FitSugar

Pom Poms for Pomegranates

FitSugar — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 11:45:00 PDT

I will wholeheartedly become a cheerleader when it comes to pomegranates. Not only does this fruit make a great decorative centerpiece on your table, it is full of tasty little seeds that can add a little zing to many dishes. Although the flavor is considered tart, the pomegranate crosses the line of savory and sweet. Nutritionally speaking, the beautiful garnet colored juicy seeds inside are high in antioxidants that not only protect your blood lipids from the nasty act oxidation; they also help prevent plaque build up on arteries. Pomegranates are also a great source of potassium.

I feel the most timely pomegranate fact is they are in season now. The seeds make a great addition to any fall salad and are tasty scattered over roasted squash. The juice of the fruit makes a fine addition to any cocktail too. Just beware the beautiful juice can stain, not only your hands but your clothes too.

Confused about how to reach those powerful little seeds? Don't worry because my gal Yum can teach you. Just read How to Seed a Pomegranate.

Do you like pomegranates? Tell me your favorite way to eat them in the comment section below.

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10 Amazing Avocado Recipes

Nancy Einhart — Mon, 14 May 2012 10:48:52 PDT

In California, we've been getting some awesomely delicious avocados lately. Chalk it up to avocado season, which runs from Spring to Fall. Even if you don't live in the Golden State, chances are, that green fruit you're savoring is from here anyway. 90 percent of the nation's crop comes out of California. From sandwiches and salads to salsas and other tropical-tinged flavor combinations, avocado is surprisingly versatile. Here are 10 of our favorite ways to enjoy it.

In Season: Quince

Lizzie Fuhr — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 05:42:01 PDT

Quince is one of those fruits that still manages to mystify us. Despite the fruit's rich history, up until recently, it was nearly forgotten! But lucky for us, lovers of the fruit have called for the revival. They've been coined the "quintessential slow food"; when eaten raw, the flavor of quince is rather displeasing, but once you cook one of these beauties up, a sweet aromatic scent fills the air. Keep reading for some ideas on how to make the most of quince this season.

Know Your Techniques: Oven-Roasting

Susannah Chen — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 12:47:13 PST

If one of your culinary resolutions this year has been to get more acquainted with basic skills in the kitchen, we've got the lowdown on a number of essential cooking techniques that are important to know. One of our favorite cooking methods is roasting. When done correctly, the technique truly coaxes more flavor out of foods - and employing the help of the oven is a surefire way to keep your hearth warm during the colder months as well.

Oven-roasting involves little more than dry heat, and is ideal for just about any type of whole food, from large cuts of meat and whole fish to fruits, vegetables, and seeds. Find out more - including how to roast any fruit or vegetable - when you keep reading.

What's Your Favorite Season For Cooking, and Why?

YumSugar — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 07:59:27 PST

In preparation for the New Year, I keep getting so excited about all of the food I'm going to cook each season. I have a hard time deciding what my favorite time of year is, at least when it comes to fruits and veggies. I love hearty, rich Winter and Fall vegetables roasted with rosemary and olive oil, but bright, new asparagus and artichokes in the Spring are really exciting to cook with. Still, I'm not sure if there's anything better than colorful, vitamin-rich Summer vegetables like tomatoes, peppers, melons and stone fruit. I'm curious as to what you prefer. What's your favorite season for cooking fresh fruits and vegetables at home, and why?

Simple Tips For Staving Off Holiday Sugar Cravings

Heather Dale — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 03:29:20 PST

You know you're getting into the holiday spirit when the movie Elf is on repeat in your DVD player. If this is the case, let's just hope you aren't influenced by Will Ferrell's bad dietary habits, which include copious amounts of candy, candy canes, candy corn, and syrup! We may not be guzzling down bottles of syrup, but when confronted with tables full of cookies, candies, chocolates, and cake, what's a girl to do? Other than exercising some restrain, here are some helpful tips that will help curb your sweet tooth during the holiday season.

Travel Tips For the Upcoming Holiday Weekend

Kristy Korcz — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 16:45:22 PST

Traveling this holiday? Christmas Eve falls on a Saturday this year, which makes one big mess at the airport. If you can't take a car or a train, be sure to check out these packing and travel tips to make your life easier while booking flights, getting through security checkpoints, and beyond.

