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Cut the Cost: Use Petals Instead of Flowers

partysugar — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 14:28:31 -0800

A great way to reduce the cost of flowers at a party is to use day-old rose petals instead of fresh-cut roses. At a recent event at Carrots, the hostess filled oversized martini glasses with deep red rose petals. The petals were scattered on tables between candles and used as garnish in the pomegranate martini.

I talked to a local florist and a grocery bag filled with day-old rose petals costs $30-40, much less than the fresh cut flowers. If your florist doesn't have day-old roses, purchase cheap roses from Safeway or Trader Joe's. Usually you can get a dozen roses for under $10, but you'll have to take them apart yourself. If that doesn't fit into your budget, silk rose petals are super cheap at a craft store.

Cut The Cost: Fall Party Centerpieces

partysugar — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 10:11:49 -0700

If you are planning a party, you may run the risk of spending a lot of money. Flowers, while beautiful and fragrant, often cost a large amount of your party budget. Cut the cost by cutting the flowers. Fall is a great time to use other ingredients in the decor:

Create tonal arrangements using fruit. Fill a bowl with red apples, purple grapes, and burgundy pears. Or do the same arrangement with green apples, emerald grapes, and yellow pears.
Fill a large glass vase (you can find them at Michaels for super cheap) with dried, collected leaves. Place a large white pillar candle on the pillow of leaves.
Purchase potted plants. Pansies can handle frost and come at very low prices. The day after the party, plant the flowers in your garden.

Don't underestimate the power of pumpkins! Purchase several pumpkins in various shapes, sizes, and colors and place them in the center of your table or along your mantle. Use small ones to fill large glass containers.
Crowd bowls with nuts in the shell. Walnuts, pecans, and almonds look festive when placed at varying heights on a table in bright glass bowls.

Got a great idea on how to create a gorgeous look without flowers? Please share it with us below!!

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This Football Season, It'll Be Harder to Score Chicken Wings

YumSugar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:50:34 -0800

St. Louis Rams fans: if you think a winning touchdown has been impossible this season, just wait until you try to score some buffalo chicken wings.

Wing demand is on the rise, but due to this year's waning need for chicken breast, poultry producers have cut chicken production for the first time in 36 years. Broiler chicken production is forecast to be down 3.5 percent this year - and, with only two wings per chicken, wholesale wing costs are poised to increase dramatically.

So, much like Super Bowl Sunday last year, on game day other spicy chicken dishes will just have to fly. Since what I really want to eat is buffalo chicken cheese dip, that's fine with me. Will you miss this year's wings? Or are you willing to pay a higher price for them?

Coming Soon: Apples That Don't Rot?

YumSugar — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 04:00:03 -0800

Can you imagine leaving a piece of fruit in the crisper and being able to take a bite out of it after four months? That's the idea behind a new variety of apple that's being tweaked by researchers at Queensland Primary Industries. The RS103-130, as it's called, can stay fresh for at least 14 days without refrigeration, and keep in a refrigerator for four months.

Scientists are touting many benefits behind the fruit's longevity, which comes from incorporating a gene from a black-spot resistant apple. For one, the RS103-130 requires less fungicides; it would also need less cold storage, cutting down on energy costs.

As far as the most important factor - taste - is concerned, developers say the fruit is very sweet, and has come out on top in preliminary taste tests. Does the RS103-130 apple sound convenient, creepy, or both?

6 Ways to Cut Libation Costs at Your Wedding

YumSugar — Fri, 15 May 2009 05:50:06 -0700

Regardless of your budget, it's inevitable that this year's recession woes will impact your wedding. Still, you shouldn't let a tight spending plan stop you from celebrating one of the biggest days of your life. There are many areas where you can cut costs, but one easy place to start is with drinks. Here are some cost-cutting beverage tips that won't spoil your wedding bash. Source

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Food Section Sampler - Sept. 23, 2009

YumSugar — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 11:30:44 -0700

Turns out the rest of the world has taken a liking to the American cupcake trend. - New York Times
Seemingly slight factors - not the economy - may be to blame for the bulk of this year's restaurant closures. - Boston Globe
Is food art? The debate continues. - Washington Post
Learn how to buy, boil, and eat a lobster. - Chicago Tribune
Why Sept. 11 led one Wall Street trader to become a waiter. - Wall Street Journal
The USDA is rolling out a new initiative to promote local food. - San Francisco Chronicle
To cut costs, Whole Foods may stop accepting checks. - Los Angeles Times

Source: Flickr User ginnerobot

College Cafeterias Are Going Trayless

partysugar — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 06:50:11 -0700

In an attempt to cut costs and be more eco-chic, many college campuses have gotten rid of cafeteria trays. Instead, students are being forced to carry their meals on plates. The trayless cafeterias are seeing up to a 30 percent decrease in food waste, and with no trays to wash, the use of energy and water is reduced as well.

