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Brain-Boosting Breakfast: Marcus Samuelsson's Power-Packed Morning Smoothie

Rebecca M Gruber — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 08:55:31 PDT

Our mouthwatering Brain-Boosting Breakfast series continues with celebrity chefs and restaurateurs creating healthy, brain-boosting breakfast ideas to help keep kids going throughout the day. Today's quick breakfast for on-the-go families comes from Marcus Samuelsson, one of the most celebrated chefs in America, winner of the second season of Top Chef Masters, and owner of Harlem's acclaimed Red Rooster restaurant.

Marcus Samuelsson knows a few things about taste. Born in Ethiopia and raised in Sweden, he's mastered the art of mixing unusual flavors to create tastes that simply make mouths and stomachs happy. For his award-winning cookbook, New American Table ($27), Chef Samuelsson spent time working his way through local farms and kitchens across America to create new dishes for the entire family. A longtime supporter of charities that help give children a healthy start, such as UNICEF and the World Childhood Foundation, the chef is offering up an avocado-banana smoothie recipe to give kids a quick brain boost before heading off to school.

This is a great healthy breakfast option, as it's filling and nutritious; plus, kids dig the green color of the drink. It's inspired by the Indian drink lassi and is sure to be a family favorite.

Keep reading for Marcus Samuelsson's quick and easy Avocado-Banana Smoothie recipe.

The Basics: Banana Bread

Katie Sweeney — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 03:18:08 PDT

Moist, delicious banana bread is one of life's simplest pleasures. It's awesome with coffee in the morning, tea in the afternoon, or a glass of sparkling wine late in the evening. It's a nostalgic dish that so many enjoy. Wrapped in pretty packaging, banana bread also makes a wonderful edible gift. Most people have strong feelings about mix-ins, but I like to toss in a small handful of chocolate chips for extra richness. While you probably already have a tried-and-trusted banana bread recipe, I thought it was high time I shared mine. Check it out now.

5 Foods That Help Kick PMS to the Curb

Michele Foley — Thu, 12 May 2011 03:06:47 PDT

PMS sucks; there's just no polite way to say it. The week leading up to a period can be filled with depression, irritability, cramps, headaches, and that uncomfortable feeling of being bloated - and those are just a handful of the symptoms! While there's no cure for PMS, there are a few things that can help it feel more manageable. OTC painkillers, meditation, and exercise are all great at beating the PMS-blues, and so are certain foods. If you suffer from dreaded PMS every month, keep reading to see which foods you should be incorporating into your diet.

Source: Thinkstock

Inspired Spring: Channeling Carmen Miranda's Tropical Boldness

Noria Morales — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 10:18:05 PDT

The banana in all its tropical glory made a bold runway debut at Prada; for Spring, we're seeing lots of tropical references, from palm prints to lattice shoes. It's a fun, lighthearted way - think of Carmen Miranda's gorgeous excess - to infuse color and texture into your Spring wardrobe, and it will carry you happily through the Summer months. If you don't want to invest in Prada's bananas, try these mini banana earrings ($5) for a small tropical punch. Or take a more subtle approach to tropical dressing with these Proenza Schouler lace-up shoes ($895).

Savory Sight: Mascarpone Stuffed French Toast

Yum Community — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 03:20:15 PDT

Good morning! Here's an idea: why not be like Dice215 and make mascarpone-stuffed French toast over the weekend?French toast made from Challah bread stuffed with mascarpone cheese and topped with warm brown sugar banana sauce.

Be sure to check out her blog for the recipe, and if you have a delicious photo to share, put it in the Savory Sights group. It could be featured here on YumSugar!

Celebrate Mardi Gras With Banana Pudding

Katie Sweeney — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 15:17:44 PST

If you're interested in cooking authentic Louisiana fare for Mardi Gras, look toward a plethora of awesome cookbooks that have come from New Orleans recently. Cooking Up a Storm features tons of classic savory recipes, and when it comes to desserts, you can't go wrong with Damn Good Sweet.

It's full of delicious-sounding treats like red velvet cake, lemon icebox pie, and the creamy luscious banana pudding seen here.

This pudding is relatively quick and easy to prepare; however, you do need several hours for it to chill. The vanilla wafer topping is a necessary step, as it adds a crisp textural contrast to the thick smooth pudding. Next time I make this, I will serve it with a dollop of whipped cream as well. Want to look at the recipe? Read more.

Yummy Links: From In-N-Out Burgers to Easy-Bake Ovens

YumSugar — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 12:20:06 PST

The definitive guide to ordering at In-N-Out Burger. - A Hamburger Today
Want a laugh? Visit the latest Paula website. - Paula Deen Riding Things
Happy banana cream pie day! - Bites on Today
RIP Henry Africa, creator of the fern bar. - Grub Street SF
Freebie alert! Golden Treasure Shrimp at Panda Express. - Eater LA
How do you feel about bananas packaged in plastic wrapping? - The Daily Mail
Louisiana recipes to make for Mardi Gras. - Chow
A new light bulb ban will forever change the Easy-Bake Oven. - Salon

Brunch With the Kat: Banana Walnut Pancakes

OnSugar Blog — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 03:42:33 PST

Lately, we can't get enough of breakfast foods. Here's another delicious-looking brunch item from OnSugar blogger LesleyKat: banana-walnut pancakes. Yum!

Just in time for weekend brunch, I am sharing my recipe for super yummy banana walnut pancakes. This recipe was modified from the basic pancake recipe in one of my absolute essential cookbooks, The America's Test Kitchen Family Cookbook. They have their own variations to simple pancakes that include blueberry, whole wheat, cornmeal and graham. Um, yeah, these weren't cutting it for me. Instead I opted for walnuts and bananas.

For the recipe, instructions, and more pictures, keep reading.

That's Bananas! Do You Know the Facts About the Kid-Favorite Fruit?

Rebecca M Gruber — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 02:00:00 PST

Kids go bananas for the yellow fruit! The sweet, portable food is a tot favorite – often one of the first solids a lil one eats and one they continue to ask for as they grow. According to a report over on Yum, the country's banana supply may be at risk this year, as the Tropical Race Four fungus, which has already taken out Cavendish crops in Asia and Australia, is making its way to the Americas. Before you start hoarding the potassium-rich fruit, take this quiz to see how much you know about bananas!

Take the Quiz

Could 2011 Be the Year We Say Bye-Bye to Bananas?

Katie Sweeney — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 03:30:30 PST

Yesterday The New Yorker published a comprehensive story about Tropical Race Four, a type of fungus that is currently threatening to destroy the United State's banana crop. While there are more than 1,000 types of bananas, only one, the Cavendish banana, is ideal for cultivating and exporting. Thus, the majority of banana plantations in the world harvest Cavendishes.

However, the Tropical Race Four fungus has already taken out Cavendish crops in Asia and Australia, and the fungus is set to hit Latin America next. If it does, the entire crop of US bananas could become extinct. While some scientists are frantically searching for a cure to Tropical Race Four, others are trying to engineer a stronger banana.

But, if there's so many other types of bananas out there, wouldn't it be easier to farm and export them? What do you think should be the solution to possible banana extinction?