2 1/2 cups coarse fresh breadcrumbs (from about 1/2 baguette)
3/4 cup packed fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves
1 pound penne
2 to 3 ounces ricotta salata or Parmesan cheese, shaved, for serving
Directions:
1. Combine tomatoes, 1/4 cup oil, garlic, and 2 teaspoons salt in a large bowl, and then season with pepper. Let stand at room temperature until tomatoes exude juices, at least 2 hours and up to 8 hours.
2. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Toss breadcrumbs and parsley with remaining 2 tablespoons oil; season with salt and pepper. Spread mixture in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet and toast, stirring halfway through, until parsley is crisp and breadcrumbs are toasted, about 8 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until al dente; drain. Stir pasta into tomato mixture, and season with salt and pepper. Top with breadcrumbs, cheese, and a drizzle of oil.
1. Mix vodka, bloody mary mix, squeeze of lime and horseradish over ice. Strain into a measuring cup and pour into tomato shot glasses.
To make tomato shot glasses, cut the top off cherry tomatoes. Using a small paring knife, cut around the inside of the tomato and scoop out seeds and flesh, being careful not to puncture.
1. Mix vodka, bloody mary mix, squeeze of lime and horseradish over ice. Strain into a measuring cup and pour into tomato shot glasses.
To make tomato shot glasses, cut the top off cherry tomatoes. Using a small paring knife, cut around the inside of the tomato and scoop out seeds and flesh, being careful not to puncture.
Cucumber shooters with cucumber-mint cocktails
Ingredients:
15-20 cucumber shot glasses, see below
1-1/2 ounces cucumber vodka
1 ounce sweet and sour mix
1/4 lime
5 small mint leaves, torn
1 tablespoon chopped cucumber
Ice
Directions:
1. Place lime, mint leaves and chopped cucumber in a martini shaker. Muddle well. Add vodka and sweet and sour mix. Shake with ice. Strain into a measuring cup and pour into cucumber shot glasses.
To make cucumber shot glasses, cut 3/4-inch lengths of cucumber. Using a melon baller, scoop out insides, leaving the bottom intact.
The single most important ingredient is fresh lime juice. Use any gadget you like--just please don't twist open a screw cap. For parties, juice the limes ahead and fill a squeeze bottle to keep at the ready.
SWEETEN UP
That's not a typo--and no, you won't miss it. We prefer light agave syrup for its complementary flavors (and shared origin) with tequila.
GO FOR SILVER
Always drink tequila made from 100 percent blue agave. It just tastes better. In Margaritas, use onlyblanco (a.k.a. silver or white) tequilas, which have a peppery, vegetal kick that won't get buried when mixed. Save your aged reposados for sipping.
TAKE IT WITH A GRAIN OF...
Salt brings out the flavor in everything, but too much can be overwhelming. So we only salt halfway around the rim and are careful not to get any in the drink.
There are two kinds of "bad" fats found in our food: saturated fats and trans fats. Health Canada explains that saturated and trans fats can raise LDL or "bad" cholesterol levels, which can increase your risk for heart disease.
Saturated fats can be found in meat (i.e. beef, chicken, lamb, pork), oils (i.e. coconut oil), dairy products (i.e. butter, cream, cheese), lard and shortening. Health Canada recommends reducing saturated fats in the diet by choosing leaner meats, such as chicken or turkey breast, and lower-fat dairy products.
Trans fats are the ones that are particularly bad for you, as they not only increase levels of "bad" cholesterol, but they also decrease your levels of HDL or "good" cholesterol. Trans fats are most often found in commercially fried foods (i.e. french fries, chips, doughnuts), baked goods (i.e. cakes, cookies, pastries) and other snack foods commonly considered "junk food." For optimal health, it is best to read nutritional labels and to seek out products that have no trans fats.
The "good" fats
Although some fats are better avoided, others can actually be beneficial for your body. These "good fats" are called unsaturated fats, and Health Canada reports that replacing saturated and trans fats with unsaturated fats has been shown to help lower cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart disease. Unsaturated fats come in two forms: polyunsaturated and monounsaturated. Both can be found in plant oils (i.e. sunflower oil, canola oil) and nuts and seeds (i.e. almonds, cashews, flaxseeds). Monounsaturated fats can also be found in avocados, while fatty fish (i.e. salmon, trout) and fish oils are great sources of polyunsaturated fats.
Health Canada recommends that Canadians include a small amount of unsaturated fat each day for optimal health benefits. This includes oil for cooking, salad dressings, margarine and the foods mentioned above. Unsaturated fats can help boost your energy, provide better vitamin absorption, and reduce cardiovascular risks. In moderation, they are an integral part of a healthy diet..
