FitSugar

Come Party With Me: Anniversary - Drinks

partysugar — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 12:50:40 -0700

There is one detail of my parents' 1976 wedding that I have always been fascinated by. No, it wasn't the fact that my mom's dress was too big or that my dad was upset when she smashed carrot cake into his face. It is the Champagne fountain that mesmerizes me. A neverending, flowing waterfall of bubbly, fizzy celebratory golden liquid - how wildly glamorous! While I considered renting a fountain for their upcoming anniversary party, I have decided instead to simply serve a Champagne cocktail. As much as I wanted to recreate the moment, the event is a casual barbecue, and a fountain of glistening Champagne just didn't seem to fit. The cocktail is a mixture of sparkling wine, strawberry liqueur, and lemon juice and was originally created in the '70s.

I'll also offer guests a selection of chilled beers, water, and white wine. To check out the recipe, read more.

Lemon Champagne
From Gourmet

Ingredients

1/2 cup sugar cubes
2 lemons, peeled and juiced
1 cup strawberry flavored brandy or fraises des bois liqueur
2 bottles chilled Champagne

Directions

Rub the sugar cubes against the lemon peels until the cubes are yellow.
In a blender or food processor fitted with the steel blade, blend the yellowed sugar with the lemon juice.
In a large pitcher set in ice, combine the mixture with the strawberry-flavored brandy or fraises des bois liqueur. Pour in the Champagne and divide the mixture among 8 Champagne glasses, chilled. Garnish each drink with a strawberry.

Makes 8 drinks.

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Count on Classic Strawberry Shortcake to Sweeten Your Day

YumSugar — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 16:15:01 -0700

If you asked me to choose between blackberries, blueberries, tayberries, raspberries, or any other type of berry, it'd be virtually impossible for me to pick just one, for I simply love them all. But, perhaps because I grew up eating them as a child, when it comes to dessert cravings, I tend to gravitate toward sweets that feature strawberries.

One evening, I had an intense craving for strawberry shortcake. I'm not referring to the sponge cake variety with layers - although I love that, too - but rather the classic version with macerated berries and whipped cream sandwiched between flaky, buttery shortcake. Since this type is surprisingly unavailable in restaurants (I've only been able to locate it at the Cheesecake Factory and Whole Foods), I made my own. The end result? Well, it was far more satisfying than anything I could've bought. Find out for yourself

What Is Your Favorite Kind of Berry?

partysugar — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 10:15:15 -0700

Snack Attack: Almond Berry Banana Yogurt Smoothie

FitSugar — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 08:00:44 -0700

Strawberries and blueberries are in season now, so stock up and use them to make this delicious yogurt smoothie. The fruit adds natural sweetness, and the Greek yogurt makes it rich and creamy. I like to add almonds to my smoothies because not only do they add fiber and protein, but they give the smoothie an interesting slightly crunchy texture.

A 16-ounce glass contains about 300 calories so it makes a tasty treat to enjoy for breakfast or a pre- or post-workout snack. To learn how to make this simple recipe and see the rest of the nutritional information, keep reading

Party Fabulous: Simple Strawberry-Mint Glass Garnish

partysugar — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 10:15:09 -0700

For the past two and a half years, I've complained about everything from a lack of utensils to an unfriendly hostess in my regular column called, Party Foul. Well, guess what? I don't just want to focus on the bad. Parties are supposed to be fun, so it's high time I introduce a new feature, Party Fabulous, that highlights haute hostesses and chic party ideas. Take this simple, but pretty garnish, for example. While I've seen plenty of champagne flutes topped with strawberries, I've never seen a heart-shaped strawberry with mint-leaf garnish. I found this lovely detail at a recent bachelorette party. Here's how to re-create it at home:

Stem and hull the strawberry.
Turn the berry over and run the knife though the bottom so it can be placed on top of a glass (be careful not to cut the berry all the way in half).
Take two small mint leaves and place inside the hole. Slide onto a glass. Voila!

Can you imagine how gorgeous a tray of strawberry-topped glasses will look at the entrance of a party? Do you have a fabulous tip for a party? Share your experiences below.

Celebrate the 4th With Red, White, or Blue Recipes

partysugar — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 05:50:20 -0700

The 4th of July is this weekend, and that means it's time to get festive! Show your patriotic pride by cooking with red, white, and blue ingredients. Many of the season's most delicious offerings - strawberries, vanilla ice cream, and blueberries - fit the color scheme, so don't be afraid to get creative. Here are 10 dishes to inspire your all-American celebration.

View Slideshow ›

Healthy Recipe: Strawberry Balsamic Vinaigrette

FitSugar — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 03:30:00 -0700

Why not take advantage of the season's fresh strawberries and make this fruity salad dressing? It's refreshing and tangy - just the perfect topping to fresh greens from the garden. Since Japanese research shows that vinegar turns on genes that help fight fat, it's even more reason to make this incredibly easy salad dressing.

To learn how, read more.

Healthy Recipe: Strawberry Balsamic Vinaigrette
adapted from AllRecipes.com

Ingredients

1/2 pint fresh strawberries, halved
1 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon dried tarragon
1/4 teaspoon honey

Directions

Place strawberries, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, pepper, tarragon, and honey in a blender or food processor.
Blend until smooth. Drizzle on your salad and store the rest in a sealed container in the fridge.

