Organic Pizza

Do you feel like eating pizza this weekend? You should try Pizza Fusion, at Westchase Town Center, in Westchase. This restaurant has decided to use organic vegetables and hormone-free meat to prepare its pizza. Isn’t a great idea? Brian and I have been there a week ago and we tried 2 flavors: Very Vegan (Crimini mushrooms, rosted garlic, tomato sauce and soy cheese) and Founder’s Pie (Free range chicken, kalamata olives, roasted red onions, tomato sauce, gorgonzola, mozzarella, provolone and parmesan). We really like it. If you decide to try it, a large pizza is good for 2 people and costs between $13,00 and $18,00.

Pizza Fusion
Address: 9556 West Linebaugh Ave.
Tampa – Westchase – 33626
Phone number: 813 792-1516
Website: www.pizzafusion.com/tampa025

Soup in the Summer?

I know some people like to have soup just on Winter time, but if you are trying to stay fit or lose weight, you should have soup in any season, specially on Summer when we wear less clothes and show more skin. According to a Penn State University study, sipping your appetizer can cut the total amount of calories eaten at your meal by up to 20%. Well, it doesn’t work if you get the creamy ones like the broccoli cheddar. Skip this kind and prepare or order broth-based varieties like chicken, lentil and vegetables. They normally have about 150 calories and fills you up. I would like to share a vegetarian, inexpensive and easy to prepare recipe with you. It is a lentil chili that tastes and looks like a soup.

Lentil Chili Soup
6 cups low-sodium vegetable broth (I used water too)
1 medium yellow onion
1 large red pepper
5 cloves garlic, finely chopped
4 teaspoons of chili powder
2 cups of lentils (I soak for 12 hours, but the package says it is not necessary)
¼ cup chopped Parsley or more, if you like it a lot

Directions:
Spray olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add onion, then garlic and then bell pepper until it is tender. Stir in chili powder and cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Add lentils, tomatoes and broth. Bring to boil, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, partially covered, for about 30 minutes or until lentils are tender. Stir in Parsley and serve. 8 servings

My dad’s coffee, Starbucks Expresso and my smoothie recipe

Today I want talk about coffee in my life. I know it sounds silly. But here we go. I grow up drinking lots of coffee as a typical Brazilian. When I was a little girl, I remember smelling it as soon as I woke up. It was a sign that my “early bird” dad was in the kitchen preparing breakfast. So I used to have a little bit of the coffee with lots of milk and my bread with butter. When I first arrived in USA, I ordered coffee in restaurant and the waitress brought me a “coffee- tea” (the very light coffee in a big cup) with a little creamer. I got so disappointed and I knew at that moment I was really going to miss home.

Four years later, I am living in Tampa, I prefer to have cereal for breakfast and I am a Starbucks expresso fan. Until 2 weeks ago I was stopping by a Starbucks store every day in the afternoon to have my expresso with skim milk to the top. Then I remembered reading in somewhere how much we can save if we prepare our own beverage home. Well, I tried it, but it didn’t taste the same as the one at Starbucks. Then I “created” a recipe I share with you below. It is a low calorie, cheap and super fast to prepare cold coffee smoothie. I like it so much that it save me some trips to Starbucks. Also, just between you and me, I will always miss my dad’s coffee.

Coffee smoothie
1 sachet of instant coffee
1 cup of fat free milk
1 Tsp of honey
3 ice cubs

Direction: Blend all the ingredients together for about 1 minute. Enjoy it.

Cheap, easy and delicious Mexican recipe for your “5 de Mayo” dinner

Today is Cinco de Mayo, The 5th of May, a Mexican holiday that celebrates a battle victory over France in 1862. You don’t have to be Mexican to join in the festivities. It looks like there are a few parties around Tampa Bay area. But if you decide to stay at home, this is a good opportunity to have a homemade Mexican dish for dinner. Isn’t it!? Here is an unexpensive and “easy to make” recipe. I had it for lunch. So yummy!!!