Booking Flights

TripIt - Once signed up for the free service, forward travel confirmation emails to TripIt, which will automatically create a master itinerary of an upcoming trip accessible through the web or a mobile device. The itineraries even include the tidbits we seem to forget like weather updates, local maps, and directions.
Google Flight Search - Book that plane ticket before prices rise any further! Google's flight search engine incorporates travel basics like price point, maximum number of connections, and preferred airline with an easy-to-use interface.
Hotel Tonight - If there are too many relatives in one house, scan the last-minute hotel deals at Hotel Tonight for a chic getaway at a discounted price. Every day three hotels in a city reveal their discounted rates starting at noon, and you then have until 2 a.m. to book the deal and take advantage of a peaceful room.
My TSA - Can homemade fruit cakes go through security? How early should you show up to the airport for a flight on the eve of Thanksgiving? Answer the pressing travel questions that could otherwise cause delays or stress by adding the TSA's free iOS app to your device. The app's airport security line estimator may become the most crucial feature on your phone when planning your airport arrival.
HearPlanet ($3) - Take the time to discover the cultural side of your holiday destination. This interactive app highlights attractions in over 300,000 locations and uses geolocation features so that you don't miss any of the nearby fun, plus it's a great excuse to get out of the house and move around in fresh air.
GasBuddy - Hitting the open road instead of the air? Use the free GasBuddy app to locate the cheapest fuel on the interstate. Show your fellow travelers some love and share the low-price gas station you discover within the app.

Gadget Essentials

iPad or Tablet - If you have the luxury of spending upwards of $500 on a tablet, it's probably the only gadget you'll need to tote during travel season since it can hold your ebooks, surf the Internet, and keep you connected.
eReader - If you're sans tablet, pack up your favorite ereader. Whether it's the latest Kindle or the new Nook Simple Touch, you can read the entire Game of Thrones series without all the paper weight.
Compact laptop - Though the MacBook Air is arguably the most popular lightweight laptop out there, there's plenty of compact PCs and ultrabooks to choose from as well.
Chargers - If you're toting all these gadgets, you're going to (obviously) need some chargers to keep things juiced. Thankfully, many airlines are offering charging stations in the terminal and even seat-side outlets on board, so you can stay 100 percent charged throughout your trip.
Headphones - Keep the roar of 35,000 feet at bay with some nice sound-isolating headphones. If you're going over-the-ear, consider Skullcandy Aviators ($149), which offer great sound and deep bass and are even comfy for those geeks who wear glasses.

Get more tips on how to pack your bag and save some dough after the break.

3 Cheeses to Pair With Pear

Anna Monette Roberts — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 07:08:38 PST

Pears are in season, and what better way to celebrate this divine Fall fruit than with cheese? Next time you go to your neighborhood cheese shop, be sure to ask about these sheep, cow, and goat milk cheeses so you can enjoy them atop sweet, crunchy pear slices. Before a meal or after, these sophisticated duos will impress without being showy.

4 Toxic Foods That Should Never Cross Your Lips

Prevention — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 03:37:36 PST

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Prevention here on FitSugar!

Is your food loaded with toxins and chemicals? Here, simple swaps to protect yourself
By Anne Underwood

Clean eating means choosing fruits, vegetables, and meats that are raised, grown, and sold with minimal processing.

Often they're organic, and rarely (if ever) should they contain additives. But in some cases, the methods of today's food producers are neither clean nor sustainable. The result is damage to our health, the environment, or both. So we decided to take a fresh look at food through the eyes of the people who spend their lives uncovering what's safe - or not - to eat. We asked them a simple question: "What foods do you avoid?" Their answers don't necessarily make up a "banned foods" list. But reaching for the suggested alternatives might bring you better health - and peace of mind.

The Best Packaged Foods to Shop For

1. Canned Tomatoes

Fredrick Vom Saal, PhD, an endocrinologist at the University of Missouri who studies bisphenol-A, gives us the scoop:

The problem: The resin linings of tin cans contain bisphenol-A, a synthetic estrogen that has been linked to ailments ranging from reproductive problems to heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. Unfortunately, acidity (a prominent characteristic of tomatoes) causes BPA to leach into your food. Studies show that the BPA in most people's body exceeds the amount that suppresses sperm production or causes chromosomal damage to the eggs of animals. "You can get 50 mcg of BPA per liter out of a tomato can, and that's a level that is going to impact people, particularly the young," says vom Saal. "I won't go near canned tomatoes."

The solution: Choose tomatoes in glass bottles (which do not need resin linings), such as the brands Bionaturae and Coluccio. You can also get several types in Tetra Pak boxes, like Trader Joe's and Pomi.

Budget tip: If your recipe allows, substitute bottled pasta sauce for canned tomatoes. Look for pasta sauces with low sodium and few added ingredients, or you may have to adjust the recipe.

Low-Sodium Alternative Dinner Options

Keep reading to three more foods to avoid.

5 Fall Foods and What to Cook With Them

Susannah Chen — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 05:42:36 PST

Before Fall's gone entirely, don't forget to enjoy the best of the moment's fruit and vegetable bounty. Here are five affordable, versatile favorites to seize before the season's over and some of our recommended ways to cook with them.