CasaSugar

Grasshopper Pie Two Ways - Beginner and Expert

YumSugar — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 05:50:54 -0800

'Tis the season for green garb and mint chocolate cookies - so why not combine the two in a fitting dessert that pays homage to the Emerald Isle? Based on the post-dinner drink of the same name, grasshopper pie is the epitome of mint chocolate heaven, with a cocoa wafer cookie crust and a creamy, cooling center. Keep things simple with the help of premade crust and instant pudding mix, which'll shave off set time for the filling. Or, for a stepped-up version, build your crust from scratch, and add a twist with the use of fine white chocolate instead. Make either one now.

I Am Loving Mint!

Savvy Community — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 12:00:37 -0800

This post was submitted by Lauren in our Ask Savvy group.

I have been using Mint for nearly a month and I love it! Not only do I realize what I spend my money (a lot more on restaurants than I realized) but was also able to catch when my bank "accidentally" charged my account twice for my cell phone bill. With the alerts, I was able to react quickly and contact my bank to make sure they reversed the charges. I am just curious for those of you who started using Mint was there a category that you thought was going to be a lot less or more when you set up your first budget? And were you able to catch any abnormalities in your accounts?

Do you have a question for Savvy and fellow readers? Create a PopSugar account or log in to your account. Then ask your question in the Ask Savvy group.

Photo courtesy of The CW

Fast & Easy Dinner: Lamb Chops With Couscous Pilaf

partysugar — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 11:30:28 -0800

Couscous has recently become one of my favorite pantry staples. It's wonderfully quick-cooking and can be seasoned with just about anything. In this recipe, canned tomatoes, garbanzo beans, and fresh mint give the couscous a Mediterranean feel. The couscous is paired with a lemon-peppery lamb chop that's succulent to eat and simple to make. Don't feel limited by the recipe; it's actually highly adaptable. Substitute chicken for the lamb, black beans for the garbanzos, and cilantro for the mint, and you've got a totally different dish. To learn the versatile technique, read more.

Lamb Chops With Couscous Pilaf
From Woman's Day

Ingredients

2 tsp salt-free lemon and pepper seasoning (McCormick)
2 1⁄2 tsp ground cumin
4 shoulder lamb chops, 3⁄4 in. thick
2 tsp olive oil
1 can (15.5 oz) chickpeas, rinsed
1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes with sweet onion
1 cup water
1 box (5.8 oz) roasted garlic & olive oil couscous mix
2 Tbsp chopped fresh mint

Directions

Mix lemon pepper seasoning and 2 tsp ground cumin in small cup; rub on both sides of lamb chops.
Heat oil in nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Brown chops 3 minutes per side for medium doneness.
Meanwhile, heat chickpeas, tomatoes, water, couscous spice packet and remaining 1⁄2 tsp cumin in 2-qt saucepan until boiling. Stir in couscous, cover and remove from heat. Let stand 5 minutes; stir in mint.
Serve the chops along side the couscous.

Serves 4.

Print recipe with images | without images

Come Party With Me: Vegan Dinner - Drinks

partysugar — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 15:00:20 -0800

It seems like everyone I know is detoxing this week. People are working out, staying in, and eating healthy. To support my sister and friends, who are on a 10-day vegan cleanse, I'm making a figure-friendly meal full of vegetables. Since they've also given up drinking, I'll have to serve a nonalcoholic beverage. Instead of offering something boring like water, I'm whipping up a round of this uplifting refresher. It's a combination of muddled mint and pineapple and pomegranate juice. It's fruity, but not too heavy and will pair perfectly with chickpea, mint, and parsley spread. To look at the easy recipe, keep reading.

Mint Anyone?

Savvy Community — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 06:00:08 -0800

This question was submitted by member Lauren in our Ask Savvy group.

I have always tried to keep a budget, but I must admit my method of using a spreadsheet was often one of the last things I ever wanted to do. In hopes to keep up on my budget and after reading about Mint on SavvySugar, I decided to give it a shot. I only signed up last night and find it pretty easy and intuitive but was wondering is anyone else using it? Any tips or advice?

Submit a career or finance question for me to answer while giving other readers the opportunity to weigh in. Create a PopSugar account or log in to your account. Then post your questions in the Ask Savvy group.

Your Favorite Money Management Tool in 2009

SavvySugar — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 06:00:52 -0800

Sometimes a good thing can get better! In 2008, 47 percent of SavvySugar readers picked Mint.com as their favorite money management tool of the year and this year, 49 percent of you picked the green management tool again.

What is it? Mint is a free site that lets you to view all of your accounts in one place, provides budgeting tools that help determine where would be easiest to cut spending, and helps find interest savings by comparing your bank account and credit card rates to others. The company also offers helpful apps so you can keep up your management on your phone when you are away from your computer. Online management tools are extremely helpful in goal setting, which sounds just perfect for the new year. To check out a video of the founder explaining how the site works, read more.

Have you tried Mint? Why do you like or dislike it?

Do You Use Financial Alerts?

SavvySugar — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 12:00:23 -0800

There are no two ways about it - overdraft fees are a bummer. While you can always set up overdraft protection (or a savvy alternative), the best approach is obviously to avoid going into the red in the first place. But if you aren’t meticulously tracking your purchases or checking your online balance often, that can be easier said than done.

Money management programs like Mint (which was your 2008 favorite and is currently in the lead for 2009), along with many banks, offer account alerts to save you from the nasty shock of overdraft fees. You can use the alerts to let you know when your account has been overdrawn, your balance has gone below a certain amount, or an unusual withdrawal or deposit has taken place, among other things.

Personally, receiving emails or text messages updating me about my accounts has been a lifesaver, especially during the busy (and spendy) holiday season. Have you ever taken advantage of these services?

Source: Flickr User stuartpilbrow

What Is the Best Money Management Tool in 2009?

SavvySugar — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 12:00:32 -0800

Financial organization is key to long-term savvy, and the money management tools that make it easier deserve a place in the Best of 2009 lineup. These tools do astounding things like showing all of our accounts in one place and depicting our spending habits in pretty pie charts that let us see where we should cut back. In short, budgeting has never been so simple. Which of these tools do you favor over the rest?

Sink Your Teeth Into Blood-Orange Sorbet

YumSugar — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:15:47 -0700

Inspired by the vampire-themed party, I decided to make my own bloody, yet delicious, treat. With Halloween only a few days away, I pulled out the ice-cream maker and started on a blood orange and mint sorbet - a perfect treat for your fangtastic friends! Although the last time I made ice cream, I had a problem with curdling custard, making this sorbet was easier and much less risky.

I started with a mint-infused simple syrup. While it cooled, I pulled out my glass citrus press (just like my grandmother had!) and hand-juiced the blood oranges. Even with the manual juicing, the whole process is quite quick and in only a few hours, I had refreshing and flavorful sorbet. If you want to feed your vamp guests this sensational sorbet, keep reading.

Happy Hour: Kiwi Cobbler

YumSugar — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 16:00:42 -0700

Last week at the market, I spotted some New Zealand kiwis for a good price. I know they're not local and organic, but they simply looked too plump and verdant to pass up, so I bought a ton. And, when life handed me a bunch of kiwis, what did I do? Make a kiwi cobbler, of course.

I'm a sucker for muddled fruit cocktails, and this one from Boston fine-dining institution Radius is no exception. I love how fresh it tastes with one whole kiwi, torn mint, and a splash of seltzer. Make it in a minute when you read more