prizefighter—a new bar in Emeryville, California, just over the bridge from San Francisco—the drinks are refreshingly simple. Owners Dylan O'Brien (pictured above) and Jon Santer are mixing the modern equivalent of the highball: just good spirits, fresh juice, and usually no more than three ingredients. In other words, perfect patio cocktails. Here are six of their favorite easy drinks that will leave you more time for an all-day doubleheader, monitoring the temperature gauge on your brisket smoker, or keeping an eye on the kids playing chicken with the lawn sprinkler.

Photographs by Chris Rochelle

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]]> http://www.chow.com/food-news/115874/3-ingredient-patio-cocktails/#comments_container Chow Header Image Prize Fighter Visually Stunning Dishes http://www.chow.com/food-news/116249/visually-stunning-dishes/ /food-news/116249/visually-stunning-dishes/#comments Mon, 28 May 2012 19:04:30 +0000 CHOW Test Kitchen /?p=116249

47 recipes with style and substance. BROWSE RECIPE SLIDESHOW

]]> http://www.chow.com/food-news/116249/visually-stunning-dishes/#comments_container Chow Header Image Polynesian Cocktail Party http://www.chow.com/food-news/115959/polynesian-cocktail-party/ /food-news/115959/polynesian-cocktail-party/#comments Thu, 24 May 2012 20:49:27 +0000 CHOW Test Kitchen /?p=115959

Celebrate summer with well-crafted tiki drinks and tropical appetizers out on the patio! BROWSE RECIPE SLIDESHOW

]]> http://www.chow.com/food-news/115959/polynesian-cocktail-party/#comments_container 9 Chili Recipes, from Chicken to Beef to Vegan http://www.chow.com/food-news/115878/9-chili-recipes-from-chicken-to-beef-to-vegan/ /food-news/115878/9-chili-recipes-from-chicken-to-beef-to-vegan/#comments Tue, 22 May 2012 16:57:28 +0000 CHOW Test Kitchen /?p=115878

From chicken, beef, and bison to turkey, pork, and even vegan: Nine recipes for warming, comforting, easy chili. BROWSE RECIPE SLIDESHOW

]]> http://www.chow.com/food-news/115878/9-chili-recipes-from-chicken-to-beef-to-vegan/#comments_container Budget-Friendly Recipes for Ground Chicken, Beef, Pork, and Lamb http://www.chow.com/food-news/115085/budget-friendly-recipes-for-ground-chicken-beef-pork-and-lamb/ /food-news/115085/budget-friendly-recipes-for-ground-chicken-beef-pork-and-lamb/#comments Thu, 17 May 2012 21:20:04 +0000 CHOW Test Kitchen /?p=115085

Turn ground meat into delicious meals with creative recipes for meatloaf, meatballs, burgers, and more. BROWSE RECIPE SLIDESHOW

]]> http://www.chow.com/food-news/115085/budget-friendly-recipes-for-ground-chicken-beef-pork-and-lamb/#comments_container Chunky, Unusual Summer Salads http://www.chow.com/food-news/114492/chunky-unusual-summer-salads/ /food-news/114492/chunky-unusual-summer-salads/#comments Tue, 15 May 2012 20:30:01 +0000 Amy Wisniewski /?p=114492 Next to a hearty grilled cheeseburger or steak, leafy green salads can feel too dainty, and grain salads can seem too filling. So the CHOW Test Kitchen developed five summer side salads that are fresh, chunky, and unique. These salad recipes are cheese- and meat-free, don't contain any lettuce that'll wilt and get soggy in the heat, and are sure to stand out at any barbecue or picnic thanks to their unexpected combinations of fruit, vegetables, and dressings.

Bok Choy and Pineapple Salad with Peanut DressingBok Choy and Pineapple Salad with Peanut Dressing

Tomato, Tomatillo, and Corn Salad with Avocado DressingTomato, Tomatillo, and Corn Salad with Avocado Dressing

Radish and Wax Bean Salad with Crème Fraîche DressingRadish and Wax Bean Salad with Crème Fraîche Dressing

Kale-Apple Coleslaw with Poppy Seed DressingKale-Apple Coleslaw with Poppy Seed Dressing

Moroccan Zucchini, Grape, and Bell Pepper SaladMoroccan Zucchini, Grape, and Bell Pepper Salad

]]> http://www.chow.com/food-news/114492/chunky-unusual-summer-salads/#comments_container Chow Header Image Bok Choy and Pineapple Salad with Peanut Dressing Tomato, Tomatillo, and Corn Salad with Avocado Dressing Radish and Wax Bean Salad with Crème Fraîche Dressing Kale-Apple Coleslaw with Poppy Seed Dressing Moroccan Zucchini, Grape, and Bell Pepper Salad 7 Meatloaf Recipes http://www.chow.com/food-news/114335/7-meatloaf-recipes/ /food-news/114335/7-meatloaf-recipes/#comments Thu, 10 May 2012 19:08:21 +0000 CHOW Test Kitchen /?p=114335

