Healthy Snacks on the Go

100 Calorie almonds

One Small Apple = 100 Calories

VitaTops Muffins = 100 Calories (needs to be defrosted)

Half Cup Grapes (50 Calories) and Light Mozerella String Cheese (60 Calories) = 110 Calories

3 Tbsp. Hummus (80 Calories) and 1 Cup Sliced Cucumber With Skin (16 Calories) = 96 Calories

Snack Pack Low Fat Cottage Cheese  (102 Cal.) and 1/2 Cup Blueberries (41 Calories) = 143 Calories

Cherry Tomatoes (1 cup = 27 Calories), Basil and Special K Crackers (90 Cal. for 17) = 117 Calories

Having a healthy snack is about fresh real food and keeping the serving size small.  If trying to lose weight, keep snacks around 100-200 Calories.

Keeping a snack in your purse or in the car can help when you are stuck somewhere and are starving.  If you can grab something healthy then you might not reach for that unhealthy snack when you do eventually get to eat and you also might be less likely to overeat.

Drink plenty of water.  The signal that your brain sends to you that alerts you that you are hungry is the same signal that is sent when your body needs water.  You might feel hungry when all your body actually needs is water.

You are made of mostly water so stay ahead of thirst.  Once you are thirsty it is too late.  You are already dehydrated.

Water also helps you lose weight.  It is needed to filter out the waste (excess fats).

TRY THIS LOW-FAT CHEESECAKE FROM FOOD NETWORK.  Doesn't taste like low-fat! 229 Calories/serving

This has only 24 carbs and 11 grams of protein

low-fat cheesecake recipe from Food Network

I made this and it turned out great.  The recipe was easy and nobody could tell that it was low-fat.  I will definitely make this again.  I offered toppings on the side and everyone got to select their own toppings (or none at all).  People really enjoyed having the topic choices.

Prep Time = 1 hour

Total time = 2 hours

Makes = 14 servings

Level = Easy

Ingredients

• 9 whole low-fat cinnamon graham crackers, broken in half
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• Cooking spray
• 2 8-ounce packages Neufchatel cream cheese, softened
• 2 8-ounce packages fat-free cream cheese, softened
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 cup reduced-fat sour cream
• 2 large eggs plus 3 egg whites
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
• Assorted toppings

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Pulse the graham crackers in a food processor until crumbled. Add 1 to 2 tablespoons water and the butter; pulse until moistened. Wrap the outside of a 9-inch springform pan with foil to prevent leaks. Coat the inside of the pan with cooking spray and press the crumbs onto the bottom. Bake until browned, about 8 minutes. Let cool, about 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, beat both cream cheeses and the sugar with a mixer on medium-high speed until smooth, 5 minutes, then beat in the sour cream on low. Lightly whisk the 3 egg whites in a bowl, then add to the cheese mixture along with the 2 whole eggs, flour, vanilla and lemon zest. Beat on medium speed until fluffy, 3 minutes. Pour over the crust.

Place the cheesecake in a roasting pan and add enough warm water to come one-quarter of the way up the sides of the springform. Bake until the cake is set but the center still jiggles, about 1 hour 10 minutes. Turn off the oven; keep the cheesecake inside with the door closed for 20 minutes.

Remove the cake from the water bath and transfer to a rack. Run a knife around the edge, then cool completely. Chill until firm, at least 8 hours. Top as desired.

Topping ideas- fresh berries, low-fat whipping cream, chopped nuts

Per Serving-

Calories = 229, Fat = 11 grams (saturated fat 7 grams), Cholesterol = 61 mg, Sodium 319 mg, 

Carbohydrate = 24 grams, Fiber = 0 grams, Protein = 11 grams

Third and Most Recent Summer Vacation In Napa Valley California- 

food and wine suggestions-

We stayed at Auberge du Soleil in Rutherford

This was the gorgeous view at every meal

Breakfast of eggs benedict.

Tour and pairing- wine and chocloate.  The E in Ehlers is a heart because the owner donates all proceeds to research for cardiomyopathy.  

