A Trip to the Napa Valley and Lake Berryessa

We had a wonderful fun filled 2 days with friends this weekend. The first day we had lunch at Tra Vigne restaurant in St. Helena. The food was fabulous, I had the olive oil marinated soft and creamy mozzarella cheese with toasted french bread. We also had a memorable pizzeta with blue cheese.

I would highly recommend this restaurant if you are in Napa. We then toured the Sterling Vineyard winery in Calistoga with the beautiful views of the valley. But my favorite stop was the Nichelini winery in St. Helena. It is a historic small family owned winery with a colorful history.

We then had another great meal at a local restaurant at Lake Berryessa, Cucina Italiana, a small hidden gem with a chef from Italy who makes meals with sauces that are awesome! What can I say but MMMM Good!
The only thing left to top off a great 2 days was waking up to this view.

Vino Santo Bistro Restaurant

Last night my husband and I and 6 friends went to dinner at Vino Santo Bistro in Redwood City. I always forget about this quaint small restaurant and we have been there before. It is a great local place to go anytime for a good comfort Italian food. I had the fish special, Mahi Mahi, which was in a light buttery lemon mango sauce and was delicious! It melted in my mouth and the portion sizes for everyone's meal were more than generous. Even the sides of scalloped potatoes and fresh garlicy sauteed spinach was very good. The bread was hot and soft and wonderful that came with a yummy dipping sauce.  They also made a pretty good margarita with a little of my guidance for my own special recipe. When I make a margarita, I use equal parts of good Tequila, Cointreau, fresh lime juice, and a Grand Marnier floater(optional) over ice in a chilled salt-rimmed glass. MMMMM-good. My husband had the pesto pasta and thought it did not have enough garlic, but I thought it was light and delicious, like I said 'comfort food' not meant to "knock your socks off"! I definitely want to go back and try some other dishes. Good food shared with good friends....

Healthy Tidbits

Quotes...

"What is a weed? A plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered".
by Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Healthy Tidbits

 (Berkeley Wellness)
Beta sitosterol, a plant substance, is probably best known for helping to lower cholesterol. Can it help benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), enlargement of the prostate gland that occurs in older men?
BPH is not a sign of cancer, but its symptoms, including increased urinary frequency and difficulty in urination, are unpleasant. There are prescription drugs that shrink the prostate, but many men search for nonprescription remedies. One leading supplement is beta sitosterol, a plant chemical found in fruits, vegetables, and nuts. Beta sitosterol is also found in plant products promoted as treatments for BPH, notably saw palmetto, stinging nettle, rye pollen, and pumpkin seeds. Like other plant sterols, beta sitosterol can lower cholesterol, which is why sterols are added to some margarines and other foods—a usage approved by the FDA.
Beta sitosterol from many sources, including saw palmetto, has been extensively studied, with some positive results. Plant sterols clearly have some effect on the male hormone system and prostate. In 1999 the Cochrane Collaboration (independent reviewers of scientific evidence) looked at four large, well-designed clinical studies and concluded that beta sitosterol may help relieve the urinary symptoms caused by BPH. They noted, however, that research into long-term effects was still needed.
In 2009, an evaluation of newer evidence was less enthusiastic. The researchers, from the Cleveland Clinic and other noted urology centers, concluded in Reviews in Urology that while “nutraceuticals” (including beta sitosterol) had shown some potential in treating BPH and other prostate disorders, nothing was certain. Herbal preparations, they warned, “may have drastically different composition, durability, contaminants, and even efficacy.” They found that while the best evidence was for saw palmetto, even those studies were not convincing. A well-designed study in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2006, however, found that saw palmetto is not an effective treatment for BPH symptoms.
Bottom line: If you have BPH and are considering a beta sitosterol supplement or other herbal treatment, talk with your doctor first. You may find something that helps, but supplements carry risks, just as prescription drugs do. There are drugs with proven benefits, and their side effects are better understood. Another advantage: your insurance should cover the drugs.

