Comfort Food: Fried Cauliflower to the rescue!

I've been kind of down lately. And usually when people are down, we don't have the appetite BUT we find comfort in stuffing ourselves in the hopes of filling the gap - whatever that is. I've read somewhere that the best solution to a food craving is to actually give in because if you don't, you'll stuff yourself with things that are somewhat like it (but not it) and end up eating more because you look for the satisfaction that is just not there! And once you're satisfied, you can stop obsessing over it. Done deal. But what if you are craving for a BINGE? Well here's a recipe for you! Fried Cauliflower to the rescue!

What you will need:

Cauliflower

Breading Mix (Enough to coat florets)

1 Egg

What to do:

1. Remove the patch surrounding the cauliflower. 

2. Cut into florets.

3. Beat egg and coat florets.

4. Coat with any store-bought breading mix for chicken.

5. Fry until the stems are soft enough to pick-up using a fork and serve. 

My verdict:


A friend told me about this when she was reminiscing about the college days in her dorm. Her friends used to do this. And what can I say? It's really goooooooooooood!!! A bit salty though because I didn't use a really good breading mix so choose what you will use.

A cup of fried cauliflower is said to have 172 calories and 4 grams of protein according to Spark People. I don't eat a lot of junk food but I know that they probably amount to the same calories as a cup of fried cauliflower. The defining difference is actually in the protein content. When I eat junk food, I end up still hungry after devouring the entire pack. This cauliflower snack is very filling. No empty calories for me! I even ate it with organic red rice. It makes a wonderful viand too.

So the next time, you are craving for comfort in the form of a binge, you might want to think of your health and a beautiful vegetable flower called Cauliflower. 

Ubran Green Chic Vintage Rag Curls

I have never encountered rag curls in my entire life until I came across Making Do with the not so New and the Frugal Things I Do's Rag Curlers entry. And from there, I tried to do it myself. 

What you will need:

Wet Hair

Comb

Rag strips

Shower Cap or a kerchief

I found several great tutorials worth checking out for wonderful rag curls:

Vixen Vintage

A Beautiful Mess Blog

They have awesome pictures!

But if you're like me who is in dire need of a video tutorial, below is Michelle Phan's rag curl tutorial.

As for my neophyte rag curls:

Ha! Not bad! You see my hair is bipolar, the roots to about half of my hair is curly and the other half is wavy but definitely much straighter. I'd love my hair more if it went another way around. But these big curls are something to be in love with. I used to not want my crazy hair but this... I might as well worship it!

I had a hard time at first because my hair is a layered cut so when I curl my hair some bunch of strands fall off.  But these things can definitely be learned! They say you can do this before bed and when you wake up in the morning, all you have to do if release the curls. I wonder if this will work for people who can't stay put while sleeping? I hope it does. I pray it does! Because it's definitely something worth trying (or doing everyday) for healthy and high hair-esteem, lower electric bill, and being urban green chic! 

Baking Soda: Face Mask

I do baking soda on my teeth with my toothpaste once a week, worked it up on my scalp and legs and so this morning I asked myself, why haven't I tried it on my face yet?

Without a moment to lose, I searched the net for the green light to go try it on my face and the green light I found!

Image from: www.newhealthadvisor.com

Apparently, our household baking soda is good for exfoliation plus it's very mild. It is said to even  remove acidic impurities that is usually in our commercial facial scrubs. According to TLC Style, you can add it to your facial wash, thrice a week. Other sites say that it is safe to use as a face mask. So I put them to the test. 

What you will need:

1 tsp. baking soda

Water, enough to make paste

Mix them together and apply to face as you would with a scrub and leave for 10 minutes. 

My verdict:

You know the feeling when you're over-excited and all instructions go down the drain? Well, that happens to me a lot. Thankfully, baking soda is mild. I think I used 1 tbsp. and I placed everything on my face and part of my neck.

I didn't last 10 minutes. I probably made it to 3 minutes tops! I had to wash it off because my face because I felt like my face was getting irritated. I was able to taste a bit of the solution and I tell you, it ain't pretty. I washed off with water and placed toner to close my pores.

Now if it wasn't for my lapse of judgment, I think I might have really enjoyed the process. But who cares when I am really enjoying the results? I am starting to have breakouts because I am days away from my period but after this treat, my breakouts looked smaller and my nose is a lot smoother. There are no medical evidences that baking soda helps alleviate acne but there have been several like me who have seen results. I love that my face is so soft. I should really stop touching it. 

Just remember to follow instructions. You have been warned. 

Mama's Aloe Vera Conditioner

So Aloe Vera is not just for skin! My mom claims that her hair has been divine because of it. And if were you, I would take advantage of her secret.

