Coocoo for Coconut Oil

Every winter I have the same issue: my face dries and cracks like a desert floor. This is California, what gives? God forbid I ever endure a Colorado winter.... This winter, just like every other, I tried switching facial creams, going back to my facial oil, and then finally I tried something different: coconut oil. I know what you're thinking. O-I-L spells B-R-E-A-K-O-U-T-S! Actually it spelled something a little more like this: L-U-S-C-I-O-U-S winter skin. And contrary to my initial fear, the breakouts that so lovingly congregated on my chin were gone within a few days, due to what I later found out was because of coconut oil's antibacterial properties.
We get acne for several reasons, though the main one is the accumulation of bacteria, known as propionibacterium, and our body's response to it. Coconut oil's anti-inflammatory properties ward off irritated bumps that ornament breakouts. When using coconut oil, make sure to get extra virgin, which allows our skin to breathe and disallows clogged pores. The abundant antioxidants in coconut oil keep our skin from oxidizing, much like an avocado turns brown when oxygen reaches it. In other words, it keeps our skin looking young!  Not to mention, wrinkles love dry skin, so lay it on thick, baby!

A few great uses for coconut oil include:

-Product for shiny, soft, anti-frizz hair (put a dime to nickel size amount in hands, rub together, and work into damp hair from bottom up, staying away from the roots.)

-Chapstick

-Butter/oil alternative for cooking and baking

-Stir into tea for healthy fats

-Body lotion

-Aids healing in bacterial, viral, and fungal infections

& more!

[Did you know...?] Polynesians have used coconut oil for centuries, which is why they are known to have such beautiful glowing skin and shiny hair.

photo source

A Brunch Fit For A President

Happy President’s Day everyone! What better way to celebrate (besides the complete bummage) than to make a homemade brunch for your family? This morning I naturally woke up before everyone else—unusual, but hey, thanks school—to grab some extra ingredients for the morning’s feast. Mushrooms for the crustless quiche, rosemary for the sweet potato hash, oat flour for the scones, and most importantly, the Simply Orange with Pineapple for the mimosas! My grandpa ran out to get some champagne, since I couldn’t find any at Sprouts, that was absolutely perfect. While everyone was peeling their eyes open, I set the table using my grandma’s special china and some old sky blue, polka dot napkins we still have from my birthday last year. 

I did this all the while my Spinach Mushroom and Swiss Crustless Quiche Squares (<--hover for link) were baking in the oven. I followed the recipe to a T, besides the fact that I couldn’t fight the urge to melt some extra Swiss on top. Meanwhile I made some nommy sweet potato hash that I revised from this (<--hover for link) recipe. Instead of purple potatoes, I used red. And, I nixed the bacon and green onion, and opted for a tablespoon of butter instead of bacon drippings. (Good for all you veggies out there!) Nonetheless, there was some serious tastiness going on! Everything came together very well.
If you know me at all, you know that I wouldn’t dare forget to include something sweet. So, I made Oat Flour Scones from my Bastyr University (the naturopathic school I would like to attend grad school at) cookbook. Here’s the recipe:

Oat Flour Scones 

1 1/2 cups oat flour 

1/4 cup cornmeal

3 tsp baking powder 

1/4 tsp salt 

1 1/2 tsp cinnamon 

3 TBSP butter 

1/4 cup honey 

1/2 cup soy milk (I used almond milk) 

2 eggs 

1tsp vanilla extract 

2 cups fresh or frozen fruit (I used 1/2 cup fresh blueberries, which was perfect) 

Preheat oven to 375. Mix cornmeal, flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. With your fingers, work butter into flour mixture until butter is the size of small peas. In another bowl, whisk together honey, soy milk, eggs, and vanilla. Mix liquid ingredients into dry. Fold in the fruit. Pour the batter into a 9” greased cake pan. Bake 30 minutes to an hour, or until the edges slightly shrink inward and top is browned. Let cool for 5 minutes. Flip onto cooling rack, then reverse onto plate and cut into pieces. Serve warm. 

