What Are The Best Foods For Glowing Skin?

"You are what you eat" goes the old adage, and it's especially true for your skin. The right diet can facilitate healthy skin. These delicious additions to a balanced diet will help maintain a radiant glow:

Green Tea
This delicious and soothing tea has anti-inflammatory properties and is full of antioxidants to help your skin. Whether consumed or applied topically, it can also reduce damage from ultraviolet light, thus reducing skin cancer risks.

Olive Oil
Loaded up with good fats and antioxidants, olive oil is also full of vitamins A and E. All of these nutritional benefits help create younger-looking skin that's softer and smoother. If it's not in your diet already, make sure you add it.

Fish
Wild salmon, herring, and sardines are just a few catches that are full of omega-3 fatty acids, which work wonders to keep skin smooth and gowing. The natural oils in fish also reduce inflammation, which can help conditions like acne and scaly skin while moisturizing.

Avocado
The monosaturated fats found in an avocado are very good for you. These, along with a healthy dose of vitamin E, can really work wonders when it comes to battling dryness. They're really tasty, too, so you can take pleasure in helping your skin and hair.

Oranges
The vitamin C that fruits like oranges are full of helps to stimulate collagen synthesis in your body. This process helps protect against wrinkles. They will also help your skin from getting dry, making them a real help to your skin in general.

Tortuga’s Mexican Village: Rustic Mexican Cooking, Called One of Zagat’s “Best Buys”

Tortuga’s Mexican Eatery serves rustic Mexican cooking that will appeal to all appetites. With mouth-watering shared plates like chunky guacamole, heaping nachos, and sautéed squid in an ink sauce, there’s always something tasty to pass around before the hefty entrees arrive. Meat dishes come straight off the grill, including options like pollo limon (chicken breast simply marinated in lemon juice, cumin, and oregano) and carne asada (grilled skirt steak in a chipotle marinade), while not-to-miss specialties like enchiladas Oaxaca (made with marinated pork tenderloin) and pollo mole (chicken in a spicy, chocolate-pepper sauce) will leave you satisfied for hours after you’ve left.

Tortuga's Mexican Eatery
305 2nd Ave
Collegeville, PA 19426
(610) 489-0600
www.tortugasmv.com/collegeville

Calling all Carnivores to NaBrasa Brazilian Steakhouse

There are two things to keep in mind before you eat at the lively eatery that is NaBrasa: only visit if you are a true meat eater, and make sure to come hungry! A Brazilian Steakhouse boasting a traditional “Rodizio” serving style, NaBrasa is not your average dining experience. Waiters serve your table from all angles bearing skewers of up to twelve different kinds of succulent meats—from flank steak and sirloin to garlic parmesan-crusted pork tenderloin and grilled chicken—and keep it coming until you advise them to stop. Meals range from $29.95 on weekdays to $34.95 per person on weekends (plus drinks and dessert) and include all the food you could ever want: a gourmet salad bar, a variety of sides like Brazilian cheese bread, mashed potatoes, and fried bananas, a parade of meats, and dessert. Pair your meal with a nice vintage wine or traditional martini and there’s very little that can go wrong with the evening.

NaBrasa Brazilian Steakhouse
680 N. Easton Road
Horsham, PA 19044
(215) 956-0600
www.nabrasa.com

 

Finding the Right Exercise Routine for You

So, you’ve decided to get more active this year. Maybe you’re a couch potato trying to take the first steps to get in shape, or maybe you’re active but want to try something new.  Here are some popular exercise options to try:

Exergames
Motion-sensor gaming innovations like the Nintendo Wii and Xbox Kinect have unleashed a wave of game-based exercise programs.

Pros: The games are relatively inexpensive compared to gym membership, can be used at home, and automatically track your progress.

Cons: The workouts are generally mild to moderate (good for beginners but you may soon outgrow them) and sometimes repetitive.

Joining a gym
Today’s gyms offer a great range of exercise machines, classes, and environments.

Pros: You’re paying for it, so you’re more motivated to use it. Most gyms offer a good variety of programs for different fitness levels, personal training, and gyms exist that are targeted to serious athletes, beginners, and women.

Cons: Gyms can be costly and it can be hard to make the time in your day to go there. Some beginners may feel intimidated or self-conscious working out in front of other people.

Heading outside
Many people prefer to get their exercise in the great outdoors. Fresh air, natural beauty, and freedom can be great motivators.

Pros: You can make your own exercise routine and work outdoor activity into your daily schedule. Exercising outside with friends can be appealing and provide motivation.

Cons: If you’re going solo, it can be tough to stay motivated and structured. You are at the mercy of the elements.

Top Five Fabulous Spa Vacations

If you’re looking for a vacation that combines relaxation with invigoration, why not consider booking some delightful getaway time at a spa resort? Here are some of the best destination spas in the country, certain to leave you feeling refreshed and recharged:

Birdwing Spa, Minnesota
This gorgeous lakeside spa offers stunning views, charming suites, and a host of ways to both pamper yourself and promote your wellbeing. Clean food, detox opportunities, cooking presentations, and take-home fitness programs are just some of the many ways that Birdwing will send you home aglow with good health. Click here to learn more.

Canyon Ranch, Massachusetts
Located in the breathtaking Berkshires, Canyon Ranch offers fresh organic cuisine, a vast array of body treatment options, and many different programs promoting physical and spiritual wellness. Exercise aficionados will especially love the spa’s outdoor high-ropes challenge-course. Click here to learn more.

Copperhood Retreat and Spa, New York
This retreat is a particularly good choice for you if love the outdoors. You can hike through the gorgeous Catskills, enjoy nature walks, go fishing, embark on bird watching adventures, and so much more. There are also many indoor wellness-based and pampering activities to relish. Click here for more.

The Oaks Spa, California
If you’re hankering for a warm-weather getaway, then The Oaks is a perfect choice. The spa focuses on detoxification, optimum health, fitness, relaxation, and overall wellness, offering a variety of wellness-promoting services like acupuncture and aromatherapy. Click here for more.

Regency Wellness Resort and Spa, Florida
This ocean-front spa offers the ultimate in dreamy downtime and rejuvenation. Guests love the instruction sessions on healthy cooking and juicing, as well as the aqua classes and the roster of holistic body treatments. Click here to for more.

Sweet Corn: Five Ways To Make Polenta

Polenta is an Italian dish made from boiled grains of cornmeal. Also known as grits, it’s an inexpensive, filling staple that can be cooked in a wