FitSugar

Salmonella Update: Not Just the Tomatoes Anymore!

FitSugar — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 03:30:00 PDT

If you've been avoiding tomatoes for fear of getting a salmonella infection then you're going to have to add serrano and jalapeno peppers, as well as cilantro to your "do not eat" list.

The Chicago Tribune is reporting that the Food and Drug Administration has begun looking at serrano and jalapeno peppers and cilantro - basically the ingredients used to make salsa - as possible causes of the outbreak. Tomatoes continue to be investigated as well. With over a thousand folks infected at this point, some officials are calling this the worst foodborne illness outbreak in the US in a decade - yikes!

Me, I've starting eating tomatoes again, but I'm going to try to steer clear of the spicy peppers in question as well as the tasty herb. Most of you said you weren't avoiding tomatoes, so will you be avoiding the peppers and cilantro (perhaps even salsa) until this all is cleared up?

Source

Snacking Good: Natchitoches Meat Pies

OnSugar Blog — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:07:39 PST

We've always wanted to take a stab at rolling out a few Natchitoches meat pies. Thanks to an easy recipe from Food Orleans, this might be a dream realized sooner rather than later.

[Baked or fried? You decide.]

Natchitoches meat pies are one of those special little treats with a name as fun to say as they are to scarf down. Nackadish - that's how you say it - is a small town we drive through on our way north to visit Alexandria or Oklahoma, and it's where Steel Magnolias was filmed, and it's famous for these little pies. It's a beautiful little place, with a picturesque riverfront lined with shops and restaurants that have their own sort of French Quarter-ish wrought iron balconies (remember the Easter scene where Jackson slapped Ouiser? That's the riverfront!). But you don't have to go into the actual town to get yourself some meat pies; just stop at any gas station right off I-10. They all fry them up and they're all pretty wonderful.

For her recipe, continue reading.

Grillades and Grits: Get Your Brunch on!

OnSugar Blog — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 11:00:06 PST

Grillades and grits are a trademark dish in New Orleans. If you can't make the trip to Nola, Food Orleans shows you how to recreate the experience in your own home.

If you've never had or heard of grillades and grits, then I apologize for not mentioning them earlier. They're one of the two most wonderful things to eat for brunch in New Orleans (shrimp and grits being the other). I've never been to anyplace in town for brunch that didn't offer one or both of these goodies. Grillades (gree'-awds) are made of beef, veal, or pork; I haven't encountered a rabbit version yet, but I won't be surprised when I do. The beef is a thin, flat cut of top round or chuck - something that can withstand a long, slow cooking. It simmers in a pot with the trinity (onion, celery, bell pepper), garlic, and a little jalapeno - not traditional, but I really like it - until the rich broth thickens and intensifies, so what you get is a powerfully flavored beef "stew" that is perfect over creamy cheese grits. This is a great Louisiana recipe to try if you're hankering for some thick, rich goodness but you don't feel up to stirring a roux, because you don't have to. The small amount of flour used in the browning of the beef will produce all the roux you need.

Read ahead for the grillades and grits recipe.

Pepper Jelly Rugelach: A Change of Spice

OnSugar Blog — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 06:39:08 PST

This year, we're not the only ones in the mood for a little less sugar and a little more spice. Food Orleans shares an ingenious recipe for pepper jelly rugelach.

Welcome to the third installment of my Christmas Hannukah bake-a-thon!

Have you ever had rugelach? Ever heard of them? They're these awesome, petite crescents of cream cheese and butter dough wrapped around a filling such as cinnamon, nuts, or preserves. The fact that the dough is almost nothing but cream cheese and butter pretty much had me hooked. But I also saw an opportunity to inject a little deep-south peppery twist on this classic cookie.

Pepper jelly. You know, the jalapeno-spiked stuff that gets poured over blocks of cream cheese? Turns out it's a remedy for someone who bakes and eats lots of cookies and, quite frankly, needs a little help preventing palate fatigue (that's Melissa Clark's term, not mine, but it's well-put). I was afraid these might be too spicy in the end, but they're just spicy enough, and a welcome change of spice from the typical holiday range of cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg. I think you'll like them. And let's forge ahead and put pepper jelly in all kinds of sweet things! It'll be a revolution.

