Saturday, October 27, 2012

The Top Tip For The Top Problem



There are a few things that can happen when you give your hair some colour, and for lack of better words, they all suck! Well, of course, aside from your hair turning out flawlessly amazing. However, your hair can take an attitude turn for the worse, especially when you choose to add some tones to your locks at home. Now, I'm not trying to terrify you or deter you from at home dye jobs because let's get serious here for a moment, the comparison of prices for at-home dye jobs and a salon are damaging. So damaging that I don't even want to write it down on this screen. Let's just say that it'd be nice if we could go to the salon and dish out $100 every we see our roots growing out, our hair colour fading or god forbid a grey hair spouting through, however it's simply not realistic. What is realistic, although it may seem like quite the opposite, is how little tricks, tips and tweaks can keep your at home dye job looking fabulous for longer, while convincing everyone else around you that you visit the hair salon weekly. Here is the top tip, for the top concern for hair colouring jobs done at home! Follow this tip when to keep your hair holding that heavenly hue at it's best.

The first step takes place in the shower, which only makes sense since this is where you spend a lot of time with your hair, right? Although you may not think that having a colour-safe shampoo will make a difference to your hair, trust me ladies (and gents!), it does, especially for holding the colour in and not changing it to a different hue that you didn't ask for! If you took the time to dye your hair, take the two seconds to find a new, colour-friendly shampoo. Well, unless your hair job is all funky and you're really wanting to get rid of it. If that's the case, then proceed with your not-so-colour-friendly products. Oh, and this colour-safe rule goes for all haircare products, not just shampoo and conditioner. That means serums, hair spray, mousse and deep conditioners. You don't want to put something in that could turn your hair into something that you'd see on a Disney movie character's head, and I'm not talking about the flawless luscious locks on the princesses. Do keep in mind of the products that you will be using on your new colour and opt for something friendly. On the bright side, they're usually is no difference in price!

Your hair colour can and will fade no matter what. Let's be honest here. It's going to fade regardless of getting it done at the salon or saving some cash and doing it at home. What does make all the difference though, is knowing how to keep that hue locked on your strands for as long as possible, and the best way to do that is by only using products that are pro colour, because if you get a bad chemical reaction, you may find yourself looking like a Halloween costume - for weeks.

Photo Credit: http://www.posh24.com/photo/965595/rachel_mcadams_bad_hair_dye_jo

Friday, October 26, 2012

Last minute Costume Ideas!





Perhaps you are planning to attend a Halloween party or event but have absolutely no time to go shopping for a costume. Or maybe you are not planning to go out but then all of the sudden you get an urge to party, and have no idea what to dress up as! Do not panic, get creative. Believe it or not there many things you can put together to create a cute costume. Now it may not be scary, but nowadays it doesn’t really have to be. Let’s take a look at some possible last minute costumes.

Cow girl costume:
With this costume you can wear jeans, a plaid shirt and boots (the ones without heels; if you happen to owe leather boots that’s a plus). If you don’t happen to have a plaid shirt you can wear a beater and bandana around your neck. Now you also want to wear a belt to give it a more realistic look. If you are really lucky you may even have hat lying around that you can wear.

School girl:
If you attended a private school this may be an easy look to pull off, if you didn’t however there is no problem. Here is what you can do. Wear a long sleeve shirt (preferably the business white shirts) a plaid skirt if you have one or a black skirt. Then wear long stockings with black flats. To give the costume an extra pow, ask a friend, or you dad if you can burrow one of their ties. You may also want to put you hair in two pig tails, to create a better character.

Soccer player:
This type of outfit is quite simple to pull off. You can wear baggy shorts (preferably not too long) long socks and runners (you don’t need actual cleats). Now soccer players usually have a shirt representing their team. Do not worry about the shirt; you can wear a lite track jacket instead. You may also want to put on a towel head band and tie your hair.
Gypsy:
Dressing up as a gypsy is fun an easy. You will need a lot of jewelry, but what girl doesn’t have jewelry, right?  Okay, for this type of outfit I suggest wearing the long loose skirts, and a shirt that has puffy sleeves. I would also suggest wearing a scarf like cloth that hugs your head (Curls tend to look good with the scarf on). Finally don’t forget to add all the bling!
            Alright ladies, that is all I have for you today. Remember costumes are not hard to put together and the most important thing is to have fun with whatever you are doing. Have a safe and fun Halloween.

