Supernatural Botanicals

   Studies have shown that people who eat diets rich in Omega-3 (found in salmon and nuts) tested high for mental sharpness.  It’s certainly possible to consume Omega-3s in supplements, but taking in vitamins via real, whole foods is far more satisfying than a supplement. 

Recessionista Tip:  Don’t throw those bananas out just because they are starting to get brown spots on the peel.  You can throw the bananas in the freezer in their peel until you are ready to use them.  The peels will turn black in the freezer, but the bananas will be delicious and ripe on the inside.  Thaw bananas before using to make numerous recipe such as banana bread, banana nut muffins, banana pancakes, smoothies, chocolate dipped frozen bananas, etc.  Utilize everything that you have on hand and become a Recessionista Diva!  In this economy, no wasting is allowed.

   Having an herb garden means having easy side dishes for dinner.  Take a bag of baby carrots or new potatoes and place on a baking sheet, drizzle them with olive oil, and generously sprinkle with fresh herbs (I used Rosemary, Sweet Lemon Thyme, and Parsley here.)  Throw them into a hot oven, 475, for 15-20 minutes until completely roasted.   How easy can that be?  Healthy, fast and delicious and it looks great in a serving bowl on the table. 

Pico de Gallo Recipe

Ingredients
* 6 medium Tomatoes diced
* 1 medium Onion diced
* 1/4 cup fresh Cilantro chopped (grow your own)
* 2 to 4 fresh Serrano or jalapeño peppers, seeded and minced
* pinch of garlic powder and salt to taste (fresh squeezed lime is great as well.)

Put all ingredients in a bowl add 1/2 cup of cold water, mix well.  Let set a few minutes before eating; even better over night in the fridge.  This is great on everything, i.e., organic corn chips or blue chips, chicken, fish, tacos, enchiladas, soups, etc.  Great for picnics. 

Pure genius!  I saw an infomercial for the Topsy Turvy, the upside down tomato growing system, and thought to myself, this is clearly genius marketing!  Why genius?  Because I couldn’t wait to get my hands on one….and I don’t even like tomatoes!  Now that’s genius marketing! 

While I don’t like raw tomatoes, per se, I love making recipes with tomatoes, specifically homemade salsa and pico de gallo.  As I already have a variety of peppers blooming, I knew the Topsy Turvy would make a welcome addition to the garden (as seen hanging from the tree above.) 

I was at the garden center on Sunday (no surprise there) and found the Topsy Turvy…for 75% less than the infomercial price.   I was thrilled!  I chose Roma tomatoes plants, as I like the shape of them (plum-like) and they produce very few seeds.  They are perfect for salsas and look great on sandwiches.  My peppers are starting to sprout and by time the tomatoes arrive, the peppers will be huge (and scorching hot!)   

More on fresh homemade salsa when the tomatoes are big enough. 

   Whether you need a quick bite for friends who suddenly show up on your door step, or if you just want to look like a rockstar to your kids and their friends, you can make this in seconds with zero effort.

Grab a great serving platter, then put rinsed strawberries on one half of the platter, Oreo cookies (low fat, double stuffed…whatever you like) around the other half of the platter, and Fat-Free Cool Whip in a bowl in the center (not the bowl that it came in, please.)  (editorial note….Fat-Free Cool Whip tastes just as great as regular.  It’s one of the few foods on the market that you can’t taste the fat-free-ness in the product.  It’s delicious!)

It’s all in the presentation.  Great serving platter  + Great center bowl + Display beautifully = Big results for little effort.  Perfect for a picnic (keep Cool Whip in the cooler on ice until ready to serve.)

You can whiten your teeth without expensive whitening strips or dentist office visits.  A few strawberries and some baking soda will do the trick naturally.  The secret to this inexpensive home whitening method is malic acid in the strawberries, which acts as an astringent to remove surface discoloration. Combined with baking soda, strawberries become a natural tooth-cleanser, buffing away stains from coffee, red wine, and dark sodas. While it’s no replacement for a bleaching treatment at your dentist’s office, “this is a fast, cheap way to brighten your smile,” says Adina Carrel, DMD, a dentist in private practice at Manhattan Dental Arts in New York. “Be careful not to use this too often, though, as the acid could damage the enamel on your teeth.” 

Ingredients:   1 ripe strawberry and 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda.

Directions: 

Crush the strawberry to a pulp, then mix with the baking soda until blended. Use a soft toothbrush to spread the mixture onto your teeth. Leave on for 5 minutes, then brush thoroughly with toothpaste to remove the berry and baking soda mix.  Rinse.  Dr. Carrel says you can apply once a week.

Fresh fruit season is upon us.  With warmer weather approaching, you’ll notice the strawberries look healthier and vibrant red, the bananas are sunny yellow and ripe, and oranges are juicy and bright orange.   Not only is it peak season for eating fresh fruits, but also for making skincare recipes with them.  Fruits have been extensively used in skincare applications since the beginning of time. 

The next time your fruit basket is full, do double-beauty-duty by eating fruits to nourish the inside, and using fruits in skincare recipes to nourish the outside. 

By making your own facial masks with fresh fruit, you’ll assure no preservatives or chemicals are are going onto and into your skin. 

Try this Banana Honey Facial Mask.  Bananas are high in vitamins C, A, B6, and B12 in addition to magnesium and potassium.  The fruit acids in bananas help to slough off dead skin cells, leaving your skin looking healthy and refreshed. 

RECIPE:

1 Banana,  2 tablespoons of honey

Mash banana with honey into a paste, and apply to to clean skin.  Leave on skin 15 minutes, then rinse with warm water.  The banana/honey mixture leaves a firming, yet moisturized feeling to the skin…..that’s totally delicious!

Why wait for tomorrow when you can do this today!  Here are five things you can do, today, to make your skin look better tomorrow.  As I’ve said a million times, the only way to make something a habit is to do it……and do it…..and do it.  That’s how good solid habits are formed.  And isn’t looking sensational worth it? 

Try these habit-forming ideas today!

  Drink as much water as possible!  It rids the body and skin of toxins and keeps your skin looking hydrated and healthy.

   Make the effort to eat better.  Start eating things that make you radiant (think veggies and greens) and less of things that make you unattractive (fast food and double lattes!)  Choose from super-foods, like blueberries that contains mega antioxidants. 

   Start working out!  There’s so many benefits to exercise.  Make sure to break a sweat at least once a day.  Sweating off toxins, as nasty as it sounds, is a very, very good thing for your skin.  Hit the steam room or sauna as much as possible. 

     Make sure you are washing your face once or twice a day (definitely before bed) to remove makeup and the day’s grime, helping to prevent breakouts.   It gives your skin a chance to breathe while your body is in a restorative state (sleep.)  Plus, it saves your expensive pillow cases from getting lipstick on them. 

     Use a great moisturizer at least once a day.  Preferably before applying makeup in the a.m., and after taking makeup off in the evening.  It helps to hydrate the skin, preventing dull, dry looking skin. 

 These are five things you can do today to look hot tomorrow!  It’s so worth it!

Scrambling to find great breakfast/brunch recipes for overnight guest? Try these two great variations of French Toast.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRyTaSflfqo