Lemon Citrus Salt Body Scrub

Who doesn't love soft, beautiful skin? 

I know I do.

And let's be honest, now that the weather is starting to brighten up, you're going to start breaking out those cute sandals and sleeveless tops and we all need to make sure our skin is soft, vibrant and ready for all the attention it's going to get.

 

This winter I made my Warm Vanilla Brown Sugar Coconut Body Scrub. It was so easy {and very cheap to make} so I bottled them up and gave them as gifts to all my family and friends for the holidays.

I loved the scrub so why not share the love... with my loves?

Well, I started getting calls and texts back from everyone that their jars were empty and they were ready for a refill. Refills, really? Must be better than I thought.

 

I know my bottle was empty as well so second and third batches were absolutely necessary and well on there way, but the beauty of it {besides my revitalized skin} was that each massive batch was still only about $10 in supplies... completely doable. 


As I probably mentioned before, our trip in the fall to the Von Trapp Resort in Vermont was where I really peeked an interest in homemade scrubs. The girls and I went to the spa for a treatment and I was offered salt or sugar scrub to exfoliate my skin... bliss. The masseuse and I were chatting and she mentioned that the sugar scrub doesn't exfoliate as much as the salt but really softens your skin leaving it very supple where the salt scrub is a much harder exfoliant for scraping away dead skin cells, leaving you with soft radiant skin. 


The other helpful hint she gave me in making my decision for my treatment was that if I had shaved my legs recently I wouldn't want to try the salt as it might sting in any sensitive spots. This ultimately led me to choose the sugar scrub because I had shaved my legs that morning for the hot tub.


Yes, this was a very rough vacation {wink:wink}!  

Naturally when I went to try my first scrub I used sugar, just as I had done in the spa however, now that spring is here and I want to rejuvenate my skin and get it ready for the warm summer sun I was ready for a fresh salt scrub.

Cute new flats and now fresh soft skin!

I am a huge fan of citrus in the shower. My shampoo's and bath bar's are all some version of a citrus blend, the smell is fresh and always wakes me up in the morning. How could I go wrong with a citrus salt scrub, it's the perfect vibrant combination.


I used a blend of all different grains of salt for texture. The awakening smell of the citrus juices and zest mixed with the sweetness of the coconut was fabulous... you could almost eat this mixture rubbed over fish or something. I actually bet 
you that would be delicious, just not after you've used this in the shower...yuk!


This citrus scrub is fresh and fabulous. Exfoliates and rejuvenates your skin leaving it soft, supple and moisturized from the natural oils so you don't have to worry about the salt drying out your skin. 


Share with your friends and try it for yourself, it's the spa treatment you can have everyday in your own home.

Lemon Citrus Salt Body Scrub

Ingredients
1/2 cup sea salt
1/4 cup kosher salt
1 1/2 tbsp coconut oil
2 tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp lemon zest

Mix all ingredients in a small bowl 

*Apply to hands, feet or body. Scrub thoroughly for 2-3 minutes. When done scrubbing, rinse briefly with lukewarm water and pat dry.
Recipe and photos by A Heathy Jalapeño 

Last Post: Beer Braised Chorizo Tostadas

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Beer Braised Chorizo Tostada's

I am so excited to be guest posting today for Carrie over at Bakeaholic Mama. It was back in January that Carrie guest posted for me here on A Healthy Jalapeño for her very FIRST guest post so I am happy that I finally get to return the favor. 

Carrie and I talked about how she was looking for me to share with you all a light and ethnic recipe that was sure to please. I was more than up for the challenge and seeing as how my favorite ethnic go-to cuisine is normally Mexican, I knew I had something super tasty and delicious in mind that would be sure to make YOU drool. 


As Carrie says "This may not be the lowest calorie dish on the block but it has so much going on". It has all of the key elements for filling your bellies with delicious fresh ingredients that when combined, create a party in your mouth. The true highlight of this dish is the beer braised chorizo because has such amazing flavor and will  actually fill your house with the sweet and spicy smell of the meat. I favor Mexican dishes because veggies and spices are super healthy by nature and you can add as much or as little as you'd like. Add a simple braised meat and wrap and you have created a delicious meal with tons of flavor that will fill you up without making you feel cheated.