What you will need:

Aloe Vera Gel (Cut it up and discard skin)

Water

Empty shampoo bottle

1/2 tsp. vinegar

What to do:

Put the Aloe Vera gels in shampoo bottle. Add vinegar and fill with water. 

Usage:

Use as you would with your conditioner. 

Verdict:

I tried it earlier and of course, it didn't disappoint. My hair's moisturized and despite the humidity, it didn't stick out as it usually does. Mothers really do know best. Thank you for sharing this with me, Mama! Advance happy mother's day!

Get your Aloe Vera at Php60-100/seedling. 

Visit https://herbalandherbs.wordpress.com/ for more details. 

Make your Own Gugo Shampoo

My mom has been living green for quite some time and have finally dispatched the use of shampoo and conditioner from her toiletries - but not without green replacement of course! She makes Gugo Shampoo, which is from the Gugo bark. Gugo is like the ancient native shampoo. Ask the old people and they know just what it is. My mom says that it softens hair and makes it shiny and healthy and that it even removes dandruff!

It's fairly easy to make and here's what you will need:

1 Gugo bark

Bowl of Water (size of bowl is completely up to you)

Old shampoo bottle/s

1 Kalamansi/ Philippine Lemon (per shampoo bottle)

1/2 tsp. vinegar (per shampoo bottle)

What to do:

Put Gugo bark into bowl of water and just leave it there for 30 minutes. At 30 minutes, you'll see that it's all lathered up. Transfer to shampoo bottles. Add juice of one squeezed Kalamansi/Philippine lemon and half a teaspoon vingear (any kind you have) per bottle. 

Usage:

Wet hair and massage into scalp. Rinse. 

My verdict:

I've been so used to using commercial shampoo that lathers up that this one didn't seem right at first but I have reason to believe that it might just be effective just as they say. I have a sensitive scalp, if a shampoo or conditioner does not work for me, I'd be sure to have dandruff in a couple of hours. And with the hot, hot weather here, I was half-expecting I would be itching up. But it turned out to be the opposite! 

My hair is soft, manageable and dandruff-free! Surprise, surprise!

CAUTION: Avoid contact with eyes.

HOW TO BUY GUGO: STORE PICK-UP or DELIVERY.

STORE PICK-UP: Visit us at 805 Jackielou Ville, Brgy. BF Homes, Paranaque City.
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Baking Soda for your Legs!

So I've been fussing over my legs because I had ingrown from the last time I waxed. Maybe I got the technique wrong or it has been just so hot here or it's because I wear jeans most of the time. (I know what you're thinking, I wax and then I wear jeans. I'm a mystery to myself too.) 


So I've tried a lot of remedies to help improve the situation with my legs. I've tweezed some from my sore pores, applied cold compress, gently scrubbed with loofah twice a day (which is a relief by the way), and even placed aloe vera. It's been working well for me until I discovered a new use for baking soda... AGAIN!

In my previous entry, I've talked about baking soda as a shampoo substitute. But in my search to rid myself of my legs insecurity, I found out from eHow that baking soda helps prevent ingrown and leaves skin smooth and velvety!

What you will need:

4 tbsp. Baking Soda
Enough warm water to make paste

Instructions:

Massage legs with paste. Do this once a week.

My Verdict:


My legs were really smooth after this treat. You can bet I'm doing this next week!

Photo from: http://1greengeneration.elementsintime.com/?p=661

Baking Soda not just for your Teeth and Tiles

Photo from: http://thegloss.com/beauty/baking-soda-natural-acne-treatment-825/

I've known for the longest time that baking soda, apart from being a staple ingredient in cookies and anything baked and has chocolate in it, that it is also a great teeth whitener and even a great tile cleaner with vinegar. So, imagine my surprise when I read in Simple Mom that it is also a great substitute for shampoo too!

 What you will need:

1 cup of water

1 tablespoon of Baking Soda

Instructions:

Wet hair and pour mixture over scalp and massage scalp as you would with your shampoo and rinse. 

Simple Mom said that it can last about a week for her and her hubby but they have short hair while I have thick hair below my shoulders so when I tried this today, I literally poured everything out. Excited much? But I could tell you this much, my hair felt so much different upon dousing the mixture in my hair and as it went down the tips. 

It is highly recommended that you conditioner hair also using Apple Cider (preferably) o really any kind of vinegar as a vinegar hair rinse. Get the recipe here.  

I just air-dried my hair and I can tell you this much... I can stop touching it because it's soft and velvety and that's in hot weather. Goodbye fly-away.