Your Fun Low Fat Summer Diet

Low fat does not have to be boring. In fact, it can be fun, thanks to some innovative gadgets and recipes.This makes for  some exciting eating while losing weight and gaining important nutrients.

Since it is summer, take advantage of melons - any kind. Cantaloupes are big right now and these are perfect for any meal. Start off a sweltering day with a cool slice of one along with an iced coffee or tea. Another idea is filling the middle with vanilla flavored Greek yogurt. Add berries such as strawberries or blueberries for some color and a good shot of antioxidants . You can also turn it into a refreshing drink Take half of the melon and blend with a cup of low fat milk, soy or almond milk for a nice way to start the morning - or end the day,Watermelon is all over the place right now and we're going to see more of it as the season progresses. Try watermelon infused drinks  such as agua fresca. Puree chunks of it and add that along with lime juice to seltzer as an alternative to soda and iced tea. A melon salad is also a nice start to dinner or dessert. Shred some mint leaves on top for a shot of coolness. Peaches are also in season, They make great snacks  if you're craving something sweet. A decadent dessert is layering fresh peach slices with low fat whipped cream for a  not all that bad for you treat. You can also layer them along with the berries of the season with Greek yogurt and almonds for yummy low cal parfaits.Another fun treat is layering the fruit with  banana ice cream made with only frozen bananas.

This is the start of squash season too. Zucchini is always the star of the season, thanks to its' abundance in farmers markets and gardens.One cup of it is only thirty-six calories, so it's the perfect food for summer dieters.It's a hot veggie right now, thanks to the zuchetti maker or spiralizer. I highly recommend adding this gadget to any kitchen. It's an hourglass shaped grater that produces long spaghetti like spirals or strands called zoodles. You can make low calorie  zuchetti that has only sixty calories a plate and that includes the sauce .These squash noodles can even be turned into fries by batter dipping them in a low calorie batter and then baking them. Zoodles can also be used in stir fries too.  If you get zoodled out then chunk them up to be  roasted alongside other summer vegetables such as bell peppers and onions, for a healthier take on barbecue.These can be first cut up into chunks and marinated in olive oil and lemon. They can be grilled on their own or with chicken or lean cuts of beef. Add tomatoes and they can be part of a salsa crudo with the zoodles or whole wheat pasta. Tomatoes will soon be all over the place as we progress into July and August. They're great  in homemade salsas and also fresh sauces. Chop plum tomatoes and let them soak in some chopped garlic and olive oil  as you also boil pasta.Pour the cooked spaghetti or angel hair over them, The heat will cook up the tomatoes. You can also add capers and olives for more flavor.

Summer dieting is easy. There's a wide range of fruits vegetables and meats to choose from to help lose the weight and gain the nutrients. Best of all , they can be made in a variety of fun and exciting ways.

Scream For Healthy Ice Cream

With summer comes ice cream, and this summer will be no different. Yet too much of the creamy cold stuff is no good.Yet what to do? Switch to ices? Give up the good stuff and sub in fruit? The best option is look for ice creams that are not so sinful. Whether kitchen made or store bought, they 're still delicious.

The best way to have healthy ice cream is to make it yourself. It's easy to pick up an ice cream maker and get the right ingredients. The basic recipe is a custard however you can still make a rich one using unflavored gelatin and nonfat sweetened condensed milk.Another plus about making your own is adding healthy ingredients too.Liven it up with blueberries and strawberries, flavored honeys and dark chocolate shards. Just remember that homemade ice cream can get very hard after prolonged periods in the freezer. A twenty minute stay down below in the fridge part can remedy that. Many dieters swear by banana "ice cream". It's just first slicing a ripe banana into thin slices or coins, freezing them in an airtight container such as a freezer bag or freezer safe glass bowl. When ready ,pulse the slices in a food processor or blender.It takes a while for the fruit to transform into a creamy soft serve looking treat.it is worth it though. Many add cocoa powder to give it that chocolate dipped banana taste. Get daring with it too. Add spices such as cinnamon or nutmeg. Top it with semi-sweet  chocolate chips or chopped almonds or serve it with fresh sliced strawberries or crushed blueberries.

