Spicy Honey Chicken with Roasted Vegetable Couscous

Hey Burlesquers,

I had an amusing day, y’all. Remember how I have chronic hives? I finally went in and got blood tested for allergies, and the scene in the laboratory was like something out of a movie.

I sat down in the lab, and I was scared. (Who likes needles? No one.) I asked the technician how many vials they needed for my blood-testing, and she responded briskly, “I won’t know til the machine prints the vial labels.” At that very moment, out from the machine comes not one, not two, but 9 labels for 9 vials of blood that would be taken from me. The woman then looked at me and asked, “You don’t faint, right?” That was my introduction to allergy testing. (I actually had a nice experience with the woman, but that whole scene was just too funny!)

Gil Elvgren, Doctor’sOrders1939

Other than that, things went great today! I found out that I am having MORE guests over this weekend! Wooooo! I have a friend from the west coast in town for research, and I thought it would be fun to show him around and give him a good, home-cooked meal. (Graduate researchers tend to live out of cheap hotels and crash on people’s couches. Not all that comfortable or exciting.) I decided to have him over with a few friends for a fun “Welcome to town!” shin-dig. But, what to eat? I decided to make exactly what I made for one of our last guests: Spicy Honey Chicken with Roasted Vegetable Couscous. 

I adapted the chicken recipe from The Girl Who Ate Everything and the couscous from Nigella Lawson’s Roasted Vegetable Orzo. This meal is both budget-friendly and delicious! The chicken requires cheap chicken thighs, honey, spices, and cider vinegar, while the couscous requires couscous, roasting vegetables, feta cheese, lemon, fresh basil, and olive oil. These are all ingredients we either have or love to have around the house, so no complaining here! Plus, the sweet and spicy chicken pairs well with the tart-herb roasted veggies and light couscous. And did I mention they are absolutely delicious? We became so obsessed with this chicken recipe that we made it last week for ourselves with tofu rather than chicken. (That came out great, too!) Cheers, everyone! Hope you had a great start to the week!

Brown Sugar and Honey Scrub

Hey all,

I’ve been jonesing for a decadent spa treatment, and I thought this scrub by Cut Out and Keep looked divine! I didn’t want to heat up the honey though (a hot scrub on a hot day? No!).  I changed the recipe a bit for a nice cool scrub for the summer. You will have enough to scrub your face and neck!

my fun spa treatment!

Brown Sugar and Honey Scrub

Ingredients:

1/4 cup of brown sugar

1/8 cup of honey

1/4 tsp milk

Directions:

In a bowl, add the sugar, and then slowly mix in the honey. Add the milk–the more milk added, the more looser consistency. Now, pat onto clean dry face and leave on for 10-20 minutes. This mixture will not harden like other masks, so watch for falling drops of honey and sugar!  After allotted time, take off scrub with a washcloth, and rinse off with tepid water. Make sure you don’t rub the honey into your hair line. (No need for a sticky updo on a sticky summer day!)

Honey Oat Quick Bread

Today was a much needed bake day. Ron and I were stressing a bit about money and our move (“Can we afford this? Can we afford that? What should we do?”), and we just had a much needed “let’s break down our finances” talk. And I feel so much better!! If I could bottle up and sell “talk therapy and planning” as a cure-all, I’d be its biggest salesman. I don’t know about everyone else, but I need to talk about things. If I don’t, bad things ensue, like me being grumpy. (Or a “grumper”, as I sometimes call Ron!)

from Whereapy.com

Anyway, baking calms me down (especially if the baked good is budget-friendly and healthy). Right now, I’m on a semi “self-sustaining” recipe kick. I’ve made my own applesauce, I’ve made my own chocolate peanut butter, etc. Today was no exception. Let’s make quick bread for the week! Yay! Fun!

I’ve actually never baked bread before, but I was hankering for some Sweet Honey Oat-type bread. In California, my parents live fairly close to the Berkeley restaurant Cafe Intermezzo (right off Berkeley downtown), which sold the BEST wheat bread in the world. I’d travel an hour away (from Santa Cruz) just to buy this bread and would relish every thick, sweet slice. However, I just recently found out that Intermezzo burned down in a freak fire. NO! NO! NO! I was crushed, to say the least. Since then, I’ve decided I’d try my hand at making bread, and see if I could make a yummy alternative to my beloved Intermezzo bread.

How about this Honey Oat Quick Bread by Eating Well?

My first quick bread!

Pretty, right?

I love the results of this recipe. Even though I’m a first time bread baker, my loaf turned out golden brown and not too crumbly. And this looks like it took me hours to make, right? Nope! I was in and out of the kitchen in 15 minutes! And I adapted the recipe, as always, using greek yogurt (instead of regular yogurt), using oat flour and wheat flour (because that’s what I had on hand), substituting half the oil for applesauce, and sprinkling the top with Pepitas, sesame seeds, and oats (all seeds I had on hand).

