Are you ready to sip your way to radiant, glowing skin? Let’s talk about smoothie elixirs—your new skincare best friend. These are packed with all the good stuff: antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. More than just a tasty treat, they’re specially crafted to nourish your skin from the inside out. Each sip promotes collagen production, fights off those nasty free radicals, and calms inflammation—all to give your skin that youthful glow you’ve been craving.

So why not upgrade your skincare routine? Grab some smoothie elixirs, and let’s toast to smoother, more radiant skin.

Antioxidants and Their Benefits For The Skin

Using the power of antioxidants is one of the best natural skin care tips. They’re like superheroes for your skin, protecting it from damage caused by harmful molecules called free radicals. These villains can speed up aging, leading to wrinkles and dullness. But antioxidants neutralize them, helping your skin look younger and healthier.

In skincare, antioxidants offer a wide range of benefits. They can reduce inflammation, increase skin elasticity, fade dark spots, and even out skin tone. Additionally, they promote collagen production, which keeps your skin firm and elastic.

Two well-known antioxidants are vitamin C and vitamin E. They help brighten skin, fight aging, and shield against sun damage. Other helpful antioxidants include green tea extract, resveratrol, and niacinamide.

Introducing antioxidants into your skincare routine is vital, but don’t forget to nourish your skin from within. Smoothie elixirs are a convenient and tasty way to boost your antioxidant intake, promoting healthy, glowing skin.

Skin-Boosting Ingredients for Smoothies 

You’ll need the right combination of ingredients packed with antioxidants and other skin-loving nutrients to create a skin-transforming smoothie elixir. Here are some key ingredients to consider:

Berries: Blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries are bursting with antioxidants. These berries are high in vitamin C, which helps lighten the skin and promote collagen production.

Leafy greens: Swiss chard, kale, and spinach are excellent sources of skin-nourishing vitamins A and C. They also contain chlorophyll, which helps detoxify the skin and improve its appearance.

Citrus fruits: Oranges, lemons, and grapefruits are refreshing and loaded with vitamin C, which helps fight free radicals and brighten skin.

Avocado: This fruit is known for its healthy fats and vitamin E, making it an excellent ingredient for nourishing and moisturizing the skin.

Nuts and seeds: Walnuts, almonds, chia seeds, and flaxseeds are all rich in antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids, which promote a healthy complexion and help maintain the skin’s barrier function.

Green tea: Brewed green tea is a fantastic base for smoothie elixirs. It contains catechins, an antioxidant that safeguards the skin against UV damage and reduces inflammation.

Combining these ingredients in your smoothie elixirs will create a powerful blend of antioxidants that will work wonders for your skin.

Healthy Smoothie Recipes For Glowing Skin

Ready to treat your skin to some tasty and nutritious smoothie elixirs? Here are three recipes that will tantalize your taste buds and work wonders for your skin:

1. Berry Blast Smoothie

Ingredients:

– 1 cup mixed berries (blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries)

– 1 small banana

– 1 handful spinach

– ½ cup almond milk

– 1 tablespoon chia seeds

Instructions:

– Blend all the ingredients until fluffy

– Pour in a glass and enjoy the refreshing taste while nourishing your skin.

2. Citrus Splash Smoothie

Ingredients:

– 1 orange, peeled

– ½ grapefruit, peeled

– 1 small banana

– ½ avocado

– 1 cup kale

– ½ cup coconut water

Instructions:

– Combine all the ingredients in a blender.

– Blend until smooth and creamy.

– Pour into a glass, sip, and let the citrusy goodness revitalize your skin.

3. Green Tea Delight Smoothie

Ingredients:

– 1 green tea bag

– 1 cup brewed green tea, cooled

– 1 small apple, cored

– ½ cucumber

– 1 tablespoon almond butter

– 1 tablespoon flaxseeds

Instructions:

– Steep the green tea. Allow it to cool to room temperature.

