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Kolaches Are a Taste of Central Europe in Texas

YumSugar — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 16:00:59 -0700

If you're not from Texas - or a few other choice towns across America - you may have never had the pleasure of eating a kolache. A Central European pastry iconic across the Lone Star State, the kolache is prized for its soft, pillowy dough and its versatility: kolache fillings range from the sweet (apricot, prunes, and poppy seeds) to the savory (sausages). And some fillings, like cheese, even possess qualities of both.

Texans owe the enjoyment of this fluffy yeast roll to the number of Czechs who immigrated to the state in the 1800s, and while there's nothing more authentic than enjoying a kolache in one of the state's few remaining Czech towns, city dwellers can savor kolaches on the go at any of the state's ubiquitous Kolache Factory stores. The Kolache Factory, a breakfast chain somewhat akin to a Texas kolache version of, say, Dunkin' Donuts, is also known for its unconventional kolache fillings, such as chocolate cream cheese, sausage and gravy, ranchero, and even Philly cheesesteak.

Set your sights on these regional specialties when you read more

Starbucks: Trans Fat Free

FitSugar — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 19:47:40 -0800

Seattle's very own specialty coffee powerhouse is going trans fat free in 10 states starting Wednesday.

Starbucks has announced they will be cutting trans fats from the doughnuts, muffins and other treats in half of its U.S. stores. The other half of the stores will follow suit eventually but it will take some time, as the company adjusts recipes with regional bakers and food suppliers. Apparently the decision has nothing to do with the recent trend in banning trans fats in NYC, theme parks and fast food joints, Starbucks says they've been working on getting rid of the trans fat for over two years now.

Now if they could only be a little more upfront about how brutally high in calories the seasonal drinks can be. Or how about lowering the prices a little?

I guess we can't always have it all, but this is a great start.

Casa Shops: Taigan

CasaSugar — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:00:41 -0800

As the list of online designer sample sales grows, a new web shop has opened with a slightly different business plan. Taigan is a community of over 30 (and growing) specialty shops, boutiques, and galleries nationwide for members only. The site offers access to small, upscale shops in cities as far and wide as Chattanooga, TN and Aspen, CO, which may not otherwise have an ecommerce site.

Taigan gets its name from a rare hunting dog which is said to have "a discerning eye and keen sense of awareness," an analogy for the company, which hunt for all things little-known and beautiful around the country. Purveyor of art, antiques, home décor, fashion, and jewelry you'd be hard-pressed to find elsewhere online, Taigan does seem to have a card up its sleeve. But, after your 14-day trial is complete, membership costs $15 a month or $165 per year. For the average shopper, I'm not sure the cost is justifiable, but it certainly might be worth it for an interior designer.

Ricky Gervais - Love Him or Leave Him?

BuzzSugar — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 10:30:57 -0800

Ricky Gervais is trying his hand at yet another workplace-centered TV comedy! The soon-to-be Golden Globes host and scribe behind The Office is lending his talents to PhoneShop, which follows a guy working at a phone store at the mall. Mundane jobs are Gervais's specialty, so it's bound to be hilarious - but for now, it's only set to air in the UK.

I've always taken a liking to Gervais, between The Office, Extras, and the fact that he keeps popping up at various awards shows. I've also seen him perform his stand-up routine live, so I guess I may be a bigger fan than most people.

What's your take on the guy? Are you obsessed with him (and his brand of humor), or is he not your cup of tea?

The Basics: Mashed Potatoes

partysugar — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:00:54 -0800

My mother can hardly be described as a home cook, but there are a few dishes she makes and excels at. Basic mashed potatoes are one of her specialties. When it comes to mashed potatoes, she prefers them as pure and simple as possible.

"I don't understand why people stir in garlic, herbs, and other things that make mashed potatoes taste like something other than potatoes. This recipe is for when you want mashed potatoes that taste like potatoes," she explained when teaching me the technique.

Her method is easy, but she employs a hand mixer to give the potatoes a light, pillowy, and incredibly smooth texture. Half and half is her liquid of choice, although heavy cream or milk make good substitutes. To look at the recipe, read more.

