Cucumber and Avocado Summer Rolls | Beautiful Healthy Foods

Rich, nutty avocado is a great carrier of flavors, like the fresh herbs and cooling cucumber that star in these fresh rice-paper rolls—fitting, as these rolls are like a salad that is eaten out of hand.

 

Health Benefits

Mint = digestion

Avocado = Heart health: One cup of avocado has 23% of the recommended daily value of folate. Studies show that people who eat diets rich in folate have a much lower incidence of heart disease than those who don't. The vitamin E, monounsaturated fats, and glutathione in avocado are also great for your heart.

Carrots = Anti-Aging The high level of beta-carotene acts as an antioxidant to cell damage done to the body through regular metabolism.  It help slows down the aging of cells.

Cucumbers = Hair Growth: Cucumber contains silicon and sulphur and thus a regular intake of cucumber can help promote healthy hair growth.

Ingredients:

• Juice from 1/2 lime
• 2 Tbs. rice bran or canola oil
• 1 Tbs. rice vinegar
• 1/2 tsp. Dijon mustard
• 1/2 tsp. soy sauce
• 1 tsp. brown sugar
• 2 Haas avocados
• 20 rice paper rounds, 6 or 8 inches in diameter
• 10 green lettuce leaves
• Leaves from 1 bunch fresh basil
• Leaves from 1 bunch fresh mint
• 2 carrots, coarsely shredded
• 1/2 English cucumber, cut into thin strips

Directions:

In a small bowl, stir together the lime juice, oil, vinegar, mustard, soy sauce and brown sugar until the sugar dissolves; set aside.

Halve, pit and peel the avocados, and then cut them into 1/2-inch dice.

Place a wide, shallow bowl of warm water on a work surface. Lay a clean kitchen towel next to the bowl. Dip 1 rice paper round into the water for a few seconds to soften, then lay it flat on the towel. Dip a second round into the water and lay it directly on top of the first one. Using another towel, pat the top of the rice paper dry.

Center a lettuce leaf on top of the stacked rice papers. Starting about one-third in from the edge closest to you, arrange a few of the basil and mint leaves in a line across the lettuce. Top with a small row each of the carrot, cucumber and avocado; be careful not to overstuff the roll. Lift the bottom edge of the rice paper up and over the filling and then roll once to form a tight cylinder. Fold in the sides of the rice paper and continue to roll the paper and filling into a tight cylinder. Set aside, seam side down. Repeat with the remaining rice paper and filling ingredients to make 10 rolls.

Cut each roll in half crosswise and arrange, cut side up, on a platter. Place the sauce alongside for dipping and serve immediately. Makes 20 rolls; serves 8 to 10.

Adapted from Williams-Sonoma New Flavors for Appetizers, by Amy Sherman (Oxmoor House, 2008).

Ease your stress during the Holidays with Progressive muscle relaxation

The body’s natural relaxation response is a powerful antidote to stress. Relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, visualization, progressive muscle relaxation, meditation, and yoga can help you activate this relaxation response. When practiced regularly, these activities lead to a reduction in your everyday stress levels and a boost in your feelings of joy and serenity. What’s more, they also serve a protective quality by teaching you how to stay calm and collected in the face of Holiday Stresses.

A variety of relaxation techniques help you achieve the relaxation response. Those whose stress-busting benefits have been widely studied include deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, meditation, visualization, yoga, and tai chi.

Learning the basics of these relaxation techniques isn’t difficult. But it takes practice to truly harness their stress-relieving power: daily practice, in fact. Most stress experts recommend setting aside at least 10 to 20 minutes a day for your relaxation practice. If you’d like to get even more stress relief, aim for 30 minutes to an hour.

Progressive muscle relaxation for stress relief

Progressive muscle relaxation is an effective and widely used strategy for stress relief. It involves a two-step process in which you systematically tense and relax different muscle groups in the body.

With regular practice, progressive muscle relaxation gives you an intimate familiarity with what tension—as well as complete relaxation—feels like in different parts of the body. This awareness helps you spot and counteract the first signs of the muscular tension that accompanies stress. And as your body relaxes, so will your mind. You can combine deep breathing with progressive muscle relaxation for an additional level of relief from stress.

Most progressive muscle relaxation practitioners start at the feet and work their way up to the face. For a sequence of muscle groups to follow, see the box to the right:

• Loosen your clothing, take off your shoes, and get comfortable.
• Take a few minutes to relax, breathing in and out in slow, deep breaths.
• When you’re relaxed and ready to start, shift your attention to your right foot. Take a moment to focus on the way it feels.
• Slowly tense the muscles in your right foot, squeezing as tightly as you can. Hold for a count of 10.
• Relax your right foot. Focus on the tension flowing away and the way your foot feels as it becomes limp and loose.
• Stay in this relaxed state for a moment, breathing deeply and slowly.
• When you’re ready, shift your attention to your left foot. Follow the same sequence of muscle tension and release.
• Move slowly up through your body — legs, abdomen, back, neck, face — contracting and relaxing the muscle groups as you go.

HOW TO: Seaweed Facial Mask

Seaweed facial mask enthusiasts report that using this common, nourishing supplement on the face will smooth, tone and moisturize your skin. It's a popular spa treatment, one that you can create for yourself at home with a minimum of investment and effort. Creating your own spa treatments at home is an exercise in adaptation; start with the basic seaweed facial mask recipe, then alter it, as needed, to suit your preferences. Any leftover seaweed face mask can be stored in the refrigerator for a couple of days but should always be discarded after a week of storage or if the look or smell of the product has substantially changed.

Things You'll Need

• 1 tbsp. dried, ground seaweed 
• Coffee grinder 
• Small bowl 
• 1 to 2 tbsp. lukewarm water 
• Fork 
• 1 tsp. aloe vera gel (optional) 
• 1 tsp. honey (optional)

Step 1

Break sheets or pieces of dried seaweed with your hands until they're small enough to fit into a coffee grinder.

Step 2

Grind the seaweed into powder; you need about 1 tbsp. of seaweed powder in all.

Step 3

Dump the seaweed powder into a small bowl and add 1 tbsp. lukewarm water. Mix with a fork, adding up to another tbsp. of lukewarm water, as needed, to achieve a thick, paste-like consistency.

Step 4

Add 1 tsp. aloe vera gel, 1 tsp. honey, or both, to the paste. Stir until well mixed. Add more water, if needed, to achieve the desired texture. You can also skip these ingredients entirely if you so desire, although the aloe helps heal any skin irritation you may have and the honey adds to the moisturizing effect of the mask and acts as a preservative.

Step 5

Apply the seaweed mask to your face, leave in place for up to 20 minutes, then rinse off with lukewarm water and pat your skin dry. Use this mask up to twice a week as part of your regular beauty routine.

Tips and Warnings

• You can substitute an oil of your choice--jojoba oil and sweet almond oil are two favorites--for the water in Steps 2 and 3 if you so desire. Both jojoba and sweet almond oil are non-greasy, absorb easily and help soften skin. Jojoba oil also has antimicrobial properties, while sweet almond oil's scent may somewhat mask the seaweed's strong odor. Seaweed will be available at any health food store and may also be found in some ethnic grocery stores; it also is readily available in many mainstream grocery stores.

Top 10 Face-Friendly Foods

It is true that if you eat the right foods, you could be on your way to a healthier skin- a brighter complexion, smoother texture and fewer wrinkles. Dr Nicholas Perricone, dermatologist at Yale University School of Medicine recommends a three-day programme full of fish, fruit, veggies and olive oil to quickly rejuvenate the complexion. Many a skin problems, like Acne can be corrected through diet modifications instead of prescribed drugs.

DARE LEAFY GREENS (Attack acne) Richly coloured leafy greens like methi, spinach, amaranth (chowli), drumstick leaves are full of antioxidants. Plus, they're a great source of iron when eaten with vitamin C rich foods. (Women who don't get enough iron are especially prone to dark circles under their eyes). Greens also contain zinc. In one Swedish study, acne-prone patients who added a zinc supplement to their diets saw 85 per cent of zits clear up after three months. Zinc also helps break down damaged collagen, allowing new collagen to form.

