CasaSugar

If Money Weren't an Issue . . .

CasaSugar — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 06:15:24 -0800

. . . Would you have an elaborate fresco painted on your wall?

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Not Your Regular Nachos: Nachos Frescos

partysugar — Thu, 01 May 2008 11:30:44 -0700

Although incredibly delicious, nachos are deceptively filling making them a dish that's easy to overeat. Since Cinco de Mayo is next week, I wanted to make a less-heavy variation of nachos that would allow for maximum margarita consumption. To make the nachos lighter - I have no clue if they're healthier, we'll have to ask FitSugar - I baked the tortillas instead of frying them and replaced the meat with black beans. The final nachos were fresh and delectable. I devoured them in minutes! For the details on how to make them, read more.

If you want to know more about how I made these nachos, check out the photo captions.

Nachos Frescos
Original recipe by PartySugar

Ingredients

For chips:
2 fresh flour tortillas
vegetable oil
salt
fresh cracked black pepper
cayenne powder
For bean-corn salad:
1 (13 oz.) can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 can corn, drained and rinsed
3 green onions, finely chopped
4 small cloves of garlic minced
2 Tbsp. fresh lime juice
1 Tbsp. honey
1 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. hot sauce
1 tsp. white wine vinegar
salt
For nachos:
1/2 cup shredded green leaf lettuce
1/4 picked cilantro leaves, separated from their stems
1 roma tomato, seeded and finely diced
2 heaping tablespoons peppercini, finely chopped
1/2 cup Cotija cheese, finely grated

Directions

Make the chips: preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a cookie sheet with foil.
Cut the tortillas like you would a pizza pie, into 8 even, triangular pieces. Place on the foil lined cookie sheet.
Brush with oil and season with salt, pepper, and cayenne powder. Flip and repeat, brushing with the oil and sprinkling with the seasonings.
Bake in the oven until one side is crisp and browned 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, make the bean-corn salad: combine the beans, corn, green onion, and garlic in a bowl. Add the lime juice, honey, cumin, hot sauce, and vinegar. Stir to combine and season with salt to taste. Set aside and let the flavors meld for a couple of minutes.
Toss the lettuce with the cilantro leaves.
In a small bowl, combine the tomatoes and peppercini.
Assemble nachos: cover a bakeable serving dish - like a cazuela - with a layer of the half-baked chips in a serving dish. Sprinkle with Cotija cheese. Top with remaining half-baked chips and another layer of cheese.
Bake in the oven for 5-8 minutes until the cheese is melted and chips are completely baked.
Remove from oven and top with lettuce cilantro mix, bean-corn salad, and final sprinkle of cheese.
Return to the oven for 1-2 more minutes.
Top with tomato peppercini mixture and serve.

Serves 1 as a main course or 2 as appetizers.

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Is Taco Bell's Christine the New Jared?

FitSugar — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 15:00:37 -0800

Taco Bell has repackaged its "fresco-style" menu - which has been around since 2003 - as the new "Drive-Thru Diet." The new ad campaign touts the company's "healthier" menu, featuring items that contain nine grams of fat or less. And in a move that mimics the Subway/Jared pairing, Taco Bell has a newly slimmed spokesperson touting the benefits of the Drive-Thru Diet. Enter Christine Dougherty, an attractive young lady pushing the diet alongside her success story of losing 54 pounds in two years.

To see the commercial, read more.

Unfortunately, the commercials are a bit misleading. If you read the many disclaimers on the Taco Bell site and the lack of details surrounding Christine's story, it becomes clear that it's not really a diet at all - at least not one that can solely account for her weight loss. Christine claims that she lost the weight by cutting her daily calorie intake by 500 calories and other "sensible choices." Here's the thing, the fresco-style menu isn't that different than its regular menu, calorie-wise. Instead of that small sprinkling of cheese, you get salsa, which saves you roughly 75 calories or so per item.

Unlike Jared Fogle, the man behind the Subway diet, Christine never comes out and says she ate nothing but Taco Bell's fresco-style menu. If anything, she maybe chose a fresco item over a regular menu item when she had a hankering for fast food. I'm thinking it was these "sensible choices" that she made, which helped her drop the weight - keep that in mind before you run out to Taco Bell and subsist on nothing but its burritos and chimichangas.

Last Minute Shopping: Food Court Survival Guide

FitSugar — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 09:00:50 -0800

If you're cramming in last minute Christmas shopping, you might just be headed to the mall for a marathon day of shopping.

A long shopping day means you're going to need to refuel. With all the wonderful treats around you don't want to waste precious calories on run-of-the-mill food court fare. I have found a few items that are lower in calories and saturated fat and though may not be the healthiest choices overall, like celeb trainer Valerie Waters says, sometimes you just have to make the better choice.

From Subway:
6" Veggie Delite: 230 calories, 1 g saturated fat
6" Turkey Breast: 280 calories, 1.5 g saturated fat
6" Oven Roasted Chicken Breast: 310 calories, 1.5 g saturated fat

Not into those choices? Then read more.