Beer braised chorizo, organic refried beans, lettuce, pico de gallo, avocados and shredded cheese all thrown together in a tostada and drizzled with the most outrageous sauce... yup, this is one plate you will be sure to finish, but make sure you savor and relish each and every bite. 


Come on over to Bakeaholic Mama to see this delicious recipe and let Carrie know I sent you. I hope you all enjoy it!

Last Post: Light Spinach Breakfast Squares

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Light Spinach Breakfast Squares {SRC}

Did I ever tell you all how much I enjoy being a part of the Secret Recipe Club???

I have been a member for over 6 months now and ever time it's a new adventure and delicious dish. It doesn't matter the experience, the health conscious or the taste of each of these bloggers, each and everyone brings something delicious to the table.

This month I have the pleasure to introduce you to Daily Dish Recipes . I have spent weeks {well three to be exact} scanning over ever inch of this blog, recipe after recipe for what I was going to grab me and get me in the kitchen while still staying healthy and swim-suit ready.

I had some serious temptations with these caramel coconut cupcakes {I have a very soft side for coconut cupcakes thanks to my bestie Nicole, her's are amazing}. Then I wondered over to the homemade strawberry irish cream soda's and being that I have just made an Italian Soda, I thought this lined up perfectly with that delicious concept. I am Irish after all, so a soft drink like this, and homemade, had to be amazing. 

Well, as I perused and drooled and contemplated recipe after recipe, I finally landed on this fabulous breakfast treat. I have a weak spot for spinach and it sort-of screams out to me on a page when I am looking through magazines or recipes because the flavor is so light, yet the color and health benefits are hard to ignore. 

I saw the word spinach and eagerly waited on my slow {work} computer to load up the post... I was so excited. Breakfast and spinach is a combination I happen to obsesses over and try to create as often as possible {like having two poached eggs over spinach on and english muffin Sunday morning at brunch, washed down with just a few bloody mary's}. 


But why not have something as delicious cooked at home?


I mean, I will always be up for Sunday brunch with never-ending bloody mary's but on those off days that I can't get there... you better believe I am turning to recipes just like this.

This delicious spinach breakfast recipe was passed along by a friend and I was so happy to come in counter with it. An easy was to get everyone eating their spinach and loving it too. 

Breakfast just got better, and easier too. Eat immediately or save the rest to reheat and eat the rest of the week. The most important meal of the day is now in squares and is going to start your day right.

Light Spinach Breakfast Squares
Servings: 6

Ingredients
1 cup Bisquick
2 egg whites
1 egg
1/4 cup almond milk
1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped

Second layer
1 10oz pkg. of frozen chopped spinach, thawed
1 jalapeño, diced
1 1/2 cup reduced-fat cottage cheese (1% milk)
3/4 cup monterey jack cheese, shredded (I used HeluvaGood with jalapeno's)
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
2 egg whites
1 egg
1 tsp garlic powder

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Remove the thawed spinach from package, and press dry with a towel, removing as much moisture as possible.

In one bowl, combine the first five ingredients. Spread the first level of batter into a greased 11″X7″ baking pan. In another bowl, combine the second layer of ingredients and gently spoon the mixture over the batter already in the pan. Sprinkle with any remaining monterey jack cheese to top.

Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 28-30 minutes or until cooked through and golden brown. Check to be sure it is cooked all the way through, by inserting a toothpick into the center. It should come out clean. 

Serve hot.
Photos by A Healthy Jalapeño Recipe adopted by Daily Dish Recipes

*Helpful Hints: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Once cooked it can be frozen, but I recommend cutting it into squares first and storing them not touching in an airtight container lined with waxed paper. When ready to eat, remove a piece from the freezer, wrap loosely in a paper towel, and heat in the microwave for 1 minute, turn or flip, then add 30 -45 seconds or until hot.

