[SMN HEALTHY HOLIDAY Recipes] Green Bean Almondine alternative

Author: Chef Florvil King Valdez   |   0 Comments   |   Categories: [SMN] Recipes • Healthier Eating • Holidays   |   Tags: • • • • • • • • • •

Who doesn’t like a great snap of a crisp, fresh green bean with the creamy almond flavored butter and crunchy almond slivers?

It’s definitely a staple during the holidays. But its, unfortunately, not the best vegetable side to have on the Thanksgiving table. Going through the classic recipe, the average calorie count for Green Bean Almondine is about 190 calories and 128 calories is directly from fat. Now, wouldn’t you love to find a green bean dish without the worry of so much fat? I mean, you have to leave room for dessert, right?

Now this is not because I work for the company but I think Whole Foods Market has come up with the best healthy eating program that promotes low in fat recipes and fresh ingredients. “Health Starts Here” is their newest healthy eating initiative that is available online with many recipes and tips as well as in every single one of their stores. It has four main concepts that is essential to a healthy diet and for proper weight control. Those “four pillars” of healthy eating: 1. using healthy, unprocessed fats that come from avocados, nuts, and seeds, 2. keeping your diet full of vegetables and fruits, 3. using ingredients that are whole, fresh, and unprocessed, and 4. get more bang of your buck as far as calories and nutrients are concerned. http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/healthstartshere/

So taking those four essential concepts of healthy eating will definitely keep you a few steps ahead of the curve when trying to get a handle on your diet and weight loss. Now needless to say, read up on it on Whole Foods Market’s website. I promise its the best thing for you and its convenient since they provide many of the recipes fully cooked and ready-to-eat at their locations in the prepared foods department.

So back to the healthy version of Green Bean Almondine. WFM calls this their Green Beans with Pecans and Clementine Dressing. It’s pretty awesome if I say so myself. With only 80 calories and 50 from fat, you give yourself extra room for a slice of that pumpkin pie! Enjoy!

http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipes/2805

If you have any questions about this recipe just leave a comment or email me at servemenowcatering@yahoo.com or tweet me at @servemenow or LIKE me and leave a message for me on facebook.com/servemenow!

Stay tuned for the next recipe! Happy Holidays!

Tweet Worthy Wine

Author: admin   |   2 Comments   |   Categories: Restaurant/Food Review   |   Tags: • • • • • •

It’s less than two weeks away from summer and Whole Foods Market has released their Top Ten Wines for the summer season. Whole Foods Market vows that these ten wines are

“Top-Notch Wines at Easy-To-Swallow Prices.”

Along with the rest of the nation’s Whole Foods stores, team members at Whole Foods Market in Henderson, NV hosted an amazing Twitter Tasting, pairing of top whites and reds that summer has to offer.

Will & Kendra from WFM

Will, a Specialty Team Member and Kendra, the Marketing Supervisor, offered up six of their top ten wines and four various cheeses that were too good to pass up.

My top picks… 

#1. The 2009 Vitiano, a Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Sangiovese blend from the Falesco Estate in Umbria region of Italy.  

2009 Vitiano Cabernet Sauvignon & Sangiovese Blend

This bold wine shows incredible legs and nice smokey and peppery notes. This Vitiano shows off great body, fruity flavors and authentic Italian traits. This screams, “Molto bene!” I took this one home with me! I enjoyed it with an amazing Penne Alla Vodka with grilled chicken from my favorite Italian pizzeria in Vegas, Rocco’s NY Pizza! What an awesome pairing!

#2. For a great poolside, summer wine, Argentina’s Innovac!on Torrontes Pinot Grigio is ready for the sun bathers of America! Ramona from Bravo’s Real Housewives of NY would scream for this pinot! 

Innovac!on Torrontes Pinot Grigio

This bright and tart pinot grigio is packed with florals. Innovac!on, yes, it’s really spelled with an exclamation point, is packed with notes of stone fruit like peaches and apricots! Speaking to the other customers at the Twitter Tasting, this was a definite favorite! A little summer tip, freeze some peaches or grapes, and drop them into the bottom of the glass before pouring yourself some Innovac!on!

To see the rest of the Top Ten Wines go to http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/wine/

Check out the Twitter Tasting hashtag #WFMwine , follow @WFMHenderson, @WFMWineGuys, @WholeFoods