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TV Dinners: The Office's Nogasake Revisited

YumSugar — Fri, 22 Dec 2006 18:00:15 -0800

As BuzzSugar pointed out, NBC reran The Office's holiday special last night. To relive the big laughs and good times, the hubby and I decided we would suck it up and do what YumSugar reader Kjell suggested. Yes that's right, we decided to brave it and actually try a Nogasake.

So we picked up some of Bud's eggnog (one of my favorite brands - super rich and creamy) and a small bottle of Gekkeikan sake. Then we went home, waited for The Office to begin, and made ourselves a drink. To learn how my experience was, read more

I started by pouring 1 1/2 oz of sake into a glass and then topping it off with 1/2 oz of eggnog. Disgustingly, the liquids separated just like oil and vinegar (with the eggnog sinking below the sake). So I grabbed a spoon, stirred until the liquids were one, counted to three and took a sip.

It was horrible. As in just wrong, like bad milk. It was as if the sake somehow instantly soured the eggnog (and no, the nog was not bad already). It didn't curdle it, just soured it. The two ingredients just did not want to mix. I seriously do not recommend this drink, not even as a joke to impress your friends. But if you must insist, I've included the recipe below.

Nogasake
From NBC's The Office
3 parts sake
1 part eggnog

Would You Drink a Nogasake?

YumSugar — Sun, 17 Dec 2006 02:55:31 -0800

Did anyone catch The Office on Thursday night (if you missed it, BuzzSugar has a great recap for you)?

In the episode Andy, Jim, Dwight and Michael head over to Benihana for a cheering-up lunch. While there Andy ordered (brace yourself for this one) a Nogasake! When I heard this, I nearly spit out my drink because (A) it's pretty offensive (B) it's hysterical and (C) my goodness that sounds disgusting!

But, if you want to try it at home (and if you do let me know about it), it's one part eggnog, three parts sake. Drink up!

Also, since I'm on the topic of disgusting drinks, what's the worst holiday drink you've ever had? Let us all know in the comments below!

India's Next Big Export: Cow Urine Soda

YumSugar — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 15:00:35 -0800

Holy cow. India's oldest, biggest nationalist Hindu group, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), plans to introduce a new soft drink made from cow urine.

The radical RSS group has long campaigned against beverages such as Coke and Pepsi, foreign imports that it believes to be a corrupt influence and a symbol of Western imperialism. In India, bovine urine is considered medicinal and is, like the cow itself, seen as sacred, particularly at religious festivals. In some traditional rituals, cow urine is consumed to purify those who belong to the lowest rung of the Hindu caste system. Although the group hasn't confirmed flavors or pricing for the drink, to be known as gau jal, or "cow water" in Sanskrit, the elixir will be mixed with aloe vera, gooseberry, and other herbs that allegedly combat diabetes, cancer, and other diseases. The RSS and its offshoots have been promoting gau jal as a cure-all since as early as 2001, but Om Prakash, the head of the RSS's Cow Protection Department, said the drink will be introduced "very soon, maybe by the end of this year." He added:

Don't worry, it won't smell like urine and will be tasty, too. It's going to be very healthy. It won't be like carbonated drinks and would be devoid of any toxins. We're going to give [American soda brands] good competition as our drink is good for mankind. We may also think of exporting it.

How do you feel about this? I think it's disgusting, but at the same time, I've promised myself that I will try anything once. Would you drink cow urine for its purported health benefits?

Source

Experiment Shows Spiked Eggnog Might Be Safer

YumSugar — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 12:30:14 -0800

A recent experiment suggests spiked eggnog may be safer to drink than its PG counterpart. NPR attempted to solve the age-old mystery of whether adding alcohol to eggnog, which contains raw eggs, eliminates risk of food poisoning. To answer the question, NPR sought the help of Rockefeller University microbiologist Vince Fischetti.

Fischetti compared bacteria levels in store-bought, alcohol-free eggnog to a recipe his lab makes every year. The science team's heavily spiked version requires the mixture to sit in the refrigerator for weeks before drinking. The results? His eggnog's alcohol eliminated all bacteria. In contrast, the commercial eggnog was teeming with bacteria strains commonly found in dairy.

The microbiology lab conducted a separate experiment to see whether its alcoholic eggnog was strong enough to kill off salmonella strains. The results proved inconclusive.

Are you intrigued or disgusted by Vischetti's recipe for eggnog? Will these findings have you adding more alcohol to your eggnog this year?

