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Weekend Cooking: Beer-Baked White Beans

Katie Sweeney — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 12:20:24 PDT

If you're a fan of slow-cooked baked beans, you'll love this easy recipe for white beans with bacon, beer, and rosemary. This dish requires time: the beans must be soaked overnight and then cooked in the oven for two hours, so plan ahead. The wait is worth it, though. The beans are rustic but elegant, and absolutely delicious. Entertaining? Serve with roast chicken and a green salad. To get the recipe, read more.

Stovetop Beans Two Ways - Beginner and Expert

YumSugar — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 03:30:36 PDT

Although these legumes were traditionally cooked low and slow in the oven, today's baked beans, as they're often called, are actually cooked on top of a stove for a faster preparation that doesn't compromise flavor. Shed even more cooking time by using canned beans - or save cash by rehydrating dry beans instead. Regardless of how you prepare this dish, bacon plays a crucial part in achieving a pronounced smokiness, while molasses and dark brown sugar add a sweet flavor and pleasing caramel color. Be enticed by both recipes

Fast & Easy Dinner: BBQ Baked Beans and Sausage

partysugar — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 06:50:17 PST

This affordable recipe turns an ordinary can of beans into a spectacular yet simple meal. With the help of supermarket sauces like barbecue sauce, tomato paste, and molasses, rinsed navy beans take on a sweet, smoky flavor. Combine with greens, onions, and chicken sausage for a dish that is balanced and filling. Before heading to the store, raid your fridge and pantry for the ingredients - red or white beans can be used instead of navy beans and really, any thick, juicy sausage will work wonderfully in this recipe. To check it out,

Come Party With Me: Hoedown - Menu

partysugar — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 11:15:18 PDT

At a barn shindig, serve a hearty meal with plenty of napkins to mop up the finger-licking good eats.

Start the meal off with a spicy appetizer in the form of shrimp with barbecue seasonings. Slow-cooked beef brisket is a savory, smoky, and scrumptious entree. It's also the perfect cut of meat to affordably feed a crowd.

Classic cowboy sides - barbecue "baked beans" and crisp apple coleslaw - round out the mouthwatering menu. To look at these recipes,

Heinz: Baked Beanz Needed a "Makeover"

YumSugar — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 15:00:36 PDT

Are Heinz Baked Beanz too much of a mouthful?

Citing difficult pronunciation, Heinz will be dropping the word "baked" from the Heinz Baked Beanz label and changing the official title to Heinz Beanz, the Telegraph reports. Four years ago, Heinz changed the "s" of beans to "z" to modernize the brand. Now the company explained why the popular British shelf item, which will retain its distinctive teal tin, is ready for another name change:

Heinz Beanz have been powering the nation for over a hundred years, and to say thank you to our loyal fans, we have given this iconic product a 21st century makeover.

Do you think Heinz made a wise choice in ditching the word baked? How will it impact their brand, positively or negatively? In general, what are your thoughts on food companies rebranding classic items to be more modern?

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Health Foods That Aren't So Healthy

FitSugar — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 03:00:00 PST

It seems like every food company is getting on the health kick these days. They're advertising products that are "made with whole grains," or "low in sugar," or "fat-free." It's easy to believe the printing on the packages, but I'm sorry to tell you that food companies are using all their marketing resources to sway you to buy their product.

Here's a list of some popular foods that sound healthy, but could be the total opposite:

Granola and granola bars - Whole grain oats are packed with fiber, but watch out. Some bars and cereals may include these nutritious oats in a sea of high fructose corn syrup and refined sugar.

Baked beans - Beans are an excellent source of protein and fiber, but many pre-made cans of baked beans are loaded with sugar. 1 cup of baked beans can contain up to 24g of sugar (that's about the same amount in an 8 oz. can of soda). Add plain canned beans to salads and soups instead.

Reduced fat peanut butter - Real peanut butter that's made with plain old peanuts is high in protein and also high in fat, but they're the healthy fats your body needs. When companies make reduced fat varieties, they basically take a small amount of real peanut butter and mix it up with fillers like sugar. Stick to actual peanut butter that's made with only peanuts.

Pretzels - Sure they may be a low fat snack, but many are made with corn syrup and enriched white flour (the kind that's refined and stripped of nutrition). So when you eat them, it gets converted into sugar quickly and makes your blood sugar spike up, leaving you tired, cranky and probably hungry soon after. Go for whole grain crackers instead if you're looking to satisfy your crunchy cravings.

English Muffins - Same as pretzels, these are mostly made with refined white flour which is completely devoid of fiber, protein, or vitamins. Look for 100% whole grain English muffins, or shoot for whole grain bread instead.

Fruit cocktail or applesauce - These may seem like an easy way to get your daily fruit, but many are made with added sugar and heavy syrups. Fruit is sweet enough on its own, so eat fresh fruit instead, and eat the skins whenever possible (it's packed with fiber).

Fit's Tip: Be sure to read all labels, even from foods you buy at health foods stores. Just because they seem healthy, doesn't mean they really are.

