Resource List for Cooking Up Beauty at Home ebooklet

Most of the ingredients found in the 4 simple recipes in my ebooklet, are pretty easy to find, but there may be a few that some people have not heard of, so here is a quick resource list:

Mountainrose Herbs---here you can purchase your essential oils

Mehndiskinart---here you can purchase shikakai powder and amla powder, just look under the "Hesh Herbs" category

Sams247.com---here you can get the wonderful Unrefined Jamaican Black Castor Oil

Whole Foods Market---purchase the bulk or your items at your local Whole Foods, or trader joe's Trader Joe's is the bargain store for natural and organic products, they do sell a few products that are not organic though, so make sure you read labels. I purchase my jojoba oil there as it is good quality at a reasonable price.

More Beauty Recipes

Ok so we are not finished yet, here are some more recipes from our list of beauty foods we should be eating. Whenever possible buy organic ingredients.

I particularly like this recipe, because it combines the all too important beauty food: Salmon, with fruits and vegetables; need I say more :D

SALMON FILET WITH MANGO CILANTRO SALSA

The following is an excerpt from the book "Eat Right for Your Metabolism" by Felicia Drury Kliment.

Salmon Filet with Mango Cilantro Salsa:

4 6-ounce portions salmon filet

Mango Cilantro Salsa:

1 ripe mango, peeled and ½-inch diced
¼ cup chopped scallion, green part only
¼ cup diced red bell pepper
1 tablespoon finely diced fresh jalapeno
1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
1 small clove garlic, minced
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice
¼ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil

Bake salmon filet at 400ºF for 15 to 20 minutes, depending on the thickness of the salmon. For Mango Cilantro Salsa, lightly toss all ingredients in bowl. Chill in refrigerator for at least 1 hour for flavors to meld. Serve salsa as an accompaniment to salmon. Mango Cilantro Salsa also goes nicely with grilled meat or chicken.

Yield: 4 servings

Nutrition Information: 245 calories, 7 g fat, 35 g protein, 11 g carbohydrate, 2 g dietary fiber, 88 mg cholesterol, 251 mg sodium

Copyright © 2006 Felicia Drury Kliment.

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If you like the taste of Indian food (I sure do ;P) then you'll love this recipe...heck even if you don't this is just plain good.

LENTIL DHAL

1 tablespoon coconut oil
1 medium brown onion
2 cloves garlic (crushed)
1 teaspoon ginger (finely chopped)
1 red chili, seeds removed and finely chopped
1 teaspoon Garam Masala
1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
1 cup red lentils, rinsed and drained
1 x 400 gram can chopped tomatoes
2 cups water
season to taste

1. Heat the oil in a heavy based pan and add the onion, garlic, ginger and chili.

2. Sauté until the onion is golden. Add the Garam Masala, turmeric and lentils and sauté for another minute.

3. Add the tomatoes and water and bring to the boil before lowering the heat. Cover and cook for 15 minutes. Add the seasoning and continue to cook until the dhal has a thick consistency.
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HONEY GLAZED BABY CARROTS

2-3 cups small baby carrots (pre-peeled)
1/2 cup butter
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 tablespoon honey
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
fresh minced parsley and/or chives

In a medium skillet, melt butter. Add brown sugar, honey, nutmeg and cinnamon; mix together. Add Carrots. Cover; cook on medium low to medium heat for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. When finished cooking, the carrots should be firm, not mushy.

Remove from skillet and sprinkle with fresh parsley and/or chives. Serve.
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These recipes are not my own original creations, they are brought to you courtesy of the cooks.com or check out recipes.organic.org for info on organic recipes!

Ebook Update

My new ebooklet is now available for purchase! for under $5.00! "Cooking Up Beauty At Home" includes tips and 4 beauty recipes, including the one and only "Best Green Conditioner Ever!" This alone is worth the value, the other 3 recipes are extras. I along with some of my friends and family, honestly use these recipes regularly. My favorites are the conditioner and the "Barely There Evening Moisturizer" for oily skin. I decided to write the manual after being encouraged by friends and family to sell some of my products. These particular recipes however I will share with readers, and will be soon adding my store in the future (GOD willing) to sell some of my other products. Keep up to date by subscribing to the blog. Stay Tuned!.......

Beauty Food recipes

So now you about some beneficial foods, but how do you implement them in your diet? Here are some delicious recipes to get more of these beauty foods in daily regimen. These recipes are brought to you courtesy of Edenfoods.


