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Top 10 All-American Cocktails

partysugar — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 06:18:38 -0700

With the biggest holiday of the summer just two short days away, you might be scrambling for a fun cocktail recipe. Well lucky for you - and me! - reader hvnly34 bookmarked a couple of festive drinks. It looks like the fabulous folks over at Fine Living have put together a patriotic list of the top ten All-American cocktails. With names like American Punch and Summer Beer Cocktail, you are sure to find something tasty to serve your guests. I totally want to shake myself a Boston Pops Martini - it's garnished with cherry pop rocks and will be a sure fire conversation starter. To take a look at the top five drinks - have you heard of any of them? - just read more

The top five All-American Cocktails:

Boston Pops Martini
4th of July Shooter
Artillery Punch
Tropical Sky
All-American Whiskey Stone Sour

If the top five have peaked your interest, be sure to check out the rest of the list.

Yummy Links: From Vegetarianism to Breakfast

partysugar — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 09:15:51 -0700

This week's episode of Top Chef brought to light four myths about vegetarian cooking. - Jezebel
New York City's food bloggers are playing musical chairs. - Grub Street NY
Are these 10 items really the world's scariest foods? - Concierge
Still looking for a cocktail to serve on Halloween? Make full moon punch. - Chow
A roundup of November's Thanksgiving-themed magazines. - Eat Me Daily
Top Chef Masters season two has started filming, so Angelenos be on the lookout for competing chefs. - Eater
Cod with tarragon-anchovy breadcrumbs is a delicious dinner. - Serious Eats
Learn what people around the world are eating for breakfast. - Woman's Day

Link Time!

BuzzSugar — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 13:30:42 -0700

Get ready for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: the musical! - Pop Watch
The funniest scenes in zombie movies - Moviefone
The top 10 reasons Letterman confessed to affairs on The Late Show - Zap2it
Summer Heights High's Chris Lilley has a new comedy series in the works called Angry Boys - TV.Com
Artists celebrate Stanley Kubrick in Dublin - Cinematical
Sam Raimi launches his own family friendly horror label - MTV Movies Blog
Check out the new Dead Weather video for "I Cut Like a Buffalo" - Stereogum
Learn to make the classic cocktails of Mad Men - YumSugar

10 Eating Tips For Avoiding the Freshman 15

FitSugar — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 05:50:12 -0700

The dorm dining hall can be dangerous - like a giant, all-you-can-eat buffet available all day, every day. It's no wonder most of us gain some weight when going off to college, though the infamous "freshman 15" is really more like 10 pounds.

Whether you're eating in a dining hall or cooking for yourself in your first apartment, a few simple strategies can help you avoid that first-year college weight gain. Here are my tips for eating healthy at the university level.

Don't skip meals, especially breakfast. Starting with a filling breakfast helps steady your metabolism throughout the day. Here are five ideas for quick but healthy starts.
Drink lots of water. At the dining hall, during lectures, throughout cram sessions, whenever! Skip the soda and carry a water bottle that you can refill throughout the day to prevent constipation and bloating.
Include at least three food groups in every meal. When choosing from the endless dining hall bounty, make an effort to get plenty of fresh fruits and veggies, lean protein, and calcium - not just pizza and chicken fingers.

For the rest of my top 10 healthy eating tips, read more.

Control your portions. Just because you can fill your plate every time doesn't mean you should. Familiarize yourself with what proper portions look like and stick to them.
Treat yourself once a day. From sundae bars to fresh baked cookies, desserts abound at the dining hall. Go ahead and indulge, but limit yourself to one treat a day. If you have a cookie after lunch, skip the ice cream after dinner.
Avoid a fourth meal. In my dorm-room days, there were always late-night pizzas being delivered or roommates making mac and cheese at midnight. It's OK to fortify yourself with the occasional snack while studying, but make sure it's actually a snack, not the equivalent of a second dinner or dessert.
Stock healthy snacks. For those late-night study sessions when you do get hungry, keep your dorm room full of healthy snacks, like nuts, pretzels, fruit, popcorn, and nutrition bars.
Pick your liquor carefully. Freshman aren't supposed to drink! But chances are, you will anyway. Remember: alcoholic beverages are full of empty calories, and sugary cocktails are the worst for both calories and hangovers.
Shop smart. If you live in an apartment, learn to shop for one person by choosing healthy foods that won't go bad before you can finish them: frozen vegetables and fruit, yogurt, low-fat string cheese, and healthy frozen meals are all great options.
Exercise! OK, this isn't really a healthy eating tip, but it's an essential part of keeping the pounds off in college. Walk or bike to class, frequent the school gym, or join an intramural team and get moving!

