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Unfortunately for Good Housekeeping, Conan Doesn't Have an Irish Stew Recipe

YumSugar — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 12:15:38 -0700

What do Irish Stew and Ramen noodles have in common? Apparently Conan O'Brien can't make either. Unfortunately no one told the folks at Good Housekeeping magazine that Conan O'Brien doesn't cook. You see somehow they think he does. In fact they believe it so much that they actually published his recipe for his "favorite" St. Patrick's Day dish. Problem is since Conan doesn't cook, he doesn't have a recipe. If you want to watch what he had to say about it on his show, plus check out the recipe for his "fave" stew, just read more.

Conan O'Brien's St. Patrick's Day Stew
From Good Housekeeping

Ingredients

2 c. diagonally sliced carrots
2 c. diagonally sliced parsnips
2 c. sliced onions
1 1/2 lbs. small white potatoes, each cut into quarters
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 1/2 tsp. dried thyme
2 lbs. boneless lamb stew meat
1 1/2 c. beef broth
4 c. plus 3 Tbsp. cold water
3 Tbsp. all-purpose flour

Directions

Preheat oven to 350° F.
In heavy 6-quart Dutch oven, spread half of vegetables; season with 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/8 teaspoon pepper, and half of thyme. Top with meat, then remaining vegetables. Season with 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/8 teaspoon pepper, and remaining thyme.
Add broth and 4 cups water.
Cover and cook in oven 2 1/2 hours or until meat and vegetables are tender.
Transfer meat and vegetables to bowl; cover and keep warm.
In cup, blend flour with remaining water; stir into hot liquid in Dutch oven.
Heat to boiling on top of range; boil 1 minute.
Skim off fat. Return meat and vegetables to Dutch oven.

Serves 6.

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Sugar Shout Out: The Look of Spring Around the World

PopSugar — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 23:55:37 -0700

My DISFunkshion: How to Live With Your Best Friend

OnSugar Blog — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 08:00:41 -0700

Here's a post from OnSugar blog My DISFunkshion.

"Playing house" on the playground in second grade is one thing, but living with your friends is another. Some people will warn you against rooming with your best friends in college but others say it’s no big deal. In my experience, there are important do’s and don’ts:

Keep reading...

Thumbprint Cookies Are a Norwegian Tradition

YumSugar — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 16:00:26 -0800

One of my good friends was recently explaining how much she missed her Norwegian grandmother's Christmas cookies. She recalled them as a simple butter cookie marked by her grandmother's thumbprint and sprinkled in sugar. I took note of all of the details and luckily, I was able to find a recipe that matched her description.

I gathered up all of the ingredients and got to work. These treats turned out to be simple and dense butter cookies, perfect for a quick dip in a cup of coffee. While the thumbprint was not her grandmother's, she was thrilled to receive a plate full of such a familiar cookie. If you want to give these traditional Scandinavian cookies a try for your holiday, keep reading.

Celebrity Trainer Harley Pasternak Dishes About Food

FitSugar — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 05:50:18 -0700

Harley Pasternak says that if you follow his 5 Factor diet, you will see results. First, eat five times a day: two meals and three snacks. Next, everything you eat should have five components: lean protein, low glycemic carbs, healthy fats, fiber, and a sugar-free beverage. And to keep it real, there's a cheat day once a week.

The in-demand trainer recently came out with a new book - the 5 Factor World Diet - that draws on lessons learned from constant travel. Harley selected 10 countries with the lowest obesity rates and highest life expectancies and studied what they eat, how they eat, and how they burn it off. Although busy bopping between clients, Harley took some time out of his day to talk all things food: what you should be eating, why fresh food isn't always better, and yes, even he has a cheat food.

To see the interview, read more.

FitSugar: Your latest book, The 5 Factor World Diet, is based on the insights you’ve gained while traveling. What are some healthy eating tips you’ve picked up from other countries?
Harley Pasternak: I saw a lot of fish - not beef - in the healthiest countries, and whole grains, vegetable, and whole soy - especially in Okinawa where everyone is 100 years old. In Sweden, sandwiches are made with one piece of bread, not two - it’s always always an open-faced sandwich. Physical activity is very much tied to meals too. In Italy they have something called a "pasa giatta," and when the meal ends they all get up and go for a walk together. And in other parts of the world they go grocery shopping every day, so you’re basically burning off half the meal to pick up ingredients, and when you’re preparing your food, you have more control over what you put into it.

