I was looking for a guilt free brownie recipe when one literally fell into my lap when I was sitting at a coffee shop.
Two women attending the CHFA (Canadian Health Food Association) walked by and handed me this recipe. It sounded too healthy to be good…but it so happens to be not only healthy but easy to make (no baking involved) and tastes very yummy. This formula makes for a tiny amount – one dozen two-bite (or one big mouthful) brownies that look more like large size truffles. I would double the recipe next time. They freeze well too. Enjoy!
¾ cup walnuts
7 medjool dates, pitted
¼ cup cacao powder (I used unsweetened)
½ tsp. vanilla bean powder (I like Cook’s – there’s no preservatives)
Pinch of salt
1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper (optional)
Garnish: ¼ cup *shredded coconut
Process walnuts until fine. Add remaining ingredients and process until smooth. Form into small balls with your hands and toss or roll in shredded coconut. *(I bought a bag of unsweetened coconut flakes from the market and just shredded them in the food processor. The less sugar the better.
I put them into tiny muffin tins that hold 12 and popped them into the freezer for about 5 minutes so they weren’t too soft.
Don’t let the small size fool you. They are somewhat satiating and you don’t want to eat too many at once. Each one (although healthy for a sweet treat) is about 95 calories.
The RAW Foundation Culinary Arts Institute is Canada’s leading raw food culinary school, home of The Raw Food Education Experts TM; located in the heart of Vancouver BC, Canada. We are devoted to educating on the benefits of a plant-based lifestyle, inspiring and empowering foodies, home & professional chefs, health enthusiasts & healthcare professionals around the world; to prepare delicious, raw meals with ease and successfully share this passion with others, growing profitable businesses, make a positive impact, transform lives, doing what they love.
I’ve been taking a veggie capsule called “BioSil” for almost a year which claims to promote healthy hair, skin & nails among other things (like bones & joints) and overall I have noticed an improvement especially in my hair and nail growth. BioSil is the only thing I can attribute this to.
I realize that this is beginning to sound like a testimonial more than a product review. There is an active ingredient in the capsule that helps to generate collagen (collagen accounts for around 30% of the protein content of the human body) which diminishes significantly as we age. In simple terms, collagen is considered to be the “glue” that holds the body together. Even so, I wasn’t actively looking for this, just noticed it on the vitamin shelf of a health food store and it looked worth giving a try. Now I’m almost through my third bottle and will continue to take this supplement – because I’m crazy for keeping the glue together.
This from Preferred nutrition:
Molecular biologists have pinpointed the key structural protein integrally involved in creating smooth skin, thick strong hair, and strong nails. It’s your body’s beauty protein, collagen. Collagen is an essential building block of your body, making up 70% of your skin and 30% of your bones. During youth, you have a rich abundance of collagen, which arranges itself into a resilient and flexible “tight mesh” matrix . This “ideal” collagen condition prevents wrinkles from forming, gives skin elasticity and helps create thick and strong hair. But over the years, collagen diminishes and undergoes other changes.
For years, scientists searched for a method that would give the human body the ability to regenerate its own collagen. But it took the discovery of BioSil’s™ patented choline-stabilized orthosilicic acid (ch-OSA®), the active ingredient in BioSil™, to make genuine collagen regeneration a reality.
BioSil™ “turns on” the body’s actual collagen-generating cells, known as fibroblasts. Because BioSil™ works through your body’s natural pathways, the collagen it generates has your own DNA fingerprint. BioSil™ has been tested in rigorous double-blind placebo controlled trials which have consistently shown its safety and effectiveness for collagen regeneration and improved appearance of skin, hair and nails.
In one study, 50 women with sun damaged skin took BioSil™ or a placebo tablet for 20 weeks. At the end of the trial, women taking BioSil™ showed significant improvements in skin smoothness and strength, and in nail and hair strength.3 In yet another study, BioSil™ supplementation for nine months increased hair thickness, elasticity and strength in women with fine hair.4
Collagen: Generate It – Don’t Eat It
It’s important to note that BioSil™ is not made out of collagen. Instead it triggers the body to generate its own collagen. There’s a big difference. When you ingest collagen, the human body breaks it down and uses it as food. By contrast, BioSil’s™ patented ch-OSA complex is absorbed by the body, where it acts to promote the production of collagen, boosting your body’s collagen levels, and slowing the loss of this essential building block that occurs with age. As a result, BioSil™ provides superior support for stronger, healthier and thicker hair; stronger nails; fewer fine lines and wrinkles and denser and more flexible bones.
