Diet Hansen's - It's Diet, But Try It!

I am an anti-diet soda (and anti-diet any food, really) person, so I avoid Diet Coke, Pepsi, Sprite, WHATEVER like the plague. All those weird chemicals, especially aspartame, scare me. More scary is the appetite-stimulation effect which I believe comes from aspartame, from my personal experience only. I'm sure science will confirm soon. I think there are some articles out there that back up the idea that this could be true. Anyway, all I know is that when I used to drink diet stuff, I was always thinking about eating and constantly craving snacks, and once I stopped a few years ago I had a lot more control.

Also, diet soda tastes gross, no matter what you tell yourself. There is nothing like the real thing. I feel the same way about low-fat or no-fat stuff. I'd much rather have a real piece of cheese or a real little dollop of sour cream than fake stuff.

However, one "diet" product I do like is Diet Hansen's soda. It uses Splenda, which while not nearly as tasty as sugar, doesn't give me that same drinking-liquid-metal feeling as aspartame. And the flavors are lovely. I usually stock up on the Black Cherry, Tangerine Lime, Ginger Ale, and Creamy Root Beer.

For photos, go to: www.hansens.com

The Black Cherry is very sweet but with lots of good cherry flavor (plus that overly fake sugary taste, but what can you do.) It's a really nice mixer. I have used a splash of it in my pomegranate martinis to great success. (That's vodka, pomegranate juice, a sugar rim, and a splash of the Hansen's.)

The Creamy Root Beer is actually the most normal tasting of them all. It doesn't have the bite of real root beer (though all of these sodas have a distinct sharpness to them because of the way they're carbonated) but the root beer flavor is right on with plenty of vanilla.

Tangerine Lime is basically a poor man's Sprite. Still, it's tart and yummy.

My absolute favorite though, is the Ginger Ale. Not only because I'm obsessed with gingerale, but because it is a particularly piquant one. Must be the ingredients they use to flavor it, and I quote: "African ginger, Mexican limes, Californian Lemons and Madascan Vanilla". Damn, that's like the United Nations of gingerale flavor! It is a bit lemony, but it works, and allows me to drink gingerale without having that teeth-going-soft-from-sugar feeling.

There are also Grapefruit, Kiwi Strawberry and Peach flavors. I bet the Peach has a lot of cocktail potential, too. Comment if you've tried 'em. Keep up the great work, Hansen's! (PS: I get mine at Trader Joe's but I have also seen it at Albertson's.)

:-P

Longboard Lager, by Kona Brewing Co.

I am a beer lover. Have been ever since I snuck my first sip of Coors Light at the age of God knows but I was still speaking French so you do the math.

One of my favorite things is beer tasting. Whenever I go to a brewpub that has a beer sampler, I'm there! While in Palo Alto, I often partook in the flight at Gordon Biersch. These things are great because they are both enjoyable (like channel surfing for the taste buds) and educational. See, America, this is what our schools need! Kidding, kidding.

But seriously, folks, whenever I see an interesting beer that I haven't tried at the market, I grab a six pack and put my highly scientific beer palate to work. It's very hard work, I know, but somebody has to do it.




Image: www.maletis.com/products.html

One of my clients is Hawaiian, so lately I've lately been on a Hawaii kick which has included trying to learn all the islands and capitals of Hawai'i (the map is on my PC desktop, as I am employing the world-map-shower-curtain theory of geography memorization) and also writing it properly with an apostrophe. So of course when I saw Kona Longboard Island Lager on the shelf at Albertson's while shopping for tomatoes, I decided to give it a gander.

The friendly people at Kona Brewing Company, which by the way, totally sounds like my kind of place, say: "Longboard Lager is a smooth refreshing lager fermented and aged for five weeks at cold temperatures to yield its exceptionally smooth flavor. A delicate, slightly spicy hop aroma complements the malty body of this beer."

I agree that this is a very smooth and easy to drink lager, with a nice golden-yellow color. It is mildly hoppy in a pleasant way and has a slightly sweet, nutty and light flavor. The beer is really nice poured cold in a glass with a snack of cheese or just on its own. It is both yummy and refreshing, and also has a cool label with a Hawaiian beach scene on it. This would be a good choice for when you feel for a more mellow beer, as drinking it is not such an event.