Gorgeous barn at Ehler's

Chocolates were made by the previous chocolatier at French Laundry.

The ginger infused one was my favorite.

Ehler's wine and chocolate pairing is a must!

The French Laundry for dinner- A must do!!!  It will be the most expensive culinary experience of your life so if you are not a foodie then maybe you wouldn't appreciate it.  I put off going for three trips to Napa because my husband is a meat and potatoes guy but even he couldn't stop talking about this.  A bucket list for sure....maybe twice if I am lucky! ;)

Patio at French Laundry

Front door at French Laundry

It was my husband's birthday and they even printed his name on the menu!  

Amuse bouche- tuna sashimi in a cone on the left.  I usually do not like tuna like that and won't eat it but this was delicious!

We weren't going to order any alcohol but since we were already paying for the dinner we figured, what the heck- first course or two- Schramsberg sparkling wine

This was surprisingly savory and yummy.  "oysters and pearls," which had sabayon of pearl tapioca with island creek oysters and white sturgeon caviar. Love the pearl spoon.

We had this twice during our stay in Napa and it was so good.  I need to find this.

The dish in the photo above was a foie gras option (the week we were in Napa was the last week any California restaurant could sell foie gras because they passed a law).

This was the salad of Santa Rosa pluots- bok choy, persian cucumber, red radish and szechuan pepper "aigre-doux"

This was lick the spoon good- sweet butter poached Maine lobster tail- "Ditalini" summer pole beans, oven-dried tomato, basil and spicy lobster broth.  Could eat this every day.

Devil's Gulch Ranch Rabbit- Hobbs' bacon, Brentwood corn, and petite onions

Arietta wine- super delicious.  Have to find this one too!

Snake River Farms "Calotte de Boeuf Grillee"

Chanterelle mushrooms, yukon gold potato, nantes carrots, parsley shoots and "sauce bordelaise"

Melt in your mouth goodness.

"Tomme de Savoie"

young fennel, orange, marcona almonds, and nicoise olives

This was very refreshing

this was a foie gras upgrade.  It was much more savory than I expected

White peach sorbet

pine nut scone, extra vigin olive oil gelee, mint and aged balsamic vinegar

What the French Laundry calls "coffee and doughnuts"

This mug looks like a regular sized mug in the photo.  It is actually an espresso mug and the "coffee" is coffee ice cream underneath the foam

Hot, cinnamon, moist doughnuts-OMG

hand made chocolates- the peanut butter and jelly was so good

Chocolate and candy coated hazelnuts

We were invited into the kitchen after dinner to meet the chefs.  The most immaculately clean and orderly, quiet kitchen.  Very impressive

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The chefs signed our menus and I had them framed.  They are hanging in my kitchen!

Leaving French Laundry

We have souvenirs which is great because I love to decorate my house with things that have personal meaning.

 

These are our signed menus!

Fresh jasmine tea at breakfast- Auberge du Soleil

This was an interesting Japanese breakfast that my husband enjoyed

Omelet, bacon and potatoes for breakfast

Darioush winery- if you like cabernet, zinfandel or Shiraz then you must visit here on Silverado Trail.  We did the tour and wine and cheese pairing.  Aida was our guide and she was key to our enjoyment there.  Aida also hooked us up at a few other places during our stay!

Wine and cheese pairing

Mr. Tam- Cowgirl Creamery cheese- triple cream paired with Darioush Signature Chardonnay

Mimolette Extra Vieille- Normandy- caramel taste paired with Darioush Signature Merlot

Big Woods Blue paired with Darioush Signature Shiraz

Beecher's Flagship Reserve- Washington State paired with Darioush Signature Cab

Wine tasting was done downstairs in the wine cave

Darioush makes their own pistachios- yum

We bought into the Darioush wine club and cannot wait to get our wines in the fall (once the temperatures are cooler).  We are celebrating our wedding anniversary with a bottle of the 2004 Cabernet tonight!  Can't wait!