Spinach Spirals with Roasted Eggplant and Tomatoes

Serves 6 | Prep Time 0:55 | Cook Time 0:15
Ingredients

4 cups eggplant, cubed
1 large onion, halved and cut into 1/2" thick wedges
3 large organic plum tomatoes, cut into chunks
1 1/2 teaspoons Eden Sea Salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
1/4 cup Eden Extra Virgin Olive Oil
12 ounces Eden Organic Spinach Spirals
1/4 cup pitted black olives, halved
1/2 cup grated Romano or parmesan, optional
1/4 to 1/2 cup reserved pasta cooking water, if needed
(Add All Eden Ingredients to Shopping Cart)

Directions

Preheat oven to 450°. Mix eggplant, onion, tomatoes, salt, pepper and olive oil in a medium mixing bowl. Toss to evenly coat. Roast 45 minutes until tender, tossing half way through cooking. Cook pasta as package directs. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water. Drain the pasta and return it to the pot. Add roasted vegetables, olives and grated parmesan. Toss to evenly coat, adding 1/4 to 1/2 cup of the reserved pasta cooking water, if desired. Serve immediately.

Nutritional Info

Per serving: 347 Calories, 13g Fat (34% calories from fat), 12g Protein, 46g Carbohydrate, 6g Fiber, 0mg Cholesterol, 613mg
Sodium

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Spinach, Tomato Pasta Soup

Serves 6 | Prep Time 0:10 | Cook Time 0:10
Ingredients

3 Tablespoons Eden Extra Virgin Olive Oil
6 cloves garlic, chopped fine
8 cup vegetable stock or water
12 ounces Eden Organic Kamut & Buckwheat Rigatoni, 1 package
29 ounces Eden Organic Diced Tomatoes, 2 cans, do not drain
any Eden Organic Diced Tomatoes
1 cup onion, diced
2 1/2 cups spinach, coarsely chopped
1/4 cup fresh basil, coarsely chopped
1/2 teaspoon Eden Sea Salt, or to taste
(Add All Eden Ingredients to Shopping Cart)

Directions

Heat olive oil in a soup pot, sauté the garlic and onions for 2 minutes. Add the water or soup stock and bring to a boil. Add the pasta and sea salt, cook 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes together with their cooking liquid and simmer on low until the pasta is tender. Add the spinach and basil. Cook 1 to 2 minutes and serve.

Nutritional Info

Per serving: 336 Calories, 8g Fat (23% calories from fat), 11g Protein, 54g Carbohydrate, 8g Fiber, 0mg Cholesterol, 178mg Sodium

Eating for beauty-some common foods you should be eating if you want to be the best beauty you can be!

Think beautiful hair skin and nails come from the products you use? Think again. The saying you are what you eat, holds merit. In order to have beautiful hair, skin and nails, you must not only use quality shampoos, conditioners, and skin creams, but you must feed the hair and skin from the inside. You may have heard this information many times before, but that is because it is a very important topic. When I was about 16 my mother gave me an old herbal book of hers, and it was then that I discovered the benefits of using herbs, and although I came from a big family where the budget was very tight, whenever I had the opportunity to get a little money I would go to my local health food co-op. One herb in particular I discovered then was Alfalfa. Alfalfa is said to contain traces of many vitamin and minerals. In particular it is high in calcium, protein and silica. I started taking this herb in the dried form encapsulating it in vegetarian capsules myself. I noticed a difference in my hair; it became stronger, healthier, and had more sheen to it and grew in length as well. During that time I was very careful about trying to eat more healthy and stay more active. After a while though I begin to slack off with my health. I begin to eat more processed refined foods and neglected taking supplements, and I really noticed a difference; a negative one to be precise. Recently I have vowed to get back on track with my natural healthy lifestyle, and have begun to consider putting only quality foods in my body. I know the value of what good nutrition can do for your health and physical appearance. You must not just cover up your flaws with expensive cosmetics, rather feed your beauty with a properly nourished diet.

A diet that is balanced by lean proteins, fruits and vegetables, whole grains and omega-3s will contribute to a healthy body and appearance. Here are some foods that may nourish your beauty: 1. Salmon--salmon is loaded with omega-3 fatty acids and is an excellent source of protein. These 2 ingredients provide vital building blocks for healthy hair and skin, and are according to Dr. Perricone in his book, The Wrinkle Cure: Unlock the Power of Cosmeceuticals for Supple, Youthful Skin
essential in combating wrinkles. Don't like fish? Then try taking a fish oil liquid supplement. In fact if you don't get a lot of fresh salmon or mackerel in your diet then a fish oil supplement may be the way to go. I find that I can not swallow the fish oil by itself, so I add it to a little tea and drink it.
2. Dark green leafy vegetables--try spinach for example. It contains helper nutrients like calcium, iron, vitamin A and C. Another excellent source of these beauty nutrients is broccoli; just think broccoli with cheese mmmm.
3.Legumes--Lentils are an excellent source of protein, iron, zinc and biotin. Biotin is another essential ingredient in hair and skin beauty.
4.Carrots-- excellent source of vitamin A.

