April 5, 2011

Although not a new cookbook, my interest in “Secrets of Fat-Free Greek Cooking” was piqued by its title (this is one in a series of cookbooks on fat-free cooking). Fat-free Greek cooking seemed to me to be an oxymoron or even a Greek myth. Was I right?
A Greek Paradox?
When I think of Greek cuisine, I think of succulent lamb dishes, creamy moussakas and pastitsios, lots of olives, and heavenly Greek yogurt containing an alarming amount of saturated fat. The Greeks also use liberal amounts of olive oil in their cooking—pretty much measuring it by the cupful rather than the tablespoon, making Rachael Ray’s use of her EVOO (extra-virgin olive oil in Rachael-speak) on the Food Network seem miserly. But a secret lurks somewhere, as the Greeks are a healthy bunch, with much lower instances of diet-related illness and obesity than the United States, and a longer life-expectancy, too. We do know that olive oil is considered a heart-healthy fat that can counter the harmful effects of saturated fats in our diets. But a fat is still a fat in terms of calories, and needs to be used sparingly. There must be something else. (See more below …)
Secrets Revealed
So what are the secrets to fat-free Greek cooking? Well, the book’s title, which is one in a series by the Avery Publishing Group, is slightly misleading. While the recipes are undoubtedly low fat, they are not, in most cases, strictly fat free, as defined by the “less than 0.5g per serving” labeling rule, which appears in an early section of the book. Really, we’re looking at the secrets of low fat Greek cooking, entrenched in the rural Greek diet, which the author, Elaine Gavalas, explains in her book and also in an interview, very well.
The rural Greek diet is quite different to what we see in prime tourist spots. It emphasizes whole grains, beans, fruit, vegetables, fish, some dairy, and actually very little meat, making it naturally low in fat. Here are just a few examples from Ms. Gavalas’s recipes:
• Eggplant Salad
• Stuffed Grape Leaves
• Lemon Chicken Soup
• Spinach Phyllo Pie
• Shrimp with Orzo
• Shellfish Stew
• Chicken Souvlaki
• Village Cucumber Salad
• Orzo Salad
And where she features recipes that usually require heavy inputs from high-fat foods, Ms. Gavalas has quite a few workarounds to lower the fat in those dishes, without compromising their authenticity. See her recipe for Pastitsio, a beef and pasta dish, for example.
The Wisdom of Pericles
Ms. Gavalas is guided by the two golden rules of Pericles: “In all things, moderation is best.” and “Know thyself.” Balance is the key. If you use fat in one place, reduce it in another. She advises us to budget our fat intake, but she also reminds us that it’s actually unhealthy to take in less than 20 grams of fat a day. Some fat in our diet is necessary for optimal health. Ms. Gavalas lists common Greek ingredients, explaining their use and how to substitute them if necessary. She reminds us that even when there’s no real low fat version of a particular ingredient, it’s ok to use sparing amounts of the full-fat version. Kefaloteri cheese is one example she uses. It has a strong flavor, so a little goes a long way. And if you’re really set on a low fat substitute that will yield authentic results, she offers quite a few acceptable alternatives.
Mythbusting
Throughout the book, we learn snippets of Greek culture, and how foods are tied in with it. We find out which foods are reserved for holidays and which ones are never eaten on particular occasions. I discovered that my assumptions about traditional Greek cuisine were indeed largely misplaced. The lamb dishes, moussakas and pastitsios that I referred to in the beginning are not everyday foods, at least in rural Greece. Meat tends to be eaten on Sundays or on special occasions, and sparingly. According to religious custom, it’s never eaten on Wednesdays and Fridays, nor during Lent. Pastitsio tends to be a holiday dish, and Nancy Gaifyllia, About’s Guide to Greek Food, who lives on Crete, says she makes moussaka perhaps once every six months.
Ms. Gavalas has written a practical and engaging low fat cookbook, with lots of tips and suggestions, and plenty of insight into Greek culture and tradition. The illustrations are fun (and some are informative), and there are enough photos to showcase her many recipes. If you have an interest in Greek food or in low fat cooking in general, this book would make an interesting and useful addition to your cookbook library.

Source: http://lowfatcooking.about.com/od/lowfatcookingtools/fr/fatfreegreekcoo.htm

Comparison of crime rates between Philippines Angeles City and Clark Freeport Zone sheds light on the difference between the twin cities of Pampanga. Regular guests of Angeles City Hotels begin to migrate on base into hotels inside Clark Philippines not only for peace and quiet but peace of mind and a sense of safety and security.

It is important to many families to feel safe in a hotel in Angeles Pampanga.  That is one of the main reasons that many tourists and local visitors from Manila choose to stay in a hotel in Clark Freeport Zone just outside Manila Philippines.  Many tourists traveling with families and children do not like the hotels in Subic or some of the hotel in Angeles Pampanga.  The resorts in Philippines Angeles City do not make guests feel comfortable and secure.

The beach resorts, leisure parks and vacation hotels in Clark Pampanga offer a unique ambience that supports a laidback relaxing lifestyle.  Many visitors travel north to Clark Pampanga from Manila to unwind and relax in these resorts.

New developments from Clark Philippines that may be pertinent to businesses and investments in Pampanga Clark Freeport Zone are posted on HotelClarkPhilippines web site.  Clark Philippines is a fast growth economic and business city comparable to Manila Philippines.

Retirement in Philippines is an interesting investment opportunity for foreign companies. Many investors are looking for a destination near Manila that offers safety and quietness to develop residential and retirement projects and Clark Pampanga seems to be an attractive business proposition.  Investment opportunities in Clark Philippines include hotel and resorts, retirement village, vacation rentals, condominiums and other residential projects, and other leisure, tourism and hospitality businesses.  Land in the main zone of Clark Freeport is not easy to find and is not as cheap as before but Clark is still much more attractive compared to other investment destinations in Philippines.

For information as well as assistance with reservations in hotels and resorts in Pampanga, Clark Philippines, <a href=”http://www.hotelclarkphilippines.com/?page_id=8″>click here to contact HotelClarkPhilippines now</a>

Or call us at

Hotel Clark Philippines

Creekside Road corner of Centennial Road,

Central Business District, Clark Freeport Zone,

Pampanga, Philippines 2023

Tel: (045)599-5949 0917-520-4403  0922-870-5177

Manila Sales Office

3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,

Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605

(632) 637-5019   0917-520-4393  Rea or Chay

<a href=”http://www.hotelclarkphilippines.com/”>http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com</a>

Email:   Info@ClarkPhilippines.com

Getting to this hotel in Clark Philippines

After entering Clark Freeport from Subic, Manila, Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along Clark’s main highway MA Roxas, passing Clark’s largest wine shop called Clark Wine Center on your right, continue to bear right making no turns at all, go past Mimosa Leisure Estate on the opposite side of the road, you will hit a major intersection.  Go straight and the road becomes Creekside Road.  YATS Clearwater Resort and Country Club is on your right just 200m down.   Traffic in Clark Philippines is light so it should be quite easy for get to this hotel in Clark Philippines.

YATS Leisure Philippines is a HK-based developer and operator of clubs, resorts and high-class restaurants and wine outlets  <a href=”http://www.yatsleisure.com/”>http://www.YatsLeisure.com</a>

To inquire with the beach resort hotel in Clark Pampanga visit <a href=”http://www.clearwaterphilippines.com/”>http://www.ClearwaterPhililippines.com

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