PetSugar

Do You Cook With Alcohol?

partysugar — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 09:00:11 -0800

A Little Bit of Alcohol May Help With Weight Control

FitSugar — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 03:00:57 -0800

Moderation is key, especially when it comes to alcohol. The occasional glass of wine, cocktail, or beer has been shown to help the heart, and studies have indicated that moderate drinkers are less depressed and more active than non-drinkers. Here's another reason to have a glass of wine with friends: a new study published in Archives of Internal Medicine says that moderate drinkers are less likely to become overweight or obese later in life.

The study - conducted by Boston's Brigham and Women's Hospital - followed 19,000 women over the course of 13 years. Of this group, 40 percent said they didn't drink at all, 33 percent had about two drinks a week, 20 percent said they had one drink a day, six percent drank one to two alcoholic beverages a day, and the remainder of the participants drank two or more a day. While all of the women in the study gained some weight, the group that gained the least were the women who drank one to two alcoholic beverages a day. On average, women who fall into this category are 30 percent less likely to become obese than non-drinkers. The women who gained the most weight were the ones who reported they drank two or more drinks per day.

To make sure that the study was accurate, researchees also factored in age, race, total calorie intake, activity level, and whether or not the participants smoked. The results still showed that moderate alcohol consumption may have positive results for the waistline. Researchers are still uncertain if there is a biological factor that makes alcohol protective in itself, or if the lifestyle of most moderate drinkers just tends to be healthier than others. Remember, the key is moderation!

Casa Verde: Wine Heals All Moves

CasaSugar — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 05:00:00 -0800

Moving into a new home can be overwhelmingly exciting, but it often consumes a bit of time and money. Perhaps the toughest and most tedious project of all is packing up glasses and other small fragile items. While many folks wrap up their breakable wears in bubble wrap and spacious boxes, I've got an eco tip that will keep the earth and your purse greener.

Keep some padding in your wallet and help the environment out by using retired cardboard wine crates. Grocery stores and wine merchants are usually more than happy to dole them out when their merchandise has been unloaded. Bundle up your precious wares in socks and then stuff them into the separated slots. If you're feeling a bit risky, you could even slip them into the box naked.
When you're finished unpacking everything, get started on turning them into something else practical . . . perhaps Louboutin storage?

Yummy Links: From Guatemalan Rum to Chilean Wine

partysugar — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 09:15:34 -0800

An inside look at how rum is made in Guatemala. - Alcademics
Ten cocktails inspired by this year's best picture nominees. - Chow
Have you sipped the flavored fermented tea known as Kombucha? - Serious Eats
Gross! A woman has found a finger in her food at IHOP. - Eater
Would you carry your produce in reusable cotton totes? - The Epi-Log
Q&A with Spanish chef José Andrés. - Feast
While much of the bottled wine was damaged by the earthquake, Chile's 2010 crop of grapes remains intact. - Grub Street SF

Another Reason to Stop After One Glass: Endorphins

FitSugar — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 11:05:29 -0800

I'm doing a little Spring cleaning and found this simple health tip in the FitSugar files. It's a good reminder to enjoy your nightly wine in moderation.

By now we all know that drinking in moderation, especially wine, is beneficial for your health. However, it is important to remember to drink in moderation, and for women that means stopping after one glass. Here's another reason to keep your alcohol intake in the moderate zone: endorphins. Recent research found light to moderate drinking releases endorphins, while heavy drinking does not. A "feel good" brain chemical, endorphins can also reduce anxiety.

Lead researcher in the study and professor of psychiatry and physiology at McGill University, Christina Gianoulakis PhD, hammers the point home with this explanation:

Readers should understand that drinking only low amounts of alcohol will increase endorphin release and produce pleasant effects. Thus, if after consumption of about two drinks of alcohol an individual does not experience the pleasant effects . . . he or she should stop drinking.

Happy Hour: 2007 Pombal do Vesuvio

partysugar — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 16:00:15 -0800

Isn't it wonderful when you open a bottle of wine and experience love at first sip? Although this situation is rare, when it does occur, it's magical. It happened to me last Friday with this amazing Portuguese blend from the Douro Valley, the 2007 Pombal do Vesuvio ($28). It's a complex wine that hits the tongue smoothly with a rich dark-fruit flavor that's followed quickly with a lovely spicy finish. It has a clean mouthfeel and after each sip, I longed for more of the silky deep-ruby liquid. I enjoyed it with anchovy and garlic pasta, but it would be excellent paired with hearty meatballs, crisp-crusted pizza, or even barbecue.

Have you ever fallen in love at first sip? Share your experience below.

Backstage at Christian Cota with Fatima Thomas, Head Makeup Artist

bellatv — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 17:02:02 -0800

Relative newcomer Christian Cota debuted his cubism-inspired Fall collection at NY Fashion Week. Head makeup artist and MAC Pro expert Fatima Thomas talks us through the beauty trends seen at his runway show.

Best Valentine's Gift For a Wine-Loving Pet Owner

PetSugar — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 06:00:00 -0800

Winter weather got you down? Curl up with a bottle of wine for you . . . and a wine box for your small pet. The hand-cut design allows easy access to this cozy spot plus there are sanded edges preventing unpleasant fur snags and felted feet to save the flooring. The delightful Vino Pet Bed Valentines Day Special ($70) has a hand sewn cushion with satin and cotton hearts but still looks lovely no matter the month.
This actually reminds me of that barrel o' bed I loved a while back, now discontinued, at over three times this price. You could even toss in some actual wine (or Kennel-Relax'n) with the savings and gift it to your sweetheart. That way everybody wins!

Do You Purchase Expensive Glassware?

partysugar — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 09:00:43 -0800

Source: Flickr User quinn.anya

Drinking (and Eating) My Way Through ZAP

partysugar — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 16:00:07 -0800

Last weekend I was lucky enough to attend one of my favorite events of the year: the Zinfandel Advocate and Producers (or ZAP) annual festival. On Thursday night I participated in a walk-around food and wine tasting. A bunch of wineries pair up with local restaurants and caterers who create a small dish to pair with the wine. Attending this sort of event is a great way to learn about pairing food and wine because you can really taste which pairings work well and which don't work so well. Saturday was the grand walk-around tasting with hundreds of wineries pouring Zin barrel samples, new releases, and premium wine. I snapped a bunch of pictures that better illustrate my experience.

To see what was my favorite pairing and pour, check out the images after the break.