FitSugar

The Basics: Flavored Mayonnaise

Katie Sweeney — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 03:12:00 PDT

Once you've learned how to make homemade mayonnaise, it's fun to get creative and make different mayonnaise flavors. My favorite, shown here, is basil-garlic mayo. It's a creamy, tangy, and fragrant spread that's delicious slathered on sandwiches or served as a dip alongside grilled vegetables like artichokes and zucchini. It's easy to put together: simply whisk the mayo with the herbs and seasonings of your choice. The addition of citrus goes a long way, as do other condiments like hot sauce or horseradish. All you need to know are the basic proportions; to find out what they are, keep reading.

Healthy Sandwich: Skip Mayo and Use Avocado

FitSugar — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 11:00:00 PDT

A sandwich sounds like a healthy meal, but if yours isn't a real sandwich without a thick layer of mayonnaise, then you're looking at added cholesterol and calories you could do without. So the next time you make or order a sammy, spread a quarter of a ripe avocado on your bread instead of mayo. As you can see from the chart below, you'll end up with plenty of flavor and less calories, cholesterol, saturated fat, and sodium. Avocado also offers fiber and potassium.

	2 tbsp mayo	1/4 avocado
Calories	115	80
Total Fat	9.8 g	7.4
Saturated Fat	1.4 g	1.1
Cholesterol	8 mg	0 mg
Sodium	209 mg	4 mg
Carbs	7 g	4.3 g
Fiber	0 g	3.4 g
Sugar	1.9 g	.3 g
Protein	.3 g	1 g
Calcium	4.1 g	6 mg
Potassium	2.6 g	243.7 mg

Source

Is Mayonnaise a Magnet for Salmonella?

FitSugar — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 03:00:00 PDT

There are bound to be barbecues a plenty this Fourth of July weekend. With this tainted tomato scare, I for one definitely have salmonella on my mind. I typically associate mayo with food poisoning, since people tend to leave this condiment, and the food it's added to, out for long periods of time.

I was relieved to read in the NY Times recently that mayo doesn't really deserve this bad rap. Since most commercialized mayo is made with vinegar or other ingredients that make it acidic, it's actually less likely to spoil. Phew! According to a study published in the Journal of Food Protection, mayo added to foods may even help to prevent food poisoning. The reason mayo may become contaminated is if it's not properly stored, if it's mixed with low-acid foods like seafood or chicken, or if the mayo is homemade.

Fit's Tips: If you plan on hitting a BBQ this weekend (or any other weekend for that matter), be sure the mayo hasn't been left out. Also, check the ingredients. Hellmann's, Best Foods, Miracle Whip, and Kraft all contain vinegar, so they're a better choice than homemade mayo when it comes to spoilage. Steer clear of pasta and potato salads containing mayonnaise that have been left out for more than two hours. If it's above 90° F, then one hour is the limit.

Source

A Breakdown of Tiny Tastes

FitSugar — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 10:15:00 PDT

I'm a huge fan of enhancing my meals with a little somethin' somethin'. A slice of cheese here, a pat of butter there, a smear of peanut butter on that. It's just a little bit, so it can't really affect my diet, right?

Well, if you're trying to lose weight, cutting calories is the way to do it. If you're always adding and sprinkling and smearing extras onto your food, well all those little things could start to add up. I'm not saying you need to ditch the little pleasures of life, like a dollop of mayo, but here's a breakdown so you can add them up for yourself. It's just good to be conscious of what they're worth, instead of just pretending that they don't mean much.

Want to see the random list of common tiny tastes? Then

	Serving Size	Calories	Fat (g)	Sodium (mg)	Carbs (g)	Protein (g)
Cheddar Cheese	1 slice (1 oz.)	114	9.4	176	.4	7.1
American Cheese	1 slice (1 oz.)	105	8.8	417	.4	6.2
Avocado	1/4 of the fruit	72	6.7	3.4	3.7	.9
Tomato	1 slice (1/4" thick)	4	.1	0	.9	.2
Cucumber	1/4 of whole, sliced	11.2	0	1.5	2.7	.5
Hummus	2 tbsp	54	2.6	72.6	6	1.4
Salt	1/4 tsp	0	0	581	0	0
Pepper	1/4 tsp	1.2	0	.2	.4	0
Heinz Ketchup	2 tbsp	30	0	380	8	0
Heinz Organic Ketchup	2 tbsp	35	0	355	8.8	0
Yellow Mustard	2 tbsp	6	.4	112	.8	.4
Grey Poupon Dijon Mustard and Country Mustard	2 tbsp	10	0	240	0	0
Beaver Honey Mustard	2 tbsp	30	0	90	4	0
Honey	1 tbsp	64	0	.8	17.3	.1
Peanut Butter (salted, chunky)	2 tbsp	188	15.9	150.4	6.7	8
Cream Cheese	2 tbsp	90	9	75	0
Salted Butter	1 pat	36	4.1	28.8	0	2
Balsamic Vinaigrette	2 tbsp	90	8	300	4	0
Ranch Dressing	2 tbsp	148	15.6	287	1.3	.4
Mayonnaise	2 tbsp	180	20	180	0	0
Bread and Butter Pickles	1 slice	6	0	54	1.5	.1
Sweet Pickle Relish	2 tbsp	39	.1	243	10.5	.1
Whipped Cream	2 tbsp	70	.7	60	.6	1.6
Chocolate Fudge Syrup	2 tbsp	133	3.4	132	24	1.7
Strawberry	1 large, sliced	6	.1	.2	1.4	.1