VEGETABLE OIL (Defeats dryness) Adequate fat intake is one key to smooth, supple skin. Dermatologists speculate that women with persistently dry, flaky skin may not be getting enough good fats found in poly and monounsaturated oils like sesame, mustard, peanut and olive in their diet. When they add them back, the condition usually clears up in a few weeks. Just a tablespoon daily may make a huge difference to dry skin. If clogged pores are a problem, dermatologists say experts, the essential fatty acids in these vegetable oils can help keep them clear by thinning the oils they secrete.

WATER (Boosts moisture) Dehydrated skin looks ashen and gray and hangs off the face. Water is the best dull-skin reviver. Hydrated skin looks moist and plump, which makes existing wrinkles less obvious. To see results, though, you need H₂O every day. Make sure to down about
nine 200 ml glasses daily - more if you work out.

RIPE TOMATO (Keeps skin elastic) This skin-sensational food, packs high levels of the antioxidant vitamins A and C as well as skin cancer-fighting chemicals. Vitamin C helps keep skin elastic and prevents bruising. Vitamin A aids in healing acne from the inside out by boosting resisting to infection. Find these antioxidants in other dark red, orange and yellow fruits and veggies, too.


BERRIES (Fight wrinkles) Berries are a great source of polyphenols, antioxidants that are currently being studied for their anti-agingcapabilities. (The yummy fruits have already been shown to protect short-term memory and balance). Recent studies revealed, blueberries are packed with three times the antioxidant compared to a bunch of an orange. A hefty handful of jamuns, strawberries or just 2 to 3 amlas has all the antioxidant vitamin C your body requires each day to reconstruct your collagen, the scaffolding that keeps skin from drooping.

SARDINE (Calms inflammation) This fatty fish is teeming with face-friendly omega-3 fatty acids, which do everything from attack arid areas to help deflate inflamed zits. Also found in mackerel, shark, etc, essential fatty acids battle collagen-damaging free radicals and help smooth out fine lines. Dermatologists recommend eating fish three times a week. If you can't stand seafood, a fish-oil supplement may offer the same benefits. Or try adding flaxseed (alsi) oil and nuts to your diet. Fatty fish and nuts also contain zinc, which helps quell acne flare-ups and increase cell growth.

MELON (Foils flakiness) This colurful fruit is full of carotene-like compounds such as lycopene, which reduce the deep down collagen damage that promotes wrinkles. Dermatologists often prescribe musk melon to drab-skinned patients (recommend a few slices a day to promote a healthy glow.) The orange orb is also a great source of beta-carotene, which is converted to vitamin A. This nutrient prevents keratonic plugs, the rough patches that are often found on the backs of the arms.

SOY (Puts off pimples) Whether whole or in the form of tofu, this bean is a skin saver. It's full of chemicals that act like estrogen, and may help prevent acne, say dermatologists. Another soy bonus: It's loaded with vitamin E, which boosts new cell growth and keeps skin moist. Try eating atleast half a cup of soy (in the form of beans or tofu) 3 times a week.

CARROTS (Discourage wrinkling) Crunch all you want- carrots are bursting with the beta-carotene your body turns into vitamin A, a key to keeping dry, flaky skin at bay. You'll also find this nutrient in other orange fruits and vegetables, such as apricots, papaya, pumpkin, mango and sweet potatoes.

OATMEAL (Ousts toxins) You'll get a dose of fibre that, once converted, helps filter toxins (and raises your clear-skin potential). If oatmeal's too expensive, go for ragi or barley. These cereals are also rich in B vitamins, which aid new skin-cell growth.

Smart eating will help to ward off the skin problems like dryness, acne and have a bigger impact on keeping wrinkles at bay. Avoid over consumption of saturated fats and sugar for they may gum up the capillaries that whisk nutrients to the skin and make a mess with skin collagen, thereby contributing to saggy, inflexible skin and brown spots.

Healthy Aging with Curry-Rubbed Salmon with Napa Slaw

You are young and feel invincible, but starting a disease-fighting diet strategy now can pay off in the future. Prepare an anti-inflammatory, Mediterranean meal plan that includes fruits and vegetables, whole grains and legumes, and healthy omega-3 (wild salmon, walnuts, flax) and monounsaturated (olive oil) fats. We've got 20 healthy recipes to get you started.