In addition to these 4 make sure to include nuts, such as walnuts, almonds, cashews, pecans and brazilian nuts. Also add some other sources of protein like chicken and lean beef, eggs, whole grains and milk. If you keep your diet balance with these food sources, you will more than likely radiate beauty---well physical inner beauty is a whole other topic!


*disclaimer (the FDA will kill me if I do not put this lol kidding) I am not not a licensed M.D. therefore the information provided here is solely for information and entertainment purposes only. Discuss with your doctor any herbs, or vitamins before you add them to your diet. The information provided here is not in any means meant to be a cure for any type of disease.

Product review:The Wrinkle Cure

I ran across a very informative book at the library about 2 months ago, that I happen to enjoy very much, so I decided to buy it from my favorite place to buy books and other items (Amazon). It was very affordable. While I am not yet at the age where I should be concerned about wrinkles (28 yrs), this book provides excellent info to start maintaining your skin now so that you may age gracefully. I was very surprised to learn that Dr. Perricone, who is a Dermatologist, had non conventional views (for someone in the "traditional" medical community that is) on the usage of certain vitamins and foods in maintaining health and a beautiful appearance. He, unlike many dermatologists, does not promote plastic surgery, but rather puts his patients on nutritional regimens to combat their skin concerns, and has had much success. He lists some of the foods and vitamins that you should be consuming if you want to be your most radiant self, and even provides some resources info. This book is a definite must-read especially for anyone who notices that their skin is looking a little dull and lacks luster. Your diet just may be the culprit.

What "beauty" looks like

This a very eye-opening and refreshing video about the advertising industry. So ladies let's try and break this vicious cycle of tormenting ourselves over how we are not good enough, to measure up the advertising industry's standards, because clearly those are standards that even the industry don't measure up to.

Natural curl definers for Kinky-curly hair texture

Are you a natural ebony girl with kinky-curly texture? Do you love being all natural, but occasionally want to experiment with different styles? Well you're in luck, kinky-curly hair texture offers a variety of options! If you are looking to define your curls a little more and give them a more slick look, try Kinky-Curly's curling custard . I have not had the opportunity to try it yet myself, but I have heard (and seen) many rave reviews about this product. I love the fact that it is all natural ingredients! You can purchase directly from the Kinky-Curly website or if you have a Whole Foods market in your area, it can be purchased from there as well. It may seem expensive, but one jar can go a long way! Shelley Davis, who is the creator of the Kinky-Curly products, is pictured here. The look of her hair is the type of results you will see. When you are tired of the look simply wash out! I have heard a few tips are necessary to stick to when applying Kinky-Curly, such as start by cleansing hair first. Next tip is to use the Knot today conditioner instead of other conditioners. This is because some conditioners have oils in it and if you use the K.C. with them, your results may be too sticky or leave residue (personally I would probably not use the Knot Today conditioner because it contains alcohol, and I trt to avoid alcohol for my hair and skin). Although I have heard of some say that other conditioners have been used such as Carol's Daughter brand conditioner . Another tip is to use a little and not overdo it, so as to avoid stickiness from improper application. Lastly you can just wet hands in the morning and run through hair, no need to reapply product. While I have seen a few bad experiences with this product, the majority have all been good. If you do not know anyone personally who has used this product then check out youtube.com and see videos of women who have applied K.C. Now, for a more inexpensive way to define your curls, wash your hair with a gentle non-sulfate shampoo (important!), condition, and afterwards apply a leave in conditioner or creme (I happen to use my own "lemon custard" hair cream) and do a twist out or braid out. For anyone unaware, a twist out or braid out is just a term for braiding or twisting the hair into individual braids or twists all over the head and allowing it to set (usually overnight) and simply unloosening the braids or twists. Once done your curls will be more defined. At this point you can put it in a updo, ponytail, or simply leave it as is. If you want to temporarily change your texture to straight every once in a while, then rather than using a flat iron, or hot comb which can be just as damaging as chemical straighteners when used improperly, try the Maxiglide straightener, which uses steam to straighten the hair, and not the direct pressing of heat on the hair strands to "iron" the hair.
The beauty of Maxiglide is it works well on all type hair textures, although they do have different type staighteners for the kinky-curly type texture. Remember good hair is healthy hair in any type texture; from straight to curly to wavy to kinky-curly hair, learn how to appreciate and take care of the hair you have been given!