Once in a while an amazing hair product grabs my attention.
So far I find this hair product from L’Oréal Paris Absolue-tly amazing . It could be the best and easiest hair coloring kit ever invented. It met all the requirements. Easy to apply, non-messy (a real plus) with little to no odor. But the BEST THING about it – drumroll…..it’s reusable! The formulas are preserved in airtight tubes so you can stash the device away and re-use it as needed.
click to enlarge
Hair products for the most part seem to escape my interest so I concentrate on reviewing makeup and skincare products. It’s not that I don’t like them or need them but my routine is relatively unfussy and I don’t like to use much product – my hair is fine so too much product will weigh it down. Whenever I ‘m at my hairdresser she ends up putting mousse, then a color enhancer, then a little Moroccan oil (I love that oil) and then ruins it all by using hairspray. I keep saying “no” (I do not like hairspray overload) but she does it anyway. It looks great for one day and then it will take some effort on my part to get it to looking like I just left the hairdresser. And I hate to put a lot of effort into my hair. Maybe I should care more but I don’t want to spend a lot of time fussing. I haven’t been to a hairdresser to color or highlight my hair in a long time preferring to do it at home. I found a few easy root touch up kits and even a highlighting one. The drawbacks are that they tend to get messy (I have a white sink & tub) and there’s always waste.
This new hair dye from L’Oréal has been selling in Europe for quite some time so we’re really lucky the company finally decided to send it this way.
Here is what the company says:
L’Oréal Preference Mousse Absolue is the first automatic and re-usable hair color that’s, dare we say, quite the revolutionary product. After 10 years in the making, L’Oreal Paris has devised a canister with dual chambers that seamlessly combines the color dyes and color developer together at the push of a button.
These addictive energy bars are easy to make, easy to store and really easy to eat!
1 cup whole raw almonds
1 cup pitted dates (unsweetened) – about 12
1 cup raisins (unsweetened & *unsulphured). *No preservatives.
2 Tbsp. sunflower seeds
1 Tbsp. flax seeds (I buy the kind already ground with blueberries)
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
Put all ingredients into a food processor and pulse until ingredients form into a ball (the dates hold everything together, so if you need, add more). Pour the mix onto parchment paper & pat down with your hands. Refrigerate for 1-2 hours. Cut into squares, wrap in parchment paper and store in your refrigerator. You can freeze them too.
Tip #1: Cut a small piece of parchment paper to help pat the mixture down with. This will prevent mix from sticking to your hands.
TIP #2: Medjool dates are the best. You can try different combinations like cranberries instead of raisins, or a combo of half sour cherries & half raisins. Experiment.
TIP #3: The whole recipe is rounded out to a total of 2000 calories (It’s actually a bit less) so let’s say you cut the bars into 10 equal size pieces it works out to about 200 calories per bar. Not bad considering how rich & filling they are.
In school you’re taught a lesson and then given a test. In life, you’re given a test that teaches you a lesson.
If you have learned to disagree without being disagreeable, then you have discovered the secret to getting along – whether it be business, family relations or life itself – Bernard Meltzer
A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though he knows that you are slightly cracked.
You can hardly grocery shop without being bombarded by products promising you more vitamins, more fiber, more nutrients, more everything. Almost half of all new items that make their way to store shelves carry at least one health claim on their packaging. Below is a listing of reality-check lingo so you know exactly what you’re getting from your favourite foods.
Claim: with Omega-3s
Truth: don’t get too excited as heart-healthy omega-3s get top billing on everything from peanut butter to milk and breads. Some products contain only 32 milligrams of the healthy fat per serving – one tenth the amount in a half ounce of salmon. You’re better off following the American Heart Association’s guidelines, which recommend eating at least two weekly servings (3.5 ounces cooked) of fatty fish like salmon or trout to get the most omega-3s in your diet.