Highly regarded for its delicious flavor, salmon has a stellar nutritional reputation. It's packed with healthy fats plus plenty of vitamins and minerals -- and yet it lacks the high mercury levels that taint some of its seafood kin.

Read more at Wholeliving.com: Recipes & Menus

Oatmeal

Soothing and anti-inflammatory, oatmeal contains beta glucan, a soluble fiber that creates a thin, moisture-retaining film on the surface of the skin. Place a handful of whole oats in a clean washcloth and use a rubber band to secure it. Next, immerse it in a sinkful of warm water and squeeze the bag four or five times. Once the water is cloudy, splash it on your face and then air-dry. (If you must towel dry, pat as gently as possible.)

Not to mention.... Oatmeal is an excellent source of fiber. I like to add 1 table spoon of all natural peanut butter to my oatmeal every morning.. yummmm.....

Grow Your Own Food

Grow your own food T-Shirt by Happy Family

I like nothing more then walking out to my garden and picking fresh herbs for a dish that I am preparing... There are truly so many benefits from growing your own food... it can be organic, therapeutic and you can save a little money too..not to mention it gives a whole new meaning to phrase "Shop Local" it's more like Shop Backyard or where ever your garden resides.

DIY Simple Skin Lotion

Honey: Cleopatra knew what she was doing with those milk and honey baths: the bees' sweet stuff is a natural humectant, so it's made to hold moisture. For a simple skin lotion, mix one teaspoon honey, one teaspoon vegetable oil, and ¼ teaspoon lemon juice, rub on dry skin, and rinse off after ten minutes.

Spicy Pineapple-and-Mint Salsa

Serve with fish, such as red snapper or striped bass.

Ingredients

Makes about 3 cups; serves 6

• 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
• 1 or 2 serrano chiles, seeded for less heat, if desired, and very thinly sliced
• 1 small garlic clove, minced
• 1/2 cup freshly squeezed orange juice (about 2 oranges)
• 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice (about 1 lime)
• 1 pineapple, peeled and chopped into 1/2-inch pieces
• 1 1/2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 cup loosely packed fresh mint leaves

Directions

1. In a medium bowl, combine the onion, chiles, garlic, orange and lime juices, and pineapple. Add oil; stir to combine. Let stand at room temperature at least 15 minutes or up to 1 hour. Just before serving, add mint; toss to combine.

Salmon with Herbed Mustard Sauce

A natural affinity exists between salmon and mustard. In this sauce, fresh lemon juice and herbs temper the heat of the mustard, but its flavor remains strong enough to stand up to the salmon. The recipe calls for broiling the fish. If, like Dr. Andrew Weil, you prefer to grill when possible, heat a grill to medium, season the salmon as in step 2, place it skin-side down on the grill, and cook, covered, for 8 to 9 minutes.

Ingredients

Serves 4

• 4 salmon fillets , about 6 ounces each
• 4 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• Coarse salt and ground pepper
• 1/2 cup Dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 3 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
• 3 tablespoons chopped fresh basil

Directions

1. Heat broiler with rack 4 inches from the heat.
2. Rinse salmon and pat dry with paper towels. Place salmon on a broiler pan and drizzle 2 tablespoons of lemon juice over the top. Season with salt and pepper. Broil until salmon is just cooked but still moist, 8 to 9 minutes. Remove the salmon's skin.
3. Meanwhile in a medium bowl, stir together the mustard, remaining 2 tablespoons lemon juice, oil, dill, and basil. Spoon the sauce over the salmon and serve immediately.

From Body+Soul, October 2006

Spinach Salad with Pomegranate and Avocado

The sunflower seeds and spinach in this salad are top-notch sources of magnesium, which enables your body to create dopamine. The avocado's vitamin B6 produces serotonin, a calming neurotransmitter.

