GeekSugar

WonderCon 2008: Spicy Brown's Tofu Robot Goods

GeekSugar — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 08:01:33 PST

Making my way around WonderCon's expo floor was a pain in the neck - literally. I had to keep an eye out for all those awesome costumes, which meant straining my neck left and right all weekend! So it was a nice break coming across the booth of Spicy Brown - the home of these super cute Tofu Robot figures ($20) as well as some geek chic tees and accessories. I was in a geeky fashion heaven.

To learn more about the line of tees and Spicy Brown in general,

read more Their Tofu Robot line of tees was one of my faves (one even made its way to my closet - I guess I'm a sucker for astronaut robots!) but I also love the Kokeshi Ink's graphic and Japanese inspired line as well. The cool thing about Spicy Brown is they usher in new artists to design the tees and accessories so there's always something new to look at.

Join Us at the Table For a Virtual Thanksgiving Feast!

Susannah Chen — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 09:25:08 PST

Can't wait for Turkey Day to be here, already? Well, then you've lucked out, because this year, Thanksgiving's come early - online, at least. Food Network's brought together some of the country's top food outlets for a virtual holiday feast. From cocktails and appetizers to main dishes and desserts, this meal's got it all - and each recipe is one that you can re-create yourself at home. Given our recent obsession with wintry salads, it was only appropriate that we bring a Autumn-inspired platter of greens to gobble down at this year's feast. See what the rest of our friends are bringing to the table when you read more.

Thai Omelet in Coconut Curry Broth

OnSugar Blog — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 12:21:37 PDT

Inspired by a trip to a local farmers market, Fresh Tart whips up a quick version of a food-stand favorite: the coconut curry Thai omelet.

My son Nathan and I spent our summer Sundays eating our way through Kingfield Farmers Market. We did it last summer too and got in such a fun groove of eating together, visiting with friends, and stocking up on all of our favorite treats for the week.

It's worth noting that it was a much less expensive endeavor last year, when Nathan was around my height and was satisfied with a Chef Shack hot dog. Uh, not this year, not at 6'4" and counting, when he still ate a Chef Shack hot dog, but added their soft-shell crab sandwich, mini-donuts, and Arnie Palmer; Gai Gai Thai curry; Cafe Palmira iced coffee; Foxy Falafel curry falafel with a load of perfect pickles, extra hummus to go; Sun Street Bakery turnovers and sourdough loaf; and Bogart Loves maple-bacon donuts.

I scored plenty of bites, of course, and a good portion of it all we brought home to share with John...but I'm telling you, Sunday became a day for feasting.

So damn cool.

One of my favorites toward the end of the season was Gai Gai's Thai omelet served in a curry broth. On a chilly morning, perhaps after being out too late the night before, that crispy omelet in creamy coconut broth tasted spicy-sublime.

Keep reading for her take on the recipe.

Fast & Easy Dinner: Spicy Barley and Rice

partysugar — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 12:50:27 PST

With the addition of vegetables, barley, and lots of fragrant seasonings, brown rice, normally accustomed to being a staple side, suddenly finds itself in the main dish spotlight. What makes this brown rice a hearty vegetarian meal are the layers of flavor and variety of textures. While fresh thyme and spicy chipotles in adobo may not be the most obvious of food pairings, when tossed with the barley and rice, the ingredients blend seamlessly. Lots of spinach provides a stimulating green color, and chunks of nuts add a necessary crunch. To get this exciting recipe that won't disappoint, please

Hats Off to Maple Syrup For Its Many Health Benefits

Heather Dale — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 10:48:32 PDT

When you need a sweetener, what do you turn to? Honey, agave nectar, or maybe just plane ole sugar? I'm far from being this "freaky" eater, but my sweetener of choice is organic, Grade A maple syrup. Aside from smothering pancakes and waffles in this delicious brown syrup, maple syrup is a very versatile sweetener. I like adding it to yogurt, oatmeal, or apple sauce, but you can also use it in dressings for salads, in fish or chicken dishes, or in a granola parfait, or roast some almonds in maple syrup and spicy cinnamon for a light, healthy snack. These maple syrup recipe ideas are sure to inspire you.

Pure maple syrup tastes great, and it offers a myriad of health benefits. Here are just a few:

It's an antioxidant powerhouse. Researchers at the University of Rhode Island found that maple syrup is filled with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds that may help prevent several chronic and inflammatory diseases like diabetes, cancer, osteoporosis, and Alzheimer's. It also comes packed with phenolics - the beneficial antioxidant compounds in maple syrup - that may help diabetics keep their blood sugar levels balanced since phenolics inhibit the enzymes that are involved in the conversion of carbohydrates to sugar.

Here are more reasons why it's good for us.

Baked Costa Rican Style Tilapia With Pineapples, Black Beans, and Rice

OnSugar Blog — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 03:09:22 PDT

Next time you're in the mood for some Latin cooking, branch out with this sweet and sour Costa Rican tilapia recipe, courtesy of Cooking in Pajamas.

Even those people who do not like fish will love this recipe! There is not a hint of "fishy-ness" in this dish. Tilapia is a beautiful, meaty, yet mild fish. By marinating it in a flavorful mix of citrus juices, cilantro and garlic, you are adding a lovely sweet and sour tang to it. Then, the fish is set atop a rice mixture that is loaded with spicy-sweetness.

My son, Joey, who is not a huge seafood fan exclaimed, "I don't really like fish or cilantro or fruit mixed in with my food, but this is really good!" Well, I like fish, cilantro and fruit in my dinner, so you can imagine how much I liked it! This dish is quick and easy enough to have on a busy weekday, but it is also elegant enough to serve to company, not to mention, it is very healthy. I know you are going to love it!

