Lemon Ginger Natural Body Scrub

8 May

For years, I have tried as much as I can to make presents rather than buying presents.

At first, it had to do with being able to give away many presents for a fraction of the cost of store-bought presents. But in reality, I just get a lot of personal satisfaction when the person receiving the present is positively impressed because I took the time to MAKE IT just for them, instead of buying something.

A lot more thought needs to go into making something… Among the presents I have made in the past are my Cranberry Preserves, Brown Rice Krispies Treats, Carob Granola, Rosemary Almonds, these Cherry Carob Cookies, Tomato Bruschetta Mix, Soy Picadillo and even Coquito for the holidays.

This year, for Mother’s Day, I decided I wanted to make something different… something that was delicious, indulgent, but not necessarily to eat. My mom and I love bath salts and anything to slather all over and smells good. So it occurred to me I could easily make a homemade mixture of salt scrub…

LEMON GINGER NATURAL BODY SCRUB

Coarse Sea Salt
Bath Oil, unscented preferably (almond or sesame oils are good choices…)
the rind of about 4 lemons, cut into small pieces
2 inches of ginger root, peeled and cut into small pieces
A plastic jar with tight fitting lid – I used a 16oz recycled jar of peanut butter…
  1. I filled the jar with sea salts about ¾ of the way… that was my measure for the 16oz jar. Pour it out onto a large bowl where you will mix in the rest of the ingredients.
  2. Then, measure in the same jar, about 1/3 of the way with body oil. Pour it onto the salt in the large bowl you have set up.
  3. In a food processor or a Magic Bullet, process the pieces of lemon rind and ginger root. Pour them into the same bowl with the salt and oil. Mix the salt/oil/lemon/ginger mixture well using a large metal spoon, preferably that can fit inside the mouth of the jar.
  4. After the mixture seems all integrated, transfer carefully into the jar you’ll use to store it finally. Leave for a few days so the oil and salts infuse well with the scent of the lemon and ginger.

Use it liberally in the shower to slough your skin to leave it super smooth and radiant.

My Mom will receive this TODAY for Mother’s Day… And my sister, on her first Mother’s Day, is also receiving one… but a little belated, because I wasn’t able to ship it out in time.

And to all of you MOMs out there… May all your days be filled with LOVE… MUA!!!

Cottage Cheese Tortilla Dip

5 May

I am eating this dip as I am writing this post…

Today is 5 de Mayo and everyone has their craving for something Mexican. I have been so busy lately that I haven’t had the chance to cook anything new. My days are filled with boiled potatoes mashed with olive oil and sandwiches. Munchies are the order of the day… and today I have munchies for tortilla chips. But, with what???

This is my new go-to no fuss dip for tortilla chips… When I am by myself at home and want just something to much on with chips, my friends gravitate towards the salsa, but I am more of a cheesy girl 😉 I usually go for sour cream to dunk my chips, but one day I was out of sour cream and all I had that resembled something creamy was COTTAGE CHEESE. Yes indeed…

To me, white tortilla chips dunked in cottage cheese are delicious, creamy… and it may not be all that Mexican, but it’s my way to celebrate 5 de Mayo with all of you.

COTTAGE CHEESE TORTILLA DIP – Serves 1

½ cup of cottage cheese
A squirt of lime juice (optional)
Your preferred tortilla chips…

I don’t even know why I include instructions for this because they’re really none…

  1. Just place the cottage cheese in a small pretty bowl and mix in the lime juice, if using.
  2. Dunk the chips in the cheese and enjoy…

I do not feel this needs any salt because the tortilla chips I buy are already salty, but if you are making your own tortilla chips and want to add a bit more salt, go ahead.

Pineapple Celery Juice

4 May

I am into natural remedies and treatments… and lately I have not been feeling like my usual self and I have sought the help of my natural doctor. He’s an iridologist and as part of his latest treatment, he recommended me to drink 8oz of Pineapple Celery Juice daily…

I know it sounds weird… I know!! But do not shoot it down until you try it. Really…

PINEAPPLE CELERY JUICE

1 fresh pineapple, peeled and cut into long pieces
1 bunch of organic celery stalks
16oz of water
  1. Using a juicer… (my mom lent me her Jack Lalane’s Juicer) just process the pieces of pineapple and celery.
  2. Mix in the water to dilute the mixture.
  3. Place in a bottle and chill well in the refrigerator before serving.

I usually get 16oz of pineapple and 16oz of celery for a total 32oz of extract/concentrated juice.  Add the water to dilute a bit… 

What is this juice good for?? Good question… I do not question my natural doctor on what his treatments recommendations are for specifically as natural medicine has a very holistic/total wellness approach. But the flavors are certainly delicious and unique… Drink up!!

La Placita de Plaza

30 Apr

If you live in or near San Juan, this weekend you can enjoy visiting a real modern Plaza de Mercado, La Placita de Plaza… It’s inside Plaza las Américas, with all the comforts of Plaza – air conditioning, easy parking, plus the advantages of trying and sponsoring small local business owners selling their goods and produce.  It’s usually the LAST WEEKEND of every month…

I went with Annie Mariel a few months ago and it was just lovely.

We enjoyed it very much. You can find a great variety of goods such as…

Artisanal Pique – our very own answer to Hot sauce… We must ask Annie Mariel how good this one is because she bought a few bottles herself.  I am not a pique lover, we have already established I am a pepper/spiciness wimp, no??

 

Local Candy like Dulce de Coco, these are made with goat’s milk… 

Natural Remedies like Alcoholado, perfect for a good rub when your body aches…

Loose Tea Mixes… this one has Jamaica, or Hibiscus… we call it locally AMAPOLA too

And every local fruit and vegetable in season

Even ornamental plants and orchids…

 

La Placita de Plaza is a really great idea from Plaza las Américas and the Department of Agriculture to add variety and a sense of local flair to our fanciest San Juan Mall…

SCLT Sandwich

25 Apr

This is grilled cheese sandwich to the MAX… or Panini, however you want to call it.

Trying to capture the flavors and essence of the BLT in a vegetarian, pressed form, I substituted Smoked Cheddar cheese for the Bacon. I learned that melting smoked cheddar cheese in the oven would taste just like bacon. I have not tried it the way dmcavanagh suggested in this thread, but let me tell you, this combination really works.

SCLT SANDWICH

2 ounces of smoked cheddar cheese
About 2 ounces of cream cheese
1 tbs of butter
A handful of arugula lettuce
3-4 tomato slices
Multi-Grain demi baguette
  1. In a food processor or a Magic Bullet… mix together the cheeses, butter and arugula. Mix together until it becomes a puree.
  2. Slather the cheese puree onto both sides of the bread. Layer the tomato slices in the bottom half and top with the other bread half.
  3. Press in a Panini press or a George Foreman grill for about 5 minutes until the cheese is melted.

I hope you enjoy this sandwich as much as I do…