What about if you don't have time even to whip up the banana ice cream? Supermarkets such as Stop & Shop and Acme have extensive ice cream aisles so the choice is wide and varied. Yet which ones are the best for your diet? Surprisingly Ben and Jerry's. It's actually their frozen yogurt but it's still cold, sweet and creamy at 100 calories for the strawberries and cream flavor. Ice cream lovers should try Edy's slow churned kind. I love their  small cups in different flavors.The chocolate chip mint (always a favorite ) is only 190 calories while the vanilla is only 160 calories. You can also buy the larger gallon containers in many more flavors like Mississippi Mud Pie, Maine Blueberries and Cream along with Vermont Maple Syrup and the mousse like French Silk. A lot of people have Breyers in their fridge during these hot , steamy months, and now they have both low fat and no sugar variations of their classic chocolate, vanilla and cookies and cream. The sugar free has a little more variety, with their flavors that include mint chip swirl,butter pecan and salted caramel swirl along with a take on Neopolitan and vanilla. What about the king of ice creams, Haagen Daz? Stick with their frozen yogurts that have 100 calories less than their ice creams. They have the same rich flavor without  all the richness and fat.

Don't deny yourself a bowl of ice cream during these hotter than an oven days. Make or buy a low calorie one that's full of flavor but half the calories. You'll enjoy the treat without the guilt.

Serving Your King ::Father's Day Meals

Funny how dads are not treated as greatly on Father's Day as mothers are on Mother's Day. There's no fancy breakfasts in bed or elegant lunches out. However it's time to treat the king of the castle with respect and good food.

Yes, it's OK to make breakfast in bed  - or out on the deck - for the man of the day. Pancakes are always a good start but jazz them up with beer. Sub in the cup of milk with beer for a different kind of breakfast. Serve with eggs and caramelized bacon. This last is easy to make. Dip bacon strips in an equal mix of brown sugar and cinnamon and then arrange on a baking sheet. Bake eight minutes , and turn once.If hes' not a griddle cake fan, then think waffles, in particular bourbon waffles. This are grown up Eggos,  thanks to quarter cup of the liquor added to the batter. Serve with pecans and warmed maple syrup. Another fun idea dad may like is a breakfast hero. Toast a hero roll in the oven or on the grill, and fill with a layer of cheesy scrambled eggs or his favorite omelet. Layer on sausage patties, Taylor ham and Canadian bacon. Throw in some tomato slices and guacamole if he's into them.Do dads do brunch? Of course - just tailor it to their tastes. Yes, real men do each quiche but turn it Paleo  by adding beef cubes or steak tips and some cheddar.For some fire, toss in a few tablespoons of  chopped jalapenos. What about the drink? Save the mimosas for the moms and splash some vodka into the orange juice for an eye opening screwdriver.

What about lunch?Since the day is going to be a beautiful one think picnic,whether at the beach, park or mountains. Health conscious dads may want a whole wheat sandwich, stuffed with vegan cold cuts. Tofurkey has an excellent array of them from soy baloney to soy ham,They also have soy cheese that tastes like the real thing.It would be a good time to try out the aquafaba based mayo. This is a simple mix of the liquid from a can of chickpeas, blended with vegetable oil and apple cider vinegar along with dry mustard and lemon juice. It can also be used to make a healthy coleslaw too, along with good for you whole wheat macaroni salads. If dad is a meat eater, then think of turkey or London broil sandwiches, with fresh sliced tomatoes and onions. Instead of chips, sub in olives from the salty Greek kalamatas to the mellow black ones. What about the king's dinner? How about a meal that combines the big guy's two favorite things, the grill and chili, Grilled chili involves grilling beef cubes and green peppers over a fire and then adding them later to the rest of the recipe.The recipe can be made with chicken too.Homemade pizza is also a great way of celebrating any dad. especially when it's homemade and loaded with his favorite  toppings. End the day with chocolate stout cupcakes and a cigar!.

Treat the dads out there with respect and fun dishes. Make their special day  just that special, with good meals and fun treats. They're the best gifts of all.

The Best Grain Free Recipe Book

Grain free living doesn't have to have the limitations that normally go with restricted diets.Thanks to a new and innovative cookbook,those with gluten and grain allergies can not only have delicious meals but mouth watering snacks too. It's packed with advice, info and best of all those yummy recipes.

Laura Fuentes, creator of the Momables Meal plan where parents can get recipes and ideas delivered to their inboxes has written a cookbook similar to them. The Best Grain-Free Family Meals On The Planet (Quanto Publishing Group USA) is based on her experiences dealing with her own gluten allergies as well as her children's,They all needed healthier eating for a better life and that required less processed food and more natural.What is most helpful is the section, called Real Life and Food that  addresses picky eaters and what to do at social functions.She recommends bringing all the dishes out on he table and letting the kids choose what looks good to them.As for social functions it's best to bring a lunchbox or thermos. That way the hosts don't have the worry about guests reacting to certain dishes.Ms. Fuentes also has a list of essentials for a complete grain free pantry and how home chefs can clean out theirs. There is a section about where to get ingredients from , growing them to hitting farmers' markets to becoming a member of shopping clubs CostCo and Sam's Club  offer a trove of fresh produce  along with healthy oils and spices. She also recommends shopping online too. She writes about what tools to use and recommends getting a spiralizer, that fun kitchen tool, that turns zucchini into zuccheti along with the usual hand mixers and slow cookers.

