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Garden Fresh Angel Hair Pasta

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This delicious angel hair pasta dish is very easy to make with baby heirloom tomatoes, fresh basil and olive oil.
 
Ingredients:
½ Pound of Whole Grain (or Gluten Free) Capellini Pasta (Angel Hair)
3 Cups of Baby Heirloom or Cherry Tomatoes, sliced in halves
½ Cup of Fresh Basil, julienned
3 Garlic Cloves, minced
4 Tablespoons Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
Sea Salt, to taste
Freshly Ground Black Pepper, to taste
Parmesan Cheese
 
Preparation:
1) Cook pasta as directed on package.
2) Drain pasta and then return to pot, mix with one tablespoon olive oil.
3) In a large bowl, mix tomatoes, basil, garlic and olive oil. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
4) Place pasta on a plate and add tomato mixture.
4) Garnish with freshly grated parmesan cheese.
5) Serve immediately, warm or at room temperature.
 
Serves: 4
Active Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes

Creole Okra

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Enjoy this delicious vegetarian dish. Cook it whole if you are concerned about the okra being slimy…this okra dish will taste even better as a leftover. Serve with rice, pasta or as a side dish.
 
Ingredients:
2 Bags of Frozen Okra (about 12 ounces each), stemmed
1 Can of Diced Tomatoes, petite-diced if available
1 Cup Vegetarian Broth or Water
2 Tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 Small Onion, chopped
3 Garlic Cloves, minced
Sea Salt, to taste
Freshly Ground Black Pepper, to taste
Pinch of All Spice, if available
Pinch of Dried Pepper Flakes, if desired
 
Preparation:
1) Heat the oil in a skillet.
2) Add onions and garlic and sauté until onions are translucent.
3) Add the tomatoes, and simmer for about 2-3 minutes over medium heat to enhance the flavors.
4) Add salt, pepper, vegetarian broth or water and bring to a boil.
5) Turn down the heat to medium, and cook okra until tender for about 15 – 20 minutes.
6) Serve over rice or as a side dish.
 
Serves: 4
Active Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes

Delicious Skinny Fries

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Enjoy these golden and crispy baked french fries that will melt in your mouth. Great as a side dish for just about anything: chicken, hamburgers, kebabs, etc.
 
Ingredients:
4 Golden Medium Size Potatoes
¼ Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
¼ Cup Freshly Grated Parmesan Cheese
Sea Salt
Ground Black Pepper
 
Preparation:
1) Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
2) Prepare a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
3) Peel potatoes and cut into ½ inch thick slices lengthwise, then cut again into half.
4) Place the potatoes into a pot of cold water with 1 tablespoon of salt.
5) Remove the potatoes from the water as soon as it starts boiling.
6) Drain carefully and put in a bowl. Add olive oil, salt, black pepper. Toss well.
7) Spread the fries on the baking sheet, and bake until light golden brown, about 30 minutes.
8) Remove from oven and immediately sprinkle with freshly grated parmesan cheese.
9) Let cool for about 2 minutes and serve.
 
Serves: 4
Active Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes

7 Low Calorie Wines

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It is all over the news…one glass of wine a day is good for us. Whether it is Red Wine, White Wine or Sparkling Wine, each has its own benefits:

Red Wine: Its heart-healthy active compounds have many beneficial effects on many different aspects related to heart disease.

White Wine: Its heart-healthy qualities prevent blood vessel damage as well as reduce LDL cholesterol.

Sparkling Wine: Champagne has the same healthy benefits as red wine, since bubbly is often made with both red and white grapes.

The key to drinking is to always do so in moderation…one glass of wine (5 ounces) per day. In general, red wine has more calories than white wine. Check out the numbers below:

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Since low-calorie wine is increasing in popularity, we did some research and decided to share with you some of the brands we uncovered. Although, Skinny Girl is the most popular, it did not make our list because it has a whopping 100 calories per glass compared to other brands:

1) Natureo Torres Muscat Wine (24 Calories): High quality white wine with an alcohol content of 0.5, Natureo Blanco is the first low calorie wine made in Spain.
2) Blossom Hill Vie (45 Calories): This white wine is light and fruity and provides a lower alcohol option.
3) Gallo Family Summer White (75 Calories): White wine with hints of apple, pear and citrus.
4) Weight Watchers Fruity White Wine (75 Calories): Smooth white wine with apple and pear flavors.
5) Lindemans Early Harvest Shiraz (80 Calories): This is a medium-bodied style of Shiraz with plum and blackcurrant flavors.
6) Blue Nun Medium White Wine (85 Calories): Blue Nun is Germany’s biggest export brand, this medium white wine has crisp apple and citrus characters.
7) Skinny Vine Thin Zin Wine (90 Calories): This wine has a blend of berries, honeydew, and citrus flavors.