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Noteworthy Nibbles - June 23-30, 2009

YumSugar — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 14:00:13 -0700

It's almost July, and the palatable parties just keep coming. If you're a wine enthusiast, head over to Pinot Days or the Telluride Wine Festival. Beer more your thing? Throw back some sake bombs at the Beer & Sake Festival, or hit up the Colorado Brewfest. Here in Fog City, the Best of the Bay looks to be one heck of a soirée. What happenings are you hitting up?

If you know of anything that's been left off the list, please go ahead and chime in below!

Sedona, AZ: Dine in Sedona Restaurant Fest - June 23-30
Hampton, SC: Hampton County Watermelon Festival - June 23-28
Gettysburg, PA: Gettysburg Festival - June 23-28
Portsmouth, NH: Taste of the Nation Portsmouth - June 24
London, OH: London Strawberry Festival - June 24-27
San Francisco, CA: Pinot Days - June 24-28
Wisconsin Rapids, WI: Cranberry Blossom Festival - June 24-28
San Diego, CA: Beer & Sake Festival - June 25
Milwaukee, WI: The 2009 Big Taste - June 25
San Francisco, CA: Best of the Bay - June 25
Ft. Lauderdale, FL: Taste of the Nation South Florida - June 25

To see the rest, read more.

Cedar Rapids, IA: Cedar Rapids BBQ Roundup _ June 25-28
Telluride, CO: Telluride Wine Festival - June 25-28
Luling, TX: Luling Watermelon Thump - June 25-28
Cleveland, OH: Cleveland Wine Festival - June 26-27
Emerson, AR: Purple Hull Pea Festival - June 26-27
Chipley, FL: Panhandle Watermelon Festival - June 26-27
Tacoma, WA: Taste of Tacoma - June 26-28
Long Grove, IL: Long Grove Strawberry Festival - June 26-28
Burlington, VT: Green Mountain Chew Chew Food & Music Fest - June 26-28
Chicago, IL: Taste of Chicago - June 26-July 5
Honolulu, HI: Slow Food's Honolulu Fish Auction Tour - June 27
Washington DC: National Capital Barbecue Battle - June 27-28
Fort Collins, CO: Colorado Brewfest - June 27-28
Pennington, NJ: East Coast Food & Wine Festival - June 27-28
New York, NY: Summer Rosé Celebration With Ariane Duarte - June 29

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Noteworthy Nibbles - June 16-23, 2009

YumSugar — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 14:30:47 -0700

This weekend doesn't just mark Juneteenth and Father's Day. It's also packed with events that honor all of the pleasures of Summer, from peaches, blueberries, and watermelon to ribs, RC cola, and moon pies. But that's not all: this Friday marks the acclaimed Aspen Food & Wine Classic, which we're so excited to be returning to this year. Stay tuned!

Know of any important food events we've left out this week? Feel free to chime in below!

Sedona, AZ: Dine in Sedona Restaurant Fest - June 16-30
Clarksville, AR: Johnson County Arkansas Peach Festival - June 16-21
St. Helena, CA: StarChefs Rising Stars Napa & Sonoma - June 17
Emmett, ID: Emmett Cherry Festival - June 17-20
Portland, ME: Taste of the Nation Portland - June 18
Oakland, CA: National Homebrewers Conference - June 18-20
Fort Wayne, IN: BBQ Ribfest 2009 - June 18-21
Gettysburg, PA: Gettysburg Festival - June 18-28
Dallas, TX: Food For Thought Dallas - June 19
Crewe, VA: Virginia Chicken Festival - June 19
Owego, NY: Owego Strawberry Festival - June 19-20
Rotan, TX: Juneteenth Enrichment Festival - June 19-20
Boston, MA: American Craft Beer Festival - June 19-20
Aspen, CO: Aspen Food & Wine Classic - June 19-21

To see the rest, read more.

Stowe, VT: Stowe Wine & Food Classic - June 19-21
Glenwood Springs, CO: Strawberry Days Festival - June 19-21
Champaign, IL: Taste of Champaign Urbana - June 19-21
Clayton, NY: The Great New York State Food & Wine Festival - June 19-21
Flagstaff, AZ: Made in the Shade Beer Tasting - June 20
Brewton, AL: Alabama Blueberry Festival - June 20
Burgaw, NC: North Carolina Blueberry Festival - June 20
Bell Buckle, TN: RC & Moon Pie Festival - June 20
Martinez, CA: King of the County BBQ Challenge - June 20-21
Hampton, SC: Hampton County Watermelon Festival - June 20-28
Boise, ID: Savor Idaho - June 21

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Happy Hour: Samuel Smith Strawberry Ale

YumSugar — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 14:00:32 -0700

While selecting in-season strawberries at Whole Foods the other day, an unfamiliar brewski, Samuel Smith Strawberry Ale, caught my eye. Since I was surrounded by the delicate aroma of ripe berries, I couldn't resist picking up a bottle.

I was curious about the unfamiliar label, and couldn't wait to give Samuel Smith's signature strawberry beer a taste. Brewed in Stamford, England, this certified organic ale, which is made with fresh strawberry juice, only became available stateside this year. The ale has a floral, jammy bouquet that brought me right back to sniffing strawberries at the market and notes of caramel and malt to finish. It was so refreshing that I drained the hefty-sized bottle, then proceeded to trek out and pick up a fresh one.

At $5.99 for 550 ml, this seasonal sip has become my favorite nightcap so far this Summer. Have you ever tried strawberry beer?