FabSugar

Online Sale Alert! Fall Super Sale at Rarechic

FabSugar — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 04:00:22 PST

Rarechic is not only having a sale, it's having a Fall Super Sale with an additional 20 percent off sale and non-sale items. A Geren Ford ruffle blouse, a Mike & Chris leather jacket, and a red Katy Rodriguez glamour dress are just some of the goodies to expect.

What do you think about these Dish Designs Silver Nugget Hoops ($88, originally $110)? I dig the little nuggets. Be sure to enter Rare20 upon checkout.

Meet Me in Moscow: A Russian Food Primer

Lizzie Fuhr — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 05:45:20 PST

Whenever you're complaining about the ferocity of Winter, just remember things are much, much colder in other parts of the world. But while Russian Winters may be brutal, they've got plenty of amazing, comforting recipes with flavors designed to take that chill out of your bones. It's time to call up your babushka, put on your copy of Doctor Zhivago, and grab a tall glass of vodka, if you see fit! It's time to get reading about the delicious dishes Russian cuisine has to offer.

Dishes:

Solyanka: The base of the spicy and sour solyanka soup consists of pickled cucumbers with brine, cabbage, mushrooms, sour cream, and dill. It's either served with meat, fish, or mushrooms.
Pirozhki : Pirozhki are small buns that are stuffed typically with a savory filling and then baked or fried. Some typical fillings include meat, onion, eggs, mashed potatoes, or cabbage.
Stroganov: Beef stroganov, or stroganoff, is cooked up in many a cafeteria today, but this recipe originated in Russia. It's typically pieces of beef served up in a sour cream-based sauce on top of egg noodles.
Blini: These thin, crepelike pancakes are enjoyed with either a savory or sweet topping. As opposed to the French crepe, blinis are made from buckwheat and are part of traditional Russian cuisine.
Borscht: Soups are a staple of a traditional Russian diet. And borscht is the czar of these soups. While it's served up cold in many restaurants in the US, traditionally borscht, primarily made of beets, is served piping hot.
Vatrushka: This traditional Russian dessert is a big ring of flaky pastry dough with cottage cheese in the center. Similar to a delicious American-style Danish, it's typically topped off with raisins or bits of fruit.

Staples:

Smetana (sour cream): Blinis are topped off with it. Soups utilize its flavor. It's even used in dessert recipes! In short, expect to find fresh and delicious sour cream accompanying just about Russian ration you eat.
Black bread: The dark, crusty, hearty rye bread is served alongside many a Russian dish.
Ikra (caviar): Briny caviar is a definite splurge in the US, but in Russia, you can find caviar far more often on a table. It's often served with blinis or atop black bread.

Did I leave anything off? Any Russian foods you love to chow down on? Add your thoughts in the comments!

Source: Flickr User Istelleinad & geishaboy500

From My Kitchen: Chili Honey Butter

Padma Lakshmi — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:34:26 PST

We've got a new partnership with Padma Lakshmi! The host of the Emmy-winning Top Chef, writer, and designer started Padma Lakshmi, a social networking site that celebrates our favorite topics, including food adventures, recipes, and party planning. She'll be dishing up goodies for us here on YumSugar monthly. Today, Padma sings the virtues of a lesser-known condiment: homemade chili honey butter.

Chili . . . honey . . . butter. Need I say more? It's actually dangerous to keep this condiment around because you will find yourself buttering your toast with it, frying up eggs with a bit of it melted in the pan, not to mention making home fries, too. And that's just breakfast. It can be used to sauté green beans and carrots, to brush on grilled fish, even to baste a whole chicken for roasting.

Related: Global Pantry: Garam Masala

Get her recipe after the break.

Sugar Shout Out: Get Wedding Inspiration From Pop Princesses

Katie Henry — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 23:55:40 PST

8 Ways to Turn Storage Into Design

CasaSugar — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 06:00:23 PST

Rather than hiding extra clothes and accessories in boxes or drawers, why not opt for exposed storage that transforms into decor? You don't need to sacrifice style for function. Check out these eight great ways to turn your storage into design, from storage for shoes to dishes to linens.

Bridal Friday Link Time: A Bridal Shower For Grownup Girl Scouts

TresSugar — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 12:39:00 PST

Scout's honor: a Girl Scout-inspired bridal shower! - Green Wedding Shoes
This art deco wedding has dancing pinup models and cigar girls - Ruffled
If you love midcentury design, prepare to swoon over Yeah! Rentals - 100 Layer Cake
Fun DIY fortune cookie favors - Project Wedding
A wedding with Scrabble, flip cup, and rice crispy treats? Count us in! - Style Me Pretty
This rom-com-inspired bridal shower is fit for a movie star - The Knotty Bride
10 ways to save on flowers - Glamour
Bridal gown inspiration from the stars at the Golden Globes - Equally Wed
New "Hey Girl" Ryan Gosling meme dishes practical wedding advice - The Bride's Guide
"I can't afford my friend's wedding!" - SavvySugar

Sugar Shout Out: Work Out Like a Victoria's Secret Angel

Mackenzie Wagoner — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 23:55:00 PST

Global Pantry: Za'atar Powder Has Endless Possibilities

Padma Lakshmi — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 08:30:15 PST

We've got a new partnership with Padma Lakshmi! The host of the Emmy-winning Top Chef, writer, and designer started Padma Lakshmi, a social-networking site that celebrates our favorite topics including food adventures, recipes, and party planning. She'll be dishing up goodies for us here on YumSugar monthly. Today Padma makes a compelling point for why all of us should keep za'atar powder in our pantries.

Za'atar is a Middle Eastern spice powder that is mainly used in Syria and parts of Armenia and Turkey. It contains oregano, thyme, and sesame seeds as well as sumac. It's an excellent seasoning to rub on freshly baked breads - especially flatbreads, as they do in the Middle East. Like sumac, za'atar powder will keep for ages in your pantry. I always keep it in mine to help me literally make something out of almost nothing.

More on what to do with za'atar, after the break.

Nicole Richie Tells Us Why We Need to Watch Fashion Star

Allison McNamara — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 16:50:15 PST

We sat down with Nicole Richie to get the dish on her new fashion reality show, Fashion Star. Nicole explains that this series is totally different from other fashion design competition shows out there, mainly because you can actually purchase the pieces you see on TV as they walk down the runway! Nicole is a mentor on the show, alongside Jessica Simpson and John Varvatos. Tune in to see all the action on NBC when it premieres March 13. On Allison: StyleMint top.

From My Kitchen: Basil and Blood Orange Salad

Padma Lakshmi — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 05:12:33 PST

We've got a new partnership with Padma Lakshmi! The host of the Emmy-winning Top Chef, writer, and designer started Padma Lakshmi, a social-networking site that celebrates our favorite topics including food adventures, recipes, and party planning. She'll be dishing up goodies for us here on YumSugar monthly. Today Padma shares a unique citrus salad from her cookbook that combines basil with in-season blood oranges.

I first tasted a version of this salad on a farm at the base of the Alpujarra mountains in Spain, while filming my documentary "Planet Food" for the Food Network. A sweet woman named Mercedes cooked all day long while her husband, Paco, tended the animals. The salad is not only glorious to eat but beautiful to look at. The glistening oranges, jeweled with dried cranberries, sit regally in a luxurious bed of dark green spinach that's laced with the spiky fragrance of basil. The nuttiness of the pepitas complete the odyssey of taste and texture. It never fails to be a hit.

Keep reading for the basil and blood orange salad recipe.