TresSugar

The First Lady's Minty Spring Pea Salad

Lauren Hendrickson — Fri, 25 May 2012 05:07:30 PDT

Fresh green peas are the first sign for Spring and since they have a short season, I always get my fill before they disappear come Summer. And just in the nick of time, I spotted a new recipe from Michelle Obama's upcoming book, American Grown.

The First Lady's pea salad calls for peas, shallots, leeks, and mint, all tossed together with a healthy cream dressing.
After shelling the peas, they are quickly blanched and immediately soaked in an ice bath after cooking to ensure they don't end up mushy. The whole process, which might sound a bit complicated, actually takes just a few minutes. Michelle's recipe originally called for adding puréed peas into the salad, but since I already had my blender out, I opted to add the lemon juice and olive oil in with the pea purée for an even smoother dressing. The result was a spring salad that'd be great to bring along to a seasonal party, since it can be made ahead, and the flavor only gets better with time.

My advice: run to the farmers market before all the year's peas are gone, then make this spring pea salad recipe.

A First Ladylike Grilled Chicken Salad With Herb Vinaigrette

Nancy Einhart — Thu, 24 May 2012 05:33:23 PDT

Michelle Obama exudes elegance, so it's no surprise that her recipe for chicken salad with herb vinaigrette is simple and sophisticated too. In honor of the First Lady's first cookbook, American Grown, coming out on May 29, I whipped up this easy and healthy dinner salad.

This salad celebrates Summer greens, herbs, and grilling season, though if you don't have a grill, the chicken is just as delicious if you cook it in a broiler, like I did. The grill-laden marinade and sherry vinaigrette complement each other for a fresh flavor that requires little adornments. To marinate the chicken, just mix up the lemon zest, herbs, and enough olive oil to coat. I only marinated mine for about 20 minutes and that was plenty to create a flavorful, golden browned breast.

I also served the chicken a second night atop a salad with fresh corn and avocado, and it was still a standout. Considering how extraordinary fast and easy this recipe was, I'll definitely be making it again. Get the recipe now.

Dig Into Sasha and Malia Obama's Favorite Cauliflower Mac and Cheese

Sara Yoo — Wed, 23 May 2012 11:25:00 PDT

In honor of next week's release of Michelle Obama's cookbook, American Grown, we baked up something sweet, and now we're onto another one of America's favorite comfort foods, mac and cheese.

I was initially a little wary of this version because it didn't call for making a roux, which gives most mac and cheese recipes that creamy, hearty texture. In the first lady's recipe, you simply stir together cauliflower puree, milk, cheese, and pasta, and you're ready to go. While I love the fast and easy nature of her rendition, it missed a few of my favorite characteristics of homemade, from-scratch macaroni and cheese.

To ensure a crunchy crust, I sprinkled some buttered bread crumbs across the top and popped the dish in the oven for 15 to 20 minutes. What resulted was a bubbling, crusty casserole that - despite the unmistakably delicious flavor of cauliflower - could pass for homestyle mac and cheese any day. Mrs. Obama says that this is Sasha and Malia's favorite, and I can certainly understand why! Ready for the recipe? Just read on.

Michelle Obama's All-American Apple Cobbler

Anna Monette Roberts — Tue, 22 May 2012 14:15:36 PDT

Michelle Obama's first cookbook American Grown will be released on May 29, and we're cooking up some of Michelle's tried-and-true recipes like this apple cobbler, a favorite of President Obama.

The First Lady has a unique, slow method of preparing this cobbler. She marinates the apples in their spicy, sugary juices overnight, then slow cooks the cobbler at a low temperature to gradually break down the apples and crisp up the crust. The end result is absolutely heavenly: the cinnamon and nutmeg are perfectly balanced; the slow marination and long cook-time create a complex, caramel flavor; the apples dissolve upon bite, and the crust is as crispy as promised.

I used the lesser amount of sugar, and opted for a crisscross pattern on the top of the cobbler rather than covering the entire baking dish. Despite the 12 or more hours it requires to make this cobbler, it is a cherished, special occasion treat to be enjoyed during family gatherings or neighborhood barbecues.