The scones were yummy, but could use a few more spices, walnuts, or a simple glaze. They seemed to be missing a little somethin’ somethin’. They were delicious eaten with butter and honey drizzled atop. 
I’m very pleased as to how the brunch came together. Even my grandpa liked it, which must mean it was good ;]. Super healthy, and worth every last crusty dish I had to scrape! As for the weekend as a whole, it was a was a success. As is any weekend spent with family, friends, and eating good food! A lovely weekend ended in a lovely way. How was your President’s Day Weekend?


[Did you know...?] Though they seem similar, sweet potatoes are not even in the same family as regular potatoes. They contain more antioxidants, nutrients, and beta-carotene which is fabulous for eye health.

Faux Jamba Juice!

I'm not usually one for smoothies, but for some reason I got a surprise hankering for some tart, icy-cool, blended sweetness today. Of course, knowing me, I will hide as many not-so-yummy tasting health foods as I can. And I did! Here's the recipe sure to make your day a whole lot sweeter, and nutritious. My favorite part? The lack of guilt, and the fact that I finally incorporated my maca powder into something!

Superfood Fruit Smoothie

(Yield: 4 small glasses)

-1 1/2 cup frozen strawberries

-1 ripe banana

-3/4 cup Simply Orange with Mango

-3/4 cup coconut water

-3 TBSP bee pollen

-2 TBSP maca root powder

-1 to 2 tsp spirulina powder

-1 tsp stevia powder

Blend together and pour into glasses. Garnish with a pinch of shredded coconut, or a curled orange peel.

The key to keeping your smoothie rich with flavor is to use frozen fruit, so you don't water it down with ice. My only question after consuming this pretty little concoction: WHY, OH WHY have I not experimented with this earlier!? And, not to toot my own horn (not that I really could, seeing as it's so simple) but this really does taste like Jamba Juice!

What are your favorite smoothie ingredients? 

[Did You Know?:] Maca is a sulfurous root found high in the Andes. A few of it's many perks include: easing side effects of PMS and menopause, regulating hormones, and adaptogenic properties that regulate your body's natural state of being.

Superfood Spotlight: Marine Phytoplankton

Marine phytoplankton--you mean those little things whales eat? Why, yes I do! First of all, I have to thank the brilliance that is David Wolfe, for enlightening me on how great marine phytoplankton is via this youtube video (that I encourage you all to check out if you are interested in superfoods). It got me so excited that I had to immediately go online and buy myself some phytoplankton!

Here's why marine phytoplankton is the most super of all superfoods:

-Contains every mineral known to man

-Contains nucleotides which provide our bodies with energy that never had to be converted (unlike other foods)

-No crash

-Complete protein

-At least 2-3 drops needed per day

-Contains cleanest source of omega-3 fatty acids

-Antiviral/antifungal

-Promotes brain, heart, and eye health (to name a few)

Marine phytoplankton are easily incorporated into your diet. You can put a few drops on the back of your tongue (YUCK), add it to your tea, or do as I do and put two to three drops of phytoplankton in my tall glass of water each morning. The taste isn't noticeable, unless you put more than three. 

If marine phytoplankton nourish the world so heavily that without it's existence, all life on earth would cease to exist, then think about what it does for our miniscule in comparison human bodies!

[Did you know:] Marine phytoplankton are an ancient food that are at the very beginning of the food chain.

Ask Kristina: Help! I Need Quick, Healthy Recipes!

Hello beauties!

The newest addition to my blog is this "Ask Kristina" inquiry section. If you have a question regarding anything from natural shampoos to healthy road trip food ideas you can send them to my email kuricookie90@aim.com, and I will reply here on my blog! I love answering your questions, so please don't hesitate to ask!