Nutrition: 

calories 251

fat 9g

 cholesterol 92mg

  sodium 725m

 carbohydrate 21g 

fiber 2g

 protein 20g

Last Post: Blood Orange Italian Soda

Enjoy!

Blood Orange Italian Soda

Winter ran away too early this year. In fact, I don't know if it really ever showed it's face? This week marks the first of spring but the temperatures outside here in Connecticut tell otherwise because it's been high 70's and even into the 80's for a couple of weeks now.

Beautiful, beautiful. 

Well as much as I love the springtime, flip-flops and sun dresses, I didn't get to sneak in a few last minute winter-fresh recipes. Not fair. I was at the grocery store the other night and they still had blood oranges on the shelf so I had to grab a couple and get to work on a drink I have been eyeing all winter long.


Winter or spring, I was going to get juicing! 

Paul and I occasionally go to Stew Leonard's, especially when we want a really nice cut of meat, and I have to admit more than once I ended up picking up their fresh Limeade and their Blood Orange Soda. Who could resist? Plus, they are great to have on hand for instant cocktail mixers... way better than the junk you get in the liquor store.

This homemade soda uses simple syrup to sweeten up the beverage and even though I normally use raw sugar for everything, you are better off with traditional sugar as it dilutes easier. You could also use agave nectar here instead of the simple syrup since agave dissolves almost instantly in cold beverages.

Blood oranges are a winter fruit but as I said, I was able to find them this week in the grocery shop. If it's way past the point of peek season for you then use this same recipe with other fruits like regular oranges, peaches….or grapefruits! You might need to adjust the amount of simple syrup based on your desired level of sweetness if you are working with a more bitter-tasting fruit. Even better, you are now making soda at home instead of buying those high sugar, no nutritional value soft drinks. What's better than that?

Put on your apron and get juicing... it's so going to be worth it!

Blood Orange Italian Soda
Yields: 1 pint soda
Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients
Simple syrup
1 cup sugar
1 cup water

Soda
2 large blood oranges
2 cups sparkling Italian mineral water
2 tbsp prepared simple syrup (or to taste) OR agave syrup

To make simple syrup, combine sugar and water in a saucepot on the stove and bring to a simmer. Continue to simmer while stirring until all sugar has been dissolved. Take pan off heat and let cool before storing simple syrup in the fridge (I store mine in a mason jar and it lasts me about two weeks or so).

To make sodas, juice oranges and then strain juice into a large glass. Add soda water and prepared simple syrup to taste. Serve.


*Add 1-2oz of your favorite liquor and turn this soda into a Saturday night cocktail.

Photos by A Healthy Jalapeño
Recipe adopted by Eat.Live.Run

Last Post: Hot Guacamole Hummus

Featured in: Foodbuzz's Top 9
Featured in: DailyBuzz Healthy Living Top 9

Enjoy!

Hot Guacamole Hummus

Avocado here, avocado there, avocado everywhere!


So wouldn't you know that I won a giveaway from a fellow foodie blogger of SoCal avocados! So excellent, we love avocados and make guacamole on a regular basis to go with our homemade salsa. These avocados were going to come in so handy and I had a few recipes in mind that I wanted to test out with these SoCal suckers. 

But when I got my package in the mail I was so excited, brought it upstairs, tore it open and what... there were over 25+ avocados in the box.


I was in avocado heaven. There are sooooo many recipes I can make with all of this but after a couple of days they started to ripen quickly and I needed to get a move on pitting and dicing these beauties.

 Avocados are one of those really healthy fats, one that you should have often and that you body needs and enjoys. Avocados are also very versatile. If you look below I have recipes for guacamole and an avocado salad, but I also have avocados in an ice cream. Surprised? You can tweak avocados to be sweet of savory and either way it's going to be delicious.


One of the first recipes I made was this hummus. Hummus is something we normally have around the house because it's a healthy snack with veggies or a quick appetizer with cops for guests. Either way, it's quick to whip up and very tasty, so when I saw this recipe to transform guacamole into a hummus I knew this would be delicious.