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Halloween Treats and Eats!



We will be taking a small break from healthy food in order to give you some Halloween Treats and Eats to take to a party you are attending or some food ideas to include in your Halloween Party! I promise to do my best to include unique treats with an extra option to make them waist friendly but still delicious!

Bat Cupcakes

This simple treat will make any Halloween and non-Halloween lover satisfied!





Servings: 2 dozen cupcakes
Nutrition Per Serving: Calories: 273kcal; Cholesterol: 2mg; Fiber: 1.2g; Sodium 272mg; Carbohydrates: 41g; Fat: 11.8g; Protein: 2.8g

Ingredients:

  • 1 (18.25 ounce) package chocolate cake mix
  • 1 (16 ounce) container prepared chocolate frosting or any type of frosting (think vanilla and add food coloring!)
  • 1 (11.5 ounce) package fudge stripe cookies
  • 1 (6 ounce) bag milk chocolate candy kisses, unwrapped
  • 1 tablespoon red gel icing 

Preparation:

  1. Prepare the cake mix according to the instructions for cupcakes. Let cool
  2. Frost the cupcakes with the frosting.
  3. Break the cookies in half or cut them in half. Place the cookies about 3/4 from the front of the cupcake, letting the solid chocolate side face the front.Try to have them meet in the middle, with the point of the cookie inserted into the cupcake.
  4. Place the unwrapped chocolate kiss, with the flat bottom against the cookie wings, on the cupcake.
  5. Place two dots of red icing on the chocolate kiss to make the eyes.

Notes:
To make a healthy frosting, opt for this recipe from Living Healthy Mom:

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup of coconut milk powder (NOTE: Do not substitute for coconut milk)
  • 3/4 cup of hot water
  • 8 ounces of dark unsweetened chocolate
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1/2 cup of Agave syrup

Preparation:

  1. Take hot water and mix with coconut milk powder until smooth and absorbed.
  2. In a saucepan, bring the coconut mixture to a boil, whisking constantly.
  3. Remove from burner and add unsweetened dark chocolate and Agave until the chocolate is melted.
  4. Mix in vanilla extract or any other flavoring.
  5. Pour the chocolate frosting into a glass container and let sit in room temperature for 10 minutes. Then place in refrigerator for approximately 1 hour.
To make a healthy chocolate cake mix:

Ingredients:

  • 1 1/2 cup plain flour
  • 4 tbsp cocoa powder
  • 1 cup caster sugar
  • 1 tsp baking power
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/3 cup apple puree
  • 1 tbsp vinegar
  • 1 tsp vanilla essence
  • 1 cup warm water

Preparation:

  1. Sift together flour, cocoa powder, caster sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
  2. In a separate bowl, mix apple puree, vinegar, vanilla essence, and warm water. Mix these into the dry ingredients until it is ALMOST thoroughly mixed (in other words, do not overmix).
  3. Pour into cupcake baking sheet.

Mini Pumpkin Pies

This dessert is perfectly sized for everyone to try, without the need to eat an entire slice of pumpkin pie! This receives the Yummy Yet Low Cal Dessert Award!


Serving: 24 mini pies
Nutrition Per Serving: Calories: 138kcal; Cholesterol: 37mg; Fiber: 0.9g; Sodium: 139mg; Carbohydrates: 12.2g; Fat: 8.9g; Protein: 2.5g

Ingredients:

  • 1 prepared pie crusts
  • 3 eggs divided
  • 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
  • 1/2 cup white sugar
  • 1 cup canned pumpkin
  • a teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

Preparation:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C)
  2. Roll eahc pie crust out onto a floured surface to a rough rectangle about 11 inches square. Cut each pie crust into 12 3-inch rounds. Fit the little pie crust circles into 24 mini pie dishes.
  3. Separate one egg and place the egg white into a small bowl. Beat the egg white until slightly frothy, and brush the edges of each mini pie crust with egg white.
  4. Place the remaining yolk into a bowl, and beat with remaining 2 eggs.
  5. Mix the softened cream cheese, sugar, pumpkin, vanilla extract, and pumpkin pie spice into the eggs to make a smooth filling. Spoon about 2 tablespoons of the filling into each crust.
  6. Bake the pies in the preheated oven until the crust edges are golden brown and the filling is set, about 15 minutes.
  7. Allow to cool.