These meatloaf recipes made with chicken, turkey, beef, pork, and veal cover all the bases. BROWSE RECIPE SLIDESHOW

]]> http://www.chow.com/food-news/114335/7-meatloaf-recipes/#comments_container Elegant Mother’s Day Brunch Recipes http://www.chow.com/food-news/114509/elegant-mother-s-day-brunch-recipes/ /food-news/114509/elegant-mother-s-day-brunch-recipes/#comments Tue, 08 May 2012 21:19:55 +0000 CHOW Test Kitchen /?p=114509

Lay out an impressive spread on Mother's Day with these recipes for French toast, cocktails, omelets, and more. BROWSE RECIPE SLIDESHOW

]]> http://www.chow.com/food-news/114509/elegant-mother-s-day-brunch-recipes/#comments_container Creamy Desserts http://www.chow.com/food-news/114197/creamy-desserts/ /food-news/114197/creamy-desserts/#comments Fri, 04 May 2012 20:28:16 +0000 CHOW Test Kitchen /?p=114197

Make one of CHOW's fluffy, rich, smooth desserts for Mother's Day, or anytime. Choose from rice pudding (pictured), cheesecake, ice cream, gelato, soufflés, and more. BROWSE RECIPE SLIDESHOW

]]> http://www.chow.com/food-news/114197/creamy-desserts/#comments_container Asparagus Recipes for Spring http://www.chow.com/food-news/114071/asparagus-recipes-for-spring/ /food-news/114071/asparagus-recipes-for-spring/#comments Thu, 03 May 2012 21:54:24 +0000 CHOW Test Kitchen /?p=114071

Take advantage of the seasonal vegetable with these 16 asparagus recipes for brunch, lunch, appetizers, or dinner. BROWSE RECIPE SLIDESHOW

]]> http://www.chow.com/food-news/114071/asparagus-recipes-for-spring/#comments_container Crunchy, Swirly, and Yeasty Coffee Cakes for Mother’s Day http://www.chow.com/food-news/112952/crunchy-swirly-and-yeasty-coffee-cakes-for-mother-s-day/ /food-news/112952/crunchy-swirly-and-yeasty-coffee-cakes-for-mother-s-day/#comments Mon, 30 Apr 2012 21:30:00 +0000 Amy Wisniewski /?p=112952 Mother's Day means doing something special for Mom, and buying her another cellophane-wrapped lotion basket is not very inspired. Instead, channel the days when all you needed was a homemade gift to make her happy: Deliver her a delicious coffee cake for brunch. Since there's no formal definition of what a coffee cake is, the CHOW Test Kitchen covered the bases with three very different versions: an easy sour cream cake that the kids can help make; a fancy swirled 'n' streuseled number; and, for the skilled baker, a yeasted version that is more like a sweet fruit-filled bread. Now all you need to get Mom is a nice bag of coffee beans.

Sour Cream Coffee CakeSour Cream Coffee Cake

Braided Coffee Cake with Apple-Ginger FillingBraided Coffee Cake with Apple-Ginger Filling

Port-Cherry Swirled Coffee Cake with Almond StreuselPort-Cherry Swirled Coffee Cake with Almond Streusel

]]> http://www.chow.com/food-news/112952/crunchy-swirly-and-yeasty-coffee-cakes-for-mother-s-day/#comments_container Chow Header Image Sour Cream Coffee Cake Braided Coffee Cake with Apple-Ginger Filling Port-Cherry Swirled Coffee Cake with Almond Streusel Margarita Recipes http://www.chow.com/food-news/85830/margarita-recipes/ /food-news/85830/margarita-recipes/#comments Fri, 27 Apr 2012 21:52:02 +0000 CHOW Test Kitchen /?p=85830

The perfect tequila cocktail in all its forms: blended, fruity, classic, and more! BROWSE RECIPE SLIDESHOW

]]> http://www.chow.com/food-news/85830/margarita-recipes/#comments_container Chow Header Image 10 Party Dishes from Convenience-Store Ingredients http://www.chow.com/food-news/113615/10-party-dishes-from-convenience-store-ingredients/ /food-news/113615/10-party-dishes-from-convenience-store-ingredients/#comments Thu, 26 Apr 2012 23:02:08 +0000 Lessley Anderson /?p=113615

A bunch of friends descend on your house, and you need some fast and easy party food. Quick! Hit the corner market! Here are 10 tips on how to create simple snacks and drinks from the local convenience store. Easy entertaining on the fly!

