GeekSugar

5 Kitchen Items That Come in Handy When You Have Kids

Heather Maddan — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 04:00:15 PST

Most people don't buy pregnant women kitchen gadgets, but it's just a matter of time before a mom needs them. And, I'm not talking about bottle steamers and sippy cups, but the tools that make a parent's life easier when meal time rolls around and the kiddos are hungry. Here are five items that are used (and reused) for years.

Geek Tip: Follow Flickr Streams Via RSS or Delicious

GeekSugar — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 14:20:41 PDT

Sure, following Tweets secretly through your RSS allows a special, stalkerish pleasure, but watching your friend's Internet activity doesn't have to be all about surreptitiousness. When a pal shares a link to her Flickr account or I run across a photographer whose work I find inspiring I stick it in my RSS reader so I can keep up with their activity.

Flickr offers an RSS feed for photostream pages, which you select and add to your reader. You'll find it in the toolbar of your browser if you use Firefox (see previous link for other browser tips). Flickr also offers a convenient "bookmark on delicious" link at the bottom of each photostream page, so you can save a friend's stream in your bookmarks and have access to it from any computer.

Delicious Gets a Redesign - Woohoo!

GeekSugar — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 04:00:38 PDT

Oh Delicious, I almost (I said almost) forgot about you, and then you go and do something brilliant - you get a very much needed makeover! I was seriously considering walking away from all of my favorite bookmarks, or at least moving them to a much more user-friendly site, but alas, you pull though with a fresh new name (minus all the . and . 's), a slick new UI and a much faster search engine - nice work! And the best part about the new look? The big and beautiful notes fields that you can either change to reveal more bookmark info or compact their display with a single click on the Tag Bar!

Chocolate Bath - Deliciously Relaxing

FitSugar — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 17:30:00 PST

Do you like chocolate? Well you're soaking in it...ahhh doesn't that sound nice - a chocolate bath.

A Japanese spa in Hakone offers them. Incorporating chocolate into natural hot springs, the bath contains cacao extract and trehalose, a kind of natural sugar. These ingredients promote beautiful skin by trapping the moisture.

For the rest of us, there are hot chocolate bath salts. They're also available in white chocolate, for only $9.00.

Of course, baths in general are very soothing and relaxing. And there are health benefits and happiness associated with chocolate. I never would have thought to put the two together - but I bet some of you have!

Spending time in the enveloping warmth and the delicious aroma of chocolate must have an amazingly calming effect.

Healthy Ice Cream Alternatives You'll Scream For

Leta Shy — Fri, 25 May 2012 15:33:46 PDT

The unofficial kickoff to Summer is this holiday weekend, and while it may not be sizzling yet, nothing says holiday celebration quite like a healthy barbecue. But if you're in need of a creamy cold treat, you don't have to sabotage all the bikini prep you've been doing. Here are a few delicious alternatives to regular old ice cream!

Happy Hour: Jalisco Flower

Susannah Chen — Fri, 25 May 2012 13:18:53 PDT

There's no better hair of the dog after a long night out than brunch filled with bottomless mimosas. But if you've grown weary of that mundane combination of orange juice and bubbly, switch up your drinking routine with another Champagne cocktail that's twice as exciting to sip, but just about as easy to prepare.

The Jalisco Flower is a combination of ruby red grapefruit juice and sparkling wine - with a bit of tequila and St-Germain added in to throw your taste buds for a loop. Tart tequila pairs well with the sweet-sour grapefruit juice, while the elderflower liqueur adds complex floral notes and softens the spirit's aggressiveness.

For a delicious new fizzy beverage, read more.

A Sweet and Salty Memorial Day Menu

Laura Marie Given — Fri, 25 May 2012 10:10:35 PDT

Since Memorial Day signals the unofficial start of Summer, why not kick off the sunny season with good friends and good food? Whether you're planning a low-key backyard barbecue or an all-out holiday feast, we've gathered some delicious recipes to help you host a fun, festive party for your pals. From salty grilled chicken to sweet cherry pie, here are 11 tasty dishes to try on Memorial Day.

Sources: Flickr User Horia Varlan and Thinkstock

28 Dips For a Delish Memorial Day Feast

Lizzie Fuhr — Thu, 24 May 2012 12:32:47 PDT

A winning Memorial Day meal should be easy, fun, and certainly delicious. What better way to bring all those ideas together than with a tasty dip for your guests? To encourage you to go for a dip this Memorial Day, I've rounded up 28 dips - in honor of Memorial Day on May 28 - in order to get your creative juices flowing. You'll find something for every palate, from chili con queso to Greek salsa!

A First Ladylike Grilled Chicken Salad With Herb Vinaigrette

Nancy Einhart — Thu, 24 May 2012 05:33:23 PDT

Michelle Obama exudes elegance, so it's no surprise that her recipe for chicken salad with herb vinaigrette is simple and sophisticated too. In honor of the First Lady's first cookbook, American Grown, coming out on May 29, I whipped up this easy and healthy dinner salad.

This salad celebrates Summer greens, herbs, and grilling season, though if you don't have a grill, the chicken is just as delicious if you cook it in a broiler, like I did. The grill-laden marinade and sherry vinaigrette complement each other for a fresh flavor that requires little adornments. To marinate the chicken, just mix up the lemon zest, herbs, and enough olive oil to coat. I only marinated mine for about 20 minutes and that was plenty to create a flavorful, golden browned breast.

I also served the chicken a second night atop a salad with fresh corn and avocado, and it was still a standout. Considering how extraordinary fast and easy this recipe was, I'll definitely be making it again. Get the recipe now.

How to Curb Salt - but Not Flavor - in Your Cooking

Susannah Chen — Wed, 23 May 2012 16:39:05 PDT

By now you're probably familiar with MyPlate, the government's new food pyramid replacement; in case you hadn't heard, based on the updated guidelines, Americans are consuming far more sodium than they should. And new research suggests that overconsumption of salt affects cognitive function. High blood pressure, water retention, and stupidity? That's too much to bear. The good news is that there are plenty of ways to cut down on salt in the kitchen without impacting the deliciousness of your dinner. See a few easy steps, when you keep reading.