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A Cinco de Mayo Tablescape

Casa Community — Tue, 03 May 2011 10:25:00 PDT

Here's a post from YumSugar's Katie Sweeney from the Lovely Little Vignettes group:

I used blues and oranges to create a pretty table for a dinner party I hosted on Saturday. It was Cinco de Mayo-themed, so I wrote the menu in Spanish.

Continue reading to see the menu!

Have you been doing any decorating lately? Be sure to share photos of your own tablescapes in the Lovely Little Vignettes group!

What to Do For Cinco de Mayo If You're . . .

Tara Sharp — Thu, 05 May 2011 04:00:26 PDT

Happy Cinco de Mayo! It doesn't matter what your Facebook status says today, you can have a fiesta-filled evening with my tips for celebrating with friends, lovers, and family.

Single and Looking: Go stag or grab your best wing-lady and get yourself to the most popular local taco spot. Sit at the bar for maximum mingling while you enjoy margaritas and chips and salsa. Bonus points if there's a mariachi band and dancing!
In a Relationship: Have a romantic night in and cook up some delicious Mexican dishes, complete with homemade margaritas. You won't have to fight the crowds, and you could even entertain yourselves with other people's relationship drama by watching some telenovelas!
Hanging With the Girls: If you're looking to spend some quality time with your gal pals, you don't want to be shouting at each other in a packed Mexican restaurant. Instead, get the gang together and go somewhere that doesn't serve chips and salsa. My friends and I have gone out to sushi to celebrate, which can be way more fun than waiting in line for two hours.
Married and Need a Date Night: Desperately need to get out of the house and just do something? Don your most dramatic, sparkly dress and hit the Latin dance floor with your hubby! Research ahead of time restaurants and bars that have free salsa or tango lessons, and unleash your inner dancing queen.
Getting Over a Breakup: Have a party at your house so you're surrounding by supportive friends, and if the alcohol induces an emotional breakdown, you don't have to take a late-night cab alone. For added fun, tape a pic of your ex on a piñata and do some therapeutic bashing. And you never know if your friends will bring along some single hotties to help cure you from your breakup blues.

Celebrate With Cinco de Mayo Décor

Julia Walsh — Mon, 02 May 2011 14:30:00 PDT

Cinco de Mayo is fast approaching, and I can taste the tequila already! Whether you're hosting a fiesta - piñata and all - or you're keeping it low-key with chips and salsa, I've rounded up stylish Mexican-influenced home décor to help you celebrate the holiday year-round. One of my favorites is the Round Zig-Zag Planter ($86) from Talavera Vázquez, which will give your patio or indoor space festive Mexican charm. Light up your interiors with the Puebla Lantern ($100), which is crafted from hand-punched tin. Or add some Southwestern style with the Hand-Painted Talavera Longhorn ($169). Click the product images to shop the rest of this look!

6 Salsas For Cinco de Mayo

YumSugar — Mon, 02 May 2011 01:34:27 PDT

It's May 1, and you know what that means - Cinco de Mayo is almost here! We can't wait for everything from the tacos to the cocktails, but we're starting with the basics. No Cinco de Mayo celebration would be complete without a giant bowl of fresh salsa and a heaping pile of chips! Here are six salsa recipes to inspire you for the week.

Cherry Salsa	Pomegranate Mango	Pico de Gallo
Pineapple Salsa	Rick Bayless's Salsa	Basic Tomato Salsa

Name That Mexican Dish!

Mandy Harris — Wed, 04 May 2011 03:43:51 PDT

We can't wait to celebrate Cinco de Mayo tomorrow with everything from chili con queso to roast chicken tacos - and, of course, plenty of margaritas! But before you dig in to your fiesta, find out what you know about some of the more traditional dishes of Mexico. I'll give you the description, and you give me the dish. Ready? Buena suerte!

Source: Flickr User Emily Carlin

Take the Quiz

Happy Hour: Pineapple Margarita

Susannah Chen — Mon, 02 May 2011 13:41:05 PDT

I've always been a fan of flames, so the number one reason I love Cinco de Mayo is the fact that it's one heck of a great excuse to light my mouth on fire. Each year, I make something deliciously spicy and this year, I'm not positive, but I'm thinking I'll serve chiles rellenos.

One thing I'm sure of: there will be pineapple margaritas with a chili-salt rim. The spice is no joke; it hits you up front, but is tempered by a gentle fruitiness that's not too sweet. I love the sweet-salty-fiery complexity so much that I had multiples in one sitting. Want to do the same this May 5? Then read more.