Sweet Low Calorie Heaven

Warm weather brings about the craving for something refreshing and icy.Unfortunately the one food that fulfills those two requirements is ice cream.The problem is that it's a fine treat every now and then.Yet summer calls for a blissfully cold and sweet every night.Don't worry. there are some great low calorie treats that are both tasty and chill. One of the best of the frozen treats is Greek yogurt reconfigured into ice cream.One outstanding one is Oikos.It may be low fat but it tastes as good as any creamy, rich ice cream.The dark cherry is full of tender , large bits of fruit.It is even better with syrup,tasting like a sinful bonbon.Their cafe au lait is rich in flavor too.When it's this low in calories you can give it a drizzle of hot fudge and whipped cream.Other yogurt companies also have put out frozen yogurts ,both in bar and Popsicle form. Stomeyfield Farms has their yogurt in classic bar form drenched in a dark chocolate coating.If you're concerned about artificial additives, then you can make your own.It's easy .Just add sweetener and vanilla(or any other flavor )".You can put it through an ice cream maker or just freeze in a container for more of an iced milk kind. Another idea is frozen fruit piece es.Dole has come out with Dippers in both strawberry and banana.These are chunks of fruit coated in deep dark chocolate.These are a treat after a hot day.They're both refreshing and flavorful.They"re also sixty calories for the strawberry and eight forvthe bannas.You can make this yourself with Smuckers's hard shell topping or melted dark chocolate.This you can havevwith, especially now that it's cherry season.You can also freeze melon chunks and grapes too for a refreshing variety.Another idea is ice.Ther's no dairy and it's low in calories and cholesterol.Most pops are between twenty five and fifty calories? You can even have two or three without feeling guilty.If you want a more sophisticated version think about a coffee granit.This is simple frozen and forked sweetened espresso .It's another refresher , especially served with a low calorie topping such as Cool Whip. Y ou can have a cold icy low calorie treat.In fact you'll like these you'll forget about ice cream.When you crave something cooling , you'll head for something that won't mess with your diet.

Frozen Zone

Yesterday's Food section of the New York Times featured an article about freezing various food including leftovers. This is a good idea because it eliminates waste and also gives us instant meals on busy hectic days. Another good reason for freezing is that it keeps herbs and produce fresher longer and there's no need to constantly replenish your culinary arsenal.

What should you freeze? Leftovers for certain but freeze them with extra oil or water to eliminate freezer burn. You can freeze beans and grains , usually in water. If you have a lot if fresh veggies, then the freezer is the best place for any extra. Tomatoes and peppers should be frozen raw, cut into sections or strips(this for easier storage). Tomato sauce, however , should be put into Ziploc bags with the air squeezed out. Other vegetables such as cauliflower or greens beans should be blanched. Fruits should be slightly cooked and pureed for better results. If you have any citrus squeeze them and put the juice into deep freeze.

Remember herbs can be frozen as well. My freezer is full of my Mom's pesto sauce and also cut chives. Other herbs such as dill and sage can also be frozen usually with a layer of water on top of them. You can also freeze sauces other than tomatoes too.

This spring and summer use your freezer It's not just that hangout for ice cream and some of last Christmas' puddings. You can use it to store extra sauces or any leftover dishes too.

Yolato Gelati A Fat Foodie's Dream

I've discovered the Yolato stand at my local mall. For anyone this is a great treat, frozen yogurt in a variety of different flavors. For a fat foodie like me this is a dream come true. It's low in calorie and high in taste.

What this gelato is frozen yogurt done in the gelato style of ice cream making. The sorbets are great because they come in traditional flavors like raspberry and lemon but also come in punchier ones like pink grapefruit (a must try ) and watermelon. These are also low in calories with the first two being only 120 a cup while the latter is 140 a cup.

The yolatos themselves are anywhere from 150 to 170 calories. The flavors are amazing and have a richness about that. Try the hazelnut which tastes as good as any of the ones I've had in Italy. The chocolate is very good as well. There's also a tiramisu and the unusual green tea and seasonal pumpkin. At some Yolato stands you can also purchase yolato bars and cakes.

If you have a Yolato in your neighborhood , visit it. You'll get a premium gelato or sorbet without feeling guilty. It's the best treat our there for foodies watching their weight.