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Buzz Brainteaser

BuzzSugar — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 10:30:08 -0800

Welcome to Buzz Brainteaser, the trivia feature on BuzzSugar! Every weekday I'll test your knowledge about TV shows, music, and movies. If you enter in the correct answer, you win points! The song "Auld Lang Syne," often sung to ring in the New Year, originated in what country?

Healthy 2009: Beans and Cabbage

FitSugar — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 04:30:00 -0800

The new year represents a fresh start and we all look toward the future with hope. In the foods that folks traditionally eat on New Year's Day, health and prosperity come together in the form of beans and cabbage - two superfoods.

The circular shape of beans represents the cycle of a year ending as well as prosperity - the beans represent coins. Black-eyed peas are considered good luck in the South. Chickpeas are eaten on the first day of the new year in southern France and in Italy. In Japan, red beans are eaten on New Year's Day for prosperity. Beans are a great source of both protein and fiber. Low in fat and affordable, beans provide a good source of important minerals: calcium, iron, and potassium. Why not make a pot of veggie chili to ring in the new year.

Cabbage is eaten for prosperity, too. The leaves are considered to be representative of paper currency. Eating money will bring you money! Cabbage is most nutritionally prepared by steaming or sauteing, but not boiling since the leaves can lose up to 90 percent of their healthy antioxidants when cooked in water. Cabbage is high in vitamins K and C, the mineral magnesium, and even a little bit of omega-3 fatty acids. Plus, it is great for cleansing your liver, which might feel a little taxed today after last night's party.

Add these two lucky and healthy foods to your diet in the new year. Even if it isn't today, you can't go wrong with beans and cabbage.

What do you eat on New Year's Day? Tell me in the comment section below.

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The Anatomy of a Hangover

FitSugar — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 03:00:00 -0800

It happens to all of us at some time or another but maybe to more of us on New Year's Eve. We drink too much and then we pay for it the next day. Are you hung up by your hangover?

Let me take a moment to explain what that excess of alcohol does to your body once the party is over:

Your throat and mouth are dry due to dehydration, which is caused by the diuretic properties of alcohol. The dehydration also affects your muscles, making them feel weak. So drink up! And I don't mean booze. Keep yourself well hydrated today to fight last night's excesses.
The excessive alcohol also irritates the lining of the stomach, causing nausea and sour stomach. The inflammation delays digestion, which in turn contributes to the feelings of nausea.
Your liver gets backed up trying to metabolize all the alcohol, so you might be experiencing symptoms of hypoglycemia, meaning you are highly irritable and moody. Some folks end up feeling ravenously hungry after a night of partying due to whacked out blood sugar levels too. If you can eat, you should eat.

Unfortunately, there are a few more symptoms of a hangover. To learn those, if you are not already experiencing them, read more.

Your central nervous system becomes chemically overexcited, causing sensitivity to light, sound, and touch.
Blood vessels in the brain dilate, and that is what is causing that throbbing headache, which is only exacerbated by your dehydration mentioned above.
Your pituitary gland becomes confused and releases the wrong amounts of the hormones that regulate sleep. So while you may want to sleep it off, your sleep pattern is severely disrupted.

On the bright side of things, it is not clear whether hangovers affect cognitive abilities. But fear not, the aftereffects of your partying should only linger about for about 24 hours. Tomorrow is another day and it is a fresh new year too. Here are some recovery tips if you need them.

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Healthy Start to 2009: Hash Brown Strata

FitSugar — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 08:00:00 -0800

Since having kids, my New Year's Eve celebrations have become considerably toned down. Although I do manage to stay up until midnight. Instead of partying all night, I host a New Year's Day brunch followed by a hike. You know me and fitness!

Every year I make a strata, a kind of savory bread pudding with eggs. This year, I decided to try a new, healthier recipe (read no heavy cream) in an attempt to begin 2009 on the right foot. The new recipe is more like an egg bake, since you use hash browns rather than eggs. This recipe was super easy to make and is a complete meal, with protein, carbs, and some veggies. When I can fit broccoli into a meal before noon, I feel quite accomplished.

To see the recipe, just read more.

Hash Brown Strata
Every Day Health

Ingredients

cooking spray
2 cups hash brown potatoes with peppers and onion, frozen
1 cup broccoli
3 ounce Canadian bacon, chopped into 1/4 inch squares
1/3 cup fat-free evaporated milk
2 tablespoon flour, all-purpose
2 cups of egg substitute
1/2 cup reduced-fat cheddar cheese
1 tablespoon fresh basil, finely chopped
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/8 teaspoon salt

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat a 2-quart square baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Spread hash brown potatoes and broccoli evenly in bottom of prepared baking dish; top with Canadian bacon. Set aside.
In a medium bowl, gradually stir milk into flour. Stir in egg product, half of the cheese, the basil, black pepper, and salt. Pour egg mixture over vegetables.
Bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.

Serves 6
Calories: 162
Saturated Fat: 2g
Sodium: 477mg
Dietary Fiber: 1g
Total Fat: 5g
Carbs: 15g
Sugars: 1g
Cholesterol: 17mg
Protein: 15g

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Pair this strata with a large fruit salad, coffee, and mimosas, and your brunch will be lovely and healthy. Happy New Year!

