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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Sneak Peek! Every Awesome Piece From H&M's High-Impact Fall

Hannah Weil — Wed, 09 May 2012 18:00:36 PDT

For its Fall '12 lineup, H&M marries the art of minimalism with high-impact detail. It's another covetable collection from the retailer, this time finishing streamlined silhouettes with bursts of color, statement print, and decadent accessories - and there's something for everyone in this batch of goodies. From the slickest kind of pencil skirt, finished with leather and adorned with peplum, to a perfect wooly cocoon coat, this crew of separates is as fit for the cool-girl as they are the sophisticate, with a palette of rich autumnal burgundy, gray, and flashes of metallics that speak decidedly to the season. As if the moody hues aren't enough, the cozy fabrications from mohair to tweed, bouclé, and jacquard will have you feeling Fall in no time flat. Click on for the complete lookbook.

Winter Kate and House of Harlow's Fall Lookbook Shows Off an Updated Take on '60s Cool

Marisa Tom — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 09:37:00 PDT

Fall may seem like a far-off cry from the season in bloom, but we couldn't help but take a peek (and lust over) Nicole Richie's latest Winter Kate and House of Harlow autumnal wares. With Richie's signature brand of bohemian-luxe style ever present, we were delighted to note an edgier (read: rich jewel tones, plush velvet textures, and slick lasercut details) vibe in place. The collection is chock-full of '60s-inspired pieces - sheer herringbone blouses, wide-leg pants, and a plethora of oversize round sunglasses to start - that evoke a structured, geometric retro feel (hello Mad Men!) more than ever. Come chillier temps, we can't wait to rock an eclectic House of Harlow bone-wrap cuff with one of Winter Kate's vintage-looking pencil dresses. To tide us all over, we've pulled our top three looks below, then make sure to check out the rest of the Fall '12 looks in the slideshow.

Winter whites are a cold-weather staple, and to prove our point, we'll be wearing this ultrasheer white maxi dress with a quirkier set of accessories.
It's all about the Swinging Sixties for Fall '12, and what better way to capture the essence of that stylish era than with a distinct geometric print.
Update your floral obsession with an antiqued rose-print sheath - it's ladylike, sophisticated, and will look great against a luxe faux fur coat.

John Galliano Fall 2012

Brittney Stephens — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 18:56:39 PST

John Galliano's Fall 2012 collection was the second solo show for Bill Gaytten, and the incumbent designer successfully set the tone for a charming, British-chic season. He showed gorgeous floaty gowns draped in silk charmeuse and accordion pleats, riding coats with ruffled collars, and sumptuous velvet cropped trousers, all in a decidedly autumnal palette of mustard, royal blue, and cinnamon. Seasoned models like Coco Rocha, Jourdan Dunn, and Lindsey Wixson walked the runway outfitted in sexy thigh-high tights, sheer gowns, and lavish feathered headpieces, punctuating a Fall collection that was a genuine mix of racy and refined, English polish and undaunted sexuality - something we can only imagine Galliano would be proud of.

Trends: Ruffled poet collars, accordion pleat dresses, cropped riding pants, sheer and fur details.
Colors: Black, royal blue, red, mustard, cinnamon, soft gray.
Key Look: The sexy red riding hood: a black onesie with thigh-high stockings, topped with a red silk cape.
Accessories: Thigh-high stockings, stately feathered chapeaus, lace-up booties, suede and leather gloves.
Who Would Wear It: English sophisticates with a taste for ladylike glamour.

Military Magic Backstage at Topshop Unique

Jamie Roy — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 13:04:00 PST

The Autumn/Winter Topshop Unique show was held earlier today at the Old Billingsgate Market in the City of London. With the sunshine peering through the windows (for a change), the backdrop was beautiful, and finally, there was ample space both behind the scenes and inside the actual venue to move around, mingle, and munch on the delectable treats that were offered preshow. Anna Wintour, Alexandra Shulman, Olivia Palermo, Alexa Chung, Pixie Geldof, Poppy Delevigne, and Leigh Lezark all sat in the front row to watch in anticipation.

For this military-inspired collection filled with burgundy, olive, navy, chunky knits, leather, and velvet pieces (my favorite being the leather overalls), the look this season for the clothing, accessories, and beauty was all a bit more grown-up than what we typically see from the brand. Check out all of the exciting looks from backstage in my slideshow here!

Source: Getty

Anna Sui Fall 2012

Marisa Tom — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 19:14:12 PST

Let's face it: Anna Sui knows how to have fun. So much fun, in fact, that we were even treated to models like Lily Donaldson, Joan Smalls, and Lindsey Wixson smiling on the runway! For Fall '12, Anna drew inspiration from a 1960s Jean Shrimpton silhouette but, in Sui style, took care to put her own signature whimsical spin on it, as seen in the psychedelic patterns and color palette. While the super-textured shag coats, Woodstock-worthy caftans, and babydoll dresses certainly set the retro tone, it was the designer's attention to the owl motif that left a lasting impression. The knitted owl hats, owl-shaped sunglasses, and owl-embellished fingerless gloves were just a few of the not-so-subtle themed items found within this playful lineup. Also worth noting? Anna Sui collaborated with Coach to design this season's line of bags - newly debuted on the runway - and yes, they had owls on them, too. It was a total Anna production, just youthful and fun from start to finish.