Ingredients

Serves 6

• 1 pomegranate
• 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• Coarse salt and ground pepper
• 2 bunches flat leaf spinach, stems trimmed, well washed and dried
• 2 tablespoons roasted, hulled sunflower seeds
• 1 Hass avocado

Directions

1. Halve pomegranate lengthwise and seed. Working in a bowl of cold water, use your hands to separate seeds from membrane. Membrane will float to the top; discard. Scoop out pomegranate seeds and pat dry.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together 3 tablespoons lemon juice, mustard, and oil; season with salt and pepper. Toss spinach, sunflower seeds, and pomegranate seeds with dressing in bowl. Transfer to a serving platter.
3. Halve avocado and remove pit. Scoop out flesh and thinly slice lengthwise; drizzle with remaining lemon juice. Transfer to plate and arrange salad on top. Serve immediately.

Roma Tomato Salad with Feta and Garlic (Benefits of Garlic)

Garlic has been used as both food and medicine in many cultures for thousands of years, dating back to when the Egyptian pyramids were built. In early 18^th -century France, gravediggers drank a concoction of crushed garlic in wine they believed would protect them from the plague that killed many people in Europe. More recently, during both World Wars I and II, soldiers were given garlic to prevent gangrene. Today garlic is used to help prevent heart disease, including atherosclerosis (plaque buildup in the arteries that can block the flow of blood and possibly lead to heart attack or stroke), high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and to improve the immune system. Garlic may also protect against cancer.

While the science is not conclusive, research shows promise for garlic in the areas of cancer protection and heart-related risk factors for patients.

Garlic is rich in antioxidants, which help destroy free radicals -- particles that can damage cell membranes, interact with genetic material, and possibly contribute to the aging process as well as the development of a number of conditions, including heart disease and cancer. Free radicals occur naturally in the body, but environmental toxins (including ultraviolet light, radiation, cigarette smoke, and air pollution) can also increase the number of these damaging particles. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals and may reduce or even help prevent some of the damage they cause over time.

Ingredients

4 servings

• 6 roma (plum) tomatoes, quartered lengthwise
• 1 to 3 garlic, peeled and minced (or sliced)
• 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, cut into thin strips
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 1/2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 2 ounces tomato-basil feta cheese, crumbled

Directions

1. In a large bowl, toss together tomatoes, garlic, basil, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and feta cheese. Chill in the refrigerator for 10 minutes before serving.

From Body&Soul

Chocolate Anti-aging Face Mask

Healthy Skin is So Sweet

Chocolate is one of beauty's tastiest secrets.
by Michelle Gibeault Traub, R.D.

Chocolate's antioxidants are powerful in fighting the environmental stressors that impact the skin and lead to aging. By eating foods that are rich in flavanoids, you arm your skin with natural defenses that help to maintain collagen and reduce sun damage.¹ A small German study even showed that subjects given a high flavanol cocoa product had improved skin texture, along with increased skin density, thickness, and hydration.² Eating chocolate works its magic from the inside out, but applying it to the skin appears to be beneficial too.

Ingredients:

2 Tablespoons of Cocoa
2 Tablespoons of Plain Yogurt
1 Tablespoon of Honey
3 Tablespoons of Oatmeal Powder

Mix all the ingredients and apply on the face, gently massaging it so that the oatmeal can start exfoliating the dead skin cell layer, leave mask on for about 20 minutes and rinse off with luke warm water.

TIP: you've heard the adage "Never cook with wine you wouldn't drink." This holds equally true for home spa remedies. Never use ingredients for your home spa treatments that you wouldn't want to eat. Your skin, the largest organ on your body, breathes and is porous. It will absorb the properties of the ingredients you are using. Don't "clean out the fridge or pantry" to create your home skincare remedies. Use fresh, high quality ingredients for the best results, and do not store the treatment longer than the shelf life of the most perishable ingredient.

DIY Facial

Rare is the occasion when your skin doesn't appreciate a little extra attention. The time is always right for a soothing and moisturizing facial. An at-home treatment designed by a leading holistic skin-care expert offers the perfect recipe for a healthy glow -- and inner calm. "Working with fresh, lush ingredients is, in itself, therapeutic," explains Susan West Kurz, author of "Awakening Beauty the Dr. Hauschka Way." "The tactile pleasure of creating treatments in your own kitchen is a wonderful antidote to stress." Read on for her favorite fix.