Remember to always drink in moderation…Cheers! Cheers! Cheers!

7 Health Benefits of Latinva Dance

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When dancing, you are smiling and having a great time.  Did you know that there are also many health benefits to dancing other than just having a great time?  These benefits increase to an even higher level when you incorporate dance into a fitness program.  Below are the many health benefits of Latinva:
 
1) Balance:  Balancing in one position is easy.  However, balancing in the numerous types of positions in dancing is much more difficult.  This strengthens the stabilizer muscles, protects the core and makes the participants less prone to injury in their daily lives.  Latinva also aids in coordination and helps strengthen reflexes.  It is a great way to keep the Central Nervous System and Peripheral Nervous System in shape by improving the connection of the body and mind.
 
2)  Calorie Buster:  Latinva exercises the body to allow for increased circulation.  It helps burn calories, while improving stamina.  Depending on speed and intensity, it is estimated that:
 
– Dance burns anywhere from 600 to 800 calories per hour
– Dance Fitness burns up to 1,000 calories per hour
 
3)  Endurance:  Exercise increases endurance, and Latinva Dance Fitness is a physical dance exercise.  Endurance is the ability of muscles to work hard for increasingly longer periods of time without fatigue.  Other benefits include:
 
– Improves vascular health since it makes the heart pump blood faster and flow to the brain; which encourages direct focus and concentration.
– Increases lung capacity since dance is a vascular activity, which increases lungs overload.
– Aids in lipid control, which raises HDL (good cholesterol), and lowers LDL (bad cholesterol).
– Aids in blood sugar control, which is great for diabetes.
 
4)  Flexibility:  Most dance moves require bending and stretching, so simply by dancing, Latinva participants become more flexible. Latinva will safely lengthen and fortify the muscles to improve flexibility and increase strength and stamina.
 
5) Memory:  Latinva improves memory by teaching participants to recall steps, routines and dance patterns; making it a great mental exercise for the brain.  The significant benefit is that mental exercises keep the mind young, quick, alert and open.
 
6)  Strength:  Strength is the ability of a muscle to exert a force against resistance.  How does dance build strength?  Latinva builds strength simply by forcing the muscles to resist against one’s own body weight.  For example, Latin dance requires turning and spinning.  Turning and spinning require strength of the major leg muscles.  Other benefits:
 
– Enhances posture, balance and concentration, which can prevent falls.
– Strengthens bone density, which improves mobility.
– Builds muscles tones throughout the body, especially in the legs and buttocks.
– Keeps joints lubricated, which helps prevent arthritis.
 
7)  Well-Being:  Latinva is a physical activity, and physical activity is known to reduce stress and tension.  
 
BONUS:  You will impress everyone by the new dance moves that you learned with Latinva as you hit the dance floor…

Red, White and Blue Salad

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Enjoy this delicious and light summer salad with blueberries and strawberries, paired with tangy feta cheese!  Add protein and turn the salad into a meal in a bowl:
 
– Add grilled chicken breast strips or shredded rotisserie chicken breasts for a delicious and healthy meal.
– Add dry roasted unsalted slivered almonds for a delicious and nutritious crunch.
 
Ingredients – Salad:
1 bag of mixed salad greens (5 ounces)
2 cups fresh blueberries
2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced thinly
½ cup crumbled feta, goat cheese or blue cheese
 
Ingredients – Dressing:
3 – 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
½ lemon juice or 2 -3 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
¼ teaspoon sea salt or to taste
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper or to taste
 
Preparation:
 
In a bowl, whisk oil, lemon juice or balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper.
Add greens and toss well. Place on plates.
Scatter feta cheese, blueberries and strawberries over each plate. Serve immediately.
 
Serves: 6
Active Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Nutrition Facts Per Serving: 120 Calories, 8g Carbohydrates, 11mg Cholesterol, 7g Fat, 125mg Potassium, 3g Protein, and 190mg Sodium

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