From McDonald's:
Premium Southwest Salad with Grilled Chicken: 320 calories, 3 g saturated fat
Premium Caesar Salad with Grilled Chicken: 220 calories, 3 g saturated fat
Snack Size Fruit & Walnut Salad: 210 calories, 1.5 g of saturated fat

Opt for no dressing or choose from these two:

Newman's Own Low Fat Balsamic Vinaigrette: 40 calories, 0 g saturated fat
Newman's Own Low Fat Family Recipe Italian Dressing: 60 calories, 0 g saturated fat

From Wendy's:
Chicken Caesar Salad with Grilled Chicken Fillet: 490 calories, 7 g saturated fat
Broccoli and Cheese Potato: 340 calories, 1.5 g saturated fat
Grilled Chicken Go Wrap: 250 calories, 3.5 g saturated fat
Ultimate Chicken Grill: 350 calories, 1.5 g saturated fat
Side of Mandarin Oranges: 80 calories, 0 g saturated fat

From Taco Bell:
Fresco Bean Burrito: 340 calories, 2.5 g saturated fat
Regular Style Ranchero Chicken Soft Taco: 270 calories, 4 g saturated fat
Regular Style Spicy Chicken Soft Taco: 170 calories, 2 g saturated fat
Fresco Burrito Supreme Chicken: 340 calories, 2.5 g saturated fat
Fiesta Taco Salad NO Shell: 460 calories, 8 g saturated fat

From Dunkin' Donuts:
Multigrain bagel w/ reduced fat vegetable cream cheese: 520 calories, 8 g saturated fat
Original Chicken Wrap: 230 calories, 3 g saturated fat
Garden Salad: 180 calories, 3 g saturated fat
Chicken Noodle Soup: 130 calories, 1 g saturated fat

From Sbarro:
Slice of thin-crust cheese pizza: 460 calories, 3.5 g saturated fat

Another great option is to pack your own healthy snacks or sandwiches. You'll know it's low in calories and fat, will save you money, and you won't have to wait in those long lines.

Flickr User pinksherbet

Nachos Frescos

partysugar — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 15:14:48 -0700

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The Hills Beauty Quiz: Episode 4, "Old Habits Die Hard"

BellaSugar — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 10:59:29 -0700

On last night's episode of The Hills, Kristin drives home to Laguna Beach for a heart-to-heart with her dad, and upon her return to her Malibu beach house, she's seduced by Justin, who cooks dinner for her. After eating al fresco, they head inside for "dessert." Meanwhile, Holly is in party mode full force, while her friends and family voice concern about her frequent drinking binges. As a result, she vows to end her relationship with alcohol. In other shocking news, Audrina and Justin have a secret meeting, which ends in Audrina promising she won't hang out with Derek anymore. I suppose we'll have to see it to believe it. All drama aside, were you were paying close attention to the beauty details in this episode? Take my quiz now to test yourself, and for all of the fashion looks, be sure to check out CelebStyle. For all things tech, be sure to head to GeekSugar for her quiz, as well.

Photos courtesy of MTV

Take the quiz

Food Court Survival: Healthy Fast Food Options

FitSugar — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 03:30:00 -0800

If you're braving the mall this Black Friday, chances are you're going to need to refuel at the food court as well. Although there are choices galore on the food front, many of them are high in calories and fat, so here are some healthier options to munch on. They may not be the healthiest choices on the planet, but they're better than succumbing to a Big Mac attack.

From Subway:
6" Veggie Delite: 230 calories, 1 g saturated fat
6" Turkey Breast: 280 calories, 1.5 g saturated fat
6" Oven Roasted Chicken Breast: 310 calories, 1.5 g saturated fat

Not into those choices? Then read more.

From McDonald's:
Premium Southwest Salad with Grilled Chicken: 320 calories, 3 g saturated fat
Premium Asian Salad with Grilled Chicken: 300 calories, 1 g saturated fat
Premium Caesar Salad with Grilled Chicken: 220 calories, 3 g saturated fat
Snack Size Fruit & Walnut Salad: 210 calories, 1.5 g of saturated fat

Opt for no dressing or choose from these two:

Newman's Own Low Fat Balsamic Vinaigrette: 40 calories, 0 g saturated fat
Newman's Own Low Fat Family Recipe Italian Dressing: 60 calories, 0 g saturated fat

From Wendy's:
Chicken Caesar Salad with Grilled Chicken Fillet: 490 calories, 7 g saturated fat
Broccoli and Cheese Potato: 320 calories, 1.5 g saturated fat
Grilled Chicken Go Wrap: 260 calories, 3.5 g saturated fat
Ultimate Chicken Grill: 320 calories, 1.5 g saturated fat
Premium Fish Fillet Sandwich: 450 calories, 3.5 g saturated fat
Side of Mandarin Oranges: 80 calories, 0 g saturated fat