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All American Side: Smoky Baked Beans

partysugar — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 05:18:39 PDT

Baked beans, whether from the South or Boston, are a traditional all-American side. As easy as it is to crack open a can of Bush's, pour into a pot, heat them up, and enjoy, sometimes it's nice to make a delicious batch of homemade (ok semi-homemade) baked beans. These pair perfectly with your standard bbq fare: hamburgers, salmon burgers, ribs, barbecued chicken, or even a nice hearty green salad. Whatever you serve them with, be sure to have a few chilled beers ready and waiting to wash these delicious spicy, sweet baked beans down. You can have the recipe, all you have to do is

Smoky Baked Beans
Modified from Bon Appetit magazine

6 bacon slices
1 1/2 cups chopped onion
1 1/4 cups purchased barbecue sauce
3/4 cup dark beer
1/4 cup mild-flavored (light) molasses
3 tablespoons Dijon mustard
3 tablespoons (packed) dark brown sugar
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon soy sauce
4 to 6 teaspoons minced canned chipotle chilies
2 cans of black beans
2 cans of pinto beans
2 cans of the northern beans

Preheat oven to 350°F.
Cook bacon in large skillet over medium heat until crisp. Transfer to paper towels and drain. Transfer 2 1/2 tablespoons bacon drippings from skillet to large bowl.
Finely chop bacon; add to bowl.
Add onion and next 7 ingredients to bowl and whisk to blend.
Whisk in 4 to 6 teaspoons chipotle chilies, depending on spiciness desired.
Stir in beans. Transfer bean mixture to 13 x 9 x 2-inch glass baking dish. Bake uncovered until liquid bubbles and thickens slightly, about 1 hour. Cool 10 minutes.
Sprinkle with parsley and serve.

Serves 8-10.

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Savory Sight: Cacao Nib Caramel Corn

Yum Community — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 03:02:41 PST

Cacao nibs are showing up all over the place these days. My Fare Foodie puts them to good use in a simple microwave version of caramel corn.

Cacao nibs are all-natural bits of ground cocoa beans that have a nice crunch factor, a major amount of antioxidants, and a subtle chocolate flavor. How about we nibble on these little nibs in a batch of homemade caramel corn? Caramel corn can be kind of daunting since candy thermometers, rapid boiling, and extended baking times are typically involved. For this recipe, though, everything is made in the good ole microwave.

Make a bowl of this sweet, crunchy snack for your next movie night. Find the recipe on her blog and upload your unique recipes in our Kitchen Goddess community group.

4 Lazy Moves That Boost Your Health

Prevention — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 04:05:16 PST

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Prevention here on FitSugar!

You don’t have to go on a deprivation diet or spend hours exercising to ward off disease and be your healthiest self! Instead, try these supersimple tips
By the editors of Prevention

Staying healthy can feel like so much, well, work (think: logging hours at the gym and whipping up nutritious meals from scratch). However, there are plenty of small moves that you can make in your everyday life that will have big health benefits. We’ve rounded up 15 practically zero-effort ways to fight disease, whittle your waist, lower stress, and more. Bonus: many of these good-for-you moves feel good, too. So say sayonara to the old adage “no pain, no gain” and try these tips today.

Lazy Move No. 1: Protect Your Ticker by Snoozing
Need a good excuse to grab your comfiest set of pajamas and hit the sack? Skimping on shut-eye may do more than make you cranky or unproductive - it also boosts your risk of a heart attack. According to one Norwegian study, people who reported that they did not wake up feeling refreshed in the morning had a 27 percent higher risk of a heart attack, those who had trouble staying asleep almost every night in the last month had a 30 percent higher risk, and those who had trouble falling asleep almost every night in the last month had odds that jumped to 45 percent.

Twenty Ways to Sleep Better Every Night

Some researchers speculate that insomnia might trigger your body to release more of the stress hormone cortisol. High levels of cortisol have been linked with high blood pressure and diabetes, which are both risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Plus when you’re exhausted, you may be more likely to make unhealthy choices that up your heart disease risk, such as skipping your workout or reaching for fatty or sugary snacks for a quick energy fix.

Keep reading for three more lazy ways to improve your health.

For Something Different, Try Cinnamon-Spiced Eggs

Susannah Chen — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:45:34 PST

At the beginning of the month, I resolved to simplify every respect of my life, including the number of items and ingredients I keep stocked in my kitchen. That's because I've discovered that in cooking, as in life, sometimes less equals more!

One unintended consequence of this newfangled declaration? I've suddenly been eating far more meatless meals made from pantry staples (think beans, lentils, eggs, and grains). My favorite dish as of late has been a Mediterranean-North African twist on eggs in purgatory, prepared by baking eggs in a slow-simmered onion-and-tomato sauce spiced heavily with cinnamon, allspice, and cloves.

Baked eggs of any sort are often thought of as a brunch dish, but I actually love to eat this any time of day, dinner included; the faraway flavors of the sauce make this dish the perfect way to end a long day. Keep reading if you want a recipe for cinnamon-spiced eggs.