All in all, I recommend the beer. If you see it and are intrigued, and in the market for a really easy drinking brew with some distinctive flavor going on, too, say Aloha to Kona Longboard Lager! I will definitely keep my eyes out for Kona Brew Co.'s other varieties, which look intriguing. If you have tried them, leave us a comment!

:-P Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.

Starbucks Sandwiches

I like Starbucks, I'm not afraid to say it. That's right, you too-cool-for-school Starbucks haters, hear me roar! So that being said, I shall soldier onward...

"RAAAAAAAR!"

Image: Wikipedia.com

When it comes to most of the food at Starbucks, my motto is "Look, but don't touch." The pastries are notoriously high calorie and full of sugar and/or fat. Sure, I'll have the occasional treat (like the other day when Emilia and I indulged in their delicious chocolate cake doughnut. We had to get our energy up for a 4 mile hike!) but for an everyday snack, I usually look elsewhere.

However, Em and I recently noticed that Starbucks has started carrying a whole new line of fresher and healthier snack alternatives, including fresh fruit, various little salads, and SANDWICHES.

I must preface this by saying that for years I would answer the "What is your favorite food?" question with "Anything between two pieces of bread." I loooove me some sandwiches. Emilia does, too. They're my snack of choice and I'll eat them for any meal, though they have become first runner up to Miss Sushi since my recent trip to Japan. But rather than wax poetic about sandwiches here, I would like to spread the good word about two very decent and quite healthy sandwiches Emilia and I have been enjoying at the Bucks. (By the way, they don't talk about these sandwiches on their website, so we're not bothering to link to it, although you can check your Starbucks Card balance and stuff on there which is cool.)

In this corner...TURKEY FOCACCIA*: This sandwich, which features turkey, aioli, and roasted red peppers on focaccia bread, weighs in at 330 calories, which makes it perfect for a light lunch. It's great if you are craving a mayo-ey, basic turkey sandwich. The cheese is missed, but that's the price you pay for so few calories. I found the sandwich tasty and simple. The size is a bit on the small side, but it was filling enough. *: might not be its real name. Witness protection program?

And in this corner...LOW FAT TURKEY & ARTICHOKE. This sandwich, which is a bit larger than the previous one, contains "Hickory-smoked turkey breast with our mild tapenade of artichoke hearts, roasted red peppers and herbs, topped with red bell pepper and spinach on Ciabatta." What you get is a dry-ish flour dusted Ciabatta, a decent sized stack of salty turkey cold cuts, and a very little bit of the other ingredients, making it a fair, plain turkey sandwich. However, at 190 calories, it is a real fast food find for those of us consciously looking out for our girlish figures, and makes a great snack. I just had one after running around on a busy day at the office and realizing I was starving and, oh look, 3 P.M. already! It filled me right up, did the job, and did not break the calorie bank.

For taste, I prefer the Turkey Focaccia because the aioli makes the sandwich moister and more flavorful. The Low Fat Turkey & Artichoke's advantage is clearly its low calorie content. Either one is a perfectly acceptable option for mid-day hunger. Neither is the best sandwich you've ever had, but as far as grabbing a quick bite to go, these humble fighters are pretty darn good. You can grab one on your coffee run and feel good that you made a good, healthy choice in the same three minutes that you grabbed your daily Jones.

E pluribus sandwich!



:-P

Vernors - An Oldie but a Goodie!

I absolutely adore ginger ale, because it always reminds me of the comfort of being home sick as a child and being brought peanut butter and butter toast and glasses of ginger ale in bed by my loving mom. I drink it always when I'm nauseated for whatever reason (it works!) and often on the plane. Sometimes when I'm feeling saucy, I drink it with gin. Canada Dry is the brand my mom gave us, so it still holds a special place in my heart (and taste memory!). A couple of years ago, while with an ex and now friend from Michigan, I tried a ginger soda that really packed a punch: Vernors. (That's not a typo, there really is no apostrophe.)