– Combine the brewed green tea with the apple, cucumber, almond butter, and flaxseeds.

– Blend until smooth and creamy.

– Pour into a glass, sip, and indulge in the antioxidant-rich goodness.

Feel free to tweak these recipes according to your preferences and the ingredients you have on hand. Experiment with varied combinations to create your own signature skin-transforming smoothie elixir. 

Antioxidant-Rich Smoothies And Skin Health

You’ve probably heard the saying, “You are what you eat,” and this couldn’t be truer when it comes to your skin. The food we eat has a direct effect on the health and appearance of our skin. A diet rich in nutrients, especially antioxidants, can help protect our skin from damage, improve its overall health, and promote a youthful complexion.

Antioxidant-rich foods are particularly beneficial for the skin. They help combat oxidative stress, reduce inflammation, and support the skin’s natural repair processes. Include different fruits and vegetables in your meal to ensure you get a wide range of antioxidants to nourish your skin.

Minerals and vitamins are also vital in maintaining skin health. Vitamin A helps regulate cell turnover and promotes a smooth complexion. B vitamins, like biotin and niacin, support skin cell metabolism and promote a healthy glow. Zinc is essential for maintaining the skin’s integrity and wound healing, while omega-3 fatty acids help keep the skin hydrated and supple.

Give your body a blast of nutrients and support healthy, glowing skin with delicious antioxidant-rich smoothie blends.

Incorporating smoothie elixirs into your daily routine

Now that you have these delicious smoothie elixir recipes, it’s time to incorporate them into your daily routine. Here are some tips to help you make the most of your smoothie elixir experience:

Start your day with a smoothie elixir: 

Kickstart your morning with a nutritious smoothie elixir to give your skin the boost it needs for the day ahead. It’s a refreshing way to start the day and ensures you immediately get a dose of antioxidants.

Replace sugary snacks with smoothie elixirs: 

To satiate your sweet tooth while giving your skin a healthy dose of antioxidants, opt for a smoothie elixir in the afternoon instead of reaching for a sugary snack.

Make it a habit: 

Consistency is key to seeing results. Incorporate smoothie elixirs into your daily routine and make them a habit. Consider preparing ingredients in advance to save time and ensure you always have the necessary ingredients.

Experiment with different flavors: 

Don’t be afraid to get resourceful and experiment with different flavors and ingredients. There are endless possibilities for smoothie elixirs, so have fun and find combinations you enjoy.

Tips for maximizing the benefits of smoothie elixirs

To maximize the benefits of your smoothie elixirs and achieve radiant, glowing skin, keep these tips in mind:

Choose organic ingredients: Whenever possible, choose organic vegetables and fruits to minimize pesticide exposure and other harmful chemicals.

Use a high-powered blender: Investing in a high-powered blender is a game-changer for whipping smoothie elixirs with that perfect velvety texture. You can also use a high-powered portable blender to enjoy your favorite blends anytime, anywhere – at home or on the move.

Drink your smoothie slowly: Sip your smoothie slowly to allow your body to absorb the nutrients more effectively. This will also help you feel more satisfied and prevent overeating.

Combine with a healthy lifestyle: Smoothie elixirs are a fantastic addition to your skincare routine, but they work best when combined with a healthy lifestyle. Sleep well, stay hydrated, exercise regularly, and follow a nutritious, balanced diet to maximize the benefits and achieve overall skin health.

While these smoothies are proven to enhance skin health, other helpful ways should be incorporated for a healthier glow. 

Additional Ways to Enhance Your Skincare Routine

Smoothie elixirs are a fantastic addition to your skincare routine, but there are also other ways to enhance your skin’s health and appearance:

– Drink plenty of water throughout the day to keep your skin hydrated and plump. 

– Protect your skin from destructive UV rays by wearing sunscreen daily, even on cloudy days. 

– Gently wash away dirt, oil, and makeup with a mild cleanser that does not rob away the skin’s natural oils.

