NaturalCounselor Health and Wellness Blog For Women

To get as much benefit from the whole foods you eat its important to buy fruits and vegetables grown locally and in season.  Here a some healthy and nutritious spring and summer picnic recipes you can make for your friends and family to enjoy in the park.  You can try them on Memorial weekend or Fourth of July.

Spring and Summer Recipe with Baby Artichokes with Garlic and Oranges

Ingredients:

• 16 baby artichokes (about 2 pounds)
• 4 – 5  tbsp olive oil
• 3 -4  garlic cloves, chopped
• ½ tbsp turmeric
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 tbsp sour cream or yogurt
• 1 tbsp dill chopped
• 1 tbsp parsley chopped
• salt and black pepper to taste
• orange wedges

Directions:

Trim baby artichokes and cook in boiling water for 5 minutes. Sautee onion and cook in olive oil for 5-7 minutes, add garlic and cook for more 2 minutes or until garlic gets brown. Add artichokes, stir in salt, pepper, 1/2 cup water, 2 tbsp sour cream, ½ tbsp turmeric. Cook, covered, until artichokes are tender, about 5 minutes longer or until knife inserted in bottom of artichoke goes through easily. Serve, warm, garnish with orange wedges, dill and parsley.

Spring and Summer Asparagus with Turmeric Dressing and Almond Butter Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 cup onions chopped
• 1 bunch asparagus spears
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• Weight Loss Detox Turmeric Dressing
• 1 tsp almond butter
• 2 tbsp parsley or dill chopped
• salt to taste

Directions:

Steam asparagus spears (or cook in boiled water) for 5-8  minutes or until tender.  Sautee onions in olive oil for 10 minutes. Make Turmeric Dressing in a bowl, add almond butter and onions and mix thoroughly. Place the asparagus spears on the plate and coat with the new mix of turmeric dressing, almond butter and sautéed onions. Garnish with parsley or dill.

Summer and Spring Mushroom and Quinoa Salad

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp ghee or organic raw butter
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 8 mushrooms
• 2 tbsp sour cream
• 4 cups spring greens (lettuce, spinach, arugula)
• 1/2 cup spring green onions chopped
• 3 cloves garlic chopped
• 6-8 radishes, sliced
• 1 cup cooked quinoa (or barley or wheat berries) chilled
• 1/2 cup grated Goat cheese
• 2 tbsp dried cranberries
• 2 tbsp prunes
• 2 tbsp pine nuts
• 1tbsp parsley chopped
• 2 tbsp Apple cider vinegar
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Sautee mushrooms in olive oil for about 5 minutes, add garlic and cook for more 2 minutes; add sour cream, season with salt and pepper, stir thoroughly and set aside. Place all the remaining ingredients into a large salad bowl and sprinkle with Apple cider vinegar. Just before serving, pour the warm mushrooms in sour cream over the salad.

Bon Appetit!

Don’t forget to breathe, smile and be happy.

© Irina Wardas, HHC

Women’s Holistic Health, Nutrition Counselor and Coach

NaturalCounselor.com

Have you ever used wardrobe analysis  to select your clothing colors to help you feel sexy, look younger and even 10 pounds slimmer.  I call it natural fast weight loss :-)  By using the right clothing colors, you can feel more sexy and confident almost instantly.

“Clothing can change your mood.  Try a splash of color; wear funky glasses; or a big bold hat.  It can turn a dreary day into one filled with fun”.--Loretta LaRoche

If you are looking for easy to implement beauty remedies, why not learn how to select wardrobe colours from your closet.  Cick to listen to my interview with Lauren Battistini, a color analyst and wardrobe analysis consultant and founder of ColorMyCloset, on “Feel and Look Fabulous with Irina”

Let me share three of Lauren’s wardrobe color beauty remedies tips with you:

Top 3 tips for adding color to your closet. Please see below for our easy, breezy top 3 tips:

1) Reconsider your neutrals. Black and white are not your only choices. Some women look better in soft whites or creams, greys and taupes, and deep brown, navy or charcoal.

2) Begin by adding only 2 to 3 colors to your wardrobe. That way you won’t feel overwhelmed. What colors will you choose? It is best to look to colors that you’ve always been complimented on.

3) Follow our 2-1 rule: use 2 colors & 1 neutral together, or 2 neutrals & 1 color.

Live in color…..

P.S. Also listen to my interview with JJ Virgin, celebrity fitness and nutrition expert on How to Shape Up Arms to Feel Sexy and Confident.

Breathe, smile and be happy.

© Irina Wardas, HHC

Women’s Holistic Health Counselor and Coach