From Taco Bell:
Fresco Bean Burrito: 330 calories, 2.5 g saturated fat
Regular Style Ranchero Chicken Soft Taco: 270 calories, 4 g saturated fat
Regular Style Spicy Chicken Soft Taco: 170 calories, 2 g saturated fat
Fresco Style Spicy Chicken Burrito: 340 calories, 3 g saturated fat
Fresco Style Fiesta Burrito - Beef: 350 calories, 4 g saturated fat
Fresco Style Chalupa Supreme - Chicken: 300 calories, 2 g saturated fat

From Dunkin' Donuts:
Multigrain bagel w/ reduced fat vegetable cream cheese: 520 calories, 8 g saturated fat
Turkey and Cheese Sandwich: 510 calories, 6 g saturated fat
Garden Salad: 240 calories, 5 g saturated fat
Chicken Noodle Soup: 140 calories, 1 g saturated fat
Reduced Fat Blueberry Muffin: 400 calories, 2 g saturated fat

From Sbarro:

Slice of thin-crust cheese pizza: 460 calories, 3.5 g saturated fat

Fit's Tip: Another great option is to pack your own healthy snacks or sandwiches. You'll know it's low in calories and fat, will save you money, and you won't have to wait in those long lines.

How to Stay Healthy on Your Honeymoon

FitSugar — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 09:00:00 -0700

Even for the most fitness-minded among us, honeymooning and exercising aren't necessarily a match made in heaven. It's hard to get motivated to exercise on vacation, especially after your wedding. But just because you're ditching your gym routine doesn't mean you can't balance your relaxation and indulgence with some sensible habits. Here are some tips for staying healthy even when you're over the moon.

Schedule active activities. Probably the most obvious tip, but not to be forgotten. When planning your itinerary, consider tourism that will get you moving, whether it's a scenic hike or a bike tour. Staying beach-bound? Bring along some props, such as a Frisbee or paddleball set, which will engage you and your new mate.
Explore on foot. If you're vacationing in a city, forgo taxis and transit for walking. As long as you make sure to stick to safe areas, walking is a calorie-burning way to feel good about your vacation indulgences, and it's a great way to see a city too.

To see five more ideas, read more.

Choose indulgences carefully. Just because it's your honeymoon doesn't mean you should throw all caution to the wind. Think about what you most want to indulge in, and allow yourself one or two a day rather than pigging out every meal. Try to keep things in balance: if you have an extra piña colada at lunch, skip dessert at dinner.
Walk it off. Even if you're not seeing a city on foot, consider taking a 45-minute walk after particularly indulgent meals. Research suggests that walking right after a high-fat meal can help reverse potential damage to your arteries.
Explore the local bounty. Whether you're staying on a tropical island or in a European city, do some shopping at the neighborhood food markets. Picking up local produce, seafood, and other fresh foods will help you snack sensibly while experiencing local flavor.
Share your suppers. It's tempting to eat everything on your plate while on vacation, since you can't take the leftovers home. So split an entrée with your newlywed to save both money and calories.
Dine al fresco. If you're vacationing in a hot climate, eating outside may help you eat less. As opposed to being in AC, dining al fresco can make you crave more liquids and less food.

Source

Taco Bell's New Focus: Drinks, Premium Food, and Breakfast

YumSugar — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 09:00:44 -0700

Turns out McDonald's and Burger King won't be the only fast food chains focusing on premium products. So will Taco Bell.

On Tuesday, Yum Brands Inc., which operates Taco Bell, held an investor meeting and announced dramatic plans to shake up the menu at the Tex-Mex chain. Among other things, the game plan includes zeroing in on premium foods, highlighting healthy options, and testing a new line of breakfast offerings.

This year the company launched a nine-item Fresco menu, filled with healthier alternatives that have less than 9 grams of fat, that will be the focus of a "Drive-Thru Diet" campaign in January. It also has plans to extend its selection of beverages, based on the current success of its Frutista Freeze drinks. On top of everything else, the corporation is about to enter early market testing on a breakfast menu, slated to launch in 2012, that'll feature cobranded foods from brands like Seattle's Best, Cinnabon, and Jimmy Dean.

Do you think the fast food corporation's marketing tactics will bring in more diners? Have you sampled anything from Taco Bell's new menu? If not, would you be willing to give it a try?

Source

Open Table Adds Mobile Apps For the Palm Pre, BlackBerry

GeekSugar — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 01:43:59 -0700

The Open Table app for the iPhone has changed my mobile dining life, but even if you're not an iPhone user, you can now get in on this action.

Open Table has launched free mobile apps for both the Palm Pre and the BlackBerry!

Open Table jumped on the mobile trend early, and I'm glad to see them making their way into non-Apple app stores as well.

If you needed another excuse to spontaneously dine al fresco this Summer, I just gave it to you.