The recipes are divided into sections, from breakfasts to lunchbox favorites. There are also  extensive chapters on family meals and snacks and treats. Kids won't have to sacrifice their favorite dishes , thanks to this cookbook. Breakfast recipes are silver dollar pancakes with coconut flour and blueberry maple breakfast sausages.There are also sorts of muffins ,from a peaches and cream one to a chocolate chip. Ms. Fuentes even has breakfast cookies and the exotic Middle Eastern egg and tomato dish shakshura. The lunchbox recipes are great for both school and those vacation days spent at home.Try the recipe for veggie falafels, made not with chickpeas, but with onion, cauliflower and zucchini.,bound together with almond flower.For a healthy lunch or snack make the seven layer Greek cups, loaded with feta, hummus and kalamata olives. Dinner recipes are equally fun . Kids and parents will love the quick mu shu pork and the shrimp scampi with spaghetti squash. There are recipes for zoodles or zucchetti.Ms. Fuentes even makes a ramen soup with them! Snacks and treats are many , each as tasty as the next. There are plantain and beet chips that will surely replace the bought potato ones. There are flourless bites made with raisins as the binder. These come in yummy flavors like cherry chocolate and apple pie along with coconut brownie. A homemade version of Nutella along with ice cream are also included as are grain free cupcakes with rich fudgy frosting.

The Best Grain-Free Family Meals On The Planet is a kitchen must have for those families with gluten allergies. The recipes are easy and tasty, sure to be family classics .Buy it today and start creating these grain free dishes!

You Serve Soft Serve

Soft serve ice cream is one of the best summer treats.It's creamy and satiny all in one. Unfortunately if you're hankering for it , it's a trip  out to the local ice cream parlor or boardwalk. Not anymore.It can be made at home.

How can this be? Easy, thanks to a recipe by Melissa Clark in her A Good Appetite column in yesterday's New York Times Food section. Home chefs don't need one of those special machines that churn out the treat. They don't even need an ice cream maker. The fanciest gadget required is a food processor (although the recipe works well with an ice cream maker so use it )It's an easy recipe that only requires six large egg yolks, heavy cream and melted cream cheese! Why the last? Because it's a sub in for the usual gums commercial ice cream manufacturers use to solidify the product. Ms. Clark leaned this from Jeni Britton Bauer of Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams, an up and coming maven in the industry..Ms Bauer asserts that cream cheese  gives body to ice cream and gives it body.. Another suggestion from her is using a mix of granulated and liquid sugar to increase the ice cream's elasticity. Liquid sugar could be corn syrup or honey. .Ms Clark recommends the last but it's not the average honey. For more flavor think a lavender one or chestnut , linden flower or even buckwheat. Adding the honey gives a caramelized sweetness that amps up the flavor.

Is making soft serve hard? No. It's basically creating a custard and then freezing it. The base is really considered French ice cream or sort of like frozen custard. The recipe calls for six large egg yolks that will be first whisked together with the honey, sugar ,vanilla and salt. The cream is also heated for a better blending and to prevent the eggs from curdling. The entire mixture should just be simmered until the custard can coat the back of a spoon otherwise it could curdle.Transfer to a heatproof bowl and add the cream cheese. This last should be cut into cubes for more manageability and it will melt faster . Then the bowl should be nestled in a larger bowl filled with ice water. Then the custard should be whipped until thick and cold. Use a hand mixer or immersion blender for this. After five minutes spoon it into ice cream trays.It's best frozen overnight but if you're pinched for time then just stick it in the freezer for three hours . (It's maximum time is one week)Once frozen, pop out the cubes with a butter knife or off set spatula and into a food processor.Pulse cubes with a half cup of milk until smooth and the consistency of soft serve. serve immediately . It can last up to one week but you probably won;t have to worry about that.Buy or make cones for the real experience.

Soft serve ice cream is one of the hallmarks of the summer. Now you can have it right in your kitchen, thanks to an easy recipe. Make it and enjoy this classic treat, whether in a bowl or in a classic cone

The Szechuan Battle

One of the most food oriented cities in China is Chengdu. It's considered to be the food capital of this amazing country, the Lyons, France of the East.It is also a culinary World Heritage site , attracting thousands of foodies and gourmands a year. Unfortunately this is what's spoiling the broth so to speak.

