orange juice

Last month Tropicana debuted a clean new look to emphasize the all-natural, fresh squeezed juice. However, due to an overwhelming amount of customer outrage, the company is abandoning the changes and returning to the old packaging. Many loyal Tropicana fans were disgusted by the brand's redesigned logo — which features a glass of orange juice against a white backdrop, instead of the familiar orange with a straw poking out the side — calling it ugly, stupid, and generic-looking. According to Neil Campbell, the President of Tropicana North America, the company was unaware of its fiercely loyal consumers:

We underestimated the deep emotional bond [of the brand's original logo]. What we didn't get was the passion this very loyal small group of consumers have. That wasn't something that came out in the research. Those consumers are very important to us, so we responded.

The reaction will be quick: Tropicana plans to discontinue the redesigned packaging immediately and have the old image back on the carton by next month. The juice giant isn't the only brand to update its logo; Pepsi, Snapple, and Heinz have recently revamped their trademark images. Only time will tell if these companies fare better with consumer support than Tropicana did.

Did you notice the new Tropicana packaging? How do you feel about the controversy?

Recent studies have shown that Americans love their sugar a little too much. Eating more than our fair share of the sweet stuff can lead to a sour weight-gaining situation, so it's important that we're conscious of the sugar in our daily diets.

Even if you've sworn off soda, it's very possible that you're consuming more sugar than you're aware of throughout the day. In an interview with The New York Times, Dr. Barry M. Popkin, author of The World Is Fat, gave a simple example of how easy it is to make sweet substitutes to cut back on sugar intake. He said, "An eight-ounce glass of juice from oranges, apples or grapes has about five to eight teaspoons of sugar. Calorically and nutritionally, it’s much better to eat the fruit."

Dr. Popkin made another powerful point — he said that it takes almost a pound of oranges to make eight ounces of orange juice. Next time you're headed for the OJ at the grocery store, consider taking a u-turn back to the produce section for a more satisfying and healthier sweet snack.

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I love brunch and even more so, I love brunch cocktails! This past weekend, my great uncle taught me how to make his effervescent, tangy, and delicious gin fizz.

There are many different types of gin fizzes. The simplest version combines gin, lemon juice, sugar, and carbonated water. The Ramos Gin Fizz, a New Orleans classic, dates back to 1888, and jazzes up the recipe by adding lime juice, cream, orange flower water, and egg white.

My great uncle has perfected his variation to include gin, sugar, cream, lime juice, orange juice, soda water, ice, and one whole egg. The egg made me a little nervous, but it adds a fabulous texture and frothiness to the blended drink. If you don't want to use raw eggs, substitute powdered egg white.

To add a little fizz to your weekend brunch, read more

This past weekend might have been the last seriously warm Saturday of the year. To celebrate, I mixed myself a fruity refreshment.

The Buzzy Navel, as it's called, is closely related to a perennial favorite, the Fuzzy Navel. The primary distinction? It includes a surprise element of beer, which alters the taste of the cocktail, mellowing out the hot flavors of hard liquor and adding a lingering, malty finish.

When I mixed my Buzzy Navel, I tweaked the recipe to my own liking, adding an extra 1/3 ounce of beer and omitting the ice. You can do the same when you read more

Sunny weekends in San Francisco are hard to come by. When I awoke last Saturday to clear-blue skies, I headed over to Bar Bambino, an Italian nook in the city with a new back patio.

There, I enjoyed the perfect warm-weather drink: a spin on sangria that was refreshing and fruity without being overly cloying or too heavy on the alcohol. With one in hand, I imagined I was an effortlessly chic Italian woman. I snagged the recipe for the next real Summer day.

The cocktail calls for white wine (I'd recommend a Sauvignon Blanc, or any other dry white with mineral notes) as well as orange bitters, which can be found at large liquor stores. For the recipe, read more

The other day, a friend asked me what were the standard proportions for making a mimosa. While I pour mine with 3/4 Champagne and 1/4 orange juice, I wasn't sure if that was the normal ratio. I asked her to wait a second while I checked YumSugar.com. I went looking for our mimosa recipe and was shocked to see that we've never written about a mimosa before! How this classic brunch cocktail slipped through the cracks is beyond me — I enjoy mimosas on a weekly basis! For the best mimosas, use fresh squeezed orange juice and a cheap but good sparkling wine.

To look at the recipe, read more

To me, the screwdriver is a pretty boring drink. Vodka mixed with orange juice is plain, unoriginal, and dull. However with a little innovation, it can be turned into a deliciously complex concoction. The mixologists over at Chicago's Mexx Kitchen at The Whiskey have done just that with their Clementine Crush. Sugar, ginger, and tonic transform the screwdriver into a whole new drink. This cocktail is great at happy hour, and makes a wonderful addition to any brunch menu. If you can, use fresh squeezed orange juice as it makes a huge difference in the flavor. To get the recipe, read more

Easter is all about the brunch. If you go out or stay in here is a little reference guide for a variety of drinks that often accompany any brunch from fresh squeezed fruit juice to the classic Bloody Mary (which is not really the best way to get your lycopene, but might be the most fun).

To check out the list, just read more