Saturday, June 25, 2016

Couscous and Cherry Tomato Salad Recipe

Here, from Chef Anthony, is a simple and savory recipe for whole-wheat couscous. Enjoy it for lunch, as a side dish, or as a hearty snack any time of day. The recipe is courtesy of Pritikin Longevity Center + Spa and will make 4 servings.

If you're trying to eat healthy, lose some weight and/or just looking for a different twist on a classic salad, this recipe is for you!

Couscous and Cherry Tomato Salad Recipe

1/2 red onion chopped
1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon oregano dried
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 1/2 cups water
1 cup couscous (whole wheat)

Lightly mist a medium nonstick saucepan with canola oil spray and pre-heat over medium-high heat. Add onions to pan and sauté until softened, about 2 minutes. Add tomatoes, garlic, oregano, black pepper, and water to pan, and bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer until tomatoes begin to soften, about 3 to 4 minutes. Meanwhile, place couscous in medium mixing bowl. Remove tomato mixture from heat and immediately pour over couscous. Cover and let stand 5 to 8 minutes, until couscous is tender and liquid is absorbed. Stir with fork to fluff before serving.

Saturday, June 18, 2016

Stuffed Artichoke Bottoms with Salsa Recipe

Looking for something a little bit different when it comes to Mexican cuisine? If so, you'll love our guest post recipe today! You can make a double batch of the lively black bean salsa and enjoy in all sorts of ways, for example, as a topping for green salads, poultry, or fish, or blended with whole-grain rice.

Today's recipe is courtesy of Executive Chef, Anthony Stewart, at Pritikin Longevity Center + Spa. This recipe will make approximately 12 servings.

Stuffed Artichoke Bottoms with Salsa Recipe

1 cup black beans (no salt added) cooked and drained
1 cup tomatoes medium-diced
1 cup corn kernels (fresh or frozen)
1/4 cup red onion finely chopped
jalapeno pepper finely chopped
1 teaspoon garlic finely chopped
tablespoons lemon or lime juice freshly squeezed
tablespoons cilantro or dill (fresh) chopped
1/4 teaspoon pepper freshly ground
12 artichoke bottoms

Tip: To avoid the tedious task of preparing bottoms from fresh artichokes, look for low-sodium canned and frozen varieties, such as Ruby (canned) and Green Giant (frozen).

In a large bowl, combine all ingredients except artichoke bottoms. Toss salsa well until ingredients are evenly mixed. Chill salsa. Then, fill each artichoke bottom with salsa. Serve as appetizers.

Friday, June 10, 2016

Top 5 Tips for Having Glowing Summer Skin

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, skin is the body’s largest and fastest growing organ. For this reason alone, it’s a good idea to give your skin some extra attention, especially during the summer when more of it is often exposed and it is susceptible to the sun’s damaging rays. The good news is that there are a lot of simple things we can do to help keep our skin healthy, glowing and youthful looking all summer long.

“Our skin is often an indicator of what is going on inside and how healthy we are,” explains Katherine Goldman, celebrity esthetician/waxologist and owner of the Stript Wax Bar. “You want your skin to be beautiful, glowing, and give you a healthy look. We help people achieve that on a daily basis.”

It’s a good idea to see an esthetician regularly so that the skin can be cared for in terms of preventing dryness, dehydration, acne, and hyperpigmentation. Here are 5 tips for having glowing summer skin:

Waxing. Getting waxed is an important part of summer, but it’s a job you can’t trust to just anyone. Bad wax jobs can leave skin irritated, red, sore and in some extreme cases scared. It’s important to have it professionally waxed at a place that specializes in waxing, so that the pain is minimal and when they are done the area is baby skin smooth. This goes for all types of summer waxing, including facial, legs, bikini area, and beyond.

Tanning. Having a tan is synonymous with summer, but according to the Skin Cancer Foundation, 40 to 50 percent of all adults who reach the age of 65 will have had some type of skin cancer. It’s crucial to protect skin from the sun’s rays. You can still have a summer tan, but it’s better to get it the healthy way, such as a spray-on tan option. When outside, use sunscreen and wear a hat to shade your face from the sun even when it’s cloudy.

Hydrating. Adequate hydration is necessary for healthy skin, according to the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinical Authority. They report that not getting enough water can make skin dry, tight, and flaky. Aim for 8 glasses of water per day, which will keep it hydrated and help remove toxins from the body.

Eating. What we eat has a role to play in how healthy our skin is. According to a research study in the journal Dermato Endocrinology, fruit and vegetable consumption may represent the most healthy and safe method in order to maintain balanced and youthful appearing skin. Get plenty of antioxidant-loaded fruits and veggies into your diet.

Exfoliating. This is a good way to keep up on taking care of your skin, as it removes the old dead skin cells and can keep your skin glowing. You can do this at home, or you can have it done by getting facials, chemical peels, or microdermabrasion.

“Everyone wants to love the skin they are in and show it off with pride,” added Goldman. “Many people do a lot of damaging things to their skin without even realizing it. The more we know, the better choices we can make, and the better our skin will look and feel!”

About Stript Wax Bar: Stript Wax Bar is a salon dedicated to the art of waxing. They are devoted to delivering high-quality waxing services using the highest quality products in a comfortable and clean environment. With numerous unique services in various locations across California for both men and women, Stript Wax Bar has established themselves as an innovative and trending company. For more information, visit the website at: www.striptwaxbar.com

Saturday, June 4, 2016

2 Delicious Cocktail Recipes for Summer

Memorial Day is the unofficial start to summer. For most Americans, we start our summer season on Memorial Day weekend and finish it up during Labor Day. In between those 2 holidays is July 4th, three great summer holidays to get together with friends & family.

To kick off the unofficial start to summer, we've got 2 delicious cocktail recipes to share with all of you. These recipes and photographs are courtesy of Sparkling ICE. You can find additional cocktail recipes on the company's website.

Loco Lime Margarita Cocktail Recipe

3 oz Lemon Lime Sparkling Ice
1 ½ oz Tequila
Fresh squeezed lime

Directions: Shake and pour into a chilled rocks glass rimmed in salt. Garnish with a lime slice.

Lemon Lime Punch Cocktail Punch Recipe

3 oz Sparkling Ice Lemon Lime
1 ½ oz Tequila
Lime Sherbet
Pineapple juice

Directions: Fill glass 1/3 way with Sparkling Ice Lemon Lime. Fill glass 1/3 was with Pineapple juice. Top with two scoops of Lime Sherbet