My first question comes from Laura, who asks:

"i know zero about cooking, but i wanna learn how to make healthy meals that are quick and i don't have to eat right away. I work 2 jobs so i eat unhealthy mall food for 2 of my meals. So i need something easy to make the night before! Help me!! Lol or easy snacks :)"

Laura, girl, I totally know what you mean! Work is the hardest place to eat healthy, with so many opportunities to go crazy on the plethora of junk that always seems to be lurking right around the corner. The easiest meals to take to work are ones that can 1) merry together, and taste even better the next day, and 2) vegetarian. What makes it tricky is whether or not you are provided with a refrigerator and a microwave.
My top choices would be whole wheat pastas, bean/tuna salads, and stir-fries, hands down! These can go with or without heating or refrigeration for extended periods of time. Here's a good recipe for Giada DeLaurentiis' Campanelle Pasta Salad made with whole wheat pasta and tuna.

If you don't have time to break out the pots and pans and you need to eat at work, stick to steamed vegetables and lean protein without the sauce. My suggestion: a Panda Express bowl with steamed veggies and mandarin chicken with soy sauce.

As for snacks, keep it raw. Nuts, fruits and veggies (fresh or dry) are your friend. I love dried mango and goldenberries, to name a couple. If you need a candy bar, my new obsession is the KIND dark chocolate cherry cashew + antioxidants bar! At around $1.50, they're a bit pricey, but worth the nutrition.

Simple, full of protein, and not to mention yummy, trailmix is another one of my favorite snacks! Toss together some raw almonds or walnuts, salted sunflower seeds, and raisins. Mmm-mmm good for mind, body, and spirit!

When it comes to cooking, just remember one thing: the more natural, the better! Don't hesitate to look for recipes online and make swaps like whole wheat pasta versus white, marinara or pesto sauce instead of creamy, calorie-laden alfredo. When it comes down to it, it's all about moderation. And, don't fret if there's a little sugar or some fat; that's okay! As long as you're getting the max amount of nutrients and you're exploring your culinary creativity, that's all you can ask for.

Spiced Up Summer BBQin'

There's nothing like a good, freshly prepared Greek-inspired barbeque with your family on a sunny Sunday afternoon. Greek food is great for summer, since it's prepared with fresh ingredients that leave you feeling light, yet satisfied; perfect for you to go out to the beach in your bikini afterwards! My grandma spotted some fresh tilapia while we were at Sprouts yesterday, so we decided to grill 'er up. We paired it with a green onion tzatziki, and greek salad. This literally took around 30 minutes, prep and all. Opaaaa!

Tilapia with Green Onion Tzatziki

Tilapia

Fresh Tilapia filets

salt & pepper

lime juice

Green Onion Tzatziki

1 cup 2% greek yogurt (I used Fage)

1 tbsp chopped dill

2 cloves garlic, finely minced

2 tsp lime juice

2 tbsp green onion, finely sliced

1/3 cup grated cucumber

salt & pepper to taste

Combine greek yogurt, dill, garlic, lime juice, green onion in bowl. Squeeze juice out of grated cucumber, and add along with salt and pepper. Mix. Season your fish. Before grilling, put foil over the grill and spray with cooking spray. Cook 3-5 minutes on each side, or until edges are golden brown.

Greek Salad

The greek salad was compliments Ina Garten's recipe, sans olives. 

For dessert, my mom picked out a mouth-watering poached peach and blackberry treat from my Eating Well magazine. The only issue was that we didn't have the lavender and vanilla bean that it was meant to be flavored with, so I used cinnamon instead; which really didn't turn out to be much of an issue at all, judging by my grandpa's declaration that this was "the best dessert [he's] had in years!" The only downside is that it takes about an hour. But if you like to cook, then hey, no biggie!

Poached Peaches and Blackberries

This recipe was adapted from Eating Well magazine, except instead of lavender and vanilla, I used 1 tsp ground cinnamon.

If you're looking to lose some weight, dine on Greek food. I once read an article about Jillian Michaels, who revealed that before she became the fit woman she is today, she herself was overweight. Being Greek, she switched to a diet consisting of only such foods, and the weight came right off.

[Did you know...? There are only about 105 calories in a cup of Greek salad. Eat up!]

Pu-what?

When I was in Seattle last summer with my mom, we came across a tea bar. Anyone who knows me knows I'm obsessed with tea, so of course I got super excited and begged my mom to check out the place. They had a drool-worthy variety of teas in huge clear, glass jars lining the wall behind the tea "bar," many of them of asian decent.
One of such is the pu-erh tea, which is named after a county in China. Many varieties of this tea are fermented; AKA it tastes like dirt. No, I am not joking, and yes I still drink it. Why, you ask?

http://www.angelinasteas.com/teaProfilesL2/teaProfileL2-pu-erh.html

Here are the benefits of (as I like to call it) "dirt tea:"
-It is said to better the flow of chi, or energy, throughout the body
-Diminishes aches and pains
-Aids digestion
-May promote weight loss
-Lowers bad cholesterol
-Contains antioxidants to slow the aging process
and best of all...
-Cleanses the spleen, making it excellent for rejuvenating the body after drinking alcohol or helping to sober up

Drink up, babies!

[Did you know...? Tea is an excellent way to heal ailments without prescriptions (when practical), increase water intake, and satisfy your sweet tooth!]

source

Nutrifood Limelight: Goldenberries

GOLDENBERRIES, gooseberries, incanberries, agauaymanto berry-- call 'em whatever, but I prefer "goldenberry." Each little berry is truly like gold to your temple of a body.  I actually discovered the orange, raisin look-alikes by accident. I was at Whole Foods looking to purchase goji berries, when I accidentally grabbed a bag of "vine ripened goldenberries," which are actually very much like dried fruit. Taste-wise, their tartness makes them unlike your typical berry. At first, I wasn't at very keen on the flavor; but, after snacking on them for a while, it became almost exciting eating them. Every now and then I'd get one that was a bit sweeter and softer than the others. Those are my favorite!
As for the benefits of goldenberries, they boast very high amounts of vitamin A (almost half your daily requirement), antioxidants (to prevent you from aging), and bioflavonoids (illness preventors) among other things. My favorite part is that they have a surprisingly good amount of protein (16%), which is unusual for fruits, but beneficial for staving off hunger without consuming many calories.

Here was my high protein snack today:

Goldenberries, raw almonds, and citrus green tea. Ah, the simple things...

[Did you know...? During the 1800's, the English who migrated to what we now know as the 13 colonies used gooseberries in many of their recipes.]

Source: http://www.foodreference.com/html/artgooseberries.html

Breakfast!

Over this Memorial Day weekend, my best friend and I went to San Diego to get away from all the stress at home. It was there (at Zanzibar Cafe) that I had my first, long-awaited acai bowl. To my surprise, the acai was a frozen slush on the bottom! I, now, know this is typical since acai comes in frozen "smoothie" packs. Anyway, it was delicious. They topped it with homemade granola, bananas, and sliced strawberries. Of course, this inspired me to make my own.
I went to the new Sprouts yesterday, which I had to see after my grandma and grandpa telling me how organized and affordable it is. I got some frozen acai packs by Amazon Planet, fortified with ginko and ginseng for energy. NOMz.

Acai Bowl

1 acai pack, thawed

handful of chopped walnuts

1 tsp chia seeds or flaxseed meal

sliced banana

berries (I used raspberry)

1 tsp bee pollen

Also, try adding smoothie packs with banana, coconut, and greek yogurt for protein in a blender for a morning smoothie. 

[Did you know...? Acai is known for it's antioxidants and ability to provide energy. Try it instead of a cup of coffee in the morning.]

Weekend Cookin' with the Fam: Cornbread

I never eat cornbread, but for some reason I always crave it. WEIRD. Finally, I made it this weekend for the first time. Happy tummies all around. Found a quick lil' recipe online, and made it with my family on Sunday. Whole wheat honey sweetened cornbread with Earth Balance honey butter. NOMZ.

P.S.

My next endeavor is food photography. I've been using my IPhone camera, but I want to learn to take beautiful pictures. I've been on a mission to find a spectacular-picture-taking-but-not-pocket-draining camera/lens. Impossible! Man, are those things expensive! I'm hoping to get one by the end of summer. My camera savings begin with my next paycheck. I've already gotten some helpful tips, but any others along with any resources involving the topic would be much appreciated! Thanks darlings.