If you like strong, full body reds, try Darioush.

Our favorite hotel in Napa- even if you do not stay, come to dinner at FARM restaurant or during the day, plan a picnic and buy some wonderful snacks at their Market.

Domaine Carneros in the Carneros region- the only certified champagne in California.  They have some good champagnes.  Pretty property.

Cuvaison tasting room in Carneros.  This one is across the street from Domaine Carneros.  Beautiful views.  Nice for a place to just relax and do a tasting.  They have some good wines.  Brandelin red is our favorite.

Scramsberg is farther north near Calistoga so plan your day accordingly (we did wineries that were up that way all day so we weren't driving all over the place).  This tour was really interesting.  It is the first wine caves in the valley and they were all hand dug.  I don't have any photos of the cave because it was too dark down there.  These wines are the only ones that still use hand riddling.  By far, my favorite sparkling wine made in the US.

Oenotri is an Italian restaurant in downtown Napa.  They hand make their pasta.  I had the pizza and it was so incredibly good!  I of course had foie gras on mine because it was the last day you could get it before the law went into effect.

Bottega- definitely go.  Located in Yountville- great town to walk around.  Napa Style is right across the way.

tuna which my husband liked

tomato salad

lamb and blue cheese risotto- whoa!

lamb chops

Robert Sinskey Vineyards- friendly people.  We did the Farm to Table tour and tasting.  It was informative and interesting.  Robert Sinskey is an eye doctor.  They have their own little organic garden on the property.  

Gorgeres with grana padano, gruyere and garden herbs

roasted almonds with RSV rosemary and sage

summer squash and parmesean tartlets

RSV nectarine mostarda

Cypres Grove Humbolt Fog & Cowgirl Creamery Mt. Tam

Salumi: Fra'Mani Salametto & La Quercia Prosciutto

Olives: McEvoy Ranch with fennel & preserved lemons

Wines- Abraxas 2011, Pinot Noir 2009, POV 2008 & Marcien 2006

fried zucchini flowers- yum

property at RSV- the lavender smelled so good!

Wine & Food Experience at Cakebread Cellars- Cakebread has many food and wine offerings.  All need an appointment.  

Cakebread  wine and food pairing

2011 Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley

2009 Chardonnay Reserve, Carneros

2008 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley

2009 Syrah, Napa Valley

shrimp shumai with Thai sweet chili sauce paired with Sauvignon Blanc

empanadas with spinich, pine nuts and raisins paired with Chardonnay

new potaotes stuffed with smoked venison sausage and carmody cheese paired with Cab

crostini with seared lamb loin, garden beet greens and rhubarb chutney

I love Turnbull wines.  Do the reserve tasting especially if you are into reds

Stag's Leap Wine Cellars- not to be mistaken for the other Stags' Leap.  This one is the one for great reds.  They are the winery who won the first award against all French wines in a blind tasting!  Good tour and great reds.  My husband likes the Cask.

Oakville Grocery has some great wines and they will help you select something based on your taste.  They also sell good sandwiches and picnic foods.  Great for a quick snack if you are on the way to an appointment!

Nickel and Nickel- you need an appointment.  Good reds and nice property.

Peju- red that we like is called Fifty Fifty

Vintner's Collective is our favorite tasting room in Napa.  Downtown.

Love the bag!

Ilse hooked us up with some delicious pairings.

If you like sushi- go to Morimoto in downtown Napa

tuna pizza- so good.  We didn't even order this.  Aida from Darioush called them on our behalf!

rock shrimp- yumm

green tea dessert- we didn't order this but Aida from Darioush called to let them know that it was my husband's birthday.  Yum 

Our Current Wine Library:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I would recommend any of these wines but some of them are not available outside of Napa.  Go to the winery websites or to wine.com to see availablity.  Shipping varies from state to state too.

If you have any questions about anything Napa, don't hesitate to ask.  I have researched it to death since prior to our first trip out there in 2006.  If I don't have an answer for you, I will find out!