See what goes into this healthy meal when you keep reading.

Soy by Any Other Name: A Nutritional Comparison

FitSugar — Fri, 20 May 2011 13:05:01 PDT

Soy is one of the most versatile ingredients; it can be eaten whole or ground, fermented, and formed into various ingredients for nutritious and healthy cooking. Not only that, but it's also high in protein and fiber and contains less fat than its animal counterparts, so it's a no-brainer for people who want to eat less meat. Want to know how different forms of soy compare in both taste and nutrition? Read on for four forms of soy and how they work in your diet!

Edamame: Edamame are baby soy beans that are harvested when ripe and sold either frozen, cooked, or shelled. The nutty-flavored beans are great for snacking or in anything from stir fries to soups. A 1/2 cup of edamame has 95 calories, 4 grams of fat, 8.5 grams of protein, and 4 grams of fiber. Try shelled edamame in a super easy side like this brown rice and edamame dish.
Soy milk: Soy milk is the liquid extracted from ground cooked soybeans. It also has a mild nutty flavor but can be sweetened with other flavors like vanilla as well as made into other dairy-like products like soy yogurt. A cup of plain soy milk has 100 calories, 4 grams of fat, 7 grams of protein, and 1 gram of fiber. Substitute soy milk for regular milk in anything from cereal to smoothies to pancakes (like these vegan pineapple pancakes with citrus cream).
Tofu: Tofu is made by curdling soy milk with a coagulant to form thick white blocks. There are four types of tofu to use in various dishes: silken, soft, firm, and extra firm. Since tofu has little flavor, it works with many different kinds of dishes (it'll just take on the flavor of your ingredients). A 1/2 cup of tofu has 97 calories, 5.3 grams of fat, 10.1 grams of protein, and 0.5 grams of fiber. Firm and extra firm tofus are great in stir fries, or even healthier baked, like in this spicy mango veggie rice bowl.
Tempeh: This form of soy is made by fermenting cooked soybeans with a mold. It is sold in dry, brown blocks and has a firm and chewy texture. A 1/2 cup of tempeh has 160 calories, 9 grams of fat, 15.4 grams of protein, and 3.5 grams of fiber. Many people think tempeh makes the perfect meat substitute, so try it out instead of bacon in a TLT - tempeh, lettuce, and tomato sandwich.

Source: Flickr User adactio

Screw-the-Snow Fish Tacos

OnSugar Blog — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 04:47:25 PDT

Not quite feeling like Spring yet in your neck of the woods? Don't despair. Rather, follow in Fresh Tart's footsteps and cheer yourself up with gluten-free fish tacos!

The weather, I promised myself I would not talk about the weather.

But forget it man, this is Minnesota, and we talk about the weather. So here it is: It rained ice last night, as John and I were on our way from not one but two fabulous dinners.

See how she conquered the cold with fish tacos (recipe included!) when you keep reading.

8 Fun Ways to Stay Cool on a Dime

LearnVest — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 00:15:06 PDT

We're thrilled to present this smart LearnVest story here on Savvy!

Someone once said that girls don’t sweat-they glisten. Well, that person was wrong . . . But staying cool is hard, especially in the summer heat.

So, what’s a girl to do?

One option, obviously, is to ratchet up the air conditioning. But turning the dial to a cooler temperature comes with a price, and overcooling your home will counteract all the green, eco-friendly choices you’ve been making this year (so much for choosing green cleaning products, buying organic food and drinking organic wine).

Stay cool from morning to night with these fun, inventive and simple ideas. From icy accessories to tasty margarita pops, we’ll have you upgrading that sweat to a glisten in no time.

Homemade Margarita Pops

Frozen margaritas are so last summer. This year, we're digging margarita pops-a perfect (adult) afternoon snack. Try this easy recipe from the Food Network, or feel free to experiment with different alcohol and juice combos. Just don't go overboard on the booze, or the pops won't freeze properly.

For more cheap summer cocktails, read this.

Try A New 'Do

All too often, summer humidity means frizz. Get your hair under control-and off your neck-by braiding your hair in the morning. (Think Blake Lively or Diane Kruger for inspiration.)

One easy idea: Dutch braid the hair across your forehead and secure the rest into a low side bun with an elastic and bobby pins. To learn how to Dutch braid, watch this.

Read on for more ways to stay cool on the cheap.

Gym Bag Essential: Skinnyskinny Dry Shampoo

Heather Dale — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 10:24:32 PDT

I've got wavy, long, and thick wild tresses, which, needless to say, isn't the easiest to manage post-workout. I try my best to skip washing my hair every day to prevent damage, but I love the feeling of squeaky clean hair. Even when I attempt to just rinse my hair with water, I may throw in a bit of conditioner to make my hair smell like a bouquet of fresh flowers.

For those of you like me who want that clean fresh feeling (minus any oil) and hair that smells so good you want to eat it, I turn your attention to dry shampoo. We've already talked about Oscar Blandi's Dry Shampoo and now I'd like to introduce you to my latest pick - skinnyskinny's Organic Rose and Black Pepper Dry Shampoo ($32). What I love about this dry shampoo is the fact that it goes with all hair colors - brown, black, blond, you name it. Unlike other dry shampoos that don't blend very well into your hair, with skinnyskinny's version, a little on the scalp goes a long way. Although the color is white, all you have to do is run your fingers through your hair a few times and it will easily blend in. Other pros include its spicy/floral scent and the fact that it actually adds texture and volume to your hair. I kid you not, my hair sometimes looks better after using this product than if I were to wash and blow-dry it - go figure!