Source

Happy Hour: Homemade V8

YumSugar — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 14:29:31 -0700

I remember unpacking my lunch in elementary school and being somewhat embarrassed by the V8 juice my mom would lovingly pack. She wasn't too keen on soda, so this was a nice option. However all of my fellow students thought it was weird, disgusting and downright scary. I recall pretending I didn't like it as much as I really did - making it seem like I was forced to drink it. Now, many years later, I realize it wasn't me or my beverage choice, but it was those kids who were weird, disgusting and downright scary. I have no problems with letting everyone know I love the salty, vegetable goodness. However, now that I'm all grown-up I like to purchase fewer processed foods, so instead of drinking V8 as often, I try to whip up my own batch when possible. For a homemade "V8" recipe, read more

I like mine spicy, but you can omit the jalapenos if you'd prefer.

Tom Solomon's Spicy Hot V8
From Chet Day's Natural Health

8 quarts water
4 pounds homegrown tomatoes, chopped
1 bunch celery, chopped
8 green jalapeno peppers, chopped
1 cup vinegar
3 bay leaves
2 Tbs oregano
1 large onion, chopped
1 head garlic, pressed
4 Tbs salt
4 Tbs sugar

In a large pot, combine all ingredients except the sugar, bring to a boil, and cook at a steady boil for 2 hours.
Remove from heat and strain through a relatively fine mesh, making sure to express all the liquid you can.
Discard the pulp, return the liquid to the pot, and boil for another couple of hours, or until the liquid is reduced to roughly three quarts. Add four tablespoons of sugar, remove from heat, stir, and let cool.

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Would You Drink a Mayogarita?

YumSugar — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 03:21:18 -0700

In news of the weird, Tokyo restaurant, Mayonnaise Kitchen, is serving up a new drink called the Mayogarita. The drink, which is just one of many mayonnaise based concoctions, is white due to a hint of the creamy dressing. If the Mayogarita isn't up your alley, then how about a drink called the Mayoty Dog? This one is a vodka-based cocktail served in a glass with mayonnaise on the rim instead of salt.

If this sounds disgusting to you, then you may want to completely steer clear from the Mayonnaise Kitchen. The restaurant, which is in suburban Tokyo, features mayonnaise on everything it serves - including spaghetti, tempura and fondue. Many older Japanese are not thrilled with the Western condiment, however the younger generation is embracing the creamy concoction. In fact, they even have a word for mayo fanatatics: Mayolers.

So how about you, are you are mayoler? Would you try a mayogarita, or would you stay the h-e-double-hockey-sticks away?

Source: Spluch

Happy Hour: Black Velvet

partysugar — Tue, 13 Mar 2007 12:57:41 -0700

This week YumSugar and I are all about highlighting fabulous ways for you to enjoy St. Patrick's Day to the fullest. There are many people who believe you can't celebrate St. Patrick's Day without drinking a glass of Ireland's most famous beer, Guinness. However Guinness with its dark, creamy thickness is not a beer for everyone. Even after pouring countless glasses way back in my Irish pub working days, I never developed a taste for it. How will we, the non-Guinness drinkers, really truly celebrate St. Patty's (without having to down several Irish Car Bombs)? By drinking a black velvet! A black velvet is a seductive mix of equal parts Guinness and champagne. Don't be scared or disgusted, be adventurous and experimental. To make this for your pals at your St. P Day soirée, read more

Black Velvet
From Drinks Mixer

5 oz chilled Guinness
5 oz chilled Champagne

Pour Guinness into a champagne flute.
Add champagne carefully, so it does not mix with stout, and serve.

Serves 1.

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Booze Belt: Love It Or Hate It?

partysugar — Sat, 28 Apr 2007 00:19:32 -0700

geeksugar is the best web surfer I know - she is always sending me fabulous and interesting links. Lately I've been obsessing about this big picnic/party I'll be attending this weekend on a huge cattle ranch, and that's why she showed me this fabulous/crazy Booze Belt. This thick belt allows you to strap on two bottles of alcohol (not included) and hold six shot glasses (included in the $89.00 price tag). I don't know about you guys, but I find this belt disgusting, hysterical, and fantastic all at the same time. There are only 2 people who could get away with wearing it: a bartender and Paris Hilton. Would you be willing to strap your drink on? Booze Belt: love it or hate it? Source: Gizmodo

Happy Hour: Funky Garlic

YumSugar — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 13:18:37 -0700

When PartySugar told me that today was National Garlic Day, I immediately set out to find us a cocktail that uses garlic as an ingredient. And yes, yes, I know it sounds horrible, but done well I bet it would be good - think of a Bloody Mary, that sounds horrible on paper too...

At any rate, I was thwarted - turns out it may be a disgusting idea after all - and could not find any cocktail recipes featuring garlic. I did, however, find a recipe called Funky Garlic that actually sounds sort of refreshing (if not also somewhat terrible). It's a mixture of wine and soda, and it sounds dirty, yet light and bubbly. To check out the recipe (oh and if you know of any drinks that feature garlic, let us know), read more

Funky Garlic
From Drink Swap

4 oz Sprite
4 oz Coca-Cola
4 oz White Wine

Chill all ingredients prior to serving. Pour into a highball glass, and stir well.

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