Salad With Quinoa, Spinach and Eggs

This salad is very tasty, easy to make and healthy. To prepare it you can experiment and substitute the spinach with kale or arugula. You can also add fresh herbs. There are so many possibilities with this salad if you want to enjoy different tastes.

TIME: 25 minutes

Servings: 2

Ingredients:
½ cup quinoa
1 cup water
2 cups baby spinach
2 eggs, hard-cooked
6–8 cherry tomatoes
2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
¼ cup vinegar
¼ tsp salt
¼ tsp black pepper, grounded

Preparation:
Combine ½ cup quinoa with 1 cup of water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil. Than reduce heat to low and simmer around 15 minutes until quinoa is tender and the water is absorbed. For 5 minutes set aside, covered. With a fork, transfer the quinoa to a bowl. Refrigerate until cold but if you don’t want to wait a warm salad is also very tasty.

Slowly whisk the oil, vinegar, salt and pepper together in a small bowl until thoroughly combined. Then to the quinoa add the halved cherry tomatoes and spinach. Pull the dressing over the salad and toss. Cut the eggs into quarters and top the salad with the eggs. Divide the salad in two plates and serve.

Green Asparagus and White Bean Salad

This is one simple and healthy salad with white beans, green asparagus and red grape tomatoes.

Time: 15 minutes

Servings: 2

Ingredients:
1 can white beans, rinsed and drained
12–16 spears of green asparagus, trimmed
5 grape tomatoes (halved)
¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
2 chopped scallions
1 tsp. mustard
1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
¼ cup white balsamic vinegar
¼ tsp. ground black pepper
¼ tsp. sea salt

Preparation:
Using a vegetable peeler remove the tough ends from the asparagus and cut into thirds. Place water in the bottom half of a steamer pan. Than put the asparagus in the top half of the steamer pan set. Steam for 5 to 10 minutes, or until asparagus is tender. Be careful not to overcook, because it will become mushy and will lose its bright flavor. Cool the spears under cold running water.
In a bowl mix together the asparagus, white beans, halved tomatoes, parsley and scallions.
To prepare the dressing, in a small bowl add mustard, white balsamic vinegar, extra-virgin olive oil, salt and pepper and stir well.

Tomato, Spinach and Basil Frittata

Frittata is an egg-based Italian dish similar to an omelette. In a frittata all of the ingredients are mixed together with the eggs, and then the mixture is poured into a skillet pan. The frittata’s bottom is cooked on the stovetop, and then the pan is put into the oven.

Time: 15 minutes

Servings: 4

Ingredients:
6 eggs
2 egg whites
2 tomatoes
4 ounces fresh baby spinach (remove stems)
1 tbsp. fresh basil
½ cup onion
½ tsp. extra-virgin olive oil
¼ tsp. sea salt
¼ tsp. ground black pepper

Preparation:
– Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
– In a bowl, mix together the eggs and egg whites.
– Chop tomatoes, spinach and onions and fold them in.
– Stir in the basil, salt, and the pepper.
– Coat a ovenproof, nonstick skillet pan with the olive oil and heat the skillet over medium heat.
– Pour the egg mixture into the skillet and cook for 1 minute, or until the eggs start to set.
– Transfer the pan into the oven and bake for 4 to 5 minutes (until the top is golden and puffy)
– Remove the frittata from the oven and let it chill for a couple of minutes before cutting.

Natural Remedies to Get Rid of Blackheads

Blackheads are a common skin problem which is caused by the clogging of hair follicles on the nose and face. They are a form of acne caused by oxidation and its dark appearance can be very unsightly. But the fact is that unlike acne, blackheads are easy to treat. You don’t have to worry about using expensive chemical formulas and creams to remove blackheads from your nose and face. There are some simple natural remedies which you can use to get rid of blackheads easily. Let’s take a look.

