The Best Low Calorie Ice Creams

It's another hot summer and that means eating a lot of ice cream. Unfortunately it also means saying goodbye to that beach body. A steady diet of the chilled stuff can put on pounds  - not a good thing in this season of skimpy clothes and skimpier bathing suits. However you can have your scoop and eat it too if you go low calorie.

Years ago low fat ice ream was a bit of a unicorn.If you wanted something low in calories and high in chill, it was  the old stand by Italian ices. These are refreshing yet somehow lacking in satisfaction. Nowadays many companies produce a lighter , yet still tastier version of their regular flavors. One at the fore front of this is Breyers. They have a wide variety of different "healthier version". You could easily pick up their fat free vanilla and chocolate versions, pair it with a flavored seltzer for an indulgent yet guilt free soda.They also have CarbSmart cartons and bars  that have reduced carbohydrates.Like the fat free, it comes in chocolate and vanilla while the bars have such exciting flavors as vanilla almond,, mint and an old fashioned chocolate coated vanilla. There is also an old fashioned Fudgicle that's less than a hundred calories. They also have Breyers Delights, which comes in two sizes, a cute mini pint or cupcake size and a regular pint. The mini which have add in like sprinkles are only eighty calories a cup while the larger ones are between 260 and 330 calories. Again, there a wide gamut of tastes,from butter pecan to raspberry fudge to cookies and cream.

Another classic brand that weigh watchers will like is Edy's. Their slow churned variety is only 110 calories a cup. Their flavor selection is much wider including caramel , Neapolitan and coffee. They also sell a slow churned version that has cores such as fudge and caramel for an extra treat. Anyone who loves the healthy Greek yogurt will appreciate Yasso. The company first started out with bars and now have recently added pints. Both are 130 calories each and have all sorts of delicious flavors.They've expanded on the bars that now include S'Mores and Pistachio Brittle as well as their classics such as chocolate chip and vanilla bean. Their pints celebrate all the trends from salted caramel to coffee and brownies. Of course there is the dieter's go to Skinny Cow which has the most choices.Their pints have only ninety calories of fat with 370 in total.  The flavors are indulgent with a chocolate peanut butter along with a mocha one. Try their cones at only 170 calories each or their bars at 200 calories.The giant of the industry , Ben and Jerry's also has jumped on the diet bandwagon. Their cups, chock full of fun ingredients like fudge and peanut butter are only 140 calories a cup.

You can have your ice cream and eat it too. Don't deprive yourself of a cooling treat on a hot day,Indulge in the lower calorie ice creams. They can help you beat the heat and keep that beach body.

The Sweet Side Of Polenta

Polenta has long been a savory meal. For years it's been drenched in everything from tomato sauce to eggs, be fried or grilled. Yet it can be used in sweet dishes as well,It's ot just for dinner anymore. It's for dessert and most surprisingly breakfast.

What is polenta? It's a dish of boiled cornmeal that's then baked, grilled or fried. It's derived from earlier pulses, hence the name, from spelt, faro and chestnut. The introduction of corn in the Columbian exchange changed the dish forever. Remember, there are two kinds, usually referred to as grinds. The coarser one makes for a firmer consistency , able to hold its' shape while the finer produces a creamy , soft texture. Use the coarser grinds for the breakfast polentas. One interesting dish is the corn made with cinnamon, brown sugar and nutmeg.Cook the polenta first and then add the sugar and spices, It's then pouring it out on a sheet tray and letting it chill for thirty minutes. Cut into squares and then fry, Serve with maple syrup and butter for a tasty breakfast.It can also be turned into a breakfast pudding.it's adding the meal to a boiled mixture of  milk vanilla bean and salt. A cup of sugar is then stirred in and it's served with Greek yogurt , honey and preserves such as apricot or marmalade.Try it with coconut milk , topped with strawberries and almonds.

Once you've tried sweet polenta, there's no stopping. It makes for an interesting dessert., because of the texture. A very trendy recipe in many Italian restaurants right now is chocolate polenta. This is an easy take on a classic chocolate pudding. Use the finer ground one for an extra creamy texture. It's cooking it for three minutes as it's whisked into a thin steady stream. Three tablespoons of sugar are added as is one teaspoon of vanilla extract and eight ounces of good dark  finely chopped chocolate.Stir until smooth and melted and served. Add a dollop of whipped cream or creme frache. Polenta can be cooked with butternut squash, coconut milk, and vanilla paste along with such spices as ground ginger and cinnamon for a healthy take on  it. Polenta is also an excellent base for cake too. Try it in a cake loaded with orange and coriander for a tasty and citrus-y dessert. Polenta can even take the popular form of the cupcake.It's mixed with regular flour to create a nice crumb. A cup of chopped strawberries and lemon zest are added for a nice fruity flavor and then they're iced with a strawberry lemon glaze.The Italians have been making polenta cookies for centuries. Try their buttery lemon infused swirls or simple tea cookies, perfect with espresso. The last can be dipped in melted dark or milk chocolate for a fancier party treat.

There is a sweet side to polenta. This classic Northern Italian dish can be made into a delicious breakfast pudding or a tasty orange infused cake. Use it to make fun cupcakes and buttery cookies. It's a great ingredient to any breakfast or dessert dish.

Googling Your Food

I remember a time when you used to just walk into a restaurant blind and sit down. there were no reviews on Bing. No menus poste d on Google. No reviews listed by anyone and their cousin. You just walked in and if the aroma was good , then that was all you needed to make a judgement.

I miss those days.

Now you get everything on your Blackberry. Looking for a particular sushi restaurant ? You can find it's location plus the number of stars enthusiasts have given it. Interested in a brick oven pizza or a good polenta? Google it and the answers automatically comes up.In some ways this is great. At least you know that you can always find a good meal as well as the best atmosphere and service too. It cuts out the guess work and gives you a direct answer.

Yet I miss the old days of just driving by a restaurant and stand and stopping. the whole adventure was wondering if it was good or bad. I've found the best places that way, whether they be coffee stand or diner. I like the sense of adventure when I head o ut on my occasional day trips. That's how I disocered this awesome Polish deli in South Amboy that makes the best ham on rye sandwiches. it;s also how I discovered a cool and yummy bakery in Long Branch. This last had received such bad reviews on line and if I had read them I would have avoided the place I walked into it , seduced by the pastries' look and smell. The result was a yummy homemade cupcakes and cookies.

Sometimes it's best to avoid the Internet when you're looking for a good meal or even a snack. If a place catches your eye. then look into it. You may just be pleasantly surprised by what you discover.