Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Yee-Hah! Time for Outdoor Cookin'! (And it's HEALTHY too)

Well, we are coming up on Fourth of July (and it is DAMN hot here in Vegas) so pick a nice shady spot underneath a tree and BBQ to your hearts content.  Here are some ideas to kick off the BBQ and not make you feeling bloated in the heat (wherever you are).

1.  MAKE A SPICE RUB FOR YOUR MEAT.  There are plenty of non-salt induced spice rubs that you can use for chicken or beef.  Make a mixture of olive oil, paprika, pepper, oregano, rosemary and thyme.  You can email me for a couple of great recipes.  Spices, in ANY dish, makes all of the difference.

2.  GRILL VEGGIES.  All you have to do is take a bunch of squash cut up, tomatoes, onions, red peppers, whatever.  Put a tiny bit of, yes again, olive oil and roast them for a few minutes over the open fire.  Delicious.

3.  FREEZE YOGURT.  Yes!  You can make yogurt pops in the freezer with non-fat yogurt, splenda, strawberries, mango, whatever is in season, stick it all in a blender, pour it and stick it in the freezer in an ice cube tray or mold and it's fantastic AND low cal and fat free!  This is one of my personal favorites.

4.  MAKE SUN TEA.  Stick a container out there in the sun with your favorite tea bags in it and let the sun do the work.  Then, put in the fridge for a while.  Later, pour into a glass and add ice.  Stupendous!

5.  MAKE VODKA COOLERS $100 DIET STYLE.  Just put a shot of vodka, fill the rest of the glass with no sodium sparkling water (like Perrier or Pellegrino) and add a twist of lime or lemon.  Hits the spot with VERY little calories and very refreshing.

Well, boys and girls, there are my tips.  If you had a "Day Off" recently and need a remedy for the holidays while enjoying your goodies, this is it!  I have found it most satisfying.

Cheers to the upcoming holiday....