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This easy Thai Red Curry is fragrant and sumptuous, and can be made anywhere from mild to red-hot, depending on how much spice you prefer. It's a healthy and hearty curry dish that will awaken your senses and boost your mood. Note that in Thailand this curry would be simmered in a wok over a stovetop, but in this case I have adapted it to suit Western cooking methods so that it can be baked in an oven (easier for most North Americans). This means it can be put together and in the oven in under 20 minutes! ENJOY!

They're chewy or crispy, thick or thin, drop cookies or bars.  It's the ever popular and healthy oatmeal cookie.  Traditional oatmeal cookies are rich with butter, sugar and calories, but they don't have to be.  We can cut the sugar and fat, and make our oatmeal cookies nearly as healthy as a bowl of hot cereal. 

The cool temperatures of autumn put us in the mood for comforting foods.  Stews and one dish meals and casseroles can provide that warm, healthy comfort.  If we make them with lean meats, poultry and fish, and plenty of vegetables and legumes, they provide all the nutrition a meal should have.

Almost everyone likes soup.  Whether it's the first course, a meal in a bowl, or even a snack, soup can add important nutrients and fiber to our diets while keeping the calories low. Studies have been done showing that people who eat soup lose weight more easily.  It is believed that it curbs appetite and provides extra fiber to help reach that full feeling.  

Leaves turning from green to brilliant fall colors, children in costumes, jack 'o lanterns in the night and the fresh autumn air all tell us that Halloween is here.  More households decorate for halloween than any holiday except Christmas.  There are so many traditions that are fun inspiring us to create the ultimate Halloween party.  Whether it's funny or spooky or both, for children or adults or both, planning a party is as much fun as the party itself.  We'll present ideas for decorating, party favors, and food.

The single most craved food here on Calorie Count is Chocolate.  We love the flavor and the melting texture but we hate the extra calories and fat it can add. Dark chocolate contains flavenol which acts as an antioxidant to protect the body from free radicals.  It can lower high blood pressure and high cholesterol.  The taste stimulates endorphins, producing feelings of pleasure while the presence of serotonin helps us to relax.

October is here and pumpkins seem to be everywhere.  We see piles of big, orange pumpkins at roadside stands, ready to be taken home by happy children and made into jack-o'-lanterns.  Less visible are smaller, sweeter varieties, to be cooked. These are called standard pumpkins and are graded by size, from small to jumbo. Small pumpkins for cooking...

The first day of autumn arrived this past week.  In many parts of the world, this is the time to harvest vegetables and grains that took all summer to ripen.  We think of winter squashes, wheat and other grain based dishes, apples and hardy greens.  A fall menu that incorporates the things that grow on local farms provides us with amazingly delicious, meals and superior nutrition. 

"Shrimp is the fruit of the sea.  You can barbecue it, boil it, broil it, bake it, saute it.  Dey's uh, shrimp-kabobs, shrimp creole, shrimp gumbo. Pan fried, deep fried, stir-fried.  There's pineapple shrimp, lemon shrimp, coconut shrimp, pepper shrimp, shrimp soup, shrimp stew, shrimp salad, shrimp and potatoes, shrimp burger, shrimp sandwich.  That- that's about it."    (Forrest Gump, 1994)

You can’t go wrong with shrimp.

Did you know that Italians who eat a small amount of pasta every day are among the slimmest people on Earth?  Pasta is part of the healthy Mediterranean Diet and contributes a good bit of nutrition to their meals.  In Italy, it is usually served as the first course at either the midday or evening meal.  School children and workers go home for lunch and meals are a social occasion.

September is here and with it comes apple season.  Fresh picked fruit, bursting with juice, crunchy and sweet, is the fruit of choice through November.  Apples bought close to where they are grown are the very best.  Be sure to visit an orchard or farm, and perhaps pick your own.  The crisp autumn air and the fragrance of fresh apples makes for a wonderful experience.

Cold treats can help us feel cool on the hottest day.  While we'd like to satisfy our cravings for ice cream and other frozen desserts, we don't want the excess calories and fat.  It's time to search out great recipes that will provide what we love without the negative consequences.  Ultra rich ice creams are not essential for enjoyment.  We can select lower calorie, healthier options and still have the same satisfaction.

Boneless, skinless chicken breast is probably the most often mentioned food item on Calorie Count.  This quick cooking cut of chicken is a great source of protein and is very low in fat and calories, ounce for ounce.  In fact, 4 ounces of cooked chicken breast is only 117 calories.  It provides 27 grams of protein and only 7 grams of fat.

We love appetizers - those tasty bites that get a great meal going. At a restaurant, I can make an entire meal of appetizers. I have fond memories of dinner parties past where lavish appetizers were enjoyed. In the present, at home, or when a guest at a home dinner party, I seldom see them served.  It's a shame, too - they are fun to serve and especially to eat, whether served at the table as the first course, or handed around with beverages before dinner.

It's popular all over the globe!  Shiny and black or long and purple, or even pure white, varieties of this vegetables can be found everywhere.

Known by many names, in the Mediterannean area it's known as aubergine.  In Australia  it's called eggfruit.  Africans call it garden egg, and Indians refer to it as brinjal. Only in the United States is it called eggplant.  Versatile, it's used in the cuisines of many countries.  We're going exploring to find the tastiest dishes.