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Starbucks Gets Skinny For the New Year

YumSugar — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 08:01:31 -0800

Starbucks recently announced their new "skinny" drink ordering system, it's a system that's been in place for years, only it didn't have a name before. If you'd like your drink to be sugar-free, with non-fat milk and without whip cream, you can now order it "skinny" instead of listing off the criteria. I'm glad to see that Starbucks is bringing it to people's attention, however not everyone is loving the name. In fact, one barista has even gone as far as to write a letter to the corporate office.

The unnamed barista's letter reads more like a manifesto, however she does have some good points. She believes that the new ordering system will be confusing, especially if a customer wants whip or wants whole milk. Personally I don't think it's that weird, that's like having a regular, but with no-whip or non-fat. She also thinks it's one more thing for the customers to get confused by. I'll have to agree on this one, I still can't figure out why the tall is the small. However her biggest pet peeve is that she thinks it's politically incorrect. She points out that they don't call the whole milk versions obese, and she thinks overweight customers and employees might be offended or weirded out by it.

So what do you think? Do you have an opinion about Starbucks' skinny ordering system? I don't have a problem with the name, although I do wonder just how "skinny" these skinny drinks really are.

Savory Sight: Gorgonzola, Apple, and Bacon Mac-n-Cheese

Yum Community — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:30:15 -0800

This story was written by member jadenirvana and comes from the Savory Sights group in the YumSugar Community. I made Yum's insanely good mac 'n' cheese recipe in some ramekins my mother in law gave me for creme brulee. The little tart-size dishes made the meal extra cute, and I substituted bacon for walnuts for extra yumminess. The combo of sharp gorgonzola, crisp apples and rich bacon was so good, literally one of the most delish things I've ever tasted, and I never would have thought of it on my own. How do you do it Yum?

Have you eaten an awesome meal? Join the Savory Sights group, upload your photos and a description of the experience, and it could be featured on YumSugar! If you are new to the YumSugar Community, here's a detailed guide to posting to groups.

Off to Market: Serving Ware

partysugar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 06:50:32 -0800

In the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving, I like to take inventory of my serving ware. I plan on doing a lot of entertaining between now and New Year's, and whether I'm plating up bite-sized appetizers or slicing pieces of roast chicken, I'm going to need a lot of serving trays and bowls.

I want to invest in a couple of new ones, can you help me find them? To share your favorite serving ware, bookmark the items in the Off to Market group in the YumSugar Community. Don't forget to tag the bookmarks with the keywords Serving Ware. Happy hunting!

Interested in learning more about bookmarking? Check out the complete instructions here. Need some shopping inspiration? See a list of my favorite online stores when you read more.

Bed Bath & Beyond
CB2
Cooking.com
Crate & Barrel
Ikea
Linens and Things
NapaStyle
Pier 1
Plum Party
Pottery Barn
Sur La Table
Target
Restoration Hardware
Williams Sonoma
Wishing Fish
World Market

In Season: Butternut Squash

YumSugar — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:00:29 -0800

Perhaps the most-loved variety of Winter squash, butternut squash is to Thanksgiving what pumpkin is to Halloween: ubiquitous. Reasonably priced and versatile, with a long shelf life, these mild, vibrantly-hued veggies are at their best during the cold days ahead. When selecting, look for squash free of bruises, feel heavy for their size, and have a matte skin. Those with wider necks and smaller bulbs will have the most flesh. Because of its rigid exterior, butternut squash has an extended shelf life, and storing it for longer - up to a month, unrefrigerated, in a cool, dark place - can bring out its sweetness. Once peeled, the vegetable will keep for up to a week if covered tightly in the fridge. Learn how to make the most of it when you keep reading.

Celebrate the Season With Pumpkin Brownies

YumSugar — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:15:34 -0800

Now that everyone knows that solid packed pumpkin is nothing but 100 percent pure pumpkin, here is a delicious and unexpected Thanksgiving dessert that combines pumpkin with brownies. The spiciness of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cayenne in the pumpkin layer complements the sweetness of the rich brownie layer. I halved the original recipe and rather than bake them in a square pan, I opted to use a mini muffin pan. With a smaller pan, they didn't swirl as well, but it did create a distinct two-layer presentation with just enough richness in the bite-size dessert. If you are over the traditional pumpkin pie, give these delectable pumpkin brownies a try and keep reading for the recipe.