What are your tips for incoming freshmen looking to avoid the traditional weight gain?

Yummy Links: From Lamb Burgers to Lemonade Cocktails

partysugar — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 06:50:24 -0700

Learn how to make the perfect lamb burger. - Saveur
A conversation between Adam Platt and Frank Bruni. - Grub Street
The future of fish farming has arrived. - Eat Me Daily
Make French food in a flash with this easy lamb chop recipe. - Serious Eats
What to do if you bust your friend’s china. - Chow
At your next party serve finger food in homemade paper cones. - Hostess With the Mostess
Jen Zevala talks about being the first contestant kicked off of Top Chef.- The Feedbag
Celebrate National Lemonade Day with 10 spiked lemonade cocktails. - The Epi-Log

Our Favorite Cocktails

partysugar — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 16:00:36 -0800

There's nothing quite like the sound of a cocktail shaker in action. As I wait for a bartender to make my drink, the noise of ice clicking against glass fills me with giddy anticipation. Why? Because a perfectly poured drink is one of life's most luxurious pleasures.

To help you truly enjoy happy hour, we regularly feature refreshing, tantalizing, delicious, and original cocktail recipes. Many I make at home, but others are expertly mixed by some of San Francisco's top bartenders, like H. Joseph Ehrmann, Aaron Smith, and Buffalo of the Alembic. To say cheers to cocktails, I've rounded my top 10 cocktail recipes of the year:

Yummy Links: From Indoor Grilling to Lentil Salad

partysugar — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 09:15:40 -0800

Winter is an opportune time to bring the grilling indoors. - Serious Eats
A pro-life group is upset over Krispy Kreme's free inauguration doughnuts. - Eat Me Daily
Six ways to use citrus as cocktail garnishes. - The Kitchn
Speaking of citrus, broiled grapefruit is a simple, healthy dessert. - The Epi-Log
Looking back at George W. Bush's top 10 food moments. - Endless Simmer
Lentil salad with goat cheese crostini is a gourmet, on-the-go lunch. - Chow

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Our Favorite Interviews

YumSugar — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 14:30:27 -0800

Although our greatest joys are cooking and entertaining, they're simply not as fun without inspiration from the outside world. I'm often spurred to mix up new flavor combinations or cooking techniques by the likes of cooking shows, restaurateurs, bartenders, and, of course, great restaurant chefs.

In 2008, we had the privilege of speaking with cutting-edge faces in the food industry and leaders who have had longtime influence on us. We were impressed by their humility, devotion to hard work, and advice for everyday cooks. These interviews are our top 10 favorites this year:

Photo Courtesy of Colin Miller

Thanksgiving Party Crib Sheet: 10 Hot Dinner Table Topics

CitizenSugar — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 03:00:59 -0800

Thanksgiving is all about family, delicious food, fancy drinks, and, of course, small talk about the state of the nation, gas prices, and our president-elect. Debating politics with family members can get dicey, so I suggest doing your homework and having a safety net of topics that will encourage healthy conversation and smart family bonding without alienating those who, well, don't agree with you.

Whether your aim is a heated, controversial debate or lighthearted banter, here are some stories that are sure to get the crowd talking. (Note: Number 10 might be best served during cocktail hour and not over your Thanksgiving spread.)

