YumSugar

Foodie Flashback: Space Food Sticks

YumSugar — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 07:28:11 -0700

For some reason I assumed energy bars were an invention of the 90s. However, I just discovered that back in the late 60s, Pillsbury developed "many special foods" for the space race. The first one was called Space Food Sticks and it was a "compact, nutritious, high energy food." And it was apparently good for everyone from astronauts - who strangely have a hole in their helmets for their space food stick to go through - to baseball playing tykes. And hey, it's only 44 calories.

They disappeared for a while, but now they're back in a slightly different format. You can get an entire case for about $30. Now you can blast off into outer space!

To check out the fantastic commercial for this fantastic flashback product, read more

If you're looking for more bizarre flashbacks, be sure to check out GiggleSugar.

Yum Gift Guide: Kitchen Geeks

YumSugar — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 08:01:18 -0800

The kitchen geek is in a class of her own. She's got the best gadgets, worships Alton Brown and knows more about food science than you can wrap your brain around. This Yum Gift Guide is all about gifts you can get for her.

Cuisinart Duet Blender and Food Processor - The folks at Cuisinart have finally blessed us all with a food processor & blender combo. This space saving gadget will crush ice as well as dice vegetables. This year why not get your favorite foodie two gadgets instead of one. Buy it here for $129.

Four more, so read more

Programmable Thermometer with Timer - Give them this thermometer and they'll never overcook (or under cook) their food again. They'll be able to set it to the desired temperature, stick it into the meat and walk away until the alarm goes off. A magnetic LCD display allows it to stay put on the outside of the oven door. Buy it here for $25.95.

Cuisinart Soft Serve Ice Cream Maker - This soft serve ice cream maker is guaranteed to put a smile on all of your food loving loved ones. With three compartments for their favorite toppings and a built-in cone holder there's no way they could turn this down. Buy it here for $129.99.

Aerogarden - Imagine growing fresh herbs all year long. Oh and did I mention that it would be dirt and weed free? If your food geek is into fresh herbs, but lacks a green thumb, get them an Aerogarden and watch them grow wild. Available here for $149.99.

Salter Nutritional Scale - This scale weighs food portions and calculates nutritional values. With its capability to analyze over 900 foods and ingredients, it is guaranteed to bring the mad scientist out of your favorite food geek.
Buy it here for $69.99.

What's Yummy This Week: YumSugar Weekly Recap

YumSugar — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 07:30:33 -0700

Don't miss out on October's must haves. I know I want everything on the list!
This week we crowned a new Top Chef, and mentally prepared for the Next Iron Chef. Meanwhile, Gordon Ramsay helped fix up another restaurant.

Did you know that it's National Cookie Month? We're celebrating by bringing you a different cookie recipe every day and we're even offering great tips on how to host your own cookie party!
Speaking of cookies, how well do you know chocolate chip cookies?

October is also National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. You can bet that we'll highlight different products and organizations that raise awareness.
Watch out! There's been a recall on ground beef patties and on white chocolate.
This week we want to know, do you lick the bowl? Maybe you're a food sampler instead?
My favorite thing all week: Space Food Sticks. How could you not love commercials from the 60s?

Would you drink a bottle of dirt? No? How about perspiration?
And finally, congrats to lexichloe for being last month's top talker! If you're this month's top talker, you could win a YumSugar t-shirt!

Come Party With Me: Super Bowl Party - Decorations

partysugar — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 06:58:19 -0800

It's the week before the big game and I'm obsessing so much about the Super Bowl you'd think that I was a member of the Chicago Bear's non-existent cheerleading team. I am hosting a fantastic fiesta to watch the commercials. Oops, did I just say commercials? I meant to say football game. Even if I'm not a crazy die hard football fan (if you are - more power to you!) throwing a watching party will allow me to enjoy the show and when bored I'll busy myself by blending up another batch of margaritas. When planning an epic party of these proportions there are many factors to consider: the invitations should evoke the football-y feel, the menu chock full of stadium food, and the drinks pack an extra punch of game day goodness. Not to be forgotten are the decorations: just because the party revolves around a big screen television doesn't mean that you can't have a fabulous time decorating your house in bright blue and outrageous orange. To see how I'll change the decor of my house from everyday to game day, read more

Start with your screening room (aka whatever room has the largest television in your house) and make sure there is enough seating for all of your guests to sit comfortably. Add pillows, cushions, fold out chairs or chairs from other rooms of your house if you have to. The television is the focal point so make it so by clearing out the area around it for clutter free viewing. If you have a bear or colt stuffed animal place it on the sofa to act as team mascot. Set up a strand of cheap football lights around the windowsill or along the entryway into the room.

If you know that all of your friends will be decked out in their Chicago Bear wear-yourself included-make blue and orange the underlying tone of the decorations. Pick up a roll each of blue and orange streamers at the local party supply store. Be sure to check out the selection of Super Bowl related stuff because party stores always have a lot of fun theme supplies to make your bash especially memorable. Twist the streamers and arrange decoratively throughout the room and wrap around banisters. If your friends are a mix of Bears and Colts fans decorate one side of the room with blue and orange and the other half with blue and white. Have guests sit on their side of the "stadium."

Arrange appetizers and snacks on your coffee table or small tables around the space. Cover your kitchen table with a green table cloth to simulate a football field and adorn with a centerpiece made of mini footballs placed in a French fry basket. Put several chairs in your kitchen for the less enthusiastic football fans to converse and gather without taking the attention away from the game. Serve the food on colored paper plates to reduce clean-up and give it an authentic feel (if you were at a stadium you'd be using paper products!).

Since I will be serving margaritas on the rocks I'll purchase fun orange light up football ice cubes for guests to submerge in their drinks. I want my friends to be in the party mood from the moment of their arrival and will stick the ends of orange and blue metallic pom poms into the gravel surrounding the walkway up to my front door.

What's the look for your Super Bowl Party? Please share your winning decoration ideas with me below. Tomorrow I'll talk about game-day music!

Come Party With Me: Beach Picnic - The Look & Music

partysugar — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 07:03:18 -0700

When planning a picnic on the beach, start by making a list of all of the things you need to bring. Incorporate the theme colors (mine are turquoise, yellow, and orange) into the beach blanket, beach chairs, plates, and napkins. Fill a big bucket with ice and cold beverages and toss a few throw pillows on the blankets so when night falls guests can lay back and gaze at the stars. Have one floral arrangement of vibrant lilies. Instead of regular votives purchase cheap candles in sea shell votives. Enclose your party space by sticking several tiki torches in the sand. Arrange the blankets around the fire pit/grill, set up an area for dancing and food. Oh and, don't forget to pack the kites!

Create a playlist with current summer hits and fun party music. BuzzSugar has created a fabulous summer playlist with songs that are sure to be a great background for your beach picnic.