Learn what’s seasonal and plan for meals that incorporate these items
Produce will be cheaper when it’s in season, plus it’ll have more nutrients and a much better taste. Your farmers market may be a bit pricier than your grocery store (make some notes and compare), but if you buy at the market, you may find the quality and taste is worth the small investment. If you can commit to using up all the produce, consider getting a weekly or biweekly delivery of organic vegetables. It may often end up being cheaper than buying at your local grocery store, plus you'll have no choice but to commit to eating healthy roughage.
Stock your pantry when items are on sale
When you visit a big-box store and find great prices on food staples, invest in them then, and you’ll always have options for whipping up healthy meals. Canned chickpeas, tomatoes, legumes, steel-cut oats, brown rice, whole-grain pasta — groceries such as these will last for a long time and can be used to make simple, wholesome recipes that’ll save you on those nights you’re tempted to hit the drive-through for a burger.
Invest some time in clipping coupons and reading flyers
Rather than ditching the coupons and flyers you get in the mail straight into the recycling bin, take a few minutes each week to check what’s on sale. In fact, plan your meals based on what fresh produce is on special. If you’re diligent about using what’s in your freezer, consider buying extras of the items on sale and freeze them (make sure to wrap them up well so they don’t get freezer burn). This way, you can take advantage of the savings while benefiting from healthy produce at a later date. Another way to make produce last longer so you can buy more of it when on sale? Pickling. Plus, pickled vegetables are a fantastic time saver on nights when you don’t have much time to cook.
1. Make morning time your activity time. Most likely the weather will be friendlier, your energy level higher, and your agenda emptier than later in the day.
2. Beware the food obsession. Let’s be honest: For many of us, vacations are about eating splurges. It’s fresh seafood by the ocean, amazing restaurants in great cities, unlimited breakfast buffets at the hotel, that ice cream/candy/cake/jambalaya that you remember as a child and come back for every few years. This is the stuff of great vacations, and don’t deny yourself these pleasures. Our suggestion: Limit yourself to one food splurge a day. If you do more, the uniqueness and specialness of the splurges fade away. And you’ll spend too much time sitting in restaurants — and then sitting some more, recuperating from the overindulgence.
3. Get into the water as much as you can. Don’t allow yourself to spend all your time sitting in front of the water. Whether it is the ocean, a swimming pool, or a tree-lined lake, make sure you get into the water for swimming or games or even walking. Heck, merely standing in waist-high water is a good workout, thanks to the action of the water. And you’ll feel so much more alive!
4. Get on the water as much as you can. Paddleboats are a blast. Canoeing is a joy. Rowboats are romantic. Powerboats exhilarating. Sailboats serene. Kayaks pure adventure. Inner tubes can erase 50 years from your attitude in a matter of minutes. Even standing at the rail of a steamboat is exciting. Boats make you feel young, and whether you are propelling them or not, they all burn calories and engage your muscles more than being on dry land.
5. Choose a cruise for your trip. It’s amazing how active you can be being stuck on a boat in the middle of the Atlantic. Most cruise ships offer numerous options for seaworthy exercise. Most ships house pools, golf simulators, rock walls, basketball hoops, fitness centers, jogging and walking areas, and instructor-led fitness classes — and that’s just what’s on board. During your sea and land excursions you can burn calories as you snorkel, swim, hike, scuba dive, and horseback ride.
6. Get out of the car every two hours. Many of us spend a large chunk of our vacations on the road, either getting to and from our destinations, or using the car for sightseeing. But no matter how beautiful the scenery is, great, memorable vacations don’t happen in a car seat. Don’t wait for exhaustion or nature’s call to get you to pull over. Frequently get out and stretch, walk, picnic, shop, visit, and have fun. It’s important for your health and energy, and it makes traveling a lot more active and interesting.
7. Reacquaint yourself with sunrises and sunsets. A walk at dawn or dusk is rejuvenation
defined. Try to make this a daily ritual of life away from home, and you will guarantee yourself both physical and spiritual replenishment.
Here are some culinary “special effects” that you can try to trim some calories and fat.
1. Substitute leaner meats for fattier ones, such as white-meat poultry for dark, lean ground turkey for ground beef, or pork tenderloins for ribs.
2.Bake or broil instead of frying in oil, which saturated whatever you’re cooking, especially if the food is breaded.
3. Remove skin from poultry, trim visible fat from meat, and throw out the egg yolks. Why worry about hidden fat when the fat you can see — and remove — does most of the harm?
4. Buy low-fat or sugar-free products. If you haven’t recently tried low-fat or fat-free foods (especially cheese), try them again: They've gotten better. If one brand doesn't taste good to you, try another. And you’ll always save calories by replacing whole milk with fat-free or using naturally lower-fat cheeses such as mozzarella instead of higher-fat ones such as cheddar.
5. Mix higher-fat meats, cheeses, and other foods with lower-fat versions if you don’t want to make whole substitutions.