Image from: www.wikipedia.com

I recently found Diet Vernors at my local grocery store and I couldn't resist buying it. I hate diet soda and refuse to drink it as a matter of policy, but they were out of regular Vernors and I just had to taste it again to see if it was how I remembered from when I drank it from a glass bottle in dingy yet not-without-its-charm Detroit: bitingly gingery, tongue-tingling and yummy!
And it was! The diet was very similar to the original and was actually really good. Refreshing, zingy. It also has hints of sweet vanilla along with the strong ginger flavor, which makes it taste really distinctive. It's like one of those fancy gourmet ginger beers, but without the attitude.

According to Wikipedia, Vernors was actually invented in Detroit in 1866. Its slogan is "Barrel Aged, Bold Taste!". Apparently, with vanilla ice cream in a float it is a "Boston cooler". That sounds fabulous to me, I can't wait to try it. It is also the first American-born soda (supposedly) and is popular in Florida because lots of retired Detroit folks live there. Cool!

So, ginger ale fans, if you see Vernors at a store near you, don't hesitate to give it a try. It'll cure whatever ails you! I warn you that it is very sweet, but if you're in the mood for a strong and BOLD, sweet ginger soda, it'll really hit the spot.

:-P

Say Cheese! The Laughing Cow

We. Love. CHEESE!

Emilia and I have a shared love of all things cheese that dare not speak its name. And so, since cheese is a) the only thing in my fridge 80% of the time (though it prefers to have at least a couple of beers in there for company), b) the only thing I eat everyday without fail and c) irresistible to me when accompanied by the word "plate" or "cart", I'd like to make a practice of sharing my favorite cheeses with the LawyerEats crowd on a regular basis. If you are lactose intolerant or vegan or for some other reason cannot eat cheese, then I cry for you, Argentina. Try soy cheese, it's just as good. (LIE.)

I always loved cheese, as did my sister who would literally melt it over every food she consumed between the ages of 5 and ah, how old are you now Vigi? (Hehehe no but I'm serious.) But I first started to develop a real respect for it when I spent a summer in Paris at age 18. I lived with a cousin of my mother's (the French Canadian side) in a flower-filled Parisian suburb called Thiais. Every night after dinner, with great flourish, the lovely lady of the house would bring out the cheese plate. The couple were neo-hippies (in the best way) and ate practically a macrobiotic vegetarian type diet the rest of the time, but cheese was never rejected.

So, with that background, I present to you one of my favorite snacking cheeses, which I knew in my French Canadian childhood as "La Vache qui Rit" (literally, "the cow that laughs")...

THE LAUGHING COW.

The Laughing Cow, which is French-owned, makes a variety of delicious, light cheese products that are just so handy for throwing on any number of cheese delivery devices. My fridge at home and at work is always stocked with one variety or other. (Right now, at home, it's all of them!)

Mini Babybel - this is the one that I ate most as a child. There is nothing like holding that firm, smooth little wax round in your hand and pulling the tab to reveal Pacman-esque, firm but mild cheese goudaness. I also love how the cheeses are in a little fishnet, that is so fun. The regular variety in the red wax is tasty and perfect sized for a packed lunch (I bring them on the plane) or little hungers (petits faims, in French...doesn't work as well in English but you know what I'm saying.) I also love the yellow-wax one called "Bonbel" which tastes a little milder, and the "Light" one when I want a more airy Babybel. I haven't tried the "Gouda" variety yet-- if you have, please comment!

My favorite way to eat it: on its own, with a glass of nice brown ale to accompany. For photo, go to: http://www.thelaughingcow.com/lc/lc.nsf/ProductsL2-MiniBabyBel?openpage

Wedges - I looove the wedges. They are by far the most versatile and easy to eat Laughing Cow, in my opinion. I also love how they are wedge shaped in their little round cardboard pie box. I have tried all of the varieties except Light French Onion, which I have never seen except in legend. If you have had it, please comment! I have tried: Original Creamy Swiss (very creamy, mild, and slightly tart, awesome on toast with berry jam); Light Swiss Original (35-calorie version, a bit lighter in texture and great on green apple slices); Light Garlic & Herb (I'm a sucker for it, I just eat it out of the foil like a ne'er-do-well). All of the wedges in this family are soft, easy to spread, and light in flavor. You can also do really fun things with them as far as creating appetizers for friends or putting them in sandwiches.

