Should You Avoid Carrageenan?


Updated 05/20/11 10:02 PM · Posted by FitSugar · 26 comments

Should You Avoid Carrageenan?

If you're a label reader, and let me tell you I sure am, you might have noticed carrageenan listed as one of the ingredients. When I first saw it listed on a Ben and Jerry's pint (yes, ice cream is OK when eaten in moderation), it brought up a couple of questions for me – What exactly is carrageenan and is it something I should avoid? Carrageenan is actually extracted from red seaweed, and the Read more

What in the World is Maltodextrin?


Updated 01/11/12 5:50 AM · Posted by FitSugar · 11 comments

What in the World is Maltodextrin?

You know I have become obsessed with reading labels, and since I keep coming across maltodextrin I decided to find out what it really is. Maltodextrin is an easily digestible carbohydrate made from rice, corn or potato starch. It's a white powder used in processed foods as a thickener, or a filler since it's fairly inexpensive. Also used in pharmaceuticals as a binding agent, it is also found Read more

Chick-a-Dee: A Smoke Detector For Design Fans


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Chick-a-Dee Offers Cool Smoke Alarm

During the New York International Gift Fair this past weekend, bloggers nominated their favorite products, with Evan Orensten from CoolHunting naming the Chick-a-Dee his personal favorite. Designed by artist Louise van der Veld, the Chick-a-Dee smoke detector was developed through a Dutch design contest that aimed to raise raise public awareness of fire hazards in and around the home. Fifty Read more

How to Get the Perfect Faux Flutter Every Time


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The Best False Eyelash Products

Celebrity makeup artist and Vanitymark Cosmetics founder Brett Freedman has been guest blogging on BellaSugar for the past two months, but alas, all good things must come to an end. Thank you for your amazing advice and top tips, Brett, and we look forward to seeing your work on red carpets everywhere! With that said, we're proud to present Brett's last column, for which we know you'll be all Read more

7 Popular Chowders Across the US


Updated 01/31/12 11:08 AM · Posted by YumSugar · 1 comment

Types of Chowder Soups

Traditionally, "chowder" is considered a catch-all word for a variety of seafood and vegetable soups, but several regions have their own spin on the classic dish. Here's a rundown of the most popular chowders across the US, from classic New England clam chowder to San Francisco's Cioppino fish stew. Boston — New England Clam Chowder: Made with chopped clams, potatoes, and onions, this classic Read more

7 Ideas to Save on Your Morning Coffee


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How to Save Money on Coffee

The Latte Factor is very real — the average American worker spends $1,092 on coffee, The Consumerist reports. Citing data from Accounting Principals' latest Workonomix survey, the site goes on to say that the average worker is apparently spending more than $20 a week on coffee. The amount is comparable to other expenses like commute, which were mentioned in the study. So how do we start saving Read more

6 Ways to Take Your Soup Up a Notch — Without Adding Actual Cream


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How to Make Soup Creamy

Clear-broth soups are delicious in their own right, but sometimes we just want something a little heartier and more indulgent. Cream-based soups are pretty simple to put together, but you can incorporate different elements — grains, lighter dairy products, or cruciferous vegetables — and end up with a delightfully creamy soup that doesn't actually contain a pint of cream. Add a cup of Read more

The Wide World of Wings: Salsa Verde


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Salsa Verde Chicken Wings Recipe

Wings are a game day mainstay, but before you grab that bottle of Frank's RedHot, consider a version or two that journey beyond buffalo. This week, we tread the less-beaten path through wing-dom with a look at five recipes that shed new light on our favorite chicken part. Today, our wings get a south of the border kick with tomatillo-based salsa verde. Taking a page from the popular Mexican dish Read more

Link Time: Nicole Richie Only Uses Three Beauty Products


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Beauty News For January 9, 2012

Nicole Richie only carries three beauty products — InStyle A smart, easy guide to hair color jargon — Glo Can curry thicken up your hair? — Stylelist Vitamin D's amazing skin benefits — Refinery 29 This new MAC lipstick is a soon-to-be classic — The Cut Five small makeovers with major impact — Beautylish Are you overdoing it with the hair products? — Real Simple Read more

Grillades and Grits: Get Your Brunch on!


Updated 01/05/12 3:29 PM · Posted by OnSugar Blog · 3 comments

Grillades and Grits Recipe

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 Read more