Mom's Mashed Potatoes
From Ellen Sweeney

Ingredients

4 medium-sized russet potatoes, peeled and quartered
salt
1/2 stick butter
1/2 cup half and half
freshly ground pepper, to taste

Directions

Fill a large pot with cold water. Add the potatoes and season the water with salt.
Bring to a boil over high heat. Cook, boiling at medium high heat, until potatoes are fork tender, 15-20 minutes.
Drain potatoes in a colander and return to the hot pot.
Add the butter. Using a hand mixer, beat the butter and potatoes to combine about 30 seconds.
Add the half and half and beat until potatoes are whipped and fluffy, 1-2 minutes. Serve immediately.

Serves 4-6.

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Do you have an amazing Thanksgiving recipe? Please participate in our Thanksgiving recipe challenge. All you have to do is upload your recipe, an image, and a brief description to the Kitchen Goddess group. If you're lucky, we might just feature your recipe here on YumSugar!

Bella Brand: Pupa Cosmetics

BellaSugarUK — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 04:00:00 -0800

Pupa Cosmetics is a division of the Italian based beauty company called Pupa that creates quirky and innovative beauty products (with a specialty for palettes and kits) for the girly girl. They also make bath and skin care products, a sun care range and fragrances. The 30 year old company is based just outside of Milan and has found that its key to success has been by communicating emotional appeal through the use of bright colours.

The products are now available online in the UK and sell anywhere from £7.34 to £45.To see more photos of the adorable Pupa palettes, just read more.

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Camps For Every Type of Camper

LilSugar — Wed, 20 May 2009 04:00:00 -0700

When Joaquin Phoenix became an unintentional astronaut in Space Camp what child didn't pack their bags and ask their parents to sign them up? For nature lovers there are log cabin camps with mess halls and communal showers. For the youngster destined to take the stage as a triple threat there are getaways that offer vocal, dance and acting lessons. Talk to your child about what type of overnight camp best fits their interest and then get planning. We've rounded up a couple of fun options to get the conversation going.

Space Camp: Every child of the '80s watched Space Camp and dreamed of hopping aboard the next space shuttle. The real Space Camp isn't quite as adventuresome, but does offer future astronauts the opportunity to try out a simulator and see what life is like on the International Space Station. The weeklong camp also allows kids to pick a specialty area and build their own robots or learn to fly an F-15 fighter jet.
Equestrian Camp: There are a number of horseback riding camps that teach everything from basic horsemanship to specialty riding classes. Many are set up like dude ranches with a western feel about them, while others are more general camps – offering arts and crafts, swimming and athletics – in addition to their focus on horses.
Sailing Camp: Sailing camps tend to include a number of water sports like water skiing, canoeing and tubing in addition to the boating experience. Though the focus of these camps is on the sailing experience – from basic seamanship to manning a one-person boat – they usually include a variety of outdoor activities to round out the experience.
Computer Camp: All those hours your youngster spends in front of the computer may actually prepare them for a future career. Computer camps put that interest to work and develop life-long skills as programming, languages and applications, as well as video games and web page design.
Dance Camp: Tots that like to tap their toes can choose from ballroom to tap, and ballet to hip hop camps that focus on technique, self-confidence and promotion.
Source

Photos of Kolaches

YumSugar — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 11:58:53 -0700

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Shoes! Bags! Jewels! Guess the Designer Specialty

FabSugar — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 08:00:22 -0700

Some designers choose to create within one category, while others dabble in a few. Some start off doing a specialty then branch out. 2008 was the year many designers expanded their repertoires. Are you familiar with designers and what they create? Find out by reading the designers below and deciding which fashion category (or categories) they design for.

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Take the quiz

Slow Food Nation Highlights: Marketplace

YumSugar — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 05:30:25 -0700

One of the main events of last weekend's Slow Food Nation was the Marketplace, a farmers market where the public could buy produce directly from producers. Farmers from 30 different counties in California were on-hand to sell everything from mushrooms to vinegar. Check out some of my favorite moments here.

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