Claim: Good source of Antioxidants
Truth: Packaged foods need to contain only 10 percent of your daily intake of antioxidants, like vitamin A, C, and E, to be considered a “good source,” according to the Food and Drug Aministration. Instead, consume a full spectrum of antioxidants from natural sources like fruits and vegetables. One small carrot, for example, provides more than twice the amount of Vitamin A than a full serving of one antioxidant-enriched cereal does. Aim for four servings of fresh fruits and five servings of veggies per day – the more colourful they are, the higher the antioxidant levels.
Claim: High in Fiber
Truth: Some loaves of bread, energy bars, and even waffles can deliver up to 35 percent of your daily fiber requirement per serving, but much of the added fiber can be man-made or extracted from plants. And while studies have shown that a high-fiber diet may reduce the risk of heart disease, the research applies to naturally occurring fiber. To meet your daily needs, stick to natural sources like bran, oats, berries, and broccoli.
Claim: Made with Whole Grains
Truth: Crackers, breads, and cereals that carry this promise must offer some whole grains (higher in fiber, vitamins, and minerals than their refined counterparts), but companies aren’t obligated to disclose the actual amount, and there’s no required minimum. In fact, one popular brand of “whole-wheat” crackers contains a measly five grams of whole grains per serving – 1/16 of your recommended daily intake. Avoid confusion in the bread aisle by choosing foods that say they’re “100 percent whole grain” – that label ensures that the product contains no refined flours.
Some things are just better bigger – this is one of them. Product Review:
I’m in bliss…literally. Being a huge fan of luxurious body butters and body lotions by bliss you can imagine my delight at finding a super sized version in vanilla and bergamot – two of my favourite scents.
Already familiar with their original lemon sage (which gained a huge following as it was the #1 body cream for over a decade and used to be available only at Blissspa locations) this was a delightful purchase from Nordstrom’s. It’s completely moisturizing with a very familiar & pleasant fragrance(this aromatic moisture mix has amber, lemon, bergamot, myrrh and musk, putting the ‘thrilla’ back in vanilla) which means it can be used in place of a light fragrance. Made without parabens. I found that mixing this with a little bit of lavender lotion creates a signature scent.
Trending Now or you could say “finally” as it only takes a matter of time for what has
Bustier – Emilio Pucci S/S 2014
been in fashion somewhere in the world for centuries to make its way over to this hemisphere.
Masai Handiwork
On this side of the globe Masai and other African fabrics are having a fashion moment, but maybe it will last longer than a Paris or New York Minute.
Emilio Pucci Spring/Summer 2014
Last week I posted about wearing beads and shells in “going global” but this is different. Summer weather always brings out a certain amount of shell and beaded belongings but mostly in shoes and other accessories. I bought a t-shirt with a shelled collar that was not the norm a few years ago. But now the Spring/Summer runways were featuring traditional “Masai” fashion incorporated into daily wear like dresses, skirts, jackets and even a bustier as seen at on the Emilio Pucci S/S runway (photo above). And why not? Not only is it fun and colorful, but it has a rich history behind it. So along with fringe, art prints and florals, the shows featured Masai embellished beading for all kinds of clothing along with other African prints.
I bought several pairs of these leather/beaded sandals in Tanzania – all one of a kind.
Some History: The Masai have been creating bead jewelry for a long time, well before their first contact with Europeans. Beadwork has been an important part of Masai culture for many years. The women set aside time every day to meet and work on beaded jewelry which includes colorful necklaces, bracelets, and pendants. It is considered the duty of every Masai women to learn the jewelry making craft. All the tribes beadwork is made by the women but is worn by both women and men. The jewelry they create is not only beautiful but also has important cultural significance. The beadwork an individual wears will signify their age and social status. Generally individuals of high social standing will wear more colorful and intricate jewelry. Beads also serve as an important source of income for the Masai. Tourist visiting the Masai regions in Kenya and northern Tanzania will find many beautiful pieces for sale that make great gifts for both women and men.
A beaded clutch
These are a few examples of how beading was incorporated into the shows. Keep in mind these are obviously over the top. I can’t see anyone in my city dressing this way unless they put beading on fleece. I would carry the clutch bag, wear a wide beaded belt, sandals and some beading here and there on clothing but certainly not all together and not to excess.
