Food & Party Parties

Yum!

Drool-Worthy Pulled Pork Perfect for a Party

Posted by Kim Conte
on Feb 1, 2012 at 2:33 PM
Recipe A Day

pulled pork super bowlEvery family has those special heirloom recipes they pass down from generation to generation. I come from a family of huge football fans and the recipes that we pass down all revolve around football party food. Seriously, I'm not kidding: In fact, our annual Super Bowl party was something I'd look forward to literally all year.

Here's what we'd do for the big day: We'd make a huge crock pot of chili and then a second crock of BBQ pulled pork. (And then, of course, provide all the chips, dips, and beer your stomach could handle.) You can mess around with coleslaw or pickles for toppings on the pork, but really all you need are big, fresh, toasted buns to sop up all those savory, meaty, barbecuey drippings. Are you drooling yet?

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In Our Salsa Face-Off, Only One Is Good Enough for the Super Bowl

Posted by Kim Conte
on Jan 25, 2012 at 5:38 PM

salsa taste testPeople often jump at the chance to bring salsa and a bag of chips to a Super Bowl party. Why? Because they think it's the simplest thing in the world: There's no prep work, no time-intensive, complex recipe to wrestle with, and it travels well.

Unfortunately, it's exactly this brainless, "always looking for the easy way out"-type of thinking that leads to such tragedies as bland, watery salsa and cardboard-tasting chips and threatens to ruin even the best game day parties. People, this must be stopped!

In fact, there's an art to choosing the perfect salsa to feed a hungry crowd of football fans. That's why we decided to taste and compare some of the top supermarket brands of jarred salsa to prove that not just any salsa will do.

One salsa in particular stood out from the rest -- can you guess which one it was?

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15 Sweet & Salty New Year's Appetizers Make Your Mouth Say PARTY!

Posted by Adriana Velez
on Dec 30, 2011 at 1:37 PM

guacamoleI don't know about you, but this year we're staying home for New Year's. After an early dinner at a neighborhood restaurant, we'll be heading back to our place, moving the furniture out of the way, and dancing the night away. This means we'll need fuel!

Time to dig out some of our favorite party appetizer recipes. I'm looking for quick, easy snacks -- but something a little more exciting than potato chips and onion dip. Something light that won't weigh us down. And maybe a few unexpected treats!

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Pigs in a Blanket With a Crunchy, Saucy Twist

Posted by Adriana Velez
on Dec 30, 2011 at 10:51 AM
Recipe A Day

pigs in a blanketPigs in a blanket are the party app just about everybody loves -- kids and grown-ups. They're cute, little, savory, crunchy, and don't you love saying that silly name out loud? It's the snack that says "party!"

They're also incredibly easy to make -- remove from box and heat, if you can find them pre-made and frozen. If you can't find frozen pigs in a blanket, just cut up hot dogs (or buy cocktail wieners) and wrap them in triangles of puff pastry dough. Now that you know the basics, why not dress them up a little for the New Year? Rachael Ray's twist on the classic gives them extra crunch and three zingy dipping sauces for your guests to choose.

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Gwyenth Paltrow's Hangover Tips Are Pure Goop As Usual

Posted by Adriana Velez
on Dec 29, 2011 at 5:43 PM

gwyneth paltrow
Hangover-curing hydrotherapy
Oh Goop. I don't know whether to avoid you or give you a wet, slobbery, commoner's hug. Sometimes Gwyneth Paltrow's weekly newsletter dazzles me with its usefulness and sparkles. Other times it just makes me feel resentful and 99-percenty. This week's newsletter actually puts me somewhere in the middle. It's all about to recover from a hangover -- and how to prevent one. Useful!

And yet...as I scanned through the newsletter something jumped out at me: All Gwynnie's gurus are making this hangover business way more complicated than it needs to be! Are there any hidden gems of that a broke, regular person like me can use? Let's review the highlights.

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Getting Through a Holiday Gathering Without Losing Your Mind

Posted by Eden M. Kennedy
on Dec 15, 2011 at 9:42 PM

class photo

There are several kinds of holiday gatherings most people have to negotiate this time of year, from classroom cupcakes to family dinners and more, more, more. Let's see if we can help you get through the next few weeks of mandatory cheer without killing anyone, dying of embarrassment, or losing your mind.

1. The Office Party. Work parties can be great, especially if you work in a pressured environment, because all it takes is one person lighting a tray of shots on fire to make everything unravel into chaos. Chaos can be very entertaining, but you're more likely to keep your job if you're watching the mayhem from a safe distance. Ultimately, the success of an office party depends on how much you either like your coworkers or don't care at all what they think of you.

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8 Fun & Frugal Holiday Party Tips

Posted by Adriana Velez
on Dec 12, 2011 at 3:28 PM
Penny Pincher’s Holiday Guide

holiday cookie exchangeSo you want to throw a holiday party -- but you don't have a Real Housewives of Beverly Hills budget? No problem. Everyone deserves to party, even the 99 percent. You don't have to resort to serving potato chips and beer, either -- unless that's your thing. Here are 8 tips to ring in a festive holiday party without breaking the bank!

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Giant 12-Layer Cheese Ball Is Worth Every Calorie

Posted by Adriana Velez
on Nov 29, 2011 at 12:10 PM

cheese ballHave I got the holiday entertainment solution for you! It's spectacular. It's decadent. It's nutty. It's a riddle wrapped up in blue cheese inside Emmentaler. It's the glorious 12-layer cheese ball! A 5-pound wonder of cream cheese, sausage, pecans, bacon -- did I mention this cheese ball has bacon? Yes, it's the cheese ball of your dreams, or of my dreams, anyway.

The magic elves at Chow have created the ultimate cheese ball recipe. The 12 layers look like a cheese-lover's dream come true when you slice a wedge -- and I bet it's worth every last hideously fattening calorie. Readers, meet the new gingerbread house.

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5 Simple Thanksgiving Appetizers With Seasonal Goodies

Posted by Sheri Reed
on Nov 20, 2011 at 9:13 PM

Thanksgiving appetizersAnyone can bring a cheese plate ...This year, I'm in charge of bringing a Thanksgiving appetizer, and frankly, I'm at a loss. I mean how many years in a row can I bring a cheese plate ... or salami rolls? Don't get me wrong -- I love me some cheese plates and salami rolls, but come on! What I'd really like to bring is something delicious (obviously) that's simple (duh) and is made with some of the season's best ingredients.

Well, you're welcome very much, I've found five pretty spectacular-sounding recipes that meet this criteria. Even better, all five of them look so incredible that I think you're going to get some rave reviews come Thanksgiving.

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The Most Revolting Halloween 'Treats' of All Time (PHOTOS)

Posted by Linda Sharps
on Oct 27, 2011 at 1:30 PM
Halloween Guide

Looking for some last-minute food ideas for your Halloween get-together? Boy, have I got a fantastic round-up of spooky recipes for YOU. Especially if the intent of your party is to send everyone screaming from the house so you can enjoy all the fun-sized Snickers for yourself.

(Um, you may not want to browse this article while you're eating lunch. Don't say I didn't warn you!)

Without further ado, a list of awful-looking treats for those who enjoy diabolical Halloween tricks:

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