Love apples are a great dessert recipe and an inspiring gift for the ones you love. They are very easy to prepare and a delicious choice when you have a sweet tooth; especially when fruits are exactly what you need for your health and good tonus.
You’ll need:
* 4 apples
* 4 wood sticks
* 1 and 1/2 cup lump sugar
* 1/4 cup water
* 1 teaspoon food color (red)
* 1 teaspoon vanilla essence
* 1 teaspoon apple vinegar
* 3-4 tablespoons granulated sugar
Wash the apples and dry them in a towel. In every apple push a wood stick on the stalk spot.
Spread the granulated sugar on a dinner plate.
Mix the lump sugar, water, food color, vanilla essence and vinegar in a pot and bring to boil. When the temperature of the composition reach 300 ÌŠF, remove the pot from the oven and place it in a pot filled with cold water.
Sink the apples in the sugar composition one by one, until every one of them has a thick coat of glaze.
Place the apples on the granulated sugar plate with the wood sticks upward and leave them until they’re dried and cooled.
Special tips:
* If you want to offer love apples as a gift, wrap them in cellophane foil and tie them with colorful strings and ribbons.
* Love apples can make a great and unique Valentine’s Day gift as well. Place the apples in an occasion metal box and cover them in waxed paper.
* The glazed fruits are very sensitive at heat. It is best to be kept in a cool room or refrigerated.
What happens when you wake up one morning and your hair is a mess and its oomph is gone? I know, you want to break the mirror, but it would be seven years of bad luck and you won’t allow that to happen. So, here is what you can do instead.
* If you want to fight back that attack of the frizz, the best way to do that is to use a frizz-fighting balm. Put a small amount into your palm and smooth over the annoying fuzziness. It’s a good idea to carry it in your bag so you can use it when needed.
* Do you have dark roots? Try a zig zag parting of the hair to distract from your dark roots. Spraying some hair powder in blondish is another good idea. If these ideas don’t work for you, try a stylish hat as a momentary solution.
* Do you think that your blond hair is brassy and discolored? Squeeze some tomato juice or ketchup on your hair. Really! Massage it on your dry hair and leave it for at least 10 minutes then wash out. It will tone down the green.
* Is your hair static? Glide a big powder brush misted with hairspray over static hair. It will work perfectly at taming your hair and your style will be back.
* For hair-dye stains use tan-removing wipes to clean the stained area and get rid of the dye. In the future remember to apply a little moisturizing or Vaseline over the tips of your ears and around your hairline to prevent the dye staining.
* Too short blunt fringe? Just ask your stylist to make some tiny vertical snips in it. This will make it easier to wear.
* If your hair is deflated blow-dry, just spray a little mist of water all over it. This will reactivate it and it will give back its oomph.
These easy steps will make your hair look better and wake up your style for a wonderful spring season.
This soufflé recipe is a light meal and can always accompany your steak or sausage. If you don’t fancy it as garnish, you can always serve it as entree with other such types. It is an easy recipe to prepare and you’ll be surprised at the end with a great taste that will delight your gustative papillae.
Ingredients:
* 2 small cauliflowers
* 1/2 lb fat free sour cream
* 4 eggs
* 1 cup finely shredded cheddar cheese
* 2 tablespoons parmesan
* 1 tablespoon olive oil
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* a pinch of black pepper
* a pinch of fresh cut dill
Cut the cauliflowers into little bouquets and wash them. In the meantime, in a medium pot boil 2 cups of water mixed with a teaspoon of sea salt.
When the water is boiling, sink the cauliflower bouquets for 10 minutes. Then drain the water and let the cauliflower cool on a large plate.
When the cauliflower is cool enough, cut it in smaller pieces and put them in a large bowl. Stir in the sour cream, eggs, salt, pepper, dill and the cheddar cheese. Mix all together.
In an oven safe tray or pot add one tablespoon olive oil and grease it. Spread some bread crumbs on the greased surface and add the mixed composition.
Heat the oven to 375 ̊ F. Sprinkle some parmesan on the top of the soufflé and put it in the oven. Cook it for 35-40 minutes or until it turns golden-brown. Let it cool 10 minutes before serving.
Enjoy it warm as garnish or cold as entree with sour cream on top. A glass of Chardonnay or Pinot Noir will match perfectly.
