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Happy Hour: Mistletoe Mojito

partysugar — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 15:15:39 -0800

A great way to officially kick off the holiday season is to mix up a festive drink! How luscious is this Christmas cocktail? It features the flavors of a classic mojito - rum and mint - but contains a twist. Instead of being topped with soda water, Pomegranate 7UP is floated on top. The boring lime garnish is jazzed up with jewel-like pomegranate seeds. The final drink is visually stunning and dangerously delicious. To shake one up today, read more

Mistletoe Mojito
From 7 Up

1 oz. fresh lime juice
1 tbsp. superfine sugar
8 fresh mint leaves
2 oz. white rum
2 tsp. pomegranate seeds
4 oz. Pomegranate 7UP
1 mint sprig
1 lime wedge

In a highball glass, muddle lime juice, sugar and mint leaves until sugar is dissolved.
Add rum and pomegranate seeds.
Fill glass with ice and top with Pomegranate 7UP. Garnish with mint sprig and lime wedge. Enjoy.

Makes 1 mojito.

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Celebrate the Holidays with Pomegranate 7UP

YumSugar — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 10:03:11 -0700

If you're a fan of pomegranate flavored drinks - which is apparently one of the fastest growing beverage flavors - then you're going to want to get your hands on the latest 7UP flavor. To celebrate the upcoming holiday season, the folks at 7UP have created a new limited edition pomegranate flavor, which is a mixture of pomegranate flavor and the normal lemon-lime flavor. It is 100% natural flavors and, just like regular 7UP, is completely caffeine free. The limited edition flavor will only be availble until Jan. 31, 2008.

I'll give it a try, but as much as I love pomegranate, am I the only one who's a little tired of this trend?

Source

Come Party With Me: Impromptu Concert - Drinks

partysugar — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 13:13:13 -0700

What to drink at a concert after party? The answer is sublimely simple: whiskey! Before, and during the show, offer a variety of bottled beers, but afterwards celebrate a successful performance with something a little stronger. This is exactly what I did when I helped host a concert for the Spanish group Cargados Band. The beer supply was exhausted before the concert was over, so the crowd switched to sipping simple whiskey cocktails. Carmen at Ayesta served a variety of whiskeys - Jameson, J&B, Dyc, Chivas, Jack Daniels - straight up or with Coke or 7-UP. Don't forget to offer the option of still and sparkling water and tinto de verano for those who don't drink hard alcohol. For the whiskey recipes, read more

Whiskey & Coke
From Drinks Mixer

2 oz Whiskey of your choice
8-10 oz Coca-Cola

Pour whiskey into large glass filled with ice.
Add coca-cola to fill glass. Stir lightly.

Serves 1.

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Whiskey & 7Up
From About

2 oz Whiskey of your choice
8-10 oz 7Up

Pour whiskey into large glass filled with ice.
Add 7Up to fill glass. Stir lightly.

Serves 1.

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We Take the 7Up Taste Challenge

YumSugar — Tue, 15 May 2007 16:00:19 -0700

Do you remember the Diet 7Up Taste Challenge Kit I told you guys about a few weeks ago? Well mine arrived yesterday, and we decided to put our tastebuds to work immediately. When I opened the box I was greeted with 2 sets of instructions (I think this was a mistake), a coupon for a free 2-liter bottle of Diet 7Up, a can of the new Diet 7Up, a can of Sprite Zero and a ridiculously banged up can of Sierra Mist Free. The instructions said to refrigerate the sodas for at least an hour before tasting, but they arrived ice cold - the same temp as the sodas in the fridge - so we dove straight in. I thought that the Diet 7Up we had in the fridge was different, so I ended up throwing that into the mix as well.

I poured each drink into red party cups labeled A, B, C and D - set them out and let everyone taste. No one knew which was which (except me), so there would be no bias. Out of the ten people who participated, 5 liked A the best, 3 for C and 2 for D. To find out what was in each cup, read more

A was Sprite Zero, B was Sierra Mist and C & D were both Diet 7Up. The study itself was ridiculously flawed - I thought C & D were different types of 7Up, but really they were the same (although oddly, most people thought they tasted different) and the Sierra Mist was flat, flat, flat (that was probably since it arrived all banged up). Overall there was no real winner (although both PartySugar and I liked the Diet 7Up the best), and we learned some interesting things (including the fact that one person said she'd never drink D, only to find out that she drinks it all the time). We also had to wonder why, if given a choice, would you drink a soda with no caffeine and no sugar and very little taste? Why not just drink water or sparkling water instead?