Flayed Man Cheese Ball

Ok, this thing is absolutely disgusting looking but such a clever way to create a cheese and meat sampler!!! See if you have the guts to peel away the layers of muscle!!!!



Servings: 24
Nutrition Per Serving: Calories: 189kcal; Cholesterol: 54mg; Fiber: 0.1g; Sodium: 427mg; Carbohydrates: 1g; Fat: 17.8g; Protein: 6.9g

Ingredients:

  • 1 plastic face mask (from crafts store)
  • 2 (3 ounce) packages prosciutto
  • 2 pimento-stuffed green olives
  • 24 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 6 ounces shredded Chedder cheese
  • 6 ounces shredded Havarti cheese
  • 1/2 cup pitted green olives chopped
  • 1/4 cup roasted red peppers, drained and chopped

Preparation:

  1. Lightly coat plastic face mask with cooking spray. Line the face mask with plastic wrap, taking care to press it down fully onto the nose and eyes.
  2. Reserve two or three slives of prosciutto and set aside. Tear the remaining slices of prosciutto into strips and lay them into the mask to form the "muscle tissue." Start around the eyes, leaving eyes blank, and then create the cheeks, chin and forehead.
  3. Take the two whole green olives and position them in the eye holes, pimento side-down. set the mask aside.
  4. Combine the softened creem cheese, cheddar, and havarti cheeses in a mixing bowl. Add the chopped green olives and roasted red peppers. Use an electric mixer or clean hands to mix until thoroughly combined.
  5. Take a heaping spoonful of the mixture and arrange it to form an eye around each olive. Gently lay handfuls of the cheese mixture all around the mask, taking care not to move the slices of prosciutto. Press the cheese down as you work to fill in all the crevices. When the mask is full, genlty press the cheese mixture all around the mask. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
  6. Invert the mask onto a serving platter and gently remove the mask and the plastic wrap. You should be left with a gorgeous (and freaky) face. If there is chese showing around the bottom edges, use the reserve prosciutto slices to cover it before serving.

I hope all of you have a wonderful and safe Halloween. Until next time!

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Fall 2012 Makeup Trends




As we transition from summer to fall, our clothes change and so does our makeup. It’s time to trade in that coral lip stick and bright pink eye shadow for something a little more bold. Fall 2012 is going to filled with bold eyes and deep lips. Say goodbye to safe and take a walk on the wild side with these hot makeup trends for the fall.

Smoky eyes with a twist.
Smoky eyes do not have to be showy to make an impact. Ditch the black eye shadow this fall and try a chocolate brown or deep purple for a look that’s a little more subtle yet still dramatic.

Dark lips
Darker lip colors such as deep reds and berry colors are going to be huge this fall. Now, when I say darker colors I mean so dark that they border on black. For a more dramatic look, try applying the color directly from the tube opposed to using a brush.

Green eye shadow
Yes, it is green. But it’s a rich, sexy, jewel-toned kind of green. It acts as the perfect pop of color for a otherwise bold look. 

Graphic cat eyes
A little wing just will not cut it this fall. Cat eyes are going to be dramatic and bold. Warning: this is not liner for the timid; this is liner for the daring.

Gold accents
Not everything has to be dark and bold this season. Show off your angelic side with a delicate touch of gold on the eyes and the cheeks.

Flawless skin
No one has a flawless complexion, but with right amount of coverage and strategic highlighting, you can create the illusion on perfect skin.  Find a foundation that gives you enough coverage to where you can conceal any blemishes and acne scaring without looking cakey. Pick an illuminator with a little bit of shimmer to highlight those cheekbones and add a glow. Stick to products with a little bit of shimmer but avoid the ones with chunky glitter. You are going for luminous; you don’t want to look like a disco ball.

Flushed cheeks
The illusion of healthy, rosy cheeks is just plain sexy. Stick to cream blushes because they are easier to build up and they tend to look a little more natural.


Bold brows
Eyebrows look best when they perfectly frame your eyes, not when they are pencil-thin. This season we want our eyebrows to stand out and be the focal point of our look. As you can tell, makeup is going to be dramatic this season. Your eyebrows are no different. For a natural look and easy application, ditch the brow gels and stick to a flat liner brush and a eye shadow or brow powder a shade darker than your eyebrows.