Special tips:
* If you’re not a big cauliflower fan you can change it with broccoli and proceed the same way. If you don’t like broccoli either, you really have a problem 
* This soufflé recipe is a great meal for weight loss diets, but be careful with the sour cream and cheese. Choose fat free ingredients.
 
If you’re feeling that your imagination regarding Easter dessert menu is not giving you the best ideas ever, here is what you might want to try. This cookies recipe is easy to prepare and could be a great treat for your family, friends and kids on Easter Day.
You’ll need:
*2 cups all-purpose flour
*8 ounces semi-sweet chocolate morsels
*4-5 eggs
*1 cup granulated sugar
*1 teaspoon orange extract
*1 teaspoon vanilla extract
*1 tablespoon orange peel
*1 cup unsalted melted butter
*powdered sugar
*oval or egg-shaped madeleine baking pans
Combine flour and 1 cup morsels in a medium bowl. Beat eggs in a large mixer bowl. Add the granulated sugar, orange peel, vanilla and orange extract. Add flour mixture and butter alternately into egg mixture, beginning and ending with the flour mixture.
Preheat oven to 350 ÌŠF. Grease and flour the madeleine baking pans.
With a tablespoon pour the batter into each prepared mold. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Let them cool in pans for 2 minutes then with the tip of a knife release onto wire racks. While still warm, sprinkle the cookies very lightly with powdered sugar and let them cool completely.
Wash the pans and repeat the action with the remaining batter.
Microwave the remaining morsels until smooth. Cut a small hole in corner of a plastic food storage bag, pour inside the smooth chocolate paste and squeeze to drizzle over egg-shaped cookies.
Allow chocolate to cool before serving. Enjoy it!
With the spring arrival your make-up needs a special attention too. But you won’t need a make-up artist to tell you what is the best way to fix little beauty emergencies and to give your pretty face the perfect look back. It’s all about the little secrets and here they are.
* Do you think that you have too much blusher? Dust some translucent powder over your cheeks to tone it down. Don’t use make-up remover, it will make a mess of your foundation.
* Got those dark circles and puffy eyes in the morning? Put some cold, used tea bags over your eyes for one minute. They will be deflated rapidly. Then use a concealer in a lighter tone than the one of your skin.
* Got a foundation meltdown? Make it last longer by using a primer underneath. It will be like an invisible protection between your skin and the foundation.
* Do you have dried-out mascara? Just sink it in a cup of hot water for a few minutes. You’ll get back your mascara without those annoying dried bits and you’ll be able to give your eyes that dramatic oversized lash look.
* Do you think that your make-up is smudged? Use cleansing buds for a quick fix. They contain eye make-up remover that will get rid of smudges and your face will regain its sparkling beauty.
* Did your eye-shadow color fade by the end of the day? You can always keep it handy for touch-ups or use a long-lasting shadow that will last all day. You want your make-up to survive the day, don’t you?
With these simple steps you’ll be able to overcome those annoying moments and give your face the perfect look. Have a wonderful spring season!
It’s not that I didn’t expect it; it’s just that I wasn’t prepared for the spring arrival yet. I mean, I could still feel the icy breathing of winter running through my veins. But it happened unexpectedly one morning when I managed to reveal my nose from the blanket, sniff an interesting fresh air and realize that the nature has changed over the night. I concentrated for a while to be perfectly sure it’s not just my crazy imagination. No, it was official, the spring arrived. The birds were back from far-away territories and they were happiest and noisiest than ever. I could actually hear them arguing, singing, chirping, yelling in so many tonalities and amazing small voices that it made me happy instantly. It was time to get rid of the winter clothes and become a butterfly. When I stepped outside I was wrapped in thousands of scents: fresh grass, bloomy tries, daffodils, tulips and oh… so many more. I could actually hear Vivaldi in my mind. It was the first day of spring; well not exactly… it was the first day of spring for me.
I revealed my new smile because it was the beginning of a new young season full of interesting and fresh ideas. I was finally ready! Spring took me by surprise, the impact was strong and wonderful and I was ready to meet its expectations.
(to be continued)
Believe it or not, small and simple changes like these can help you lose weight, improve, prolong life and have a positive impact on your health. You’ll discover the surprisingly easy tips for a total health makeover in the following lines.