Quinoa

 I have been trying to incorporate this wonderful grain into our diets. I cook up Kashi 7 grain pilaf and add quinoa to it. It is great for breakfast, lunch or dinner, just add your favorite goodies such as nuts and dried fruit or chopped vegetables that you like.

 (Dr Weil)
If you've been hearing more about quinoa lately, it's not a surprise. Considered a "super food," quinoa, ("keen-wah") is a relative of beets, spinach and Swiss chard, but its seeds resemble a whole grain and are prepared and eaten in much the same way. Available in light brown, red and even black varieties, quinoa is light yet filling and has a mellow flavor.
So what makes quinoa so nutritious? It:

1. Is high in magnesium - magnesium helps relax blood vessels, which may result in fewer headaches for migraine sufferers and decreased risk of hypertension and stroke.
2. Is a good source of manganese, iron, copper, phosphorous, vitamin B2 and other essential minerals.
3. Has the highest protein content of any grain (it is especially high in lysine, an amino acid that is typically low in other grains). Quinoa's protein is complete, containing all nine essential amino acids - a rarity in the plant kingdom.
4. Is gluten-free and easy to digest.

Once available only in health food stores, quinoa is becoming more mainstream by the day and is easily found in major grocery stores as well.

Awful Annie's Restaurant

This last weekend we drove up to Lake Tahoe to check out the snow. Wow lots of snow! On the way we stop at a favorite restaurant in Auburn called 'Awful Annies'. I know the name may scare you away when you first hear it, but it is a great restaurant. It is in the historic part of Auburn and used to be a house of ill repute during the gold rush days. The saying came from the fact that the men that visited had an "awfully good time"at Annie's. Ron had the club and I had the turkey salad.
Everything we try has been delicious.

Low Calorie Snacks

 Here are some great ideas for snacks that are low in calories.

(Prevention Newsletter)
 100-Calorie Snacks

1/4 c 1% cottage cheese and 1 c sliced strawberries

1 hard-boiled egg dipped in 1 Tbsp light ranch dressing

1/2 c fat-free ice cream or frozen yogurt

28 pistachios

10 almonds or cashews

1 large stalk celery stuffed with 1 Tbsp peanut butter

1 slice whole wheat bread with 1 oz turkey breast

1 oz mozzarella string cheese and 4 green olives

1 c light yogurt

1/2 oz baked tortilla chips with 2 Tbsp salsa

1 fat-free chocolate pudding cup

1/2 whole wheat bagel (4" diameter), toasted, with 1 Tbsp sugar-free jam

1/2 c steamed soybeans (edamame)

1 hard-boiled egg with 1/2 slice toasted wheat bread

1 c chicken noodle soup with 2 saltine crackers

1 small (4") whole wheat pita with 1 Tbsp hummus

1 slice whole wheat bread with 1 oz sliced turkey breast and mustard

1/2 c 1% cottage cheese with 1 c cherry tomatoes

2 fig bars

20 animal crackers

1 c berries mixed with 2 Tbsp plain, nonfat yogurt

3 to 4 c microwave air-popped popcorn (see package for calories per cup)


(Last Updated: 12/20/2005 Copyright (c) Rodale, Inc. 2005)

200-Calorie Snacks

2 fig bars and a medium apple

1 oz trail mix and 1/2 c light fruit yogurt

1 c broth-based soup and 2 rice cakes

1/4 c roasted sunflower seed kernels

1/4 c dry-roasted mixed nuts

8 reduced-fat Tricuit crackers with 1 oz reduced-fat cheddar cheese

1 whole wheat English muffin topped with 1 Tbsp reduced-fat peanut butter

1/2 c raisin bran cereal with 1/2 c skim milk

1/2 c 1% low-fat chocolate milk and 4 squares low-fat graham crackers

Triscuit and Pepperidge Farm makes crackers that are lighter and healthier and low in fat. You can eat a lot more for the same amount of calories. Many companies are making a healthier version of snack items, just read the nutrition labels. Watch out for fat and sodium.  Orville Redenbacker makes single 100 calorie microwave popcorn packets that are 94% fat free and low in sodium.