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="290" caption="Toasted Pound Cake with Dippin' Sauce"][/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="290" caption="Drunken Affogato"][/caption]

1. Toasted Pound Cake with Dippin' Sauce: Toast chunks of store-bought pound cake (such as Entenmann's All Butter Loaf Cake) and serve on toothpicks along with a bowl of melted caramel candies flavored with espresso powder. (Inspired by this CHOW recipe.)

2. Drunken Affogato: Chocolate ice cream and Kahlúa served in a shot glass makes for a nice adult dessert. (Inspired by this CHOW recipe.)

3. Impressive Snack Mix: Buy your favorite cereal, pretzels, chips, and nuts and fry them in a skillet with a little melted butter. Cool and serve.

4. Boozy Hot Chocolate: Make some Swiss Miss hot chocolate, then add a shot of bourbon, rum, or triple sec and a squirt of whipped cream.

5. Wine Spritzer: Even cheap white wine is tasty when mixed with juice and sparkling water.

6. Pigs in a Blanket: Score some steaming hot dogs from the roller, cut them in sections, and wrap them in Pillsbury-style canned croissant dough. Bake and serve with mustard.

7. Olive Toast Points: Cut sandwich bread into triangles, toast, and top with cream cheese mixed with chopped black olives.

8. Stuffed Olives: Take black or green olives and stuff them with cream cheese or, if your convenience store has it, blue cheese. Serve on toothpicks.

9. Chocolate-Dipped Fruit: Melt a Hershey's chocolate bar and dip whatever fresh fruit you can find—bananas, apples, and oranges all work well.

10. Hot Bean Dip: Mix a can of refried beans with sour cream, cream cheese, and grated Jack and cheddar cheese; heat; and serve with tortilla chips.

]]> http://www.chow.com/food-news/113615/10-party-dishes-from-convenience-store-ingredients/#comments_container Chow Header Image 113615_CarouselImage_620×413_corner_store_entertaining Toasted Pound Cake with Coffee Sauce Drunken Affogato Ice Cream Shots Party-Friendly Food and Drinks for Cinco de Mayo http://www.chow.com/food-news/113123/party-friendly-food-and-drinks-for-cinco-de-mayo/ /food-news/113123/party-friendly-food-and-drinks-for-cinco-de-mayo/#comments Thu, 26 Apr 2012 22:19:40 +0000 Deborah Lewis /?p=113123

45 recipes to help you celebrate Cinco de Mayo, including tacos, dips, DIY tortilla chips, and beer cocktails. BROWSE RECIPE SLIDESHOW

]]> http://www.chow.com/food-news/113123/party-friendly-food-and-drinks-for-cinco-de-mayo/#comments_container “Game of Thrones” Party Menu http://www.chow.com/food-news/113343/game-of-thrones-party-menu/ /food-news/113343/game-of-thrones-party-menu/#comments Thu, 26 Apr 2012 18:32:20 +0000 Roxanne Webber /?p=113343 If you think George R. R. Martin's wildly popular medieval-esque A Song of Ice and Fire books (chronicled in the HBO fantasy series Game of Thrones, now in season two) are only about power struggles and swordplay, you're wrong. The books also contain lots of vividly described food references—enough to inspire a food blog called The Inn at the Crossroads. We got so into it we came up with our own Game of Thrones menu, just the thing to serve this weekend when your faux-fur-and-robe-clad fan friends come over to gorge on the latest episode.

Start off your viewing party by raising a mug of steamy mulled wine, just like Salladhor Saan, the commander of a fleet of mercenary ships, would. Get recipe>>

We'd wager our chestnut soup made with apples and served with crusty croutons is just as good as the soup Cersei Lannister made. Get recipe>>

Lamb meatballs are another dish associated with Salladhor Saan, but they're also just the thing we could see Daenerys Targaryen eating in her tent. That is, when she's not chowing down on horse meat with the Dothraki. Get recipe>>

It's hard to get more medieval than a whole roasted beast. Let the feasting begin with this delicious suckling pig! Get recipe>>

Make this easy pound cake as a tribute to Sansa Stark's fondness for lemon cakes. Get recipe>>

]]> http://www.chow.com/food-news/113343/game-of-thrones-party-menu/#comments_container Chow Header Image spinachsalad garlicsoup garlickychicken garlickychicken garlickychicken A Vegetarian Spring Feast for Earth Day http://www.chow.com/food-news/112854/vegetarian-spring-feast-for-earth-day/ /food-news/112854/vegetarian-spring-feast-for-earth-day/#comments Sat, 21 Apr 2012 13:58:04 +0000 Roxanne Webber /?p=112854 There's no better way to celebrate Earth Day, April 22, than with stuff that actually comes from the soil—like the ingredients for this springy vegetarian menu. We've all read stories about how meat production stresses the planet. With these dishes, you'll wonder why humans ever started eating pork chops in the first place.

