FitSugar

7 Winter Foods Rich in Antioxidants

FitSugar — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 05:30:00 PST

When we talk about food rich in antioxidants - disease-fighting nutrients - all sorts of Summer berries come to mind. Even though these berries may be hard to come by in cooler months, there are still plenty of Winter foods chock full of antioxidants. To see if you are already enjoying these foods, start the slideshow to learn what they are.

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Sugar Shout Out: Christian Louboutin Celebrates 20 Years in Footwear!

Katie Henry — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 23:55:33 PST

Meet Me in Moscow: A Russian Food Primer

Lizzie Fuhr — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 05:45:20 PST

Whenever you're complaining about the ferocity of Winter, just remember things are much, much colder in other parts of the world. But while Russian Winters may be brutal, they've got plenty of amazing, comforting recipes with flavors designed to take that chill out of your bones. It's time to call up your babushka, put on your copy of Doctor Zhivago, and grab a tall glass of vodka, if you see fit! It's time to get reading about the delicious dishes Russian cuisine has to offer.

Dishes:

Solyanka: The base of the spicy and sour solyanka soup consists of pickled cucumbers with brine, cabbage, mushrooms, sour cream, and dill. It's either served with meat, fish, or mushrooms.
Pirozhki : Pirozhki are small buns that are stuffed typically with a savory filling and then baked or fried. Some typical fillings include meat, onion, eggs, mashed potatoes, or cabbage.
Stroganov: Beef stroganov, or stroganoff, is cooked up in many a cafeteria today, but this recipe originated in Russia. It's typically pieces of beef served up in a sour cream-based sauce on top of egg noodles.
Blini: These thin, crepelike pancakes are enjoyed with either a savory or sweet topping. As opposed to the French crepe, blinis are made from buckwheat and are part of traditional Russian cuisine.
Borscht: Soups are a staple of a traditional Russian diet. And borscht is the czar of these soups. While it's served up cold in many restaurants in the US, traditionally borscht, primarily made of beets, is served piping hot.
Vatrushka: This traditional Russian dessert is a big ring of flaky pastry dough with cottage cheese in the center. Similar to a delicious American-style Danish, it's typically topped off with raisins or bits of fruit.

Staples:

Smetana (sour cream): Blinis are topped off with it. Soups utilize its flavor. It's even used in dessert recipes! In short, expect to find fresh and delicious sour cream accompanying just about Russian ration you eat.
Black bread: The dark, crusty, hearty rye bread is served alongside many a Russian dish.
Ikra (caviar): Briny caviar is a definite splurge in the US, but in Russia, you can find caviar far more often on a table. It's often served with blinis or atop black bread.

Did I leave anything off? Any Russian foods you love to chow down on? Add your thoughts in the comments!

Source: Flickr User Istelleinad & geishaboy500

Behind the Scenes at the 2012 Winter Fancy Food Show

YumSugar — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 15:44:53 PST

We had a blast at the 2012 Winter Fancy Food show that took place this past Sunday through Tuesday. We spotted so many exciting new trends and taste-tested a lot of new things. Some were really great, some (like a raw cacao bean) were really not. But either way, we appreciate any chance to be surrounded by food and people who love food. Check out some of our behind-the-scenes snaps!

What's Yummy This Week

Camilla Salem — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 03:04:36 PST

Leonardo DiCaprio has entered the coffee business, and we're excited about it.
But we're also huge tea lovers, and here are the reasons why.
Don't skip out on Winter farmers markets - you might miss a lot of cold-weather goodies.
Jay Leno's reaction to the veggie pizza Michelle Obama convinced him to try had us laughing out loud.
Need another laugh? Check out the best food-filled Super Bowl ads.
It's not too early to bring on the aphrodisiacs. Oysters with champagne mignonette are divine.
Don't forget to play Who's the Better Chef!