FS: What advice do you have for people who can’t walk to pick up fresh food because the nearest market is 30 miles away?
HP: I’m a big fan of frozen food and canned food. I know that’s not what we’re used to hearing but frozen and canned food can be as healthy, if not healthier than fresh counterpart options. Fresh produce is not the end-all be-all - when I make smoothies I almost always use frozen fruits, and when I make soups I often use frozen vegetables. You can use canned beans and frozen vegetables for dips as well. Also, don’t be afraid of canned fish, canned salmon, canned tuna, and frozen seafood like shrimp cocktail. It’s another great way to get seafood into your diet, if you can't get fresh.

FS: What are some of your favorite meals from the 5 Factor World Diet?
HP: Gosh, there are so many. As I wrote the World Diet book, I was looking abroad for some good fiber recipes and fell in love with Japanese food like soba noodles. I also love the idea of ceviche. Going to Spain and learning to make ceviche was great. It's absolutely foolproof, even for someone who has no idea how to cook.

FS: What about snacks - especially when you’re on the go?
HP: Snacks - as should a meal - [should] have a lowfat protein and a fibrous carbohydrate. I tell my clients to grab some plain nonfat Greek yogurt and some frozen berries and mix that together. Soy snacks are great too: edamame, Soy Joy bars, and soy milk are all great. I often make a dip out of nonfat Greek yogurt and natural peanut butter for protein and calcium. It’s 1:2 ratio of peanut butter to yogurt and it’s delicious with apples or pears.

FS: Now that you’ve brought up fruit, one of our readers wants to know why there are no grapes or bananas on the 5-Factor Diet?
HP: No one is going to live a shorter life if they have bananas or grapes, however there are much, much healthier fruits. I try and tell my clients to choose those fruits over others. I tell my clients to stick to fruits that either have edible skin, edible seeds, or citrus - bananas do not have edible skin, nor do they have edible seeds really, nor is it citrus. Most of the fiber and nutrients that are in a fruit are in a fruit’s skin. A banana is just the densest piece of fruit that you can put in your body, and since it doesn’t have fiber, it won’t keep you full. It’s kind of a shame to have a fruit with no fiber.

Grapes are an exception to the rule because they have a special sugar in them called dextrose, which is the highest glycemic sugar that you can possibly put in your body. They actually make grape pills for diabetics so that they don’t become low.

FS: Are there any foods that you think people should avoid, even on their cheat days?
HP: Absolutely no, not at all. Life is short and you have to enjoy it, and you should indulge when it’s time to indulge. At some point, I think everyone should eat everything at least once.

FS: And what’s your cheat food?
HP: My cheat food? That’s easy, it’s chocolate chip cookies. I’m the biggest chocolate chip cookie freak in the world.

FS: And do you give yourself some cookies every week?
HP: At least every week.

To get a taste of Harley's diet, try his recipe for five-spice halibut. It's tasty and easy to make.

7 of Our Favorite Baked Things

FitSugar — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 05:50:03 -0800

Here at FitSugar we believe in the power of baking - it's one of our favorite things. We've reworked a few recipes over the last year and have made some relatively healthy baked goods. From cookies to crumbles, we've got your sweet tooth and your diet covered.

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Don't Just Wear Green, Eat It!

FitSugar — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 10:00:41 -0700

Traditionally, St. Patrick's Day is heavy on the Guinness, whiskey, potatoes, and corned beef. Together these things are not a picture-perfect recipe for health. Heck, even alone many of these items aren't so good for you. You can still get into the spirit of today's celebration by eating a bevy of healthy, green foods. With this kind of diet, you won't even need luck - you'll have good health on your side!

Source: Getty Images

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Get Fit Challenge: Snack on Sweet Potato Fries

Fit Community — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 12:00:50 -0700

The tenth challenge for the Get Fit For 2010 giveaway is to share a healthy snack. FitSugar reader SnackGirl likes to munch on sweet potato fries.