Use the first strawberries of the season to make a batch of this sangría that calls for red wine, Cognac, and a little cinnamon. Get recipe>>

Follow our directions for cooking stinging nettles without getting stung, then sauté the nutty-tasting greens to pile on ricotta-topped crostini for a simple appetizer. Get recipe>>

A warm salad of new potatoes, fava beans, and chanterelles is hearty enough to be a main dish when topped by a poached egg with a molten yolk (which, conveniently, doubles as a rich sauce). Get recipe>>

This easy side dish of roasted baby carrots enhances the sweetness of young spring carrots (not to be confused with prepackaged "baby carrots") with a simple herb-and-mustard butter. Get recipe>>

These bright-tasting bar cookies have a tart rhubarb topping and a rich shortbread crust. Get recipe>>

]]> http://www.chow.com/food-news/112854/vegetarian-spring-feast-for-earth-day/#comments_container Chow Header Image spinachsalad garlicsoup garlickychicken garlickychicken garlickychicken Southern Favorites for Derby Day http://www.chow.com/food-news/112586/southern-favorites-for-derby-day/ /food-news/112586/southern-favorites-for-derby-day/#comments Fri, 20 Apr 2012 21:27:29 +0000 CHOW Test Kitchen /?p=112586

Celebrate the Kentucky Derby with classic Southern recipes for pies, cocktails, dips, and main dishes. BROWSE RECIPE SLIDESHOW

]]> http://www.chow.com/food-news/112586/southern-favorites-for-derby-day/#comments_container Munchie Recipes for 4/20 http://www.chow.com/food-news/112478/munchie-recipes-for-4-20/ /food-news/112478/munchie-recipes-for-4-20/#comments Thu, 19 Apr 2012 22:41:58 +0000 CHOW Test Kitchen /?p=112478

Sweet and savory goodies to satisfy your 4/20 cravings. BROWSE RECIPE SLIDESHOW

]]> http://www.chow.com/food-news/112478/munchie-recipes-for-4-20/#comments_container A Deliciously Stinky Menu for Garlic Day http://www.chow.com/food-news/112384/a-deliciously-stinky-menu-for-garlic-day/ /food-news/112384/a-deliciously-stinky-menu-for-garlic-day/#comments Thu, 19 Apr 2012 13:33:10 +0000 Roxanne Webber /?p=112384 April 19 is National Garlic Day—celebrate with this extreme garlic menu. Eat these fragrant dishes alone or with friends, but consider waiting at least 24 hours before heading out on a date.

This sweet little version of the warm spinach salad unites almonds and mushrooms in a honey-garlic vinaigrette. Get recipe>>

This delicious kale soup is packing three heads of roasted garlic. Get recipe>>

Allium sativum reaches critical mass in this chicken dish that features under-the-skin garlic paste, garlic jus, and garlic toast! Get recipe>>

]]> http://www.chow.com/food-news/112384/a-deliciously-stinky-menu-for-garlic-day/#comments_container Chow Header Image spinachsalad garlicsoup garlickychicken Blow Your Tax Refund on This Menu http://www.chow.com/food-news/112075/blow-your-tax-refund-on-this-menu/ /food-news/112075/blow-your-tax-refund-on-this-menu/#comments Fri, 13 Apr 2012 20:19:13 +0000 Roxanne Webber /?p=112075 Don't look, but Tax Day is right on your heels. Wondering what to do with that sweet refund you're getting? Blow it on our rich-guy menu of truffles, lobster salad, and a pastry named after bankers!

Famed bartender Dale DeGroff didn't call this cocktail the Big Spender for no reason. The mix of Cristal Brut Rosé Champagne, aged tequila, blood orange juice, and spiced orange liqueur will set you back. Get recipe>>

This simple salad highlights lobster with a little fresh tarragon, butter, and a soft bed of lettuce leaves. They might as well be $50 bills. Get recipe>>

Here, chicken gets double truffle flavor from fresh slices and truffle butter roasted under the skin. Get recipe>>

These bite-size brown-butter-and-almond cakes were named after wealthy bankers in France. They're a fitting dessert for high rollers everywhere. Get recipe>>

]]> http://www.chow.com/food-news/112075/blow-your-tax-refund-on-this-menu/#comments_container Chow Header Image bigspender lobstersalad trufflechicken financiers