Chef Robert's Top Wine and Sprit Picks for 2011

Wine...love it!

Over the next 12 months I will taste and review some awesome wines.

I promise I will not sugar cote my option.I will tell it like it is.

Much of what I'v learned come for the school of tasting.

ok...here are my rules for wine:

1. Be open minded, don't get in a wine rut. Try all kinds. Look, some will be winners others not. That's the adventure.

2. You don't have to spend a fortune.

3. The label tell the story learn how to read and understand the terminology, it's really simple.

4. Develop your taster! My wine mentor Gary Vay-ner-chuk from

Wine Library TV http://tv.winelibrary.com/ explains it this way! Watch

FUN!!!!

Ok, for real tune into Wine Library for a great learning opportunity.

But what about us diabetics? Here's what the ADA recommends.

A Few Guidelines

Use alcohol in moderation. Alcohol can dangerously lowerblood sugar in people with diabetes who take insulin or diabetes pills. If you choose to drink alcohol, talk to your doctor or dietitian about how to drink safely. Pregnant women should not drink alcoholic beverages.

• If you choose to drink alcohol, limit the amount and have it with food. Talk with your health care team about whether alcohol is safe for you.
• Women should drink 1 or fewer alcoholic beverages a day (1 alcoholic drink equals a 12 oz beer, 5 oz glass of wine, or 1 ½ oz distilled spirits (vodka, whiskey, gin, etc.).
• Men should drink 2 or fewer alcoholic drinks a day.
• If you drink alcohol at least several times a week, make sure your doctor knows this before he/she prescribes a diabetes pill.

More Tips to Sip By

• Drink only when and if blood glucose is under control. Do not omit food from your regular meal plan.
• Test blood glucose to help you decide if you should drink.
• Wear an I.D. that notes you have diabetes.
• Sip a drink slowly to make it last.
• Have a no calorie beverage by your side to quench your thirst.
• Try wine spritzers to decrease the amount of wine in the drink.
• Use calorie-free drink mixers -- diet soda, club soda, diet tonic water, or water.
• Drink alcohol with a snack or meal. Some good snack ideas are pretzels, popcorn, crackers, fat-free or baked chips, raw vegetables and a low-fat yogurt dip.
• Find a registered dietitian to help you fit alcohol into your food plan.
• Do not drive or plan to drive for several hours after you drink alcohol.

Adapted from the book Diabetes Meal Planning Made Easy. Written by Hope S. Warshaw, MMSc, RD, CDE, a nationally recognized expert on healthy eating and diabetes.

__________

The first Spirt to talk about...is Iowa's newest vodka, the brainchild of a television weather guy and his transportation engineer brother.

Mississippi River Distilling Co.

Maker of the new River Baron vodka, a River Rose gin coming in February and a not-yet-named bourbon scheduled for late next year - opened its doors for tours and tastings in Le Claire Iowa for the first time in December 2010. Owners Ryan Burchett, 36, and Garrett Burchett, 30.

Mississippi River is Iowa's third microdistillery. The list also includes the makers of Templeton Rye, a wildly popular whiskey that is mostly distilled in Indiana, and Cedar Ridge Vineyard in Cedar Rapids.

So what does it taste like?

Sweet and Smooth... It's a great sipping Vodka. The nose has hints of vanilla and a clean no burn moth feel.

Here's my version of the RIVER BARON ROOT BEER FLOAT of LOVE

for 1
Ingredients:
2 ounces River Baron Vodka
4 to 6 ounces root beer
1 scoop vanilla ice cream

Directions:
Pour vodka and root beer into a tall glass. Add ice cream and serve with a straw.

Check out the Baron @

www.mrdistilling.com

http://mrdistilling.com/blog/

http://www.facebook.com/mississippiriverdistilling

Please feel free to feedback to me your comments.

Buon Appetito!

Chef Robert The Happy Diabetic

www.happydiabetic.com

Taste for Life:

Recipes for eating and living better from “The Happy Diabetic”

We’re changing the way you eat one recipe at a time.

Tips for making healthy food choices 2011

MODERATION! is my mantra!

Tips for making healthy food choices in 2011

• Eat a wide variety of foods from the different food groups.
• More fruits and veggies. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. All fruits and most vegetables contain carbohydrates, but their high content of vitamins, minerals, and fiber make them great choices.
• Choose a diet low in fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol. For best health, these should make up only a small portion of overall food choices. Saturated fats (animal fats and shortenings, for example) tend to raise blood cholesterol levels and are bad for the health of your heart.
• Use salt (sodium) in moderation. Most people eat more salt than they really need. For some people, extra salt adds to their risk for high blood pressure. High blood pressure is more common in people with diabetes. Uncontrolled blood pressure (greater than 130/80) greatly increases the risk for health problems. Here are ways to cut down on salt:
  • Choose foods "close to nature." Less processed foods have less salt.
  • Avoid foods canned, boxed, or frozen with extra salt. Try the "no-salt added" varieties.
  • Use herbs, spices, and salt-free seasoning mixes for added flavor, instead of salt.
• Use sugar in moderation. High sugar foods should make up only a small part of the diet. However, small amounts of sweet foods can be a part of a healthy diet, even for people who have diabetes. Learn how to fit the sweets you enjoy into your overall plan.
• Use alcohol in moderation. Alcohol can dangerously lowerblood sugar in people with diabetes who take insulin or diabetes pills. If you choose to drink alcohol, talk to your doctor or dietitian about how to drink safely. Pregnant women should not drink alcoholic beverages.