Chris Buckley, who has covered several aspects of Chinese life and politics wrote about the tug of war between traditional chefs and the next generation who is trying to draw in crowds in today's New York Times Food section. Lively debates have even broken out about upholding culinary traditions and embracing new ways and new customers.The country , as it always, got involved. The  recipe guidelines got updated and, yes, it seems that the government gives a kind of  forced advice on how to cook. One traditional dish " strange flavored chicken strips" , a cold dish that includes dark vinegar should use the meat of a one year old rooster and no other kind of chicken.To outsiders this may seem too much., however tradition is important to the Chinese and that includes recipes. (although Szechuan cooking as we know it is only a century old). The regulations are kind of pointless here  because Szechuan cuisine is really a melange of other recipes from other areas of the country.Several centuries of war, trade and migrations brought outsiders who contributed chiles, fermented bean paste,sugar and other spices along with their own cooking traditions. It solidified around 1916 as a regional cuisine.Local food writer Wang Shiwu describes the Chengdu attitude this way:"whatever is attracted in your cuisine,I can absorb and adapt it."

However too much of the new is creeping in and bastardizing the cuisine. New chefs are using such diverse and Western ingredients as mayonnaise or using  a new ingredient such celtuce or asparagus lettuce to kung pao chicken  which doesn't need it.Traditional chefs there need to grasp the idea that their cuisine, like others, needs to evolve. A camp of chefs hope to remake Sichuanese cooking for more urbane, middle class tastes.but built on the core of traditional ingredients and techniques.Some have opened airy , modern restaurants that serve dishes with contemporary twists and presentation. According to one savvy chef , Yang Wen, whose restaurant Lotus Shadow features those same kind of dishes. "There's no survival without innovation." One creation is  braised shrimp infused with jasmine tea, a world away from the home spun fare favored by old fashioned revivalists.Others hopefully will follow , especially this last group. As English food writer Fuschia Dunlop a longtime Chengdu  resident puts it , Chengdu has an incredibly high concentration of restaurants and a fiercely competitive restaurant industry so people are looking for the newest best thing. The old gets old very quick and that means no interest in it, despite any cultural meaning.

In the end, a new kind of tradition won out. It's taking traditional spices and cooking methods and giving them new spins and twists. Will it work? Probably . It's the old with a refreshing whiff of the new.

A German Summer Picnic

German food plays an important part of the American cookout and picnic.Most of what is served has Teutonic origins and came over with the many German immigrants who made this country. The food is still great and even better are the summer foods you find now in the Swabian Alps , near the soothing forests and sparkling waters of Lake Constance.

Hot dogs or frankfurters originated in Frankfurt, Germany and have been around for seven hundred (!) years. The original was a pork sausage known as Frankfurter wurstchen and were given out to the townspeople during royal coronations.In the 19th century, Johann Georg Lahner brought them to Vienna where they took the city's name - wiener - and beef was added to the pork filling They came to the US in 1870 and were made - where else- Coney Island. T hey were first served with gloves to stop consumers from burning themselves. Because of this the hot dog bun was created at the St. Louis World Fair in 1893 by Antoioine Feuchtwanger, thanks to his wife's suggestion. Now they're a part of every barbecue and picnic, even coming in such diverse meats as turkey, chicken and even caribou. What goes with hot dogs? Another German classic - potato salad. There are many different versions of it. Southern Germans make it with vinegar, mustard and even beef or chicken broth .Northern Germans make it with mayonnaise and this is what was brought to America.Here it went through some tweaks such as the addition of bacon , capers and even chili powder.

What do modern day Germans eat during the summer? Potato salad but not what most people expect. First the potatoes are different. Waxy potatoes are preferred and they cooked and peeled while still hot, Then they're sliced and mixed with chopped onions.A warm mix of vinegar , beef or chicken broth and oil is then pour over the spuds. Chives or schnittlau along with sliced pickles or mustard is added. The salad is then allowed to rest for a few hours before serving.It can be served with a crusty bread as a main dish or as a side dish.Usually a summer dinner would be a wurstsalat, a tart sausage salad prepared with distilled white vinegar,oil and onions. Sliced gherkins are sometimes added for some sweetness.It's an easy to make salad. The sausage is cut thin as are the onions. Both are then marinaded in the vinaigrette before serving.. Some Swabians add sliced baloney along with parsley to mix it up or to add color, the red and white stadtwurst.Zweibelkuchen, or onion pie is another summer favorite, usually eaten in August and September. It's similar to quiche and is loaded with steamed onions along with crumbled bacon , cream and caraway seeds. It has a simple pie crust shell and an egg base.

Enjoy the summer German style. Have hot dogs  and potato salads or go fully Swabian wtih wurstsalat and zweibekuchen. It's a tasty way to enjoy the warm days and nights ahead.