Saturday, October 20, 2012

THREE IMPORTANT HOT ROLLER TIPS




Don't you find that whenever you see someone using hot rollers on your favourite television show, movie or even in your every-day salon, the hair always turns out to be of pure perfection, but when you follow the exact same process with your own hot rollers, you find your hair turning out to be a mess of wonky hairs sticking out in all directions, or at least, looking nothing like it did when you saw it done by someone else? Yeah, I can totally relate. I have gone through a variety of brands and different kinds of hot rollers, and even if I follow the process of "hot rolling" exactly the way I saw it completed, it's a total disastrous fail when mine is complete. Or lacking in completion rather, because it's so awful that I usually just opt to straighten my hair after the hot rollers have created a total mess on my head. Now, I'm not hating on hot rollers. All of these shows and professionals show how amazing these hot little cylinders can make our hair look fabulous with little to no effort. What I am saying though, is that it's imperative that you have the little insider hair tips to create a fabulous look like the one you're trying to replicate. Here are the top three hot roller tips!

The first tip is to understand what each size of hot rollers can do for you and your hair, and more importantly, what kind of look will it achieve. Small hot rollers create tight, spiral kind of curls, while large hot rollers create loose, bouncy curls. Medium rollers, of course, create an in between of the two, not as tight, spiral curls as the smallest, and not as loose as the large hot rollers. A mixture of all three sizes will create something fabulous as well, so don't always restrict yourself. Now, you'll be able to find hair style hot roller tutorials specific to each size, to know what kind of magic they'll perform on your hair.

The second tip is to disown your brush and/or comb once you have placed the hot rollers in your hair. Of course, you want to thoroughly comb through your hair prior to placing the hot rollers in, to ensure that everything is untangled and fabulous. However, once you take those bad boys out, do not brush or comb your hair! This will take out the curls, providing a wave which can certainly look fabulous if that's what you were looking for, but it's imperative to style with your hands, and only your hands, when you're wanting to rock the fabulous curls that your hot rollers gave you.

The last tip to using hot rollers is to watch the clock! It's easy to forget that hot rollers are, well, hot! There's nothing more awful than dry, frizzled and fried hair from an excessive use of heating products. Never have your hot rollers inf or longer than 10 minutes to ensure great style, without the burning hair.

PHOTO CREDIT: http://www.ehow.com/how_4870187_set-hair-hot-rollers.html

Friday, October 19, 2012

Recipes For a Bath






Now that the rain has becoming down, and stress from work or school is piling up, it is good to give yourself sometime to relax (I personally feel like the weather has a great effect on peoples mood).  And what better way to relax than with a warm bath? They are like the cure for stress, believe me! (They always help). The best thing about baths is that you can take them at any time, in the comfort of your own home, and you don’t even have to pay for this type of luxury (perhaps just invest on a couple of things, but nothing over the top). Here are a couple of different bath you can enjoy.


Bubble Baths: Most kids love bubble baths, but let me tell you that adults also tend to enjoy bubble baths very much. These types of baths are super easy to prepare. You can purchase a certain type of soap for bubble baths or you can just use some of your own shampoo and get the same results, it’s more economic too.


Bath Bombs: Bath bombs are awesome! You just place them in the water and you see them dissolve. I personally love using the lush bombs (you can purchase these at the body shop), they leave your skin feeling really smooth and smelling quite good.

Salts: I personally find that placing salts for a bubble bath is more of a cleansing method; however they are still very much relaxing and many people enjoy them. If you prefer using salt, you can actually use them to exfoliate your skin and removes dead skin cells (like the ones on your elbows).


    Now keep in mind that these are just a couple of methods. If you would like to go all out and create a more relaxing environment I would suggest buying a pillow (the one meant for the tub of course) so you can rest your head comfortably. You may also like to add some music, just be careful don’t plug anything in, buy a bath radio, they are much more safe. These are all the things you need to enjoy a bath, simple right? Remember everyone experiences stress and everyone deserves time to relax

Thursday, October 18, 2012

A Week's Worth of Breakfasts

I was thinking what would make it easier to stay on a diet? For the next couple of posts, I will be making meal plans for the entire week! This way you don't have to worry about finding meals. The meal plans will have a balance between all food groups.