What You'll Need
Organic lavender essential oil
Cotton washcloth (use organic cotton when possible)
Organic almond butter
Skin toner (try Avalon Organics' Lavender Hydrating Toner or Dr. Hauschka's Facial Toner)
Choose one: honey, organic strawberry yogurt, or organic avocado

Facial How-To
1. Pre-cleanse.
After thoroughly removing any makeup and rinsing your face, fill a sink with warm water. Add two to three drops of lavender oil and stir with your hand. Soak the washcloth in the lavender water, then wring it out and gently press it against your face and neck for 30 seconds.

2. Cleanse.
Put one teaspoon of almond butter and a few drops of lavender water in your palm; rub your hands together to create a paste. Apply to skin using a "press and roll" method, which helps remove dead cells, dirt, and oil: Press your palms against your forehead and roll them outward. Moving down your face and neck, continue the motion until you reach your collarbones. Return to massaging your forehead, and repeat the process for one to three minutes.

3. Rinse and Tone.
Use another washcloth soaked in lavender water to remove the almond cleansing cream from your face. Rinse with cool water and apply toner.

4. Apply a mask.
Choose one of the following masks, depending on your skin's needs:

- To Moisturize Dry Skin
Half of a mashed organic avocado

- To Brighten Dull Complexions
Organic strawberry yogurt

- To Rid Pores of Impurities
Honey

Apply a thin layer to your face and relax for 20 minutes. Then remove the mask with a warm, wet cloth, and rinse with warm water. Pat dry with a clean towel.

Text by Abbie Kozolchyk

Cucumber Cups - Super easy and Super Healthy

Hors d'oeuvres needn't be complicated. This refreshing appetizer, for example, doesn't require any cooking: Cucumbers are simply washed, cut, and hollowed out, then filled with low-fat cottage cheese and topped with clover sprouts.

Ingredients

Makes 48

• 2 seedless cucumbers (each 9 1/2 inches long), washed
• 1/2 cup low-fat cottage cheese
• FOR THE GARNISH
• Clover sprouts

Directions

1. Slice cucumbers in half lengthwise; trim ends. Cut each half into 3/4-inch pieces.
2. Scoop out the center of each piece of cucumber with a melon baller, and fill with about 1/2 teaspoon cottage cheese. Garnish with clover sprouts, and serve.

A Healthy Snack Recipe

A combination of yogurt, papaya, blackberries, raspberries, mint and granola, this snack (or dessert) only has 164 calories and 1 gram of fat.

Mood Mists

Oil and water may not mix, but in the case of essential oils, they form a divine -- and useful -- combination. Extracted from leaves, fruit peels, petals, and other plant parts, essential oils capture nature's subtle fragrances and can even balance your mood, aromatherapists say.

Some, like peppermint and eucalyptus, are believed to be stimulating and uplifting; others, like lavender and frankincense, are considered relaxing and centering. These mists are the simplest way to experience aromatherapy for yourself. Spray the air around you, mist your hair and skin, or spritz them on linens to leave a light scent. (They won't stain.) Whether you're stressed or sluggish, one of these mists will suit your mood.

Ingredients
The Pick-Me-Up
1 drop eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus)
2 drops geranium (Pelargonium graveolens)
3 drops peppermint (Mentha piperita)

The Calm-Me-Down
2 drops bergamot (Citrus bergamia)
1 drop frankincense (Boswellia carteri)
3 drops lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)

To Make the Sprays
1. Fill a clean, dry mini spray bottle with 4 ounces of pure distilled water.
2. Using a dropper, carefully put the selected blend of essential oils directly into the spray bottle.
3. Tightly close the bottle and shake vigorously to combine. Be sure to shake it before each use, as the water and essential oils tend to separate.

Text by Donna Garlough; photograph by Rita Maas

Vitamin-Packed Recipe - Moroccan Carrot Salad

Completely unprocessed and unrefined, whole fruits and vegetables offer vitamins in a form your body uses best. In fact, no supplement manufacturer has been able to replicate the way nature's bounty preserves and delivers these nutrients. Here are 20 recipes that are packed with vitamins A, B, C, D, E, and K. The best part: They're delicious too.

