Lighten Up the Summer

June 24, 2009

I don't know about you, but in summer I find it extra difficult to watch those calories and pounds. Sure there are more fresh fruits and vegetables available, but with the kids out of school there also seems to be more reasons to socialize which is great. Who doesn't love getting together at the pool or the beach with friends and family and cooking up burgers, hot dogs, ribs dripping with delicious sauce, a couple of beers or glasses of wine...you get the idea.

I have been trying to stick to "lighter" food during the week so on the weekends I can splurge.

Following are some great items that we have come across over the last couple of months that can help keep things in check during the summer, and year-round really.

Thin & Crispy Butterball Turkey Bacon- Senor Food and I have been having the beloved BLT (with Turkey Bacon!) for lunch when we both happen to be home. I know you might think ugh! Turkey Bacon because I used to think that too until I started making a fattening appetizer with it and nobody knew the difference- in fact, I think it might be better! I am here to tell you it is a pretty tasty substitute to it's very fatty brother. Get this, 3 slices is only 50 calories, 3.5g fat but only 1g of saturated fat and 0 grams of trans fat. Add some fresh tomatoes from the garden and some lettuce and you are ready to go. We usually have it on "Arnold's Bakery Light Whole Wheat Bread" which is only 80 calories for 2 slices and hardly any fat...which leads me to my next find...


I am a big fan of bread- it is probably my biggest downfall in weight watching (among other things!). Though I don't mind the Light Whole Wheat Bread, sometimes I feel that the slices are so small that I am still hungry which leads to snacking or another whole sandwich. I am here to tell you that Arnold also makes "Whole Wheat Sandwich Thins". They are round and more roll-like but not as doughy. They are only 100 calories and 1 gram of fat. Sometimes I'll have a part-skim mozzarella grilled cheese on them, the BLT is good on them AND they could be used for hamburgers! Definitely worth a try if you ask me.

Sometimes you just need a snack! I have found that there are lots of varieties of crackers that are tasty with no toppings and are low calorie with almost no fat. I love Z Crackers- Red Onion and Rosemary or Sea Salt but there are so many out there now including various crostinis and even Wheat Thins. Check them out next time you are in the store.

Hungry Girl (www.hungrygirl.com) turned me on to a very tasty frozen pizza. A.C. La Rocco's Ultra Thin Crust Bruschetta Style Pizza. After I read about it, I was lucky enough to find it right away in the Whole Foods near my house and it was love at first bite! Thin, crispy and only 170 calories for half the pizza. Sadly for some reason the Whole Foods near my house does not seem to be stocking it anymore but I do check every single time I am there! Other grocery stores besides WF do carry it, so keep an eye out.



Not as easy to make as the frozen pizza, but not hard either, homemade pizza (sort of) that I have been throwing together. In the bread section, alot of supermarkets and specialty stores are carrying ready made crusts in various flavors including whole wheat, sourdough, parmesan, etc. (similar to Boboli, but not as thick and fatty) I use whatever tomato sauce I have around, either homemade or from a jar. Add anything you like from peppers to mushrooms to tomatoes, to chicken, the list can go on and on especially with all the fresh summer veggies available this time of year. Top with light or part skim mozzarella cheese, a little oregano, maybe some fresh basil, and you suddenly have a quick meal ready to be cooked in the time it took the oven to preheat! Whole Foods carries their own 365 Organic Brand, simply called Organic Pizza Crusts and I have also seen/had the brand Rustic Crust as well as some others. The crusts range from 140 calories to 170 calories for a quarter of the pizza.


Last, but not least...We can't forget about dessert. Skinny Cow makes lots of tasty frozen treats. Our Favorite is the Chocolate Truffle Bar. Weighing in at only 100 calories and 2 grams of fat, I challenge you to find something tastier.

Let us know at Foodie Favorites if you have any favorite "light" ideas.

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Have a great summer and diet on!
Diet Girl

Pod, Philadelphia, PA

June 18, 2009

WE ARE BACK! Sorry to have been away for so long but all your friends from Foodie Favorites are coming your way for the summer and beyond...

