FitSugar

Why You Should Marinate Your Meat

FitSugar — Fri, 27 May 2011 11:13:40 PDT

Barbecue season is upon us, so let's celebrate by grilling, since it's an easy and low-fat way to cook. If you're grilling, protect your health by marinating your meat. Here are seven things explaining why marinating is good for your health and how to do it.

Marinating meat, fish, and poultry significantly decreases the amount of carcinogenic heterocyclic amines (HCAs) produced when the meat is cooked at high temperatures, like in grilling. Marinades can reduce HCAs by as much as 99 percent. Adding rosemary to the marinade may even up the anticancer potential of your marinade even more. While research is unclear why marinades protect meat so much, the belief is that they act as a barrier against the high heat, or may reduce chemical precursors of carcinogens from the meat.
Marinades may slow the growth of harmful bacteria, like listeria.

Learn a few more tips about marinades when you

Definition: Maceration

YumSugar — Wed, 19 May 2010 15:00:40 PDT

Maceration (pronounced "mass-uh-ray-shun") refers to the process of steeping a food - typically, a fruit such as a berry - in a liquid (such as a liqueur) or sugar in order to infuse it with the liquid's flavor and soften the food. The process of macerating is similar to that of marinating, which involves soaking food in a seasoned, acidic liquid prior to cooking.

5 Things: Marinate for Your Health

FitSugar — Fri, 23 May 2008 03:00:00 PDT

BBQ season is upon us and while grilling is an easy and low fat way to cook food (compared to sautéing in oil or butter). Here are five things I thought you might want to know about the whys and hows of marinating.

Marinating meat, fish and poultry significantly decreases the amount of carcinogenic HCAs (heterocyclic amines) produced when the meat is cooked at high temperatures, like in grilling. Marinades can reduces the HCAs by as much as 99 percent.
Marinades may slow the growth of harmful bacteria, like listeria.
Marinating meat with naturally acidic ingredients, like vinegar or citrus juices, tenderizes the meat, breaking down the proteins making the meat easier to digest. Plus it helps lock in the moisture so the meat won't dry out and toughen up.
To keep the calorie count down, only use one-half cup of marinade to every pound of meat. This will be enough to coat the meat, but cuts down on excess.
Never marinate meat at room temperature. Although marinade can slow the growth of harmful bacteria, it cannot stop them completely, so marinate your meat in the fridge.

Have fun grilling!

Source

Healthy BBQ Options

FitSugar — Mon, 28 May 2007 02:00:00 PDT

Nothing says Memorial Day like a backyard BBQ. So if you are firing up the grill here are some healthy options for you to consider.

Don't forget your veggies. Grilled vegetables taste great and are a great way to make sure you get your 5 - 7 servings of fruits and veggies. Why not kkip the potato chips and eat some grilled eggplant instead?

If you are going to grill up some burgers use grass fed beef it is better for you and the environment. Also, remember that is a good idea to marinate your meat before sticking it on the grill. Not only does the marinade prevent the meat from drying out, a common grilling faux pas, it also protects the meat from carcinogens created by smoke and high heat cooking. If you are grilling up some tri-tip, Yumsugar has a Shiraz-Soy marinade recipe for you to try. It looks tasty.

Maybe you want a meatless option, and if so I highly recommend Gardenburgers. Made from whole grain brown rice, rolled oats, and veggies - they not only taste good, but they are good for you. Or if you are in the mood for a hot dog try a Tofu Pup.

Happy Memorial Day!!!

5 Surprising Ways to Eat Nut Butter

FitSugar — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 13:49:49 PST

Nut butters are good for more than just sandwiches. As a source of healthy fats and plant-based protein, nut butters can be a nutritional powerhouse. Whether you prefer classic peanut butter or one of the healthy peanut butter alternatives, here are five unexpected ways to incorporate nut butter into your diet:

Blend it into your smoothie: Make your breakfast sip a bit creamier - and more satisfying - by adding some nut butter to the mix. For a bit of indulgence, try a chocolate strawberry banana smoothie. The healthy fats and dose of protein will help you to stay full and get your day off to an energized start.
Add it to your soups: Boost pureed soups with a spoonful of nut butter. Not only will it create a thicker texture, but it will also add rich, unexpected flavor to standard recipes. Surprise your taste buds by adding almond butter to butternut squash and or blending walnut butter into a beet soup.
Turn it into a dipping sauce: Marinate meats in your favorite nut butter before grilling, or use it as a dipping sauce for fruits and vegetables. Get creative with your combinations: try jicama dipped in cashew butter for a fresh twist on peanut butter apples.
Toss it into Greek yogurt. Get double the protein punch by mixing nut butter into your serving of Greek yogurt. For extra energy and nutrients, add fresh berries and rolled oats to the bowl.
Use it in your salad dressing. Blend nut butter with other oils and spices to create a smooth, rich salad dressing. Not sure where to start? Try a Thai dish, like this kale slaw with peanut dressing recipe.