Hair Flair

Want to create this really simple semi casual hairstyle? Check out Cinthia's blog here for instructions!
I would suggest that this style can be modified for a special occasion by added small decorative rhinestone clips to cover the bands; presto instant glamour!

Henna: a wonderfood for you hair

Many people believe that the key to healthy great looking hair is to buy expensive hair care products, but some of the ingredients that are good for your hair, are also some of the least expensive and all natural. A great example of this is henna or mehndi. Henna is believed to provide many benefits, such as adding strength, sheen, and conditioning to hair. It also is said to aid in cooling down excess heat from the body, prevent premature graying and can be applied to body to make beautiful temporary henna tattoos. As someone who has used henna on many occasions, i can honestly say that henna is excellent for the hair. Since discovering my "Best Green Conditioner ever" (recipe available in my upcoming ebooklet) I try to alternate between the two since the green conditioner is a highly moisturizing protein conditioner, I use it bi-weekly. On the off weeks I use henna. Some people who want to experience the softening effects of pure henna, but are afraid of the reddish color, may find that henna does not actually dye the hair red, rather leaves it with a red rinse. This has been the case for me anyway. In addition pure henna is natural and I have found that it will wash away after a few shampoo sessions if you do not enjoy the red rinse your hair may receive. Learn how to apply henna to your hair, here where you can find info on who should not use henna also here If you are feeling artistic, then check out this site to learn how to apply temporary henna tattoos. You can purchase henna from mehndiskinart.com or check out your local area for a market that carries indian, pakistani, or middle eastern products. I also provide a recipe for a conditioning henna shampoo in my upcoming ebooklet. So stay tuned...

"The Healing Power of Excerise"

My mother is almost finished reading, a book entitled The Healing Power of Exercise. I had the chance to skim though it and it seems to be a very informative book. It gives information on what exercises are best to do for particular ailments. This is very beneficial for someone who may be suffering from ailment such as high blood pressure, diabetes etc.; knowing which type of exercise are most beneficial for your particular ailment. So check it out!

Exercising for Health

I remember many times talking to coworkers about doing Pilates and Tae Bo, and always hearing a response of "what are you exercising for you? you are already skinny!" Exercising provides many benefits such as reducing stress, increased energy, and higher metabolism. If you exercise in the privacy of your own home one thing you may experience is becoming bored with your routine. Keep it interesting by changing your routine every so often. This happened to me recently. as I was working out to the Denise Austin Fat Burning Dance Mix dvd. It was fun for about 2 months and then I became bored, so as a result I slacked off for about 2 weeks! Now I am going to start the Leslie Sansone's Walking videos. I was always skeptical about walking workouts, because in my biased thinking I did not feel they were very effective, but after watching my mother do the Leslie Sansone's dvds and having much success with them, I was convinced that they could also work. My mother exercises pretty faithfully 5 days a week, and she (like me, actually more than me) has a variety of workout dvds, and the Leslie Sansone walking series has been one of the most effective at toning her while still allowing her maintain her womanly physique, which is what I prefer as well. I like a toned body with curves, and I do not like the muscular look for a woman; no six pack for me thank you! You can purchase Leslies Sansone and Denise Austin videos here . Other ways to prevent boredom is to get outside and workout. Try hiking, walking, or biking.
Being in the fresh open air really helps keep your routine interesting.

Product review:Humphey's Facial Toner

The product review for today will be Humphrey's brand facial toner. Humphrey's makes an alcohol free toner that is very gentle and soothing to the skin. Virtually anyone can use this toner. It comes in a variety of scents, which are there not just for smell but for the various skin nourishing/healing properties. The one I am in love with is the cucumber melon variety. After cleansing my face with my "afternoon tea" facial wash (available for purchase for at my shopit store), I use this gentle toner. and follow with my "barely there" evening facial moisturizer for oily skin (recipe for this will be available in my upcoming ebook). I love the way my skin feels afterward! I have tried a lot of toners and seldom do you find ones that are alcohol free, and light. Humphrey's is one of the few that I actually like. You can get Humphrey's toner at Whole Foods if you have one in your area, or online. My favorite place to purchase many items is amazon.com
I almost always find great deals at amazon, and you can find the Humphrey's toner there for a super low price! If you visit fubao health store , they also have quite a few of the Humphrey's toner in different scents.

Isn't it time to get back to your roots?

With all the harmful ingredients in most cosmetics, why should we spend a small fortune on things that are not helping us but harming us? This is even more puzzling when many natural ingredient alternatives are found right in nature and are easily available in most cases. You can buy or make a multitude of skin and hair care products, that feel good and are good for you. You can produce anything from face masks, to cleansers, and creams all without sacrificing your health and beauty. So take a cue from some natural beauties around the world and get back to your roots!

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