– Use moisturizer to hydrate your skin. This helps maintain its moisture balance and keep it supple and smooth.

– Get enough sleep for at least 7 to 9 hours each night to help you wake up with a refreshed and glowing complexion.

Everyone’s skin is unique, so finding the best skincare routine is a personal journey. Pay attention to your skin’s needs, and be patient. Professional help can be a great resource for getting you back on track.

Conclusion

Smoothie elixirs offer a delicious and convenient way to nourish your skin from within. These blends are rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that can enhance your skincare routine. By incorporating green smoothies and other elixirs into your daily routine, you can nourish your skin with the necessary nutrients to thrive, promoting a youthful, radiant complexion.

Remember to choose antioxidant-rich ingredients, experiment with different flavors, and make smoothie elixirs a part of your healthy lifestyle. Combine them with other skincare habits, such as sun protection and proper hydration, to maximize their benefits.

So why wait? Raise your glass to smoother, more radiant skin with smoothie elixirs. Cheers to your skin’s health and beauty!

The post Smoothie Elixirs: Transform Your Skin with Antioxidant-Rich Blends appeared first on The Fashionable Housewife.

Dalmatian cuisine is primarily composed of fish, olive oil, green vegetables, and seasonings like rosemary, garlic, parsley, etc. It may be found on the islands and along the Dalmatian coast.

Below are some traditional Croatian dishes. Dalmatia was historically a territory that is now part of Croatia, Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina on the eastern Adriatic coast. Although Dalmatia’s geographic range has fluctuated significantly throughout the years, Croatia has historically held the majority of the territory, so in this text, we will concentrate on the most intriguing Dalmatian meals that are made there.

Given that Dalmatia is a popular tourist destination, chances are that you have already paid it a visit (if you have not yet, do not wait any longer!) so you are aware that eating there will make you reborn. If you are on a diet, eat healthy food (vegetarian or vegan), favor proteins (if you are an athlete or work out regularly) – whether preparing the food yourself or getting it from certified organic meal delivery services, where you can discover fresh, organic produce that complies with the strictest welfare requirements – eating in Dalmatia will help you keep up.

To give you a flavor of several regions in Dalmatia, we sought to include a range of cuisine.

# 1 Pag Cheese

The Adriatic Island of Pag is where Pag cheese, a hard sheep milk cheese with a particular flavor, originated in Croatia. In Dalmatia, cheese is available in numerous shops and is served in a lot of eateries. Both young and old cheese are available. 

With prosciutto or pepperoni (called “kulen” in the region), the young variant of the cheese is served as an appetizer, and the old cheese is served as dessert alongside a glass of red wine. While the older cheese is tougher and darker, the younger Pag cheese is lighter and gentler. Both stand for the apex of the culinary experience.

# 2 Dalmatian Prosciutto

Prosciutto is unquestionably the most popular and well-liked Dalmatian cured meat product. It is a must-have appetizer with a potent sweet-salty flavor that is relished on both regular and festive occasions. 

Meat is salted, seasoned, and let to air dry. Prosciutto is also smoked in Dalmatia prior to drying. It acquires a distinctive smokey flavor as a result. In Dalmatia, the greatest restaurants provide handmade prosciutto of the highest caliber.

# 3 “Riba na gradele” (Grilled) Fish

Fish is traditionally prepared on the “riba na gradele” way on the Croatian Adriatic coast. 

The fish, which dries out because of too much moisture, is put on a grid of heated griddles, and while it bakes, rosemary is drizzled with olive oil to moisten it. A specific blend composed of homemade olive oil, vinegar, parsley, finely chopped garlic, salt, and pepper is applied to the fish after baking while it is still warm and soft.

# 4 Soparnik (Chard and Onion Pie)

An authentic Dalmatian treat known as “soparnik” is a mouthwatering pie made with chard and onion that is distinctive of the Poljica area in central Dalmatia.