Source: Flickr User Rusvaplauke

Killer App: Spicy Marinated Olives

Camilla Salem — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 13:42:56 PST

Chili flakes are one of my very favorite things to cook with, if you haven't already noticed. This appetizer is a classic in my family, and it even made my husband, the olive-hater, love and appreciate this little Mediterranean fruit. You don't need much for this recipe, and measurements are not the important thing here, so feel free to play around a little bit. What's important is that you shake everything together well, and give the olives some time to sit and collect the flavors. Feel free to make these a day in advance of when you plan to serve them because they will be that much better. And don't forget to serve these with a bowl for the pits.

For this ridiculously simple recipe, keep reading.

Vanessa Paradis Addresses Johnny Depp Breakup Rumors at Her Premiere

Allie Merriam — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 06:47:08 PST

Vanessa Paradis hit the red carpet solo last night for a screening of her movie Café de Flore. She first started premiering the film last year at various film festivals, and it is finally due to arrive in French theaters tomorrow. Vanessa posed for photos with Marin Gerrier and Jean-Marc Vallée, and later reported to the afterparty at Chez Castel nightclub. She did limited interviews, but in one conversation, spoke about her rumored split from Johnny Depp. Vanessa Paradis told France's Radio 1, "You know, when I eat three peas, I'm pregnant. When I visit a city, I'm buying a house. In the Winter I separate, in the Summer I marry. It's been 15 years since I've been getting married every year. In addition, I have to answer all these rumors!"

Vanessa and Johnny are said to have split after nearly 14 years together. However, the pair seem to be staying close for the benefit of their children, 12-year-old Lily-Rose and 9-year-old Jack. The family has traditionally split their time between LA and France. Vanessa and the children rang in 2012 from the West Coast, but she's been in France for the last week to promote her new big screen project and also enjoy some of the fun of Couture Fashion Week.

13 Foods For Freaky Friday

YumSugar — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 14:55:19 PST

In honor of Freaky Friday (today's Friday the 13th!), I thought I'd pull together a list of 13 freaky foods. Even if you don't have triskaidekaphobia (the fear of the number 13), you may be afraid of some of the things on this list. I know there are a bunch of other freaky things out there (how about almost anything Andrew Zimmern eats on his show?), so if you think something's missing, we want to hear it.

#13: Bubble Tea
I personally love this stuff; however, I've known quite a few folks who are freaked out by the tapioca inside of the tea. Come to think of it, I know a lot of people freaked out by tapioca in general . . .
#12: Squid ink pasta
I don't have a problem with this lovely pasta dyed with squid ink, but some find eating black pasta to be just a bit too freaky.
Keep reading to see more freaky foods perfect for Friday the 13th.

Rob Schneider Talks About His Wife as the Real-Life Inspiration For New Sitcom Rob

Shannon Vestal — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 03:00:46 PST

Saturday Night Live alum and frequent Adam Sandler collaborator Rob Schneider is coming to TV with his own series, Rob. The CBS show's title isn't the only thing that's inspired by Schneider: the premise of the midseason show, about the newlywed relationship between Rob and his Mexican-American spouse (played by Claudia Bassols) and her family, is based on Schneider's own relationship with his wife. Schneider hit the Winter TCA along with showrunners and other stars like Cheech Marin to talk about the love story behind the show.

Schneider, whose wife Patricia is from Mexico City, said their home life has inspired the show. "It's like a sitcom at our house," he said, because his wife is so funny, and since her first language is Spanish, there's often humor found in that. She's prone to saying things like "in Spanish I'm much funnier, you have no idea," and "translator off!" meaning she's not going to listen to him anymore at certain times of night.
Schneider recounted his love story with Patricia, highlighting their mutual ethnicities as a factor. "My dad's German," he explained, "they're not touchy feely," but "Mexicans kiss you when you see them and when you leave." He called it a beautiful thing, and when he first met his wife (he was a guest on a show in Mexico that she was producing), and she kissed him to greet him. He said he then begged her to go out with him for weeks, and finally she accepted, flying from Mexico to LA with her mother to meet.
Costar Bassols, who plays Rob's wife on the show, said that she has met Schneider's wife Patricia, but has not taken notes for her performance. "She has that something special that's impossible to imitate," Bassols said, and gushed about how sweet Schneider's relationship with his wife is. "Every time Rob talks about his wife, his face lights up," she said, adding that "their love story inspires this whole story." When she was done, Schneider softly said thank you to her. All together now: Awww.

A Tempeh Take on Banh Mi

OnSugar Blog — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 10:15:05 PST

What's your take on tempeh? Between the Bread tries the vegan product in a bánh mì and is surprised by the results.

The first time I encountered tempeh, I was a high-schooler venturing trepidatiously into a vegetarian restaurant in Atlanta, and the soy patty sandwich blew me away.

Since then, I have never had tempeh that impressed me much, until this tempeh banh mi at Urban Picnic. The protein is savory, spiced, and layered with flavor, like a good marinated meat.

More details and photos after the jump.