I do think this recipe as a base can be improved.  The bread itself lacked the deep wheat flavor I am looking for—next time I will use all whole wheat flour (instead of half wheat and oat flours), and add molasses and more honey. Overall though, I am so excited! This bread was so easy to make! What a great recipe! I may have already tried multiple slices of the bread with raspberry jam (delicious) and butter (super delicious).

(Light) Vanilla Chai Greek Yogurt

A new day and a new post, friends!

Yes, my spring fling is over, and I am little sad. My honey and I loved seeing the historical sites in Plymouth and Salem, and through Hotwire, we paid only $80 dollars for a waterfront room at the Radisson Hotel in Plymouth! Gorgeous. We also ate one of the best meals we’ve had in months at a little cafe in Plymouth.

Quick Relaxation: the Honey Rose Face Mask

I am getting ready for my weekend trip, which means I am packing and organizing as much as possible before I leave: nails done, hair washed, bags packed.

(Here’s some Real Simple luggage that I covet!!)

But I want more. I’m feeling the ache for a nice, relaxing pampering session–you know, the much needed bath or facial after a long week at work? (I want my vacation to start now!)

With that being said, how about a nice moisturizing face mask tonite before I am out all weekend in the sun? I want to use some of the Rose Essential oil I bought for my homemade “Rosey Nights” Coconut Oil Moisturizer and other ingredients I have on hand. I found this basic Rose Oil and Honey Face Mask by the National Honey Board, and I really like it! Just mix together Almond oil, Honey, Vitamin E oil, and Rose Essential oil. That’s it! As always, I’m changing the recipe: I am going to leave out the Vitamin E Oil (because I don’t have it), add oats for some soft exfoliation, and add lemon for a more tart Lemon Rose Scent (and for more alpha-hydroxy exfoliation). Off to hydrate!

Honey Rose Face Mask

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp honey
• 1 tbsp grapeseed oil (walnut or almond oil would work well, also)
• 1 tbsp oats (or 1 tsp sugar; oats do tend to get messy)
• 1 drop rose essential oil
• 1 drop of lemon juice
• Optional: 1 tbsp greek yogurt

Directions:

Blend all ingredients together in a small bowl. Smooth onto clean face and neck, making sure you gently exfoliate with the oats. Take oats off from skin and leave oil mixture on for 10-15 minutes. Rinse off with lukewarm water and relax!

Breakfast Sundae: Greek Yogurt with Warmed Banana-Oat Crunch

Hey all! It’s another lazy Sunday!

I decided to not partake in St. Patrick’s Day celebrations last night because I still have a bit of a cold (congestion, yuck!). Plus, I am just itching to get healthy and get back to the gym! Because I’m constantly reading, writing, and teaching as a graduate student, I get NO exercise in my day-to-day routine. I have been trying to start a new workout routine, and this cold really de-railed my efforts (3-4 times a week for 45 minutes).  That’s ok–with all my resting, I think I can jump back in the saddle by this week! Hurray.

This morning I wanted something a little decadent. How about a breakfast sundae? I decided to eat greek yogurt with warmed bananas and a toasted oat topping (crunch)! The topping is somewhat like a fruit crisp topping, but healthier. I use minimal butter (or margarine/light butter), a smidge of honey spices, pecans, and fake sugar (stevia or splenda) and simply toast in a pan. I also warm the banana with vanilla, cinnamon, and pam, which makes this yogurt sundae even more delectable. Healthy dessert for breakfast! Do you all have any good quick tricks to make something boring (yogurt) into a delicious treat? Do tell! And happy eating!

Breakfast Sundae

Ingredients:

1/2 cup lowfat greek yogurt

1 cut up banana

1/4 cup of oats

1 tsp butter and a spray of Pam

1 tsp brown sugar

1 tsp honey

1 tsp of vanilla

a spoon full of pecans (or any other nut on hand)

1 shake of Cinnamon and Pumpkin pie spice

A few dark chocolate chocolate chips (optional)

Directions:

Combine oats, spices, honey, nuts, and sugar. Warm the butter and pam in a small sauce pan, and add the oats mixture. Toast on medium heat just for a few minutes. While cooking, put your greek yogurt in a serving bowl. Top yogurt with warm crunch mixture. In same pan, add the sliced banana, vanilla, more cinnamon, and heat for 2 minutes, allowing for some of the banana’s natural sugars to carmelize. Top your sundae with the bananas, and top with a small drizzle of honey.

DIY Beauty: Grapefruit-Orange Sugar Scrub

Rise and shine, all you post- St. Patrick’s Day celebrators!

