YumSugar

Test Your Knowledge of Foodie Terms!

Katie Sweeney — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 07:00:56 PST

If becoming a better cook is one of your New Year's resolutions, you've come to the right place. Not only do we offer you helpful tips and delicious recipes, but we also like to test your culinary knowledge in fun quizzes - like the one I've put together here. I'm going to list a cooking term or classic dish, and you have to select the correct definition. Ready? Go!

Take the Quiz

Definition: Hyperpigmentation

BellaSugar — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 08:00:33 PDT

Hyperpigmentation is the darkening of patches of skin or nails due to ramped-up melanin production, resulting in blotchy looking skin, "raccoon" under-eye circles, and uneven skin tone. Although hyperpigmentation is common across the board, it's especially prevalent in women of South Asian, East Asian, Mediterranean, or African heritage - so almost everyone.

It's a natural part of aging, and although hydroquinine or other dangerous lightening products might be tempting, resist the urge. Instead, use a spot brightening serum like DDF's convenient little Discoloration Reversal-PODs ($72), moisturizer, a wide-spectrum sunblock, and your favorite foundation. You'll get similar results without harming your health.

Definition: Ambergris

BellaSugar — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 09:00:27 PDT

Ambergris is whale intestinal secretions, but you'd never know how gross it is from its high profile in the world of perfumery. An excellent fixative with a sweet, earthy scent, the stuff has a long history of association with fragrance - and whale killling.

That's right, Captain Ahab didn't just want Moby Dick's blubber, he wanted his sweet, sweet ghost whale ambergris. Some ambergris gets left behind in the sea naturally when sperm whales throw it up, but it's traditionally been obtained from whales' abdominal cavities. Nowadays, there are plenty of synthetic alternatives, generally referred to as "amber" notes, but some fragrances still use the real ocean-sourced or even whale-sourced stuff. Most prominently, scents made by both Creed and Hermes are rumored to contain raw ambergris, but since their formulas are proprietary, nobody outside those houses knows for sure.

Bedroom Words: 10 Bed Styles to Know

CasaSugar — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 06:00:00 PDT

If you're on the hunt for bedroom furniture, you should know that all beds are not the same. From space-saving options to beds that don't require box springs, there are a lot of choices out there for you. Before you shop, take a lesson from Yours Truly on some bedroom words to introduce into your vocabulary.

Definition: Otto

BellaSugar — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 07:00:33 PDT

The great likelihood is that if you've heard of an otto, it's been rose otto, which is sometimes a substitute for rose absolute in high-end perfumes. But what does otto mean, exactly?

Well, it denotes the process an essential oil went through to be distilled. Ottos are steam distilled, while absolutes, the other common essential oil type, usually employ solvents to extract the oil. Steam distillation is a process that's been around for centuries, and in antiquity, India, Syria, and Persia (now Iran) were known for their gorgeous floral ottos. Ottos also smell a little different than an absolute; because of the heat employed in the process, ottos don't smell like fresh flowers. Rather, they have a heavier, heady quality. You can find otto these days in fragrances like Penhaligon's Hammam Bouquet ($110) and REN Moroccan Rose Otto Bath Oil ($48), or Malin+Goetz's Otto candle ($48).

Definition: Fraises du Bois

YumSugar — Wed, 05 May 2010 14:00:36 PDT

If you're tempted by strawberries, you'll love fraises du bois (pronounced "frehz di-bwa"). French for "strawberries from the woods," these small, delicate berries come from forests, where they grow naturally. The highly seasonal berries are intensely flavorful, making them pricey and coveted. Fraises du bois are similar to but should not be confused with alpine strawberries, which grow on mountaintops. Have you ever tried them?

Source: Flickr User morberg

Definition: Beurre Noisette

YumSugar — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 14:00:51 PDT

French for "hazelnut butter," beurre noisette (pronounced "bur nwah-zet") is butter that has been cooked until it has a golden brown color and a nutty flavor. Contrary to its name, this sauce, which has been used by French chefs since medieval times, does not actually contain hazelnuts. Before serving, it's often strained through a fine sieve to remove darkened milk solids, and acid (such as lemon) may be added to cut through some of its rich flavor.
In French cuisine, beurre noisette, which is known in English as browned butter, is typically used to add character to vegetable, fish, egg, and even brain dishes.

Source: Flickr User thibaut nazare

Definition: Grissini

YumSugar — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 14:00:22 PDT

Grissini are long, pencil-thin Italian breadsticks made from flour, water, and salt. They originated in Turin, Italy, during the 14th century, where a certain version, grissini torinese, which are thicker, longer, and twisted by hand, are still popular today.

Because of their bland flavor, grissini are often offered as a palate cleanser in between wines. They're also served alongside antipasti, or used to create appetizers. Have you ever tried grissini?

Source: Flickr User liber

Know Your Ingredients: Matzo

YumSugar — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 05:50:01 PDT

Passover doesn't begin until the end of the month, but it's already impossible to walk into a grocery store and not find products such as matzo crackers, matzo meal, and other items that are kosher for the holiday. But, what exactly is matzo, and why does it play such a crucial role during the Jewish celebration?

Matzo is a bland, cracker-like flatbread made of white plain flour and water. It is the substitute for bread during Passover, a holiday in which Jews refrain from eating bread, leavened products, or the five grains known as barley, spelt, rye, oats, and wheat in any processed form except dry-roasting and as matzo.

There are several different types of matzo (not all of which are kosher for Passover), and a wide variety of applications for the food product. It can be eaten simply as a cracker, used as a pasta substitute in lasagna, or ground to produce coarse or fine matzo meal, which is used to make matzo balls for soup or as a breadcrumb-like binder for kugel and other casseroles. Have you ever had matzo?

Source: Flickr User ydhsu

Definition: Quercetin

BellaSugar — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 07:00:36 PST

This flavonoid (a type of vegetable-derived compound) has been popping up in lots of skincare products lately, promising skin texture and anti-aging benefits. Evidence has yet to show whether it's really the holy grail of skincare ingredients, but quercetin does have powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits.

If you're in the market for a new magic bullet, or have have trouble with skin inflammation and irritation, there are plenty of products that offer quercetin as their signature ingredient. If you want to go Greek, Korres makes a Quercetin & Oak Day Cream ($48). If you have easily irritated lips, Ole Henriksen African Red Tea Exfoliating Lip Salvation ($15) also uses quercetin. The cheapest and most direct route for trying it, though, is to buy quercetin nutritional supplements, like Natrol Quercetin ($7), and make an anti-inflammatory face mask out of them similar to the DIY aspirin face mask.