For a recipe sure to stun at your next cookie exchange, read on.

We're Hot For Jalapeños!

YumSugar — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 01:53:14 PDT

This year's hotter-than-heck Summer makes us crave nothing but more heat - for our palates, that is! There's something pleasantly painful about the slight scorch of a jalapeño-infused dish (and, of course, an ice-cold beer to chase it down). From gyro jalapeño poppers to spicy cucumber and cantaloupe paletas, here are six creative ways we love to turn up the heat on your plates.

Bacon-wrapped jalapeños	Gyro jalapeño poppers	Pico de gallo
Grilled jack cheese-stuffed jalapeños	Jalapeño nacho cheeseburgers	Spicy cantaloupe and cucumber paletas

Savory Sight: Pickled Jalapeño Peppers

Yum Community — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 04:00:21 PDT

Into pickling? Check out this picture of thehungrytexan's homemade pickled jalapeños.

Easy to make (and festive!) pickled jalapeno peppers. I decided these will make perfect hostess gifts at holiday parties this Christmas! Get the recipe here.

Have you canned some of the season's bounty? Be sure to upload it in the Savory Sights group in the YumSugar Community!

Stalled Weight Loss? Sore Muscles? Joy Bauer Has 3 Fast Fixes

Fitness Magazine — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 04:11:12 PDT

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

In her latest book, Today Show contributor Joy Bauer, R.D., explains that if you make the right diet choices, you can boost your mood, improve your memory and even see healthier skin, hair, and teeth (not to mention drop a few pounds)! Bauer gives you her eating prescription in Food Cures, a book that follows her motto "life is hard . . . food should be easy."

Food Cures highlights 17 different conditions or common health complaints and offers solutions or suggestions based on cutting-edge science to eat your way to your goals. We asked Bauer to share three tips to try today for two areas our readers often ask for help with: easing exercise-induced muscle soreness and busting through a weight-loss plateau.

If you experience post-workout aches and pains . . .

Eat salmon twice a week: "The omega-3s are potent anti-inflammatories. I like canned if I'm in a hurry or hoisin-glazed," Bauer says.
Eat one red bell pepper a day: Surprise! Red bell peppers contain twice as much vitamin C as oranges. The vitamin can ease body aches.
Add a few slices of fresh ginger to hot water: "Ginger has the same compounds in it as many anti-inflammatory medications," Bauer says.

Keep reading to see what foods help with a weight-loss plateau.

A Reader Recipe: Vegetarian Rice and Beans

Fit Community — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 03:44:05 PDT

FitSugar reader Dara8182 shares her recipe for a healthier version of the Cuban staple rice and beans. She posted the recipe in our Healthy Recipe group.

Everyone loves rice and beans; it is an ultimate comfort food. Less comforting, is that it's usually packed with calories and salt, not to mention the fact that the traditional Cuban preparation requires you use a ham hock for flavoring. I decided to create a healthier version, using brown rice and simple flavorings to keep the spirit of the Cuban dish while making a healthy and filling dinner.

Piping Hot! Calories in Pizza Toppings

Jenny Sugar — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 18:14:39 PDT

Some nights, you can't resist your craving for an ooey-gooey bite of your favorite pizza. A basic slice of cheese pizza clocks in around 270 calories, but if you order your pie with toppings, check out how many calories they add to your slice.

Pizza Topping	Calories
Anchovies (6)	50
Artichoke hearts (4)	60
Bacon (equivalent of 2 slices)	92
Black olives (2 tbsp sliced)	25
Broccoli (3 florets)	24
Caramelized onions (1/4 onion)	42
Chicken strips (1 oz)	30
Extra cheese (1/4 cup)	80

Don't see your favorite topping? Keep reading to find out the calories in meatballs, pineapple, and sun-dried tomatoes.

Sugar Shout Out: Meet the Pretty Little Liars Heartthrobs!

PopSugar — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 23:55:00 PDT