Baking soda

Baking soda has antiseptic properties and it can work effectively to treat blackheads and remove impurities from the skin. To use this natural remedy, you can combine two teaspoons of baking soda with water and create a thick paste. Apply the mask on the face and allow it to dry. Wash with cold water and pat dry. Repeat the remedy two times a week.

Tomato

Tomatoes also have antiseptic properties that can help de-clog pores and remove blackheads from the face and nose. You can mash tomatoes and use the peel and juice as a facial treatment. Concentrate on the affected areas and if possible, leave on overnight and wash your face in the morning. Read more

10 Tips for Getting Rid Of Dark Circles

Dark circles can be a part of the aging process or they can be hereditary. They can also be caused by stress and a number of other environmental factors. Regardless of the type of skin you have or the color of your skin, dark circles is a problem that can affect anyone. They are a common problem and they can actually make you look much older than you are. The skin around the eyes does not have oil glands and because the skin is very delicate around this area, it is important to give them extra care and attention. In this post, we will look at 10 effective tips for getting rid of dark circles.

1. Sleep well

Getting lots of sleep (at least 8 hours a day) will help you wake up fresh in the morning without circles under the eyes. Sleeping well also means less stress and less puffiness under the eyes.

2. Almond oil

Almond oil is beneficial for the delicate skin around the eyes. Using almond oil on the skin around the eye area can help fade dark circles.

3. Cucumber

Cucumber is an ingredient that has properties to lighten skin and therefore they can be used to get rid of under eye circles naturally. Keeping cool cucumber slices on the affected area for ten minutes twice daily can help fight the problem of dark circles. Read more

10 Foods That Make You Look Younger

You can’t really stop the clock, but did you know that you can take small steps to stay healthier and look younger for years to come. If you understand that smoking and too much sun exposure can cause premature aging, then you must also understand that your diet plays a major role in aging. What you eat affects how you look so let’s take a look at the top 10 foods that make you look younger.

Blueberries

This brain boosting food contains high levels of flavonoid which improves memory. Adding a handful of blueberries to your breakfast cereal or oatmeal can help you maintain your youthful glow for years.

Red Grapes

Did you ever hear that red wine can help you have healthy and clearer skin? This is true and it can be attributed to the fact that red wine contains grapes. Drinking a glass of red wine or eating a handful of these fruit regularly can also protect your skin from damage caused by UV radiation from the sun. This fruit is beneficial for the skin and your overall health. Read more

10 Best Foods for Brain Health

Eating well is not only good for your physical health, but your mental health as well. Just like other organs in your body such as lungs, heart and muscles, your brain also needs nutrients. There are many foods which can improve memory and support healthy cognitive function. So if you want to keep your grey matter happy and healthy, given below are the ten best foods that you should start including in your diet.

1. Blueberries

These tasty fruits can reduce the effects of Alzheimer’s and other age related conditions. They can also protect your brain from oxidative stress. In addition, including blueberries in the diet can improve motor skills and learning capacity.

2. Seeds and Nuts

Whether it is flax seeds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, hazelnuts, cashews, almonds or walnuts, seeds and nuts provide Vitamin E which boosts memory and prevents cognitive decline as you age. Read more

8 Foods You Should Not Refrigerate

Your grocery shopping for the month has been done and now your fridge is overflowing with all the foods that you think should go in there. On some foods, you can see labels that say “refrigerate after opening”, but on foods without such labels it is pure assumption that they should be kept in the fridge. While it does make sense that tomatoes will stay fresh longer if they are refrigerated, did you know that refrigerating such foods can alter their flavor and even reduce their nutritional value?

Some foods that you thought would be better in your fridge are actually best kept at room temperature. Continue reading to find out which 8 foods you should not refrigerate.

Tomatoes

The first on the list is of course tomatoes. Keeping tomatoes in the fridge makes them mushy and it also promote cell break down. The cold temperature also breaks down acids and sugars in the tomato causing them to lose their beautiful flavor. You should keep tomatoes at room temperature, away from direct sunlight. Read more