This spicy guacamole hummus was perfect served up with chips and it's all coming to work with me today with veggies for my afternoon snack. The flavor of the guacamole is creamy and nutty while the hummus is the thickening agent that satisfies your cravings.

This dish is bright, creamy and colorful to incise your taste buds, all with the help of my beautifully ripe SoCal Avocados. This took only moments to blend together and I was snacking on a healthy delicious treat in no time. 

Stay tuned, there are still another 20-someodd more avocado recipes on the rise where this all came from.

Hot Guacamole Hummus

Serves 8

Ingredients
1 15oz. can chickpeas, rinsed & drained 
1 ripe avocado, roughly chopped

3 cups fresh cilantro leaves
2 garlic clove  

1 small jalapeño
4 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
2 tbsp fresh lemon juice

2 tbsp water
1 1/2 tsp sriracha chili sauce
coarse salt & fresh ground pepper
lemon wedges and cilantro, for garnish 

In a food processor, combine chickpeas, avocado, cilantro, garlic and jalapeño. Process until finely chopped. With machine running, add olive oil in a slow, steady stream, then add lemon juice, sriracha sauce and then add water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until mixture is smooth. 

Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve with lemon wedges and tortilla chips.

Photos by A Healthy Jalapeño
Recipe adapted from Everyday Food Magazine

More Avocado Recipes:

Classic Guacamole

Avocado Salad with Sausage and Strawberry-Shallot Vinaigrette

Vanilla Avocado Banana 'Ice Cream'

What's your favorite thing to make with avocados? What's the wildest thing you have created with an avocado?

Last Post: Laughing Cow Spaghetti Pie


Featured in: DailyBuzz Healthy Living Top 9

Enjoy!

The Laughing Cow® Spaghetti Pie

Have you laughed today?

I have, and I am laughing all the way to the weight scale.

Why you ask?

Well, yours truly was contacted by The Laughing Cow® to taste-test, review and share the unique and different ways you can enjoy their delicious cheese, specifically when it comes to making those down-home comfort foods, in a healthier comfort dish that everyone would love..

I was sooooooooooooo excited!

I love comfort food, enjoying that soft melted grilled cheese sandwich or warm cozy chowder soup sets your mind and mood at ease on cold or dreary days. You know, those days that a healthy salad and veggies won't cut it and you really crave something satisfying, but you feel guilty because you know you are sacrificing your health for taste.

Well, lucky for us both, The Laughing Cow® has a few tricks up their sleeve for delicious comfort food dishes that won't upset your taste buds or your waist line. I told them immediately that I was interested in one of their secret comfort recipes and I waited anxiously by the door each day until my package came in the mail with my mysterious recipe and ingredients.

 

Wouldn't you know that my package came on a Thursday, the day we were having a few friends over for a volleyball game and dinner afterwards. I'll give you one guess what I made.

My package came with one wheel of Laughing Cow® Light French Onion Cheese Wedges, a container of tomato and basil spaghetti sauce and a package of whole wheat organic spaghetti, and all I needed to do was run to the store for some ground turkey.

The recipe they sent me for my surprise dish that I was going to be making called for lean ground beef but I figured with everything going into a delicious pie and marinating together, why not go healthier. Beef can be very flavorful but when we are trying to accent the creamy flavors in the cheese and the sauce, those flavors might get overpowered by the beef so I decided to go with lean ground turkey. It's healthier than beef and also has a milder taste so that we could really bring out the cheesy flavors in this dish.

After my quick trip to the store I started to cook and assemble this beautiful dish so that when we got back from volleyball I just had to pop it in the oven and we would be good to eat.

 

We came back hungry and ready to dig in to something amazing, and we did just that. No time for pictures, no time for food styling and perfect lighting, just plates, forks and a place to plop down and start eating.

Everyone loved it. 

Everyone loved it so much that there was nothing left... not even enough for an after shot, which I guess was a good problem to have because now I had to...

make another one!