If you didn't order a taste challenge kit in time, you can always set up your own. If you do, let us know what you think.

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Take the Diet 7Up Taste Test Challenge

YumSugar — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 07:59:32 -0700

Are you up for a challenge? The folks at 7UP think you are. They've recently reinvented Diet 7Up to make it "more refreshing" and with "less diet aftertaste" and are wondering what you'll think. In order for you to taste it for yourself, they're sending out Taste Challenge Kits that contain the new Diet 7UP and two "competing diet lemon lime soft drinks." The kits are free, but the promotion ends May 20, or while supplies last.

I put my order in and will let you know what I think when it arrives.

Source: Slashfood

7up

rhymeswithkenny — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 13:31:45 -0700

Taste Test: Dr Pepper Popsicles

YumSugar — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 09:00:09 -0700

A few weeks ago, San Francisco found itself in the middle of a big heat wave. Everyone at the Sugar HQ was melting to their desks and in need of a cool treat. That's when I remembered an impromptu purchase I'd made the week before.I was at the local drugstore and noticed a display of Soda Pops Freezer Pops at the front counter. They were like old-school Otter Pops, only in soda flavors: Orange Crush, Dr Pepper, 7-Up, and A&W Root Beer. I kind of have a thing for Dr Pepper, so I picked up a pack of those. At only $2 a box (10 pops in each box), I probably should have picked up one of each kind. But I didn't, and we only had the Dr Pepper to taste. So how did it taste? Find out when you read more.

The popsicle - that definitely hit the spot during the heat wave - was nice, cool, and icy. However, it was also too sweet, and didn't taste much like Dr Pepper. There was that weird fruity-prune flavor that Dr Pepper has, but it wasn't as successful as Dr Pepper flavored Jelly Bellys.

Overall, I don't think I'd buy them again. They were a fun distraction, and definitely worth the 20 cents per popsicle, yet they weren't that satisfying. Next time I'll pick up the Root Beer flavor and see how that goes.

How about you? Have you tried these Soda Pops? If so, what flavor, and what did you think?

What's Yummy This Week: YumSugar Weekly Recap

YumSugar — Sat, 05 May 2007 09:51:31 -0700

First things first, we got ourselves a slight redesign here at the Sugar Network. Hopefully you'll now be able to easily find some of the cool features (group recipes, member posts etc).
We introduced two ridiculously simple tips - one about cheese and one about soda straws.

This week we got ready to celebrate Cinco De Mayo, we've got a full party plan with invites, a full menu, a beer margarita, an agave nectar margarita, and a Mexican inspired dessert.
Speaking of Mexico, act fast, Mexican (aka real sugar) Coke has been spotted at Costco.
If Coke's not your thing, maybe 7UP is? If so, be sure to sign up to get a free 7UP Tasting Kit.
PartySugar took us behind the bash at the SF MOMA's Modern Ball. She also tried to take us behind the scenes at a local fashion show, but instead she learned things that a good host should not do.

Set your Tivos! Top Chef begins June 13 - I can't wait to see what the contestants are like.

This week I baked rosemary crackers, and contemplated pretzels or a luscious lemon cake. Next week I should do something that uses strawberries, as the season has officially begun.
Next time I go on a picnic, I'm definitely bringing these wines in a juice box container. I wonder if juice box containers made the list of top 10 food trends of 2007.

What's Yummy This Week - YumSugar Weekly Recap

YumSugar — Sat, 19 May 2007 07:58:32 -0700

Need to whip up some simple appetizers? Try out our super simple roasted garlic and dates stuffed with goat cheese.
Stressed about germs? Learn how you can get your kitchen sponges 99.9999% bacteria free.
For those of you that read food labels, you may be interested to hear that there is now such a thing as a healthy vending machine.
If you live near a Stop & Shop or Giant Food store, be sure to get your free ice cream today. Speaking of ice cream, Baskin Robbins was slapped with a consumer lawsuit for underpacking their pints.