Monday

Grapefruit Brulee




4 servings

Ingredients:

  • 2 grapefruits, halved crosswise
  • 4 tablespoons raw sugar

Preparation:

  1. Trim 1/4"–1/2" of peel from bottom of each grapefruit half to stabilize the fruit and prevent it from rocking back and forth. Place grapefruit, cut side down, on paper towels to dry for 5 minutes. Invert grapefruit and sprinkle 1 tablespoon sugar evenly over exposed flesh of each grapefruit half. Using a kitchen torch, heat sugar until melted and beginning to turn dark amber.
  2. Alternatively, preheat broiler. Transfer grapefruit, cut side up, to a rimmed baking sheet lined with foil. Broil grapefruit, watching closely to prevent burning, until the sugar is melted and beginning to turn dark amber, about 8 minutes. Let grapefruit cool before serving.

Tuesday

Parsley, Kale, and Berry Smoothie

2 Servings

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup (packed) flat-leaf parsley (leaves and stems)
  • 4 kale leaves (center ribs removed)
  • 1 cup frozen organic berries (such as strawberries or raspberries)
  • 1 banana (cut into pieces)
  • 1 teaspoon ground flaxseed

Preparation

  1. Purée 1/2 cup (packed) flat-leaf parsley (leaves and stems), 4 kale leaves (center ribs removed), 1 cup frozen organic berries (such as strawberries or raspberries), 1 banana (cut into pieces), 1 teaspoon ground flaxseed, and 1 cup water in a blender until smooth (add water if too thick).

Wednesday

Homemade Yogurt: Prepared the night before




Yields 4 cups

Ingredients

  • 4 cups (1 quart) milk
  • 3 tablespoons plain yogurt (purchased or homemade)* or powdered yogurt starter (amount specified on package)**
  • Flavorings such as jam, honey, dulce de leche, molasses, fresh or dried fruit, garlic, herbs, etc (optional)
  • Special equipment: Candy thermometer; yogurt maker or other incubator, such as a thermos; cheesecloth for straining (optional); Mason jars or other container for storage

Preparation

  1. Start by cleaning and sterilizing all your equipment and tools as well as your work surface. Most utensils and storage containers can be sanitized in the dishwasher (some machines have a sanitize setting). Alternatively, sterilize everything in boiling water.
  2. Prepare an ice bath, filling a large bowl or sink with ice.
  3. Attach a candy thermometer to a heavy, large pot and add the milk. Place the pot over moderate heat and heat the milk until it reaches at least 180°F or boils, stirring occasionally to prevent a skin from forming and making sure the milk doesn't scald or boil over. Alternatively, place the milk in a large microwave-safe bowl or a large glass measuring cup with a spout (for easy pouring) and microwave it in 2- to 3-minute intervals, until it reaches 180° or boils.
  4. Remove the milk from the heat and allow it to cool to 110°F to 115°F. To speed the cooling process, place the pot in the prepared ice bath and stir the milk occasionally. (If the milk temperature drops too low, return it to the heat.)
  5. If using yogurt as a starter culture: In a small bowl, combine about 1 cup warm milk with the yogurt and stir to combine. Add the yogurt-milk mixture to the remaining warm milk and stir until completely incorporated. Do not stir vigorously.
  6. If using a powdered yogurt culture: Follow the manufacturer's instructions and add the specified amount of powdered culture to the warm milk; whisk until completely incorporated. Do not stir vigorously.
  7. Pour or ladle the mixture into the yogurt maker containers or another incubator (if using a thermos, first warm the inside with hot tap water) and incubate between 110°F and 115°F for 5 to 10 hours, depending on the desired flavor and consistency—longer incubation periods produces thicker, more tart yogurt. Do not disturb the yogurt during incubation.
  8. Cover the yogurt and refrigerate until cold, 2 to 3 hours. (If you used a thermos to incubate, transfer the finished yogurt to a non-insulated container for chilling so the temperature will drop.) Stir any flavorings into the yogurt just before serving. (For thicker, Greek-style yogurt, after incubation, spoon the yogurt into a cheesecloth-lined colander set over a bowl and let it drain, covered in the refrigerator, for at least 1 hour or overnight. Discard the whey that drains out of the yogurt or reserve it for another use.)
  9. Yogurt can be stored in the refrigerator, in covered glass, ceramic, or plastic containers, for up to 2 weeks, but the flavor will be the best during the first week. As yogurt ages, it becomes more tart. If more whey separates out of the yogurt, just stir it back in before serving.