Soparnik, once considered a food for the underprivileged, is today regarded as a genuine culinary delight that pairs perfectly with a glass of fine red Dalmatian wine. This dish is traditionally cooked as a fasting meal on Christmas Eve or just before Easter, according to a long-standing family custom.

# 5 “Škampi na buzaru” Shrimp

The Dalmatia and Istria districts of Croatia’s coast are known for using this method of cooking, and dishes containing shellfish, like this one, typically come with crusty bread to sop up the delectable sauce. With this technique, a tasty sauce is produced, giving the food a distinct, clean, fresh flavor and aroma that is reminiscent of the ocean. 

The dish is simply seasoned with salt and pepper, and the most popular seafood options are mussels (“dagnje na buzaru”) or shrimp (“škampi na buzaru”) although this technique can also be used to prepare prawns, clams, limpets, lobsters, or even small fish.

# 6 Black Risotto

This seafood specialty is most frequently consumed as a light starter in Dalmatian families. It has a strong flavor and is a true delicacy that will please fans of fish delicacies. Its preparation starts with a quick toasting of the rice, followed by the addition of a tiny bit of water, wine, stock, or the sauce of choice. The centerpiece of black risotto, a freshly captured cuttlefish, should be thoroughly cleaned before the black ink, which the creature normally uses to ward off predators, is carefully removed. To give this risotto its recognizable appearance, only a small amount of ink is put into the dish shortly before it is finished cooking.

In addition to the cuttlefish, the addition of “Prošek”, a Dalmatian dessert wine that is poured into the rice throughout cooking and gives it a distinctive perfume, contributes to the unique flavor of this risotto. Despite having a distinct flavor of the sea, this risotto is simple to stomach and makes a delicious starter for multi-course feasts since it uses fresh ingredients, which Dalmatia is never short of.

# 7 Octopus Salad

The traditional octopus salad is a great example of how fresh seafood is used to create authentic Dalmatian cuisine. 

Clean and cook octopus in water until it is soft. It is diced and added to a bowl when it has cooled. Olive oil and vinegar are sprinkled on top of it last. The salad also includes parsley, capers, and diced onions. Boiling potato cubes are another option.

# 8 “Brudet” Fish Stew

In the Croatian provinces of Dalmatia, Kvarner, and Istria, fish stew known as “brudet” (brodet or brodeto are other known names) is widely prepared. The regional specialty of practically all Italian cities along the Adriatic coast is “brodetto di pesce”, or commonly brodetto. And there is a resemblance with brudet.

Among the most well-known traditional Dalmatian meals, brudet uses fresh fish as its main ingredient. Every household has a unique method for preparing it. Tomato sauce, onions, spices, and a dash of vinegar are cooked with different kinds of fish and crustaceans. It cooks on a low flame while submerged in water til the fish is cooked through. Chili pepper and laurel are optional additions to the stew. Polenta is frequently served with brudet.

# 9 Skradin Risotto

One of the best Dalmatian dishes is Skradin risotto. 

In the village of Skradin, men customarily create the dish, which takes 8 to 10 hours to complete, hence the name. Skradin was ideally situated at the intersection of important trade routes. That is how commercial ships brought in the exotic ingredients that give Skradin risotto its distinctive flavors, such as nutmeg and rice.

# 10 Oysters

Superior European flat oysters and mussels are cultivated in the Ston municipality, which is located in the Pelješac Peninsula’s eastern region. European flat oysters are believed to have grown in the region since the 17th century, according to historical sources. They have been highly prized since the early Roman era when their harvesting started a full century earlier. 

They taste best served on ice, uncooked, and with a few splashes of lemon juice. Oysters go beautifully when served alongside either red or white wine and are frequently presented in groups of 6 or 12. They provide a very unique culinary experience when paired with a cooled sparkling wine.

Sometimes you just have to try new foods! Go ahead and experiment!