This time I put a little more planning into what I was going to add and change up to really make this dish my own while keeping the essense of the original recipe. This of course also meant that I had to go out and buy more ingredients because we gobbled the first ones up. Happy to do it!

The second time was just as good as the first, but with a few added fresh ingredients and more time to salivate over how pretty it all looked. 

The Laughing Cow® was right on with satisfying your cravings without breaking your summer bikini plan. 

This dish was delicious, calorie-conscious comfort food at it's best. It was simple to throw together and little effort on healthy planning ahead unlike other dishes and meals. Comfort food you can really indulge in with health-conscious ingredients to make sure you are never missing any of the flavor is something to always smile about! 

So I ask again, have you laughed today?

The The Laughing Cow® Spaghetti Pie
Servings: 12


Ingredients
16 oz whole wheat spaghetti
1 lb lean ground turkey meat
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 tsp garlic, minced
24 oz jar spaghetti sauce
2 tbsp fresh basil, chopped
1/2 teaspoon dried leaf oregano, crumbled
2 wedges of The Laughing Cow® Light French Onion Cheese
2 cups (8 oz) shredded mozzarella cheese, shredded
1 cup parmesan cheese, shredded
salt and cracked pepper, to taste
parmesan and asiago cheese for topping


Preheat oven to 370 degrees F. Prepare spaghetti as package directs, or a minute or two less as it's going to cook again in the oven.


Brown onion, garlic and ground turkey meat in a pan. Once cooked, add spaghetti sauce and season to taste with salt, pepper and fresh basil. Unwrap the The Laughing Cow® Cheese Wedges and mix them into the meat and sauce mixture along with the cooked pasta, shredded mozzarella and shredded parmesan.

Spray a 13x9 baking dish with cooking spray and pour in the spaghetti mixture. Top with additional shredded cheese and fresh basil, to taste. Bake uncovered for 15 minutes.

“The Laughing Cow® provided me with product for this review.”

Calories, 339

Fat, 12g  

Sodium, 546mg

Carbs, 37g

Fiber, 1g

Sugar, 5g

Protein, 23g

Last Post: Irish Cream Latte Guinness Cupcakes

Enjoy!  

A Spicy New Look & Design

Hi friends!

So if you haven't been by in the past couple of days than you wouldn't have seen my new webpage and design I have been working on with my friend Linnea. Isn't it adorable?

Linnea is best friends with another blogger I love and follow, Jessica over at Monster Cakes. Well, I adored the clean and simple look of Jessica's page and started to ask her who was the artist behind her cute-sie blog. Well, wouldn't you know it was her friend and she offered to help me out with my little webspace here to really add a little of my style.

I have been trying to get a new web design since August 2011, that's a long time in progress but the company I originally started working with up and vanished.

How rude!

So after re-cooping, I starting asking my bloggy friends, the people I trust with my blog to honestly tell me the truths and facts about the best options and where they went to put their vision to life. This is where Linnea came in. She was so eager to work with me and even my pesky requests and odd recess were answered with absolutely and or course. She was great, and I thought a little too great when I saw her emailing me at 3am... very dedicated. Well, that was until I realized she also lives in Oregon and our time difference was really the factor. Needless to say, she was great and here we are!


I have a soft linen backdrop, cute hubby letters and check out those easy to use media buttons... I am so trendy!

I even have a blog button now!!!

Feel free to add me to your sidebars.

<a href="http://www.ahealthyjalapeno.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1262.photobucket.com/albums/ii616/healthyjalapeno/blogbutton3.jpg" width="175" height="175" alt="blogbutton3" /></a>">

 I was so happy to work with Linnea, a fellow blogger, because I would rather my money go to someone in my shoes, building and expanding on something they love. Plus, there is more of a personal connection when working with a fellow blogger, writer and friend. Come check out her adorable page over at Milk and Honey and Anything Lovely and see more of her great work, and if you like it shoot her an email to get more information. Make sure you tell her I sent you!



So here it is... I hope you all like it! as much as I do!


:)
Laura