Thursday

Onion Frittata




4-6 servings

Ingredients:

  • 8 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan
  • 3 large fresh basil leaves, torn into pieces
  • 3 large fresh sage leaves, minced
  • 1 teaspoon minced fresh rosemary
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 3 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 cup thinly sliced onion
  • 1/3 cup whole-milk ricotta

Preparation

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Whisk first 7 ingredients in a medium bowl; set aside. Heat oil in a medium ovenproof nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion; saute until soft, about 6 minutes. Reduce heat to low. Stir in egg mixture. Spoon dollops of ricotta evenly over.
  2. Cook until frittata begins to set, about 2 minutes. Place in oven; bake until just set, 7-9 minutes. Slide the frittata onto a platter. Cut into wedges; serve hot or at room temperature.

Friday

Energy Drinks

Total Time: 10 minutes
2 Servings

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups fresh orange juice
  • 1 banana, peeled, cut into 2-inch pieces
  • 1/2 cup (packed) coarsely chopped kale leaves, center stalk and stem removed
  • 1/2 kiwi, peeled
  • 2 pitted medjool dates, coarsely chopped
  • Test kitchen tip: Freeze the banana for a colder, thicker beverage.

Preparation

  1. Combine orange juice, banana, chopped kale, kiwi, and chopped dates in blender. Puree until smooth, stopping and scraping down sides of blender as needed. Divide between two 12-ounce glasses and serve.  

Saturday

Poached Eggs in Tomato Sauce and Chickpeas and Feta






Total Time: 35 minutes
4-6 Servings

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1 medium onion, finely chopped
  • 4 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped
  • 2 jalapeños, seeded, finely chopped
  • 1 15-ounce can chickpeas, drained
  • 2 teaspoons Hungarian sweet paprika
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 28-ounce can whole peeled tomatoes, crushed by hand, juices reserved
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 cup coarsely crumbled feta
  • 8 large eggs
  • 1 tablespoon chopped flat-leaf parsley
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
  • Warm pita bread

Preparation

  1. Preheat oven to 425°F. Heat oil in a large ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion, garlic, and jalapeños; cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is soft, about 8 minutes. Add chickpeas, paprika, and cumin and cook for 2 minutes longer.
  2. Add crushed tomatoes and their juices. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer, stirring occasionally, until sauce thickens slightly, about 15 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Sprinkle feta evenly over sauce. Crack eggs one at a time and place over sauce, spacing evenly apart. Transfer skillet to oven and bake until whites are just set but yolks are still runny, 5–8 minutes. Garnish with parsley and cilantro. Serve with pita for dipping.  

Sunday

Shirred Eggs with Black-Eyed Pea Salsa and Collard Greens






4 Servings

Ingredients

  • 1 slice (2 ounces) thick bacon
  • 1 cup chopped onion
  • 10 ounces frozen chopped collard greens, thawed and drained
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt, divided
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided
  • 1 can (15 ounces) black-eyed peas, rinsed and drained
  • 1/2 cup diced green bell pepper
  • 1/2 cup diced tomato
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives (or parsley)
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
  • 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
  • 1 small green chile, chopped (optional)
  • Vegetable oil cooking spray
  • 4 large eggs
  • 4 tablespoons 1 percent milk

Preparation

  1. In a skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp; drain on paper towel; chop fine. Drain all but 1 teaspoon bacon drippings from skillet. Heat over medium heat. Cook onion, stirring, 3 minutes. Add collards, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper; cook, stirring occasionally, 3 minutes. Stir in bacon; turn off heat. In a bowl, combine peas, bell pepper, tomato, chives, juice, vinegar, remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt, remaining 1/4 teaspoon pepper and chile, if desired. Heat oven to 375°. Coat 4 gratin dishes with cooking spray. Divide collards evenly among gratins; make space in center of collards for eggs. Crack 1 egg and gently pour into 1 gratin; repeat with remaining eggs and gratins. Spoon 1 tablespoon milk over each egg. Bake, covered loosely with foil, until egg whites are cooked through, 10 to 15 minutes. Spoon pea salsa onto eggs; serve.

Happy Eating. And please, comment below and let me know what you are looking to eat. Maybe you have food allergies (please speak up as there are several people who may be in the same situation as you and are too hesitant to ask) and can't find a good, well balanced meal plan to keep you healthy and energized! Let me know :) This is what I am here for.

Recipes compliment of Epicurious.com