The post 10 Must-Try Traditional Dalmatian Dishes from the Adriatic Sea appeared first on The Fashionable Housewife.

Having an interest in traveling is unfortunately a very expensive hobby. This might limit how often you can take journeys to different countries and cultures that can expand your worldview. However, you might be able to achieve a much smaller version of that effect by bringing elements of travel back into your home. This is made possible by the globally connected community that you’re a part of – though you might not have been making the most of that up until now.

Food is something that leads a lot of people towards travel. The different tastes and flavors can open your culinary mind, so why not think about bringing them into your home? 

What You Know and Love

If the idea of trying a bunch of new foods and flavors is quite new to you, it might be a tall order to immediately jump into the deep end of different cuisines. Instead, you might turn your attention to the things that you already enjoy, and see how you can imbue those things with an exotic edge that mixes up how you enjoy them.

Coffee and tea are good examples of this, as they’re a part of your day that might be something of a routine, and so getting the opportunity to try something new each day can be an exciting spin on that ritual. Brazilian coffee might not sound all that different to you, given how much of the world’s coffee comes from that area, but scouting out the different authentic and organic options that they have available might put a spin on what you think you know.

Where tea is concerned, you might be aware of how it plays a role in different cultures around the world and how that leads to it being enjoyed differently in those places. This can help you to not only change the flavours that you’re incorporating into your routine tea slot each day, but also the way that you go about drinking it. Even a shift from teabag to loose-leaf tea might introduce a shift in what you’re used to extreme enough to rejuvenate this process.

Authentic Recipes

Perhaps you feel as though you already make an effort to eat meals that have their origins from various areas around the globe. That could be true, but it might be that the way you go about making these recipes (and the ingredients incorporated) could stand to be more authentic to give a genuine experience. This might sound like a simple semantic difference, but you might be surprised at how different the result is. After all, if you travel to the places where these meals come from, you might find that the experience of eating the local cuisine is quite different to what you’re used to from the versions at home. 

While there are websites and cookbooks that can help you to make these versions of familiar meals, you might find that a good place to start is a restaurant that focuses on these more authentic experiences. This won’t be offered by every single venue that offers this genre of food, but seeking out the ones that do could be an interesting experience for you and your friends. According to some reports, this sense of authenticity is something that might be becoming more important to audiences, which might make such eateries easier to come by than they used to be – and the ingredients you need to make your own attempts equally available.

Something Different

That’s all well and good when you’re thinking about meals and foods that you might have some semblance of familiarity with, but what about those that are completely new? It might only be by going abroad do you find that you have so much experience to surround yourself with truly new culinary experiences, and trying to do the same within the comfort of your home might be more difficult due to how easy it is to simply fall back on something more comfortable and familiar. However, it is still possible, it might just mean that you have to make a more committed effort to stick to something new. 

The way that you go about doing this might be something of a routine. Making new meals every single day of the week that you have no idea whether you’ll like might present some issues. You might be unsure whether or not you’ll enjoy it every day and that could prevent you from getting as excited about it, and the effort involved with making something new each day might add a level of toil to your day that you’re not looking for. Instead, incrementally adding these recipes by doing one or two per week might be a better way to go about it – potentially even involving your friends to make it more of an event.

What You’ve Tried

Of course, what you’re having doesn’t have to be entirely unfamiliar. It might be that the reason you’re so interested in bringing these tastes closer to home is that you’ve tried them while you were away and decided you’d want them more regularly. If that’s the case, you might find world food stores online that can help you to track down what you’ve had to get delivered. This can get expensive, so it might have to take the form of a more infrequent treat if you can find nowhere locally that sells what you’re looking for.

However, what this experience might also tell you is that trying something new can often lead to successful results. While you might be tempted to stick with what you know again and again whenever you have the opportunity, taking the plunge into unfamiliar territory might surprise you with yet another new favorite. Whatever the case, being aware of what you like about these foods can help you to incorporate elements of them into your home baking and cooking, bringing flavors and ideas that are present in other cuisines more closely in line with your way of doing things.