You’ll need:
*desire to live, feel and look great
Studies found that persons who eat yogurt daily lose more body fat than those who don’t eat any. The calcium from yogurt helps you burn fat stored on your belly and thighs. So, indulge yourself and eat your daily yogurt!
If you are a wine lover, find out that the red wine from Chile gives you a bigger percent of cancer-fighting flavonols than any other red wine. So, it’s time to savor a Chilean red wine that matches perfectly your tasty dinner.
You want to sleep like a baby again? Try Valerian! It’s very easy to find in any health store near you and it’s clinically proven to work for eight of ten people. It’s very important to get a good night sleep. So, if you have insomnia problems, try Valerian supplements and your problem will be solved.
Choose tuna for lunch instead of ham. This way you’ll reduce the risk of getting heart diseases.
Exercise a little every day. Make time for it! It’s very important for your health and body tonus. Pilates training is ideal because it works all of your body muscles. Try jogging, cycling, swimming, walking your dog or any other form of exercise you love.
Worry less! That voice of insecurity whispering in your ear, fight back and win! If you experience stress (who doesn’t nowadays?) try to reduce caffeine and other stimulants, alcohol, noise and consider quitting smoking, in case you still have that habit.
Eat dark chocolate instead of any other because contains a lot of antioxidants. This will be perfect for chocolate lovers.
Get back in shape at last! Instead of three meals a day, try eating more easy meals and healthy snacks. Eat every two, three hours and don’t let yourself get hungry. Hydrate a lot by drinking water and other healthy liquids.
Elevate your sex life! There’s nothing wrong with adding a little adventure and fun to spice up your love life. Consider a striptease, talking about your favorite sexual fantasies, making out like teenagers; these are only some ideas that might bring back the flame. Have fun together, you and your partner, because fun is the best aphrodisiac ever existed.
Even Valentine’s Day is gone, you don’t need special days to surprise your family with a great, funny and tasty breakfast. The heart-shaped muffins are very easy to prepare and you can make it your weekend’s breakfast fun, especially if you have children around; they will love to help you with the cooking activity. This recipe also gives you endless possibilities; you can always improvise and get inspired by adding your favorite spices, fruits and nuts.
You’ll need:
* 2 cups all-purpose flour
* 1/2 cup granulated sugar
* 1/4 cup brown sugar
* 2 and ½ teaspoons baking powder
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 3/4 cup milk
* 2 eggs
* 1/4 cup melted butter
* 1/2 teaspoon grated lemon or orange peel
* 1 cup ground pecans or walnuts
* 1 and ½ fresh blueberries
* heart-shaped muffin cups (oven safe)
Preheat oven to 350-375 ÌŠF. Grease the muffin cups and add a little flour on the bottom of the form.
Combine flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, baking powder and salt in a large bowl. Add the milk, the lightly beaten eggs, butter, and lemon or orange peel.
Stir in pecans or walnuts and blueberries. Mix all together.
Spoon into prepared muffin heart-shaped cups, filling almost full.
Bake for 30-35 minutes or until you insert a wooden pick in the center of the muffin and comes out clean.
Let them cool in pans for 5 minutes and then remove and allow cooling slightly.
Enjoy them with a hot cup of café latté or hot chocolate. They can be also a great evening snack accompanied by a glass of milk.
Special tips:
You can use all kinds of berries. If you cannot find them fresh, you can always use frozen berries.
You can add toppings if you want to make your muffins look even better.
If you don’t like berries, you may consider dried, dehydrated fruits.
This recipe that I’m about to share with you it’s one of the best main dishes. Even if you haven’t heard of it before, I strongly recommend trying it. It takes a little more time to prepare it, but at the end you will be rewarded with a great taste. This winter season’s recipe can add that little something that you were looking for and, even more, originality to your weekend special dinner. I’ve got your attention already? Good! Here are the ingredients and the steps to be followed.
You’ll need:
- 3 cabbages
- 1 red bell pepper
- 1 onion
- 2 lb pork loin top roast boneless
- 3-4 tomatoes
- 2-3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 bunch fresh dill
- 1 and 1/2 teaspoon blend pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper
- 2 tablespoon salt
- 2 cups of water
- 1 cup oil
Wash the red bell pepper, peel the onion and cut them into little pieces. Add 1/2 cup of oil into a frying pan and add the onion and the red pepper. Cook them for about 10 minutes or until the onion become a little yellow. Remove the pan from the heat.