Make the recipe here.

Video: President Obama Pokes Fun at "Old" David Beckham

Karli Bulnes — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:53:07 PDT

Barack Obama poked fun at David Beckham Tuesday when the LA Galaxy was honored at the White House. Hear the president tease the soccer star about his age and underwear modeling in today's PopSugar Rush.

David Beckham and the LA Galaxy Get Honored at the White House

Lauren Turner — Tue, 15 May 2012 14:36:17 PDT

The White House welcomed the LA Galaxy soccer club for a special event in Washington DC this afternoon. David Beckham was among his teammates as they were honored by President Obama and First Lady Michelle for their successful 2011 season and MLS Cup win. Landon Donovan presented the president with a custom jersey after Obama spoke a few words. Obama joked of David, "It is a rare man who can be that tough on the field and also have his own line of underwear." Later, the players participated in a question and answer section for Michelle's "Let's Move" campaign. David is in the nation's capital with the rest of the team after they traveled to Canada last week for a Saturday match against the Montreal Impact that resulted in a tie.

Should the Price of First Lady Fashion Matter?

Tara Block — Thu, 03 May 2012 12:05:59 PDT

Ann Romney, wife of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, is getting flack for wearing a $990 top on CBS This Morning. Ann wore the Reed Krakoff bird print shirt while talking about how relatable her husband is to US voters . . . probably not the best idea. But some say that seeing as they aren't the ones running for office, spouses should be off-limits when it comes to media scrutiny. After all, Ann isn't the only political wife to garner negative attention for her fashion spending habits. In 2009, Michelle Obama wore $540 Lanvin sneakers while volunteering at a food bank, a decision many viewed as questionable due to the tough economic times. And then Michelle was again criticized for her wardrobe during the Obama family's vacation in Hawaii last December. Over in the UK, first lady Samantha Cameron was chastised for the $1,198 dress she wore to a Tory conference in 2010 amidst budget cuts in the country. To add fuel to the fire, she wore a $103 dress at the same event the year prior.

But the question remains: whether they're wearing Target dresses or frocks straight from the runway, should the spouses of our world leaders be judged for what they spend on fashion? And is it really about the expensive clothing, or is it more about the context in which it's worn? Weigh in below, and click through to see more photos of the controversial first lady outfits.

See Which Stars Love the White House Correspondents' Dinner

Katie Henry — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 08:44:44 PDT

The Annual White House Correspondents' Dinner takes place tonight and some of Hollywood's biggest names are expected to be in attendance. It's a chance for actors, journalists, and politicians to rub elbows and let loose together for one glamorous evening. Jimmy Kimmel is this year's official host while Jessica Alba, Reese Witherspoon, Josh Hutcherson, Zooey Deschanel, and Viola Davis are planning a trip to Washington for the celebration - check out the list of stars attending the White House Correspondents' Dinner. Click through to see the pictures from the star-studded galas of the past and stay tuned for more photos later today.

The Biggest Loser's Bob Harper Opens Up About Training Michelle Obama!

Zelana Montminy — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 09:39:08 PDT

We know that Michelle Obama is big into fitness, and it looks like she's a big fan of The Biggest Loser, too - she appeared on the show last week when the contestants stormed the White House. We caught up with the show's trainer Bob Harper, still high from the experience, and asked him what working with the first lady was really like. Does she complain about squats? How's her form when it comes to push-ups? Learn the answers and more when you watch the video.

Easter and Passover Celebrations Around the World

Tara Block — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 10:53:00 PDT

This weekend was chock-full of church services, pilgrimages, bunny ears, parades, egg hunts, and more as people around the globe celebrated Easter and Passover. The Obamas spent some quality family time together at an Easter Sunday service and goofing off during the annual White House Easter Egg Roll today, while Queen Elizabeth II shared the day's events with Princess Eugenie and one of the pint-sized royal wedding bridesmaids. See how the royals and more celebrated the holidays in everywhere from Israel to Argentina to Pakistan to China and beyond.