The post Bringing Travel into Your Home with Food appeared first on The Fashionable Housewife.

It is a fact, the popularity of Asian food has been increasing non-stop in the past few years. It is also a fact that people’s palates evolve as the world does. The flavors, the aromas, the textures, even the mix of cultures around the globe are just a few of the reasons that could explain this evident change in what people are looking for when they want to improve their taste and dive into diversity. 

From far, far away

And the more we know about Asian cuisine, the more we realize there are no limits to bold ingredients. It’s not only the condiments, it’s the contrasting textures, the colorful plates, the appealing pairing of taste and smell.

No limits, sure, but there is a must: rice, of course! Rice is close to every recipe and it doesn’t really matter if you’re having breakfast, lunch or dinner, you can always get a cup of rice, some herbs, a few more ingredients and there will probably be a myriad of Asian recipes waiting for you.

In Asian cultures, rice is so deep-rooted that it can be found in countless meals and also countless religious ceremonies because it is originally associated with women and fertility. Moreover, in many countries, rice is not only popular, it is considered sacred. No wonder that when it comes to usage, the white rice ratio to other affordable and easy to handle ingredients is at its highest, right?

All in one

Now we’re heading Southeast Asia because Bubur Ayam is a classic Indonesian meal: Bubur means rice porridge or congee and Ayam means chicken. Although it’s a dish eaten for breakfast, people frequently have it for lunch and dinner as well. It has become very popular during Ramadan and also a quite common meal for people when they are out of sorts. Versatility is not a problem with this Babur Ayam chicken and rice porridge, nor is difficulty, since it’s an easy-to-make dish and doesn’t require many ingredients. To top it all, this four-step delight can be frozen for a couple of days and reheated.

As for the taste, you may be wondering if this is a sweet or savory dish as it can be served at any time of the day. A classic preparation of Bubur Ayam needs chicken so it can be considered a savory dish, but it is also true that, as versatile as it is, there are a lot of different kinds of Bubur all along with Indonesia. 

Here is one way to make it. Follow the recipe, try it out, taste Bubur Ayam, and travel to Indonesia. You won’t need a ticket, just a spoonful!

Bubur Ayam Recipe: Indonesian chicken and rice

Ingredients

• 1 cup of rice.
• 5 cups of water.
• 2 chicken breasts or legs.
• Bay leaves.
• White pepper.
• Salt.
• Onions.
• Shallots.
• Prawn crackers.
• Soy sauce.

Preparation

1. In a medium size pot, pour five cups of water, place the bay leaves and season with a pinch of salt and white pepper. Let it heat up. 
2. Boil the chicken breasts or legs for about 40 minutes. As it boils, remove the foam from the water. 
3. When chicken is fully cooked, take it out and place it aside. Let it cool down. 
4. Once its temperature permits, you can peel the skin off and shred the chicken down.
5. Using the same water, now a chicken broth, you are going to boil the rice. The ratio to make an appropriate porridge should be one cup of rice to five cups of water. Cook the rice (pot covered) until it gets thick, that should take about 25 or 30 minutes.
6. In the meantime, slice the onions and fry the shallots which will top the rice porridge.
7. Once the congee is ready, set it on a bowl and top it with the shredded chicken, the fried shallots, sliced onion and the prawn crackers. 
8. Top it all with soy sauce and enjoy your homemade Bubur Ayam!

Measures of condiments are not included so you can find and create the perfect combination for you. Highly flavored, subtle, deep… Give this asian chicken recipe a go and find your own way to discover this classic Indonesian meal. Let your palate and taste experiment. You never know, you may go crazy about it!

The post Try This Homemade Bubur Ayam To Bring The Flavor of Southeast Asia To Your Table appeared first on The Fashionable Housewife.