Baked Rice and Beans
1 ½ Tbsp of Olive Oil (I use spray)
1 cup of chopped onion (I love it, so I used a big one, more than 1 cup)
2 cloves of garlic
1 bell pepper (I used half of a red and half of a green one)
1 minced japeleno (I used a small, without seeds)
1 cup of crushed tomatoes (I had fresh, but you can use a canned one)
Juice of one lime (I used a fresh one)
2 tsp of chili powder (I used 1 tablespoon and a half because I love it too)
1 tsp of dried oregano
Salt (I don’t use it…)
1 can of Dark Red Kidney Beans
1 cup of cooked brown rice (I used a left over)
Scallions (include tops and bulb, please)
Monterey Jack (this cheese is delicious)

Directions
1) Cook the brown rice about 1 hour before or use a left over like I did. Chop the onion, peppers and mince the japeleno pepper and the garlic. Shred the Monteray Jack cheese or buy it already shredded.
2) In a large skillet over medium high heat, warm oil. Add onion, garlic and sauté. Add bell peppers and japeleno pepper and sauté until peppers are softened. Stir tomatoes, lime juice, chili powder, oregano and salt (if you are using it). In another bowl combine it with beans, rice and scallions.
3) Place mixture in a casserole. Sprinkle with cheese and bake for 20 minutes in 350 degrees.

Happy Cinco de Mayo!!!

You are what you eat, or will you be?

I was never overweight during all my life, but I think just because I am lucky. I grow up eating fat, sugary and salty food. My mom didn’t mean that, she just have never learned how to cook health. She always cooked with soy oil, white flour, rice, salt and sugar, regular pasta with lots of cheese, lasagna with lots of heavy cream, cheese and ham, fried steak, pork sausage and chicken, sugary desserts and so on.

For no real reason, when I was 13, I have decided to stop drinking soda, eating mayo, and anything made of pork. Also, when I was around 18 or may be a little later, I stopped with fried food and also I became a “fake vegetarian”. I mean, no red meat, no chicken, just fish, eggs and cheese. It was a surprise to all my family. And imagine how hard was to my poor mom to adapt her recipes to my new taste.

Well, I wish I could say since then she has been cooking and eating healthier, but bad habits are so hard to break. By the age of 67 years old, she eats the same way, but she is also overweight, she has diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, and she takes at least 3 medicines every day, plus shoots of insulin. I keep asking myself if she could be healthier if years ago she have changed her lifestyle.(Sorry mom about exposing you life. It is for a good reason).

Maybe because of the “bad example”, by the age of 30, I have chosen to be always in shape, prevent diseases with a good diet and keep an active lifestyle. Ok, I am not perfect and I still eat, in moderation, scones, ice cream, pizza and all this “good bad stuff”- meaning good taste, bad to your body. But most of the time you will see lots of veggies, green leaves, whole grains and lean turkey or fish in my plate.

I truly believe eating healthy is a long term investment in Yourself. I hope you too. = )

Healthy “fast food”

If you live in Tampa, Florida, and you have been eating lots of packaged frozen food, with lots of conservatives, salt and fat, I have a tip for you. Have you ever heard about “Fit Life Foods” - www.eatfitlifefoods.com? This a great and new store in South Tampa that sells healthy and tasty food “ready to go”. They are not frozen. You just walk in and pick up what you want for breakfast, lunch, dinner or snack. This Wednesday I am planning to try their “Turkey Bean Chilli” (lean ground turkey, veggies, brown rice, pinto kidney, garbanzo and black beans with spice blend and corn bread). Does it sound too healthy for you? What about their “Tampa Bay BBQ Beef with Mac N’ Cheese” (slow cooked beef with a sweet and tangy BBQ sauce, served with homemade mac n’ cheese)? Believe or not both have around 370 calories. Well, no red meat for me, so I may ask my husband to try that one.

There are lots of options. And depending how hungry you are you can choose between small, medium or large meals. How much do they cost? Here are 3 examples: the medium size “Turkey bean Chilli” is $8.25, and the medium “Mac N’ Cheese” is $8.75. The “Pancake breakfast” (whole wheat pancakes topped with chopped walnuts, berries and a side of maple syrup) is $ 4.75. This one comes just in one size. I think those are pretty decent prices. I will let you know how good these dishes are as I try them out.

Fit Life Foods
1902-B S. Dale Mabry Hwy – Tampa(FL)
Phone: 813 644-6868
www.eatfitlifefoods.com

Earth Day and your chance to be "greener" for a day

Today is “Earth Day” and I would like to invite you to be “eco-friendly” at least for today. Don’t worry, it is not this hard. You can start with something simple like choosing to walk to the grocery store instead of driving your car, or going to the gym riding a bike. Better than that, use your bike today to go to the closest Starbucks - http://www.starbucks.com/. Don’t forget your travel mug and get a free coffee or tea. Also, recycle your garbage, remember turning off the lights around the house when you don’t need them. Tonight, you should turn off the water while brushing your teeth and take a shorter shower. What about a meatless dinner? Maybe a big salad and there is no need to use the oven. Well, there is so much to do. Good luck.