Senor Food has returned from a weekend in "The City of Brotherly Love," Philadelphia, and has been kind enough to provide our returning review. Bon appetit!

Senor Food:
While in Philly I had a tremendous dining experience that I could not wait to share with all of the followers of "Foodie".

A friend from the area had suggested we try "Pod" and the experience did not disappoint. The restaurant serves contemporary pan asian cuisine and has a fantastic drink and sake menu and a top notch sushi bar. The decor is also fun in a futuristic kind of way. You can make a reservation to sit in one of the specially designed, enclosed pods if you so desire.

How could the meal have been anything but great when the worst thing we had was Kobe Beef? Yes, you read that right- it was the worst part of the meal. That's not to say that it was bad. In my opinion, nobody but Nobu gets Kobe beef right...but I guess that's beside the point.

We enjoyed an assortment of Sake and Sapporo throughout the meal which kick started the evening in a very positive way. We chose to share a few things which is not a necessity but our meal was very casual so it gave us the opportunity to sample a variety of the wide ranging menu.

We started with some sushi because hey, when in Rome, right? (or when in Japan?) We ordered a Green Dragon Roll, a Spider Roll, as well as nigiri style yellowtail, eel and Ikura. The presentation was excellent and the fish was very fresh and full of flavor. This was accompanied by an order of Tuna Tartar which was prepared with crispy shallots, ginger and roasted jalapeno. My mouth is starting to water as I write this.


Our second course was the Kobe Beef which comes with a ponzu and wasabi dipping sauce and is seared tableside on Japanese river rocks. The presentation was amazing and it was very tasty but it was served as three pieces and they were a little thick for me- unfortunately, just not the way I like my Kobe- I prefer when it is paper thin. We then shared potstickers which came with a stellar mustard aioli sauce.



Finally, the entree...Red Miso Barbecued Pork Tenderloin.................the dots are equivalent to the drool coming from my mouth just thinking about it again. This entree is one of those things you will always remember and compare other dishes to for the rest of your life. When you see something similar in the future, you will order it hoping it will be the same, but it won't measure up.

We passed on dessert (due to a plan to continue drinking heavily) but the one item that did sound very enticing was the Fluffernutter Spring Rolls with warm chocolate peanut butter dipping sauce. It also looked really good and we did have some remorse when we saw it at another table.

If you find yourself in or near Philly and are looking for an outstanding dining experience, Senor Food gives you his personal guarantee that you will not be disappointed. Call ahead for reservations.

Restaurant Pod
3636 Sansam Street
Philadelphia, PA
phone 215.387.1803
website http://www.podrestaurant.com

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Foodie Live From Cannes, France

April 5, 2009

Greetings from Cannes, France (pictured left). The French Riviera sounds glamorous with nice sunny weather and sometimes it can be, but sadly when I was there this week it rained every single day. The good news is that the food is superb, with so many options to choose from and you can never go wrong with a glass of champagne or rose!

A quick run down of some of the great restaurant choices (addresses and contact details at the end):


Le Pastis- An always packed, bustling French bistro. The fettuccine with shrimp in a red sauce was very tasty and so were the beef and the cheese for dessert! Total side note but I learned while at this dinner that apparently some Europeans (or maybe just Brits?) are superstitious that cheese late at night gives you bad dreams...luckily I do not seem to be affected!

Mantel Restaurant- The food and service were amazing and the walk to the restaurant up the hill in Old Cannes (rue Saint Antoine-Le Suquet) was equally as charming as the restaurant itself. Don't miss the black truffle risotto and the filet of beef in red wine sauce. Other favorites at our table were the asparagus with white truffle salad, the lobster ravioli and the roasted rack of lamb.

Felix- Centrally located on the Croisette, Felix has been one of my favorite restaurants for years. The inside decor feels more like California than France to me and weather permitting, you can also be seated outside- assuming there is room because it is always packed. The risotto with scallops and asparagus were delicious (note: very filling for a starter so choose your next course wisely). The duck was amazing. Be aware that the lunch and dinner menu are different so if you are going for something in particular, make sure you plan accordingly. (It was also alot pricier then I remember it being in the past.)