Vegetables, fruits, whole grains, seeds and herbs: the Mediterranean diet offers health, sustainability and also a wide variety of tastes and textures. Nutritious and delicious at the same time, Mediterranean meals are not about one, but all the countries in the area coming together in one dish.

What is Orzo?

If you have never heard of it, orzo is a short-cut pasta which is shaped like a long grain of rice. This white flour vegan pasta comes in several types and shapes, there is even a gluten free orzo which can also be an option for the recipe. Whatever the shape, this pasta is the perfect match for a flavor packed and fresh salad, even a vegan one. If you’re a fan of meal-prep, orzo is also a good option as you can cook it ahead and store it for a couple of days in your fridge until the moment of serving. 

Orzo salad is a typical Mediterranean delight and, as the main title goes, this is just one of the many healthy options this colorful and healthy cuisine has to offer. Like any salad, it can come together in just a few minutes and this one in particular goes with almost any other dish you may want: chicken, meat or you can even have it as the main dish. 

Next you’ll find a list of must-have ingredients, but don’t be afraid of trying it out and making your own version of it by adding many other veggies and seasonings.

Orzo Salad and Dressing

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of orzo.
• 1 cup of sliced cucumber.
• 1 cup of cherry tomatoes.
• ½ cup of chopped green onions.
• ½ cup of chopped bell pepper.
• ½ cup of sliced olives.
• ½ cup of pine nuts.
• ½ cup of feta cheese
• ½ cup of chopped parsley.
• ½ cup of chopped dill.
• 1 tbsp of salt.
• ¼ tbsp of black pepper.
• 4 tbsp of fresh lemon juice.
• ¼ cup of extra virgin olive oil.
• 1 clove of garlic.
• ½ tbsp of oregano flavor.
• Feta cheese.

Preparation – Salad:

1. In a medium size pot, put water to a boil and pour two cups of orzo. Let it cook following the instructions in the package.
2. Take the cherry tomatoes and cut them in half to bring some juice to the salad. Place them in a big bowl.
3. Take the bell pepper, cut around the core, slice it up and chop it in small cubes. Place that together with the tomatoes.
4. Take the orzo out of the heat, drain it and run it under water one time. This will prevent the past from clumping together. Let it cool down a little.
5. Take two or three green onions and chop them, use both the green and white part. Do the same with the cucumber.
6. Add both chopped veggies to the bowl.
7. If orzo is cool enough, incorpore it as well.
8. Now take the fresh parsley and chop it down. You can trim part of the stem, but not all of it as it contains part of the flavor.
9. As for the dill, cut the stem off and add the chopped leaves to the bowl.
10. Now add the sliced olives and pine nuts to the mix.
11. Cut the feta cheese in small cubes, add it and mix all the ingredients together.

Preparation – Dressing:

1. Squeeze the juice of two fresh lemons and mix that with ¼ cup of extra virgin olive oil. You can also zest the lemon.
2. Use a clove of garlic and chop it really small. Add it to the mix.
3. Season the juice with some oregano, add salt and black pepper at taste. 
4. Whisk and pour the mix all over the salad.

Pro tips

• You can use English cucumbers which are seedless and sweeter. If you cook this in advance, leave them for the last minute before serving as they are a watery vegetable.
• No need to let the orzo to reach room temperature. The warmth will allow it to absorb all the taste coming from the rest of the ingredients.
• If you want to go all the way down the vegan road, you can use tofu-based feta cheese.
• As a main dish, this recipe serves four people. As a side dish, it could serve up to eight people.

A versatile, nourishing, colorful and diverse meal, isn’t that what people would want on their table?

The post How To Make A Healthy and Delicious Mediterranean Orzo Salad appeared first on The Fashionable Housewife.

Mexico is recognized for having proudly developed one of the most authentic, vibrant and rich cultures in the world. Their costumes, traditions, festivities, and beliefs are well known almost everywhere.