In the meanwhile, cut the cabbages in quarters and then every quarter into tiny pieces. Be careful to not cut the cabbage stalk as well, remove that. Add 1/2 tablespoon salt and mix it with the cabbage. Add 1/2 cup of oil in a pot and add the cabbage. Cook it until the cabbage turns a little yellow, stirring occasionally.
Cut the pork loin into squared pieces and stir it in the cabbage pot. Add 1/2 tablespoon of salt, the blend pepper and 2 cups of water. Cover it and cook it for half an hour, stirring occasionally.
Add the red pepper, the onion and mix all together. Cook it for 5 more minutes.
Meanwhile, clean the fresh dill and cut it small. Peel the tomatoes, cut them in little pieces and put them in a saucepan. Add the tomato paste and 1/2 tablespoon salt.
Bring the mixed cabbage, meat and vegetables in an oven pot. Add the tomatoes, the dill and mix them all together. Cover the pot with aluminum foil. Heat the oven at 350 F and cook all for about 45 minutes. Take the pot out of the oven and remove the aluminum foil. Put the pot back in the oven for another 15 minutes.
Dinner is ready! This cabbage, meat and vegetables recipe match perfectly with polenta, 2 tablespoons of sour cream and red hot peppers. Enjoy it with your guests and complete it with a glass of Pinot Noir.
Many of us live our lives in a tumultuous way and every day pass by at lightning speed. Sometimes we don’t even realize where the entire week has gone. You find yourself wondering: ‘it seemed like Monday yesterday, but today is already Friday’. Sometimes we are so caught in daily things that we forget to stop for a minute and think about our lives and what exactly we would like to do on right that very moment. Well, you have to decide if you enjoy your life the way it is or you would like to add or change things in your advantage.
You’ll need:
• determination
• inner strength
• perseverance
• optimism
An important step to increase the quality of your life is to activate. This means it’s time for sports in your daily schedule. Either it’s aerobics, Pilates, swimming, boating or jogging; it doesn’t matter as long as it gives you that tonus. You will feel better, sleep better and live better by exercising and it’s never too late to start, but do it today!
The biggest excitement of all is traveling. Nothing compares to discovering new, beautiful and interesting places that look nothing like your home. At least once a year take a trip to remember. If you organize yourself and reserve an excursion in advance, you may find great deals at travel agencies. Every one of us dreams of a great, exotic journey, but sometimes we don’t find the proper time to take it. Don’t post pone it! Traveling enriches you spiritually.
If you’re feeling tired every day, maybe it’s time to change something in your diet. Treat yourself with more fruits and vegetables, and you will feel more energized. Stop refilling your cup with coffee, eat an apple!
Make sure you get a perfect night’s sleep! It’s the time when your body and mind rest to be able to work properly the next day. Air your bedroom every evening before going to sleep; it’s very important to have fresh air in the room. Make sure you feel comfortable when you go to bed, choose cotton pajamas and soft bed clothing.
Spend time with your family and friends, make plans with the ones you love. They make you happy and it’s the best quality time ever. These moments always fulfill your heart and give you the comfort of the sweet home.
Never give up your dream! We all have a special dream and sometimes it’s getting so hard following it. Well, it’s never too late to start believe in that dream again. Keep in mind that nothing is impossible.
Reading a good book is a fascinating experience that gives you boundless possibilities. You can be everyone and live in every period of time. William Styron said that “A good book should leave you… slightly exhausted at the end”. You live several lives while reading it.”
Be happy with yourself and don’t forget to smile! No one likes a frowning person, not even you. I know, sometimes it’s too hard to be all smiles when the situation is not exactly rosy for you, but keep in mind that you might lose your temper with the ones who don’t deserve it!
Be young at any age! It’s very important to keep a young spirit, be childish when you’re needed to, leave yourself being spoiled once in a while, do crazy things like you used to do when you were a kid. It will make you happy!
Love! The most important one! Love gives you all the energy, the power, the joy, the foolishness, the sparkle and the wings you need. When you love, you’re on top of the world. It’s the ultimate sensation and our lives without love would be unproductive and empty.