My favorite way to eat it: one Light Swiss Original spread in the center of a cooking omelette with caramelized onions, sprinkled with fleur de sel (a really nice sea salt) and topped with salmon roe.
For photo, go to: http://www.thelaughingcow.com/lc/lc.nsf/ProductsL2-Wedges?openpage

Light Gourmet Cheese Bites - I only recently started getting into these, though I remember eating them often when I was little. I love the ingenious foil wrapping on these tiny little cubes. These are essentially the same as the Light Creamy Swiss but in different format. The size makes it perfect to spread onto a cracker when you just want a bite or two. I also like to pop them in my mouth and eat them that way.

My favorite way to eat it: on a "TLC - Original 7 Grain" cracker. The sweet, nutty taste of the cracker really complements the mildly tart flavor of the cheese.
For photo, go to: http://www.thelaughingcow.com/lc/lc.nsf/ProductsL2-CheeseBites?openpage

I buy my Laughing Cow cheeses at Trader Joe's, but you can get them at most grocery stores. And no, they did not pay me to write this post...but if they want to pay me in cheese, OUI OUI!
;-P

Fiber Finds

Em and I have both resolved in the past months to include more fiber in our diets, aiming for 25-30 grams per day-- which my doctor father has been advising me to do for years. Fiber is fantastic. It helps your digestion, keeps you free and clear of old debris and toxins (if you know what I mean), and fills you up so you don't get hungry quickly after eating. Fiberful foods like grains, cereals, fruits and veggies also have lots of other great qualities, like lots of vitamins and nutrients, plus delicious flavor, satisfying textures and color. Since I started conciously eating more fiber, my stomach has felt flatter, my digestion has felt better, and I have just been happier overall. Yay, fiber!

In our quest to find high fiber yet tasty foods, Em and I have found a few great gems.

Gem #1: Gnu foods bars. They are delicious (my favorite is banana walnut) and have an amazing amount of fiber- 12g per 140 calorie bar. You can find them online at www.gnufoods.com. They are moist, chewy, surprisingly filling, and perfect for breakfast or a snack. I keep a bunch in my office.

Gem #2: Whole grain crisps. There are many varieties. I have tried and liked Akmak, Wasa, and Rykrisp. All are great with soft cheese, peanut butter, jam, dipped in hummus, or with cream cheese and smoked salmon as Em loves to have them for breakfast. Most have 3g of fiber and about 60 calories for two crackers.

I recently found the holy grail of crisps though, at Whole Foods: Kavli, Golden Rye variety. I was so excited when I found these babies in the Union Square Whole Foods in New York, I bought a box and brought them back with me to LA on the plane! 7g of fiber and 60 calories for two crackers. There are other flavors, but only Golden Rye packs this much punch fiber-wise. It's also very tasty. The crackers are light and don't have an overpowering rye taste, but rather just a hint of rye tartness to them. Crispy and cardboard like in a good way, and quite dusty, with a solid crunch. They are quite dry, which makes them great for really soft and moist toppings. I had them with a superb Hudson Valley camembert I bought at Whole Foods, and also with garlicy Rondele spread left over from a party I threw a couple of weeks ago.

Gem #3: Berries. Berries are one of the best low-calorie and high-flavor (and high pleasure) sources of fiber out there. For example, 16 medium sized strawberries have 6g of fiber. And only 100 calories. That's a lot of strawberries! Blueberries and blackberries are also excellent sources.

It is best to get your fiber in natural form (i.e., not through supplements) and with so many tasty options out there, searching for fiber can be a great way to experience yummy and interesting new foods to add to your diet. Remember to drink lots of water to help the fiber work its magic. Trust me, your body will thank you!