There is no place in the world where no one would know what a taco is, and who hasn’t ever heard a mariachi song at least once?. The undeniable truth is that Mexico is a magical country everyone wants to visit on vacation.

When watching a TV show or a movie about Mexico, one of the ever-present themes is food, and you may wonder why Mexicans are so proud of their cuisine. People in that country are more than happy to express their culture through food because they are incredibly good at it.

Mexican cuisine: a tasty legacy

Mexican cuisine is full of flavors, colors, aromas, and textures. There are countless dishes and recipes Mexicans have been making since centuries ago and they continue to share with next generations as part of their national identity.

Among the many things that make Mexican gastronomy so special, the ingredients they use to make their food stand out. They focus on the simplicity of ingredients and enhance their flavor with spices. These are a few of the most iconic ingredients of Mexican cuisine:

• Chile for moles, marinades, and sauces.
• Corn for tortillas, tacos, quesadillas, and so on.
• Kidney beans for enfrijoladas.
• Avocado for the well-known guacamole.
• And rice, obviously.

Thanks to its versatility, rice has almost become a must in the Mexican diet. After arriving in the country with the Spanish settlers, locals adopted it and gave it their touch to make it what it is today: a fundamental part of their traditional cuisine. An example of this are some preparations you can see here: https://mahatmarice.com/recipes/traditional-mexican-rice/.

Using a lot of original ingredients from their lands and mixing them with rice, Mexicans have been able to create a wide range of rice-based dishes and drinks, all equally delicious.

How To Make Mexican Horchata

When it comes to traditional drinks, Mexico has a long list, they even have a category of the “refreshing” ones in which you can find Horchata, a rice-based drink that has become very popular in many countries of Central America for decades.

Mexican horchata is actually a derivation of the Valencian horchata that had to be slightly modified due to the lack of tiger nuts in Mexico. It is a very nutritious, refreshing drink that almost all Mexicans usually have to accompany some spicy dishes.

Here you will learn how to make horchata with a couple of recipes that include all the ingredients and step-by-step instructions to prepare it. Try them at home and make a toast with your family and friends.

Traditional Mexican Rice Horchata

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cups of white rice.
• 1 cup of milk.
• 4 cups of water.
• 1 cinnamon stick.
• ½ cup of sugar.
• Ground cinnamon to sprinkle.
• 1 tbsp. of liquid vanilla.

Preparation:

1. In a bowl put the cinnamon stick and the rice. Soak in water and let it stand for 2 hours.
2. After the soaking time, grind the content of the bowl.
3. Pass the smoothie through a fine-mesh strainer.
4. Press the rice paste to extract as much liquid as possible.
5. Add the liquid vanilla and the sugar to the bowl. Stir with a spoon, then add the milk and mix again.
6. When ready, take it to the refrigerator and let it cool for several hours.
7. When it is time to serve, add a bit of cinnamon powder on top.

Coconut Rice Horchata

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of rice.
• 6 cups of water.
• 1 cup of sugar.
• 1 cup of coconut milk.
• 1 cup of condensed milk.
• 1 cup of evaporated milk.
• 1 cup of milk.
• 2 cups of almonds.
• 2 tsp. of ground cinnamon.
• 1 cinnamon stick.

Preparation:

1. In a saucepan, heat two cups of water over high heat until it begins to boil.
2. Finely grind the almonds.
3. Wash the rice and place it in a heat-resistant container with a cinnamon stick and boiling water. Allow it to soak overnight.
4. In a blender, combine the rice and water, sugar, milk, condensed milk, coconut milk, and evaporated milk. Blend for about two minutes. Strain the mixture.
5. Blend again the mixture. Strain and transfer it to a big pitcher. Pour in the remaining water. Keep refrigerated until ready to serve.
6. Finish with a sprinkling of ground cinnamon.

The post How To Make The Fresh and Sweet Mexican Rice-Based Drink Called Horchata appeared first on The Fashionable Housewife.