This week we gave you everything you need in order to plan the perfect bachelorette party, including risque drinks and homemade or store bought invites.
Not interested in a bachelorette party? How about a simple bridal shower instead?
It's official, Gordon Ramsay is everywhere - several books, three television shows, and now a movie deal. The folks at PETA don't seem too happy about it.
Don't be afraid to take a chance, elegant madeleines look difficult, but even self-professed non-bakers can handle it.
If madeleines aren't your thing, why don't you try a coconut cream cake or a too easy to be true berry dessert?

Learn how to pick the perfect cherries, fix wilted lettuce, and what to do when you make too much sauce.
Can you taste the difference bewteen Diet 7Up and other lemonlime sodas? How about the difference between real and "fake" soy sauce?
Is Wendy's really the best fast-food restaurant? A new Zagat/Today Show survey thinks so.
And finally, we want to know:
- Do you share your food?
- What foods do you eat to keep things hot in the bedroom?
- Have you ever swallowed your gum?

Come Party With Me: Super Bowl Party - Drinks

partysugar — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 06:59:32 -0800

Super Bowl Sunday is just a few days away and slowly but surely I'm putting together my blowout bash. In order for me not to get overwhelmed when planning a party, I like to do it in little increments. The invitations one day, the menu the next, and so on and so forth until the entire fete is prepared. After the game and the food, the next essential piece of any Super Bowl party puzzle is the drinks. I went all out in the menu and will do the same with the drinks that I pair with my food. (Random side note that has nothing to do with drinks at all: maybe I'm a little excited from FabSugar's sexy week but isn't this pic of a football player's body HOT?) To see what I will be serving my guests while I cheer on the Chicago Bears, read more

Obviously an assortment of beers is a must. I plan on purchasing 3 different twelve packs: Heineken Light (for the gals who are watching their weight), Pacifico (to pair with the Mexican flavors that run through the dishes: chipotle, chili, nachos...), and Stella (for those who are beer snobs). To figure out how much beer you will need in relation to the number of guests who attend your fiesta, check out this handy dandy party drink calculator. Place the beer in a spot close to your tv and make sure to have several bottle openers on hand - it always seems they go missing at my parties pretty quickly! A silver bucket or a big plastic bin in your team's colors filled with ice will work perfectly.

If you want to serve wine as well as beer, pick American wines - afterall the Super Bowl is the ultimate American event. As California produces every nine out of ten American bottles of wine, look to your favorite wines from the Napa or Sonoma Valleys or the Southern regions around Los Angeles. Look for a Zinfandel with attitude, an easy-drinking Chardonnay, or a crispy, light Sauvignon Blanc.

I find that at parties guests are inclined to try one cocktail and then shift over to drinking wine or beer. Since this is the case, I'll have one super special cocktail for when my guests arrive. What says Super Bowl more than the Ultimate Margarita? You can serve it blended (but you'll have to make the mess with the blender during the game...), but I'll mix mine in a pitcher to prevent watering down the cocktail and then pour it over ice into a fun festive glass. If you are feeling like a dare devil and want to have some really outrageous drinks on hand for your overly excited guests, why not mix up a few cocktails with beer as the base? Here's a list of ways to jazz up your boring old bottle of beer:

Lager and lime: Add a dash of lime juice or lime cordial to a light lager.
Snakebite: Mix your favorite beer (usually a heavier beer, like stout, works well) half and half with cider.
Black Velvet: Mix stout and champagne, half and half.
Beer Bloody Mary: Mix beer and tomato juice, half and half. Add a dash of Tabasco and a dash of Worcestershire.
Red Eye: Add a shot of tomato juice to any ale or lager (this cocktail is also known as Tomato Beer or a Red Rooster). If you add a splash of Tabasco, the drink becomes a Ruddy Mary.
Liverpool kiss: Mix a dark beer with Cassis.
BeeSting: Dark beer and orange juice.
Skip and go naked: Combine beer, lemon juice and gin, with a dash of grenadine.
Broadway: Popular in Japan, mixing beer and cola is known as a Broadway
Caribbean Night: Beer and an ounce of coffee liqueur.
South Wind: Beer with a shot of melon liqueur.

Lastly be sure to have lots of water on hand (both sparkling and still) and an assortment of classic ballpark sodas: Coke, 7-Up, root beer, and Orange Crush. Got an amazing drink recipe that you will be mixing at your Super Bowl Party? Please tell me about it below! Next up on the game plan: winning decorations that are sure to score you a touchdown. Look for Come Party With Me tomorrow for the details.

Source: That's The Spirit