7 Lucky Black-Eyed Pea Dishes

YumSugar — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 05:30:15 -0800

Blackeyeds, as they're affectionately called, originally hail from Africa, but it's hard to imagine that these pale-colored beans with prominent black spots aren't native to the Southeastern United States. That's because Southerners have lovingly eaten them for centuries on New Year's Day, when they're customarily devoured in order to bring good luck and prosperous fortune in the year to come. Here are some of our favorite recipes, both traditional and contemporary.

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Indulge One Last Time With Honey Sticky Buns

YumSugar — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 16:00:19 -0800

The holidays are a time for serious indulgence, and I like to end my indulgence on a sweet note before I worry about all those pesky New Year's resolutions. If you're hosting a happy New Year brunch or just want to have a few friends over for breakfast, bake up a batch of these honey-drizzled sticky buns. Made with cool-rise dough filled with brown sugar, cinnamon, raisins, and pecans, these sweet treats will decadently conclude your holiday celebrations and start 2009 on a high note.

My mom whipped up the recipe, which comes from a family friend, as a Christmas morning treat, so if you can't stand to eat another bite this holiday season, just bookmark it for next year. (It would make a great edible gift.) To get the instructions, read more.

Honey Sticky Buns With Sweet Cool-Rise Dough
From Bonnie Smith

Ingredients

For buns
2 packages yeast
2/3 cup warm water
1 cup warm milk
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter, melted
2 eggs
6 cups flour
For Filling
1 cup brown sugar
2/3 cup raisins
2/3 cup chopped pecans
2 teaspoons cinnamon
For topping
1 cup honey
1/2 cup butter, melted

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Hold a bowl under running hot water until it is warm. In this warm bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water.
Combine warm yeast mixture with 1 cup warm milk, 1/2 cup sugar, 1 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 cup butter, 2 eggs, and 3 cups flour. Beat at medium speed for two minutes.
On a floured surface, combine dough mixture with remaining 3 cups of flour and knead to incorporate for 8 minutes.
Cover with plastic wrap or a towel and let dough rest for 20 minutes.
Roll the dough into a 32-inch-by-8-inch rectangle, 1/4 of an inch thick. Brush with 1/4 cup melted butter.
In a bowl, combine 1 cup brown sugar, 2/3 cup raisins, 2/3 cup pecans, and 2 teaspoons cinnamon.
Butter two 8-inch-by-8-inch pans, then sprinkle 1/4 of the raisin/pecan mixture on the bottom of the pans, dividing the 1/4 cup evenly between the pans.
Sprinkle the remaining raisin/pecan mixture onto the buttered dough. Roll up the dough and slice into 1-inch pieces.
Leaving enough room in the pan for rising, arrange the rolls side-by-side in the pans, spirals facing up. Wrap in plastic wrap, and place in fridge or freezer for 15 to 30 minutes.
Bake for 10 minutes.
In a bowl, combine 1 cup of honey and 1/2 cup melted butter.
Remove sticky buns from oven and cover with honey and butter mixture. Return to oven for another 10 to 15 minutes or until the buns are golden brown and sound hollow when thumped.
Cool in pan, invert, and serve.

Makes about 18 buns.

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Buzz In: Your Entertainment Hopes for 2008

BuzzSugar — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 13:00:25 -0800

Happy New Year! As we ring in 2008, I'm leaving the Best of 2007 behind me and turning my attention to what movies, music, television shows, and books I'm most looking forward to in the new year. Over the coming days, I'll be sharing some of my thoughts on the most anticipated events of '08.

But first, I'm wondering: What are you most looking forward to, entertainment-wise, for this new year? What actors and actresses would you like to see get better jobs? Which movies do you hope will be hits (or flops)? And which TV shows do you think should get recognition while others fade away?

Here are a few of mine to get you started: I'm looking forward to the end (I hope) of the Hollywood writers' strike, the forthcoming premieres of Lipstick Jungle and Cashmere Mafia, the new crop of films at the Sundance Film Festival, and the May release of the big-screen Sex and the City.

Your turn! What are your biggest entertainment hopes and dreams for 2008?

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Buzz Brainteaser

BuzzSugar — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 10:30:00 -0800

Welcome to Buzz Brainteaser, the trivia feature on BuzzSugar! Every weekday I'll test your knowledge about TV shows, music, and movies. If you enter in the correct answer, you win points! Happy New Year!
Fill in the blank from Ross's resolution in the fifth season New Year's Eve episode of Friends:
"I'm gonna go out on a limb and say no _____ in '99!"

Hello 2008! Hello Hangover?

partysugar — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 03:08:19 -0800

Happy New Year! If you are feeling a little hungover today, I suggest you eat greasy foods, drink lots of water, and take my quiz. It's full of fun facts about hangovers and New Year's. So what are you waiting for? Get started!

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Take the quiz

Happy New Year!

YumSugar — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 01:00:00 -0800

I wish you and your loved ones the best for 2008! Here's to a year full of great recipes, good eats and festive parties!

Last year I resolved - and somehow managed - to bake something every week. This year I'm resolving to try one new recipe each week. My "To Make" folder is getting quite full and it's time to clean it out! How about you, do you have any New Year's resolutions? Perhaps you're hoping to host a party every season, or maybe you're going to try a new restaurant each month? Whatever it is, we can't wait to hear them. Inspire us all with your resolutions, just post them in the comments section below!

Happy New Year! Hope you had a fantastic celebration!

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