Louis Vuitton‘s take on the traditional Masai blanket.
Salts, Herbs & Spice make everything Nice. There’s nothing confusing about infusing. These do-it-yourself finishing salts are not only great to have on hand for everyday meals but they also make an excellent hostess gift. Find a nice little container to put them in (as shown), tie a bow or ribbon & voila! They’re not fussy and you can tweak them to your liking.
lavender
For instance, I dry fresh lavender flowers, grind them (in a coffee grinder used specifically for purposes other than grinding coffee) and then put them into a container (I keep several clean empty ones on hand for this purpose ) with either course Himalayan pink salt or kosher salt for a nice flavor to add to pork roasts or potatoes. Add rosemary, thyme & oregano leaves for Sel-de-Provence.
Malt Vinegar – tastes better than it looks
This simple malt-vinegarsalt takes a few minutes of work to yield a summer’s worth of pub-fries type seasoning. In addition to chips (or any kind of potato dish), you can use it on shellfish or fried fish. Try it on popcorn too. I like to thinly slice Yukon gold potatoes & bake them at 375 F until done with a bit of olive oil & this salt sprinkled over them – tastes like a day at the beach.
6 Tbsp. of course salt
1 Tbsp. cornstarch
¼ cup malt vinegar
Stir all ingredients together until a loose paste forms. Pour onto a rimmed baking sheet & spread into a thin layer. Let stand at room temperature, uncovered for a day or two. The paste will dry into a hard, cohesive sheet.
Rake and mash sheet with a fork until it develops into the texture of course salt. Transfer to a container with a tight-fitting lid and store in a cool, dry place up to 3 months (that is, if it lasts that long).
Citrus Salt:
This will add a bright finish to curries, soups and stews – you can even sprinkle it on banana bread.
Preheat oven to 300 F. In a medium bowl, mix ½ cup of flaky sea salt with 1 Tbsp. of grapefruit zest, 2 tsp. orange zest, and 1 tsp. lemonzest, working zest into salt to eliminate clumps. Add ½ tsp. ground fennel seed, and spread across a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake until zest is dried out, about 15 minutes (it should crumble when pinched). Let cool, then store in an airtight jar up to 2-3 months. Makes ¾ cup.
Herbs de Provence
Herbs de Provence
The flavor is amazing here. Delicious sprinkled on salads, soups, fish, chicken, beef and pork. Did I miss anything?
2 Tbsp. dried rosemary
1 Tbsp. fennel Seed
2 Tbsp. dried lavender flowers
2 Tbsp. dried Italian Parsley
2 Tbsp. Dried Savory
2 Tbsp. Dried Thyme
2 Tbsp. Dried Basil
2 Tbsp. Dried Marjoram
Grind rosemary & fennel seed in a spice grinder (which could be a second coffee grinder); transfer to a mixing bowl. Stir savory, thyme, basil, marjoram, lavender, parsley, oregano & tarragon with the rosemary mixture. Store in an air-tight container between uses. Makes 1 cup.
Small size jam jars are perfect for this.
Flower Pepper (okay, I had a lot of flowers last summer – here’s a way to make them last all year long).
Aromatic Flower Pepper
Mix black peppercorns with dried rose petals and lavender (or other edible flowers like Calendula) for a colorful mix of flavor. Use it with salads, eggs, fish, meat, chicken or pasta dishes – pretty much everything.
The added touch: for a more personalized feel you can create your own label to stick on the lid of any jar. The receiver will remember who it came from and what exactly is inside.
Note: Sufferers of asthma, ragweed, and hayfever should not consume composite flowers, and may have extreme allergies to ingesting any flowers at all. Composite flowers consist of a family of plants with heads composed of many florets, including the aster; daisy; dandelion; goldenrod; marigold; lettuces; ragweed; sunflower; thistle; zinnia.
AVOID: some flowers in particular to be avoided (but not a complete list) are: azalea, crocus, daffodil, foxglove, oleander, rhododendron, jack-in-the-pulpit, lily of the valley, and wisteria.
when one literally fell into my lap when I was sitting at a coffee shop.
Girl Who Would be KING on Life, Style and INSPIRATION. 
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