Thanksgiving-Themed Outfits Forbidden in Class - A group of children in Claremont, CA, weren't allowed to dress up as pilgrims and Native Americans this year for their classroom Thanksgiving after parents deemed the controversial costumes demeaning.
President Bush Calls Iraq War a Success - While debris from collapsing financial institutions continue to fall during the final days of the Bush administration, the president has found something he considers a "success" - the Iraq war.
Top 5 Most Dangerous Cities List Released - The latest City Crime Rankings looked at reported incidents of six major crimes to determine the most dangerous dwellings in the US. With a population of only 250,000 that changed drastically after Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans came out on top. Was your city on the list?

For more juicy conversation starters, read more.

Unemployed Fred Thompson Decides to Go Back to Acting - While he failed to convince enough Americans to make him president, Republican Fred Thompson still has a shot at playing commander-in-chief. The former presidential candidate, US Senator, and (pretend) NYC district attorney plans to go back to acting.
Eliot Spitzer's Call Girl Ashley Dupré Talks to 20/20 - Reformed call girl Ashley "Kristen" Dupré has finally opened up about her experience with "Client No. 9," or as you may know him, former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer. Dupré told Diane Sawyer that escorts differ from prostitutes because they offer "more than sex."
Intelligence Report Says Dominance Set to Wane by 2025 - Americans might need to start practicing being humble, because by 2025 the US could lose its position of global supremacy.
DVD Explains How to Fight the Local Gay Agenda - The American Family Association's latest DVD - They're Coming to Your Town - teaches unsuspecting Christian communities how to prevent gays from taking over their towns. If you're so inclined, you can purchase the DVD in a five-pack and distribute it to your friends or Sunday school teachers.
Will Smoking Make Obama a Better President? - Barack Obama may like to work out, but that doesn't mean he's snuffed out all unhealthy habits. Barack promised first-lady-to-be Michelle that he would quit smoking back in 2007 - that much we know. Yet it still remains unclear whether Barack successfully quit, and the president-elect hasn't given a direct answer, nor has the media demanded one.
The City of Love Issues a Manual to Stop Forced Marriages - Paris, the universal capital of love and romance, created a manual on forced marriages this week to help officials spot and prevent cases of young women being forced into matrimony.
Did Sarah Palin Ruin Thanksgiving? - You may have heard Sarah Palin can hunt and skin a moose, but did you know that she could give an interview while someone else slaughters turkeys in the background? In the video that hit the web this week, Palin chats about Alaska's state budget and her experience on the campaign trail, while turkeys meet their dark, headless fates. (Warning! Watching this video could prevent you from eating turkey on Thanksgiving or ever again.)

Lonely Planet Releases List of Top 10 World Cities

CitizenSugar — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 07:53:20 -0700

If you're dying to get out of Dodge, you're in luck. The Lonely Planet series of travel guides has just released its list of Top 10 World Cities. One entry is causing a few raised eyebrows - including mine. Glasgow, Scotland has made its way onto the list despite its not-too-distant reputation for rough neighborhoods, gangs, and general dereliction. When I went looking for photos, indeed most of them told that story.

The guide paints a rosier picture of a city resurrected. It says: "Forget castles, kilts, bagpipes and tartan. You come for the cocktails, cuisine and designer chic (plus the legendary native wit). Glasgow has shaken off its shroud of industrial soot and shimmied into a sparkling new designer gown."

The Lonely Planet travel editor seconds that notion saying, "The time has come for Lonely Planet to let one of its worst-kept secrets out: Glasgow's got everything. We're delighted to highlight such a fun, stylish city." While some say celebration is too soon in a city "more violent than New York and sicker than parts of Iraq," we can hope that the Planet folks have their finger on the pulse of a trend of improvement.

To see the rest of the cities that made the list, read more.

Antwerp
Beirut
Chicago
Glasgow
Lisbon
Mexico City
Sao Paulo, Brazil
Shanghai
Warsaw
Zurich

If the travel fairy bestowed you with a magical round-trip ticket, would you head to any of these cities?

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