Feeling a little blue (after one too many Green beers)? Here’s a scrub that will leave you feeling bright-eyed and bushy-tailed: the Grapefruit-Orange Scrub! Citrus is a nice dose of Vitamin C for your skin, honey is an anti-inflammatory, sugar will leave your skin soft and smooth, and sweet orange will balance the zesty scent of the tart grapefruit. Plus, all these ingredients are relatively inexpensive (and sitting in your pantry). This is a great scrub for in the shower, or you can leave it by the kitchen sink whenever your hands need a little TLC. You can also be a good neighbor and give this as an inexpensive gift!  Simply put this in a jar,  and tie it with a bow or twine. You could even make a printable for the jars and stick it on for decoration. How sweet!

Grapefruit-Orange Sugar Scrub 

Ingredients:

1 and 3/4 cups sugar

3/4 cup Almond Oil (or grapeseed oil)

1 tbsp honey

1 Grapefruit

1 Orange

1 empty mason jar with lid

Directions:

Mix together the sugar, oil, and honey. Juice the grapefruit and orange, making a total of 1/2 cup of juice  (1/4 cup juice of each fruit). This should be about one quarter to one half piece of each fruit. Add the juice to the mixture, and stir well until a thick paste forms. Hurray, you now have a zesty citrus scrub! Scoop out with your hands, a small spoon, or even a slice of citrus (even more Vitamin C.) And eat the remaining fruit–it’s good for you!

Good Morning, Beautiful!: Spiced Pumpkin-Almond Spread

Good morning, Beautiful!

I woke up excited to tell everyone about my experience with Green Tea as a toner! I wanted to make my Morning Glory Toner last night, but I couldn’t conveniently find fresh mint while out on my errands yesterday (a busy girl can’t make multiple stops!).  I am a determined woman, though, and was just too excited to wait. I decided to use the mint green tea, honey vanilla chamomile tea, and lemon wedge I had on hand to whip up a toner. It was quick and easy, and after my hot shower last night, I dried off, and then immediately gave my face a spritz.  I actually really liked the mint green tea–it smelled earthy and minty, and was refreshing! I let the spritz dry on my face, and then put on my daily night cream.

I woke up–and maybe I’m experiencing the placebo effect—but my face looked a bit more bright and clear this morning! I think the combination of green tea, mint, and lemon really gave my fair skin a refreshing boost. I’m sold—I’m definitely going to incorporate this into my beauty routine.  I might even infuse some cool cucumber in the toner one day. (Maybe an update later…)

For breakfast, I was going to make a version of Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal (because I still have a can of pumpkin sitting in my fridge!). Somewhere along the way, though, I ended up making a Spiced Pumpkin-Almond Spread/dip that I ate with apples (bye bye, oatmeal.) I actually really like this recipe! It’s quick, healthy and, like always, hearty because I am a hungry girl.  This spread is actually made with mainly almond butter, which is a great source of protein and fat, and sweetened with applesauce. You can spread this on wheat toast, eat it in a tortilla with banana and greek yogurt (pumpkin burrito), and even use it to make a pumpkin banana sandwich (wheat toast, pumpkin spread, banana, and honey!). I am a big believer in good base recipes, and this spread can be used in a zillion ways. You could also add greek yogurt to this if you wanted a more creamy taste!

Spiced Pumpkin-Almond Spread

Ingredients:

1/4 cup pumpkin puree

1 tbsp almond butter

1 spoonful of applesauce (a healthy sweetener)

a smidge of honey (to taste)

2 shakes of pumpkin pie spice

1 shake of cinnamon

1/8 tsp of vanilla

Optional: If you wanted this to be a more Pumpkin-chocolatey spread, add cocoa and use either Stevia or Splenda to sweeten. You could also add chocolate chips! (Everyone knows pumpkin and chocolate together are delicious.)

Directions:

Mix all ingredients together in a small bowl, and then start spreading this on everything! Yum.

Day one of Burlesque Baking: Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal!

For all of you who don’t know me, I love pumpkin. (We’re talking “torrid love affair”. ) To start off this blogging adventure, then, why not post about one of my favorite ingredients? Pumpkin is naturally fibrous, hearty, and a fun pop-of-color to bake with in the morning!

I am currently trying to better my eating patterns (“Hmm, maybe I shouldn’t have eaten an entire  jar of Nutella in three days”) and overall having a healthier, happier lifestyle. I am not searching to have a very thin body or huge muscles, because that’s simply not my frame or interest. However, I am planning on developing a healthy relationship with food and feeling sexy and beautiful during the process! I have a naturally curvy figure, and in our generation of sometimes painfully thin cover models, I sometimes need to find my own inspiration for sexuality and beauty (and baking endeavors)! Speaking of inspiration…

With that being said, I am sick with a cold and need something soft and nourishing this morning. How about Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal? I just discovered The Hungry Housewife blog, which I love. I think this recipe proves versatile: think of the pumpkin and oats as your base. Add whatever you fancy after that: dried fruit, nut butter, coconut, soy/almond/hemp/rice milks, apple, banana, etc. I added almond butter, dried cherries, applesauce, lots of cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice, and milk. For some more fun recipes on Pumpkin, check out Fit Sugar’s Pumpkin recipe collection. Lots of fun ideas!