Trends: Owls, oversized Peter Pan collars, super-textured shag coats, '60s-style babydoll dresses, and bright tights.
Colors: Rich autumnal colors - rust, orange, ecru - matched up with neon blue, fuchsia, and pink.
Key Piece: The cozy shag coats over sweet babydoll dresses.
Accessories: Newly debuted line of Anna Sui for Coach bags, knit owl hats, owl-shaped sunglasses, knit fingerless owl-embellished gloves, and neon tights.
Who Would Wear It: Fashionistas with a taste for kitsch and color, like Hailee Steinfeld and Chloe Moretz.

Rodarte Fall 2012

Marisa Tom — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 12:35:12 PST

Leave it to Kate and Laura Mulleavy to not only draw a star-studded front row - hello, George Lucas, Natalie Portman, and Dakota Fanning - but to deliver a stellar, 1940s-inspired Fall '12 collection too. One part cave-drawing-infused, one part retro femme, and one part Australian outback-reminiscent, Rodarte showcased a beautiful mix of totally girlie pieces with both red-carpet appeal and wearable ladylike style. The sister duo paid close attention to feminine details á la Peter Pan collars, artfully structured ruffles, and metal star appliqué hair combs. Yet, never ones to shy away from throwing some quirk into the picture, they added literal hand prints to long, flowy evening gowns and added cowboy buckles to double-strap leather belts. The biggest covet-worthy takeaway from today's show? After several seasons of collaborating with key shoe designers like Nicholas Kirkwood and Christian Louboutin, the Mulleavy sisters debuted their first-ever in-house shoe collection. We're calling it: Rodarte's two-tone pumps with heels made of plexiglass, sexy dominatrix-inspired spat heels, and lace-up boots will be Fall '12 It girl items. All in all, it's a gorgeous autumnal lineup, just begging to be worn.

Trends: Cropped cable-knit sweaters, hand-print chiffon dresses, and 1940s-inspired silhouettes.
Colors: Warm, earthy tones like rust and terracotta juxtaposed against cool neutrals.
Key Piece: Super-cute chunky cable-knit sweaters paired with terracotta-hued trousers; diaphanous hand-print chiffon dresses.
Accessories: Ladylike round-toe pumps with heels made of plexiglass or filled with sand, sexy lace-up gladiator-inspired spat heels. Look out for the subtleties in each heel design.
Who Would Wear It: Front-row attendees Natalie Portman and Dakota Fanning are high up on the list, but we think a plethora of A-list talent will be clamoring to wear this collection. Don't be surprised to see Taylor Swift, Alexa Chung, Kirsten Dunst, and Elle Fanning flaunting Rodarte's wares, too.

Stella McCartney Parties With Her Famous Friends and Opens a New Store in SoHo

Katie Henry — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 10:25:02 PST

Stella McCartney celebrated the opening of her latest boutique with a star-studded soiree in NYC last night. The SoHo outpost drew an impressive crowd of fashionable faces like Naomi Watts, Liv Tyler, and newlyweds David Lauren and Lauren Bush Lauren. The Laurens are fresh off a romantic getaway to Jamaica where David lounged shirtless and Lauren slipped into a bikini while relaxing on the beach with Stella's dad, Sir Paul McCartney.

Following the store opening, the designer led a group of editors to Manhattan's One If by Land, Two If by Sea for a sneak peek at the Stella McCartney Autumn 2012 collection. Funny guy Jason Sudeikis popped by for a quick appearance. Jason's girlfriend, newly short-haired Olivia Wilde, couldn't join since she's prepping for the 2012 award season. Stella likewise has a busy schedule ahead, with Spring Fashion Week kicking off in the Big Apple on Feb. 9.

Blake Lively and Leighton Meester Get Snap Happy on the Gossip Girl Set

Lauren Turner — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 13:36:46 PST

Blake Lively captured a few pictures of Leighton Meester on her iPhone during a scene for Gossip Girl in NYC today. The costars were back on set after a late night of filming yesterday. Both ladies were wearing brightly colored wrap scarves with Blake in White + Warren and Leighton in Autumn Cashmere. Blake brought Ryan Reynolds's dog to the evening shoot, but there was no sign of the actor. Blake and Ryan spent last weekend in the Big Apple, where they met up with Blake's sister and her husband for breakfast.

It's been a fun few months for Blake and Ryan, who are just one of many cute new couples this year. They're heading into their first festive season together, and if their Thanksgiving getaway to Utah is any indication, they might spend the upcoming holidays together at well.

Global Pantry: Black Garlic

Padma Lakshmi — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 12:49:23 PST

We are thrilled to announce our new partnership with Padma Lakshmi! The host of the Emmy-winning Top Chef, writer, and designer started Padma Lakshmi, a social networking site that celebrates our favorite topics, including food adventures, recipes, and party planning. She'll be dishing up goodies for us here on YumSugar monthly! Today, Padma offers her thoughts on the specialty ingredient known as black garlic.

Korean culture, famous for kimchi, has perfected the art of fermentation, patiently coaxing the flavors of everyday food to an entirely new level. Not surprisingly, the origin of black garlic is in Korea. After aging for at least 30 days, it possesses a caramelized, savory richness that has a mouth feel similar to eating a date. Because it’s sweet and mild, it’s hard to believe you’re eating garlic at all.

But it is indeed garlic - definitely less attractive, but with all the best assets intact and an umami sensation to boot. These smooth, smoky fermented cloves are irresistible and easy to eat on their own - minus the lingering, pungent breath.

I’ve seen it popping up more and more over the past few years in the states, and once again, it’s at the top of many seasonal, must-have ingredient lists for the best restaurants and now even pizza joints. Keep reading to learn how to cook with black garlic.