The most eaten vegetable in the United States is the potato. Found in fast food venues from coast to coast the delicious French Fries are hard to avoid. BUT, it is possible to bake something that will satisfy the craving. Baked sweet potato fries have the crunchy outside, and the soft inside and they pack a nutritional wallop with 219% of your daily allowance of Vitamin A in one serving. And that is just ONE of the benefits of eating them. How do you make sweet potatoes taste amazing? Add a little sugar and there is a caramelization that takes place. Do you notice the word "caramel" here?

Anyone else like the taste of brown sugar and salt?

The key to this recipe is to hang around and flip the fries after 15 minutes, and not to crowd the pan. These are really EASY to make. If you don't have a decent vegetable peeler, you should get one. Having a working peeler makes you want to peel vegetables. Having a crappy peeler makes you want to order from Burger King.

After you make these, just pop them in your fridge. Eat them as a snack or add them to your salad. Mush them in your yogurt or eat them for breakfast After they are refrigerated, they aren't as crunchy but they still taste really good. Sweet potatoes are available all year, though their season is Fall and Winter. Choose potatoes that are hard to the touch, because the soft ones are rotten.

Check out the recipe when you read more.
Sweet Potato Fries Recipe
(serves 4)
aluminum foil for pan
2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon brown sugar
salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 450 F. Half the sweet potatoes lengthwise. Place on flat slide and slice 5-6 spears (thick and long strips) of sweet potato. Place them on the aluminum foil and toss with olive oil and sugar. Spread them in one layer. It is important that they have space around them and aren't piled up on each other. Bake for 15 minutes and turn with tongs or a spatula. Bake for another 5 to 10 minutes, until lightly browned. Add salt and pepper. Serve hot, room temperature, or cold.

See snack-girl for great healthy snack ideas!

Share your fave snack in the Get Fit For 2010 community group. By participating, you'll also be entered into the drawing for our weekly giveaway of a $100 Nike gift card as well as our awesome grand prize.

Strike Gold With Corned Beef-and-Cabbage Pizza

YumSugar — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 15:00:09 -0700

I said it before, and I'll say it again. One can never have too much corned beef - especially if that corned beef is almost laughably easy to make in the slow cooker, and you can use the leftovers for craveworthy corned beef and fontina grilled cheeses. Yet as good as the corned beef is alone and in a toasted sandwich, I think I've found its best application yet: as the costar of corned-beef-and-cabbage pizza.

I began by making a basic pizza dough from scratch, then I loaded it with crisp slivers of potato, savory corned beef, sweet cabbage, and three types of cheese, for a sensory trip that was exotic, yet familiar at the same time. Trust me, this pizza wound up being my bona fide pot o' gold at the end of the corned beef rainbow! For the easy recipe, read more.

I Need Your Help . . . With Recommendations For Good Pet Food!

Pet Community — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 11:00:53 -0700

This request comes from Happsmjc in the Pet Peeves group.

Emmy, the cat, is currently eating Nutro Max for Kittens. This is what was recommended when we adopted her (what she had been eating). She always ate fine, is growing and happy, but recently has thrown up three or so times. After reading a page of horror stories, I'm thinking it is because of the food. I'm so sad I have been giving this to her and this was recommended.

Patter, the dog, is currently eating Beneful. I am not sure how we chose this for him. He was on Nutro when Bexley lived here, but switched when Bexley switched to a very expensive brand (now I am thinking because the Nutro was making him sick). After researching cat foods, I researched the Beneful.

Learn what she found out and why she needs our help when you read more.

The reviews were bad, but not quite as scary. The main concern was the first ingredient being corn and dyes. We just bought him a huge bag from Sam's Club, but I plan on switching his as well. Should I finish the rest of his food or switch immediately?

My question is: what brands do people recommend? I have been looking into Wellness Core, Innova (Evo), Natural Balance. Any reviews of these brands or others to try? Now I am so scared I even started looking into making my own foods. Are there any good recipes or stories/suggestions? This is not ideal, but I only want the best for my pets. I am getting Emmy new food today, but want to make some long term decisions.

Let's come together to help Happsmjc out and offer suggestions and advice in the comments below. There's a lot going on in our community - join it, check it out, share your posts or advice in the great groups, and maybe we'll feature it here on PetSugar!