While school officials whole-heartedly embrace the change, many students are not happy. They dislike not being able to carry everything at once and are more inclined to spill.

I'm all for the discontinuation of cafeteria trays, not only because it helps the environment, but because it probably also causes students to eat less. Say good-bye to serving trays and say good-bye to the freshman 15! How do you feel about the trend?

Gail Simmons on Eco-Friendly Weddings

partysugar — Fri, 29 May 2009 08:00:41 -0700

Last week when I spoke with Gail Simmons about weddings, I was blown away by her inspirational ideas. Although she may not come across as a green goddess when she's judging Top Chef, she's actually very eco-conscious. Having an environmentally friendly wedding was very important to her and her now-husband, Jeremy. To find out her suggestions for throwing an eco-chic event, read more.

Send a save the date email. Instead of sending formal save the date cards, Gail chose to save paper. She let her loved ones know when and where her wedding would take place through a short, but sweet email.
Cut back on the invite. Gail examined every aspect of the invite and asked herself where she could use less paper. "I've never understood why wedding invites come with two envelopes. What is that second envelope for? Why is it necessary?" She ditched the extra envelope and sent information on hotels and lodging to only out-of-town guests.
Use recycled paper. This is a no-brainer! Gail printed all of her wedding stationary on regular sized, 100-percent recycled paper.
Don't waste the flowers. "Flowers are such a big thing, but they are wasteful. They cost so much money, are on a table for a couple of hours, and then what?" Gail came up with a clever way to lengthen the life of her wedding flowers. While she and her guests were dancing the night away, her wedding planner gathered the vases and wrapped each bouquet in craft paper. When her friends and family left the wedding, they were given a bouquet of fresh flowers to take home!
Give an eco favor. Gail's wedding favor was a reusable farmers market tote bag. "My friends still use them to this day."

Did you go green at your wedding? Share your stylish eco-tips with us below!

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What's Yummy This Week - YumSugar Weekly Recap

YumSugar — Sat, 16 May 2009 09:30:53 -0700

Delightful pico de gallo tastes great in tacos, atop grilled steak, or folded into couscous.
Test your ingredient knowledge of classic cocktails.
Party plans a Mediterranean-inspired belly dancing bachelorette.
A sneak peek at San Francisco's unique dining experience, Mission Street Food.
Frank Bruni, the New York Times's restaurant critic, is stepping down.
Six ways to cut libation costs when planning your wedding.
Learn the real reason onions make you cry.

Traci Des Jardins on Being a More Savvy Home Cook

partysugar — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 10:15:59 -0700

I had the chance to speak with one of San Francisco's most prominent female chefs, Traci Des Jardins. You may be familiar with her, thanks to an appearance on the Food Network's Next Iron Chef competition. Now Des Jardins is happy to be out of the spotlight, "I don't like being that recognizable," and back in the kitchen. Her elegant eatery, Jardiniere, recently launched a Monday night themed price-fixe dinner and she's working on a signature restaurant at Tahoe's NorthStar resort, which will be mountainesque with a casual feel (think wood tables), great service, and sophisticated food.

Des Jardins believes the key to restaurant success during a tough economy is to "control costs and be really financially savvy." We talked about how this concept can translate to the everyday kitchen. To find out what she had to say and check out her advice for being a better home cook, read more.

According to Des Jardins, being a clever cook is not about having the latest gadgets. It's about properly stocking your kitchen with the components to make a meal. Items she recommends having on hand are salt, olive oil, capers, anchovies, and tomato sauce. Here are her tips for being a more practical home chef:

Go to smaller farmers markets and speak with the farmers. You don't always have to purchase organic to get fruit and vegetables that are pesticide free.
Go to the farmers market when it's closing down. You'll see more deals that way. None of the farmers want to carry their produce home with them, so they may be willing to bargain or cut costs.
Select lesser cuts of meat and consume less meat. In general, vegetarian cooking is cheaper.
Cook your kids' favorite foods in batches and freeze them.
Skip the boxed macaroni and cheese and Stove Top stuffing and stock your pantry instead, with the fixings for burritos (tortillas, canned beans, rice) and pasta.
Fill your freezer with ingredients that can be used to make quick meals like frozen peas and fresh bread.
If you are going to splurge on one cooking item, make it olive oil. Since it's the foundation of so many dishes, purchase a high-quality oil that will enhance and enrich the overall flavor of the dish.

What do you think of Des Jardins's tips?

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