The Mr. Food Family

Strawberry Charlotte
Serving Size: 1/8 recipe, Total Servings: 8

Start your day on a sweet note with this guilt-free pleasure!

1 (4-serving size) package sugar-free cook-and-serve vanilla pudding mix
2 cups fat-free (skim) milk
1 quart fresh strawberries
2 tablespoons sugar
3 teaspoons vanilla extract, divided
1 (3-ounce) package ladyfingers, split in half
1½ cups frozen fat-free whipped topping, thawed
2 tablespoons toasted sliced almonds (see Tip)
 
1.      Prepare pudding according to package directions, using the fat-free milk; set aside to cool.
2.      Meanwhile, set aside 8 small strawberries for garnish; chill until serving time. Hull and slice remaining strawberries and, in a medium bowl, combine with sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla; set aside.
3.      Arrange ladyfingers in bottom and up sides of a 2½-quart glass serving bowl. Pour sliced strawberries over ladyfingers. Stir remaining 2 teaspoons vanilla into pudding and pour pudding over strawberries.
4.      Spread whipped topping over pudding. Cover and chill at least 2 hours before serving. Just before serving, garnish with reserved whole strawberries and the toasted almonds.

TIP: To toast sliced almonds, spread them on a baking sheet and bake in a preheated 350°F. oven for 6 to 7 minutes, or until just lightly browned.

From the cookbook Mr. Food’s Quick & Easy Diabetic Cooking

Judyth Piazza Gets Hungry with Mr. Food, Art Ginsburg

Sebastian Florida is gradually being discovered by vacationers as one of South Florida`s best-kept secrets. It is located just 12 miles north of Vero Beach and 18 miles South of Melbourne.

Sebastian and its laid-back lifestyle is located amidst unspoiled subtropical vegetation and miles of rivers and beaches. Sebastian is becoming the Atlantic`s newest vacationer`s playground as a result of all of its water-oriented activities, fine foods, and fun for the whole family.

Lodging

One of Sebastian most well known resorts is the Oyster Pointe & Bay Resort, 150 U.S. 1, Sebastian, FL. While there, you will find that this is an exquisite vacation escape from the ordinary with an absence of crowded lobbies and check in delays.

They provide fully furnished apartments with a complete kitchen, dishes, linens and two bedrooms. Some of their amenities include cable TV, telephone and a private terrace. “We are a very family oriented place,” said Kathy Justus, assistant manager. Other amenities include a playground, lighted tennis courts, heated swimming pools, and relaxing Jacuzzis.

The seafood is abundant here with oysters, clams, and fishing for the aspiring angler. “During your stay with us you can be the captain of your own boat whereas we provide each guest with a 15 foot runabout motor boat to make their sport fishing enjoyable and easier” said Justus.

Area Attractions

A short distance from the resort is the Mel Fisher Maritime Heritage Society and Museum.  While there you will experience the essence of the Age of Discovery from the late fifteenth to the mid-eighteenth centuries covering early European explorers` exploits, their commerce, and the havoc they wreaked by both accident and design on the native inhabitants of the Americas all have their echoes in the artifacts in their collection.

Kids can explore the museum`s four ships, the Nuestra Señora de Atocha and the Santa Margarita, both of which sank in a hurricane in 1622; The St. John`s Wreck , a vessel of exploration that carried conquistadors to the Caribbean in roughly 1560; and the Henrietta Marie, an English merchant slaver that sank off the Florida Keys in 1700.

After leaving the museum, you can make tracks in the sand across the street to the Bahamian Sandbar, and experience Capt. Hiram`s “Islandsphere.”

You can enjoy the river breezes and coconut palms while sipping on your favorite frozen drink or snack off their fabulous Sandbar menu, and you will be instantly transported to a tropical paradise.