Thanks to my friends at http://www.lillydiabetes.com/pages/choosing-healthy-foods.aspx

HAPPY HOLIDAYS 2010

Great Food Choices for 2011

Ok...here we go!

Beans are an inexpensive and delicious food that you will want to keep stocked in your pantry because of their numerous health benefits. Here are some of the advantages of a bean-rich diet.In addition to their high fiber and protein content, a new study finds that beans, particularly black ones, are a rich but overlooked source of antioxidants.

Be a Bean Lover...
Beans pack a powerful and tasty punch at a low price—better still, beans and legumes can be stored for a relatively long period of time. They will keep their quality for 6–12 months, perhaps even longer, if stored correctly. It is perfectly fine to store them in the unopened plastic bag that they come in. Also, you can transfer the beans to an airtight glass or metal container and store in a cool, dry place (but not the refrigerator.) Remember, the beans may take on or lose moisture, which can affect the soaking and cooking time.

Black Bean Soup of Love!

This soup rocks! Canned black beans can be used instead of dried black beans, although I find the flavor is even better when dried beans are used.
What in it?
1 cup dry black beans, rinsed and drained
1 4-inch piece kombu
1 small onion, finely chopped
1/2 red bell pepper, diced
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
3 tbsp tamari
1 tsp ginger juice
2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro, for garnish

Let's put it togather...
1. Cover beans with water by 1 inch in a bowl and soak overnight; drain.
2. Transfer beans to a stockpot and cover by 2 inches with water; add kombu and cook, stirring occasionally for 1 hour, adding more water as needed.
3. During the last 20 minutes of cooking, add onion, bell pepper and garlic. Remove from heat and stir in tamari and ginger juice.
4. Scoop it up in serving bowls and garnish with fresh cilantro.

Taking the Mystery Out of Tamales,

Tamales 101!

First know this they are easy to make and WOW are they good!

Most every city on the planet has a mexican grocery store, and there you will find my goto ingredients.

First:

Pre made MASA. Ok so whats MASA?? Simple... Masa is Spanish for dough, it is sometimes referred to cornmeal dough ( masa de maiz in Spanish). The dried and powdered form is called masa de harina or maseca(which is actually a commercial brand); it is reconstituted with water.Masa is the corn based dough that is used to make tamales and sopes, and many other Mexican and South/Central American recipes.

Ok you might be saying not purest wrong! The locals buy the pre made all the time. Good for them...good for me!

Corn Husks. They are typically bought by the pound. There are about 5-7 doz. in a lb.

Next you need a steamer.

Ok let get cracken.

First- Prepare the Corn Shucks

Soak the shucks in a sink full of warm water for about 2 hours. Carefully separate them when they get soft. Try to not tear or damage the corn shucks. It is easier to make the tamales if the shucks are in one

Husks in the sink covered with hot water

My chicken filling of love.

1. 6 Boneless chicken breast

2. Water enough to cover the chicken. Add 2T cumin, 2T chili powder, 2T my "Onion Happiness" avalable @ www.happydiabetic.com

4. Bring the chicken to a med. boil until the chicken starts breaking apart. That's it! Done. Reserve a cup of the cooking broth.

5. When the chicken cools break it apart into small pieces.

6. Add the remaining liquid to the shredded chicken.

Pre Made MASA

Next: Pick up a shuck, lay it across the palm of your hand with the small end toward your fingers. scoop up about 1/2 c of the Masa dough with your hand, and then smear it on the shuck. Dipping you fingers in water will make it smooth.

Them: Place about 1 tablespoon of the chopped meat mixture in the center of the husk.

Starting on the left side (the side where the Masa dough goes all the way to the edge), roll the tamale all the way to the right edge. Now, fold the top of the shuck over like an envelope and lay tamale on the counter with the fold on the under side. Roll the next one the same until all your shucks with masa on them are rolled.

Place the tamales into a large steamer and boil cover for 1 hour.

Look for them to be firm and no white spots. White spots are a sigh of undercooked

To cook the tamales, You need a very large pot that has something in the bottom to keep the tamales out of the water while they steam . Add just enough water to the pot, then start stacking the tamales upright in the steamer basket until full. The envelope end of the tamale will be on the bottom, the open end of the tamale should be on top, as pictured at left. Continue to fill the pot. The tamales need to pack tight enough that they do not fall over and begin to unfold.

The Tamale Team

Congratulations! You are now part of the few, the proud, the tamale cooks. You will notice that your life will be instantly different. You will be popular. People will invite you over. As you walk up to a crowd of people, you will hear someone say, "Isn't that the Tamale cook?" Yes folks, your simple life will never be the same. You have arrived. Please remember to be kind to the little people.

Cookin' with the Happy Diabetic

Cookin' with the Happy Diabetic