Le Baoli- Last but not least, Baoli. It is an institution of great food and FUN! The cuisine is Asian with a mix of Chinese and Japanese. We were with a party of 16! Yes, 16 and I have to say the service was fabulous even for such a large group. My host ordered for the table and we shared everything which the restaurant easily accommodated with large lazy susans at both ends of the table. Some favorites included the sushi and sashimi boats, spring rolls, dumplings and Chinese dim sums to start. For the main course, the filet of beefs, the macaroni and cheese, the Asian noodles and pretty much everything that was presented were all quickly eaten up. The best part is that after eating all of this food, you can burn some calories by cutting loose on the dance floor- the bar area becomes night club-esque with a DJ, smoke machine and some nights they light the bar on fire!! They are only open certain nights and they do host alot of private events so make sure you plan in advance and go with a group for the most fun!

Safe travels and bon appetit!
Foodie

Le Pastis
28, rue de Commandant Andre
Cannes, France
www.pastis-cannes.com
+33 (0)4 92 98 95 40

Mantel Restaurant
22, rue Saint Antoine-Le Suquet
Cannes, France
www.restaurantmantel.fr
+33 (0)4 93 391 310

Felix
63, Boulevard de la Croisette
Cannes, France
www.felix-cannes.com
+33 (0)4 93 94 00 61

Le Baoli
Port Pierre Canto- Boulevard de la Croisette
Cannes, France
www.lebaoli.com
+33 (0)4 93 43 03 43

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Feeling Crabby?

March 25, 2009

I made great mini- crab cakes this week, courtesy of Bon Appetit magazine and oh, were they "Foodie-worthy". The best part is that they are not your traditional crab cake- they are crunchy and delicious on the outside with a gooey middle BUT NO FRYING REQUIRED so a little healthier too!!

Though the recipe yields 24 and they are tagged as an appetizer, we had them for dinner with a side dish but either way, give them a try. If you are serving them for a party, the good news is that they can also be prepared in advance.

I will definitely make them again to dazzle and impress my friends and family!

Ingredients:

8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature (I used low fat cream cheese to reduce calories)
3/4 cup finely grated parmesan cheese, divided
1 large egg
1/4 cup sour cream (I used reduced fat)
1 teaspoon finely grated orange peel
1/2 teaspoon finely grated lemon peel
4 teaspoons plus 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives, divided (tip: use a scissor to "chop 'em")
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
Large pinch of cayenne pepper
6 ounces fresh lump crabmeat, picked over, patted dry, coarsely shredded (I used imitation sold at the supermarket in the fish department)
1 cup panko (japanese bread crumbs)
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted, plus more for pans (Pam spray works too for the pans)
Extra fresh chives cut into pieces for garnish

2 mini muffin pans are needed

1. Using an electric mixer, beat cream cheese in medium bowl until smooth. Add 1/4 cup of parmesan and egg; beat to blend. Beat in sour cream, citrus peels, 4 teaspoons chooped chives, coarse salt, and cayenne pepper. Fold in crabmeat. (DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and Chill)

2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Generously butter 2 mini muffin pans (I sprayed them with Pam cooking spray and it worked great!). Toss panko, 1/2 cup parmesan and 2 tablespoons of chopped chives in a small bowl. Drizzle 1/4 cup melted butter over the mixture, tossing with fork until evenly moistened. Press 1 rounded tablespoon panko mixture into bottom of each muffin cup, forming crust, Spoon 1 generous tablespoon crab mixture into each cup. Sprinkle rounded teaspooon of panko mixture over each (some may be left over).

3. Bake crab cakes until golden on top and set, about 30 minutes. Cool in pans 5 minutes. Run knife around each cake and gently lift out of pan. (DO AHEAD: Can be made 2 hours ahead. Arrange on a baking sheet; let stand at room temperature. Rewarm in 350 degree oven for 6 to 8 minutes.)

4. Arrange crab cakes on a serving platter: sprinkle with chives.

Super yummy!
Foodie

Bon Appetit Magazine
www.bonappetit.com

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