The Sandbar at Capt. Hiram`s Resort features two full service bars, the beautiful Sandbar, which is undercover, and the all-new Coral Bar, both of which overlook the Indian River. The Grand Sand Bandstand accommodates the Sandbar`s extensive live entertainment line-up. You will be able to enjoy live entertainment daily. “Pete Harris, a Florida favorite appears regularly and is soon to be releasing his fourth CD,” said Jan Taylor, Director of Entertainment.

While dining at Capt. Hirams, make sure you try their Maryland style crab cakes, said Kym Cool, 36 a regular at Capt. Hirams.

For the nature lover, at Absolute Watersports & Kayak in Sebastian offers scenic tours of the Indian River Lagoon and Sebastian River Buffer Preserve, which are ripe with countless species of marine and land based wildlife. While there, you can experience intimate viewing of manatee, dolphin, armadillo, golden eagle, osprey, blue heron and many more.

A great way to end your vacation is with an adrenaline rush adventure. It includes a 13,500 foot Skydive with magnificent views of the Inter-Coastal Waterway & surrounding beaches while you experience the thrill and freedom of free fall skydiving safely harnessed to your instructor.

The sports minded angler will find Sebastian everything they have ever dreamed about and a little more.

FAU Campus is the place to be on the 4th of July.

6 p.m. – Family Activities, games, children’s rides, arts and crafts, walkabout entertainment

6:30 p.m. – Stage Show – RED, WHITE & BLUE TRIBUTE (AZMC Production)

7:10 p.m. – Zumba Demonstation – mass audience participation

7:30 p.m. Concert – WIND SYMPHONY OF FLORIDA, Dr. Kyle Prescott

9 p.m. – FIREWORKS DISPLAY

Florida Atlantice University, located on Glades Rd, just East of I-95

Cost:  FREE

IMPORTANT:  Personal fireworks, sparklers, alcholic beverages, dogs, open fires are not allowed.  No stopping or parking along Glades Rd.

Judyth Piazza chats with Jane Faraco, Executive Chef at STAX Restaurant, Vero Beach, Florida (Click here to listen)

Executive Chef Jane Faraco, husband Chef Jim along with son-in-law Josh Niebels are stacked for success.

The trio recently opened STAX, located at 1931 Old Dixie Highway, which was the former site of The Undertow Restaurant on April 22 with the intent to immerse themselves in the urban downtown area of Vero Beach, Florida.

After the Faracos sold their New Hope, PA restaurant Havana and retired to Vero Beach, the couple knew that they still had something to give to the community.

“I got the concept for STAX after watching Emeril and his ability to stack and layer flavors. This is one of the things that makes STAX unique,” said Jane.

STAX is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

STAX Restaurant

1931 Old Dixie Highway

Vero Beach, FL 32960

(772) 770-0977

It’s official: Americans love poker. The Brits do as well. In fact, we’ve been in love with poker for so long that phrases associated with the card game have slipped into our lexicon. Have you ever heard someone use the term “ace in the hole” when there wasn’t a deck of cards in site? What about the term “blue chip”, which has been adopted into financial jargon? And have you ever heard someone referred to as a “wild card”?

Well, now there is a site where people can get their poker fix. That’s the WSOP Journal. WSOP is short for World Series of Poker. In addition to offering a service to play online for real money. WSOP also offers advice for those who are just beginning to fall in love with the game as well as those seasoned players who are looking for ways to tweak their skills.

In short, WSOP offers a one stop shopping site for anyone who loves poker. On this site, there is information about WSOP news as well as events. Some events take place on line, others take place in famous poker hot spots such as Las Vegas and Atlantic City. The most exciting WSOP events, such as the main event of the series, culminate in a winning hand that awards one lucky player with a multi-million dollar prize.

It doesn’t matter if you live right on the Las Vegas strip or in a one-horse town with no company other than your deck of cards and your Internet connection, WSOP will help you get in on the action. The World Series of Poker Journal will keep you up to date on tournaments, game schedules, and times when games and tournaments will be televised on major networks such as ESPN, CBS, or The Discovery Channel, all of which have featured WSOP events in the past.