Carrots can do more than help eyesight. They are a key distributor of vitamin A, which plays an important role in our ability to guard against colds and flus -- and possibly helps to prevent cancer.

• 1/4 cup shelled pistachios
• Coarse salt and ground pepper
• 1 1/2 pounds carrots, peeled, halved lengthwise, and cut into 2-inch pieces (halve pieces again if thick)
• 1/4 cup raisins
• 3 tablespoons lemon juice (from 1 lemon)
• 2 garlic cloves, mashed to a paste
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spread pistachios on a rimmed baking sheet; toast in oven until fragrant, 8 to 10 minutes. Let cool; coarsely chop.
2. In a large saucepan of boiling salted water, cook carrots until crisp-tender, 5 to 7 minutes, adding raisins during last minute of cooking. Drain in a colander; rinse under cold water until cool.
3. In a medium bowl, whisk together lemon juice, garlic, cumin, paprika, cinnamon, and cayenne; season with salt and pepper. Whisking constantly, slowly add olive oil.
4. Add carrots, pistachios, and cilantro to dressing; toss to combine.

From Body & Soul

3 Times a Week Banana Anti-Aging Mask

This excerpt is from Anti-Wrinkle Treatments for Perfect Skin, by Pierre Jean Cousin.

Bananas are one of the most nourishing fruits available because they contain large quantities of magnesium, potassium, iron, zinc, iodine, and vitamins A, B (folic acid), E, and F.

Here they are teamed with heavy cream (traditionally used to prevent wrinkles) and organic honey in a recipe crammed full of nutrients.

INGREDIENTS
1 small banana
2 tablespoons fresh heavy cream
1 tablespoon organic honey
1 tablespoon oat flour
Bottled or spring water
Rose hydrosol (see “Note,” below, about hydrosols.

METHOD
Mash the banana, using the back of a fork, and then add cream, honey, and flour. Stir to mix well. You may need to add a little more cream or flour to obtain the consistency of thick cream of yogurt.

Apply mask to the clean face, including the area around the eyes and the neck, and leave on for 30 minutes. Rinse off with bottled or spring water and cotton pads, and dab on a little rose hydrosol, allowing to dry naturally.

Effect: nourishes
Skin types: dry, aging
Frequency of use: 3 times a week
Shelf life: 6 hours in refrigerator
Preparation time: 5 minutes
Treatment time: 30 minutes

Note about hydrosols: Also known as floral waters (but not flower waters), hydrosols are a byproduct of steam distillation, created while extracting essential oil. Hydrosols have properties similar to those of their related essential oils, although inevitably in a less concentrated form, but they are enriched with various water-soluble active ingredients. Their gentleness makes them an excellent way to tone, hydrate, and rebalance the pH of the skin, so they are frequently recommended as final cleansers/toners after cleansing or nourishing masks.

Olive Oil to Fight Aging - Tomato-Paprika Salad Dressing

Rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory monounsaturated fat, olive oil figures prominently in the Mediterranean diet. It may explain the lower rates of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and age-related cognitive decline in people who follow this way of eating.

Tomato-Paprika Salad Dressing

Spice up the traditional tomato and mozzarella salad with this antioxidant-rich dressing, or use it as a light sauce for firm white fish, grilled chicken breast, or pork chops.

Prep: 15 minutes
Total: 15 minutes

Makes 1 1/2 cups

• 3/4 pound plum or other ripe tomatoes
• 3 tablespoons red-wine vinegar
• 1 to 2 teaspoons light-brown sugar
• 1 small clove garlic, roughly chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon mild paprika
• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• Coarse salt and ground pepper

Directions

1. With a paring knife, cut a shallow x in the bottom of the tomatoes. Bring a medium saucepan of water to a boil. Add tomatoes and boil 30 seconds. Using a slotted spoon, transfer tomatoes to a bowl. When cool enough to handle, peel and discard their skin. Cut tomatoes into quarters lengthwise. Using your fingers, discard seeds. Transfer tomatoes to a blender.
2. Add vinegar, sugar, garlic, and paprika and puree until smooth. Remove the center cap, and with the motor running, add oil in a steady stream, blending well. Season with salt and pepper.

From Body+Soul