Fall in Love . . . With Belted Coats

Lauren Conrad — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 08:18:03 PST

We are thrilled to share this story from Lauren Conrad! The TV personality, writer, designer, and style maven has started LaurenConrad.com, a social networking site that features daily posts by Lauren on all of our favorite topics - fashion, beauty, food, party planning - and Lauren will be sharing her latest fashion finds with Fab every month. This week, she's sharing her favorite belted coats.

It’s easy to look frumpy during the Winter when you’re hidden beneath layers upon layers of clothing. But you don’t have to be a fashion victim just because the mercury dropped. Instead, take a cue from Burberry Prorsum and Diane von Furstenberg and belt that bulky coat of yours! Defined waists are coming back in a major way for 2012, which makes belted coats the perfect transitional piece for this trend. I love the belted look because I think it’s a nice way to create a waist when it’s cold. And I love the understated femininity of the look as well. As a matter of fact, I even designed one for an upcoming Paper Crown collection (stay tuned!).

The belted look can be achieved a couple of ways: Simply cinch your coat or jacket at the waist with your favorite belt or buy a pre-belted (or waist-tie) coat/jacket. You can even work this trend with a closed blazer and cute belt, too. The belted coat works for all body types. It’s universally flattering and adds the ultimate chic-factor to drab Winter wear. The best part? It’s a cinch!

Here are a few of my favorite belted coats:

Topshop Military Belted Coat
Urban Outfitters BB Dakota Romain Belted Coat
Vanessa Bruno Camel Belted Coat

Which one is your favorite?

Also, how do you feel about the belted coat look?

XO Lauren

P.S. Want to see what the original cover concept looked like for the first L.A. Candy book? Click here to see the sketch I did (and just found)!

Healthy Dose Link Time: Octavia Spencer on Being Unhappy With Her Weight

Michele Foley — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 10:23:33 PST

The Help star, Octavia Spencer, reveals she's unhappy about her weight - Fit Celeb
How to stay active, even when you sit all day - HuffPost Healthy Living
Why breakfast is making you fat - Shape
Want a better booty? There's a science behind getting one - Fitness
Rev up your metabolism with these foods - Self
How to get rid of funky stains in workout clothing for once and for all - Fit Bottomed Girls
Get the most out of your ride with these energy bars - Bicycling
Hearty and healthy casseroles to ward off Winter's cold temps - Health

5 Reasons Not to Skip Winter Farmers Markets

Lizzie Fuhr — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:24:23 PST

I know, it's really cold outside. But the shift in weather is no excuse to shift your diet away from local, sustainable, fresh food! You may not get to wear shorts and a tank, but making a trip to a farmers market is just as productive an excursion in the cooler months as it is in the hot Summer sun. Are you picking up what I'm putting down? Here are five reasons you shouldn't skip farmers markets in the Winter.

A little green goes a long way. While the chilly weather and lack of sunshine is bound to affect your mood, you'll be feeling recharged after you head to a farmers market, in all of its colorful Winter splendor. As I've said to myself: a little green goes a long way amid all the gray.
Try out new fruits and veggies. Even if the farmers market doesn't have what I'm looking for, it always proves to be a great experience: you're forced to think outside your typical box and pull for fruits and vegetables you might not have been exposed to before. If you've moved to a new city or are living in a different climate, getting to a farmers market is an awesome way to see what your new region has to offer your taste buds. Who knows? Maybe you'll find your new favorite nosh.

Keep reading for three more reasons why you shouldn't skip Winter markets.

Trendspotting at the 2012 Fancy Food Show

YumSugar — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 11:37:57 PST

The 2012 Winter Fancy Food Show was filled with a lot of walking, drinking, and of course, eating. There were some obvious trends we noticed that we think are going to take hold this coming year. Given what we tasted and saw, it's going to be a great year for food! Check out what trends we spotted.

Sugar Shout Out: Photography Tips From Top Instagrammers

Lauren Turner — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 23:59:13 PST