Yummy Links: From Martinis to Foie Gras

partysugar — Fri, 16 May 2008 06:45:34 -0700

If a classic bridal shower isn't your style, consider hosting a girls' night in martini party. - My Recipes
Now that grilling season is upon us, be sure you know the difference between gas and charcoal grills. - Chow
Over evite? Try the new alternative Pingg, an eco friendly, chic way to send invitations. - Pingg
These luscious centerpieces make me want to host a Spring dinner party! - Hostess with the Mostess
Slightly disturbing: the difference between portion sizes then and now. - Divine Caroline
Watch as kung fu master, Ho Eng Hui, breaks through a coconut with his index finger, it's absolutely insane! - Serious Eats
The city of Chicago has repealed the foie gras ban. -Slashfood

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Better Than Lollipops: Crispy Rice Treats on Sticks

YumSugar — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 10:30:10 -0700

At a baby shower this year, LilSugar sent everyone home with the most clever party favors: crispy rice treats on a stick! They were the perfect parting gift at the shower, but, when adorned with color-coordinated orange sprinkles and ribbons, they'd also make a charming alternative to serve trick-or-treaters on Halloween.

This delight takes less than 10 minutes to come together on the stove top. Evenly press the mixture into a pan coated with cooking spray, and let cool for about five minutes. Cut them to uniform size, roll each into the shape of a ball, and insert sticks through the middle. Wrap treats in individual cellophane bags, and tie with a pretty ribbon.

Got any other sweet ideas for Halloween? Share them below!

Shrunken Packaged Foods' Slow Return to Their Original Size

YumSugar — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 11:45:01 -0700

In a small indication that America may be on a slow road to economic recovery, consumer foods marketers are beginning to reintroduce larger packages at the same price. Last year, manufacturers were hit by high fuel and commodity prices, so to avoid blatantly transferring cost increases to consumers, manufacturers such as Hellman's, Tropicana, and Kellogg's quietly began downsizing packages.

Ben & Jerry's even went after the size of Haagen-Dazs in its marketing campaign, pointing out that the rival company had downsized its "pints" from 16 to 14 ounces. But recently, some consumer products, like Pringles Super Stacks, and certain bags of Frito-Lay's chips, have shot back up to their original sizes. It's unclear whether increased package sizes are going to be part of limited-time promotions or permanent reversals.

Which products have you noticed products increasing in size lately?

King Corn: A Food Documentary to Watch

YumSugar — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 10:45:05 -0700

"Everything on your plate is corn." That line, uttered by an interviewee in King Corn, is essentially the premise behind this new food-focused documentary. Much the way that Super Size Me uses a clever gimmick to take on the fast-food industry, King Corn follows two friends, Ian Cheney and Kurt Ellis, who move to Iowa to find out how this unassuming crop has made its way into so many grocery-store staples in the form of corn syrup, malodextrin, and other not-so-healthy ingredients.

With humor and a vagabond attitude, Cheney and Ellis establish a one-acre corn farm so that they can follow the life cycle of their crop. Along the way, they visit the Midwest's sprawling corn complexes and interview experts about how the highly subsidized crop has become an easy target in the fight against obesity. The movie opened this weekend in New York, and over the next few weeks will be showing in other cities, including LA, San Francisco, Austin, and Chicago. (Check the King Corn site to find out if it's coming to your city.) Watch the trailer and tell me what you think when you read more

King Corn Trailer

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Corona Introducing 24-Ounce Cans

YumSugar — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:04:23 -0700

This news might come as a surprise to Anheuser-Busch, but Bud Light lovers aren't the only ones who like to get it in the can. So do Corona drinkers. Crown Imports, the importer and distributor for the popular Mexican beer, plans to roll out 24-ounce, single-serving cans of Corona and Corona Light. The cans - which contain twice the amount of beer as a typical bottle - make their debut in 26 initial markets this month, with Corona Light following soon. Considering Coca-Cola recently publicized plans to offer soft drinks in smaller can sizes, I'm surprised Corona has decided to venture in the opposite direction by scaling its sizes up. Even though Corona's one of my go-to beer brands, I wonder if a 24-ounce can will fall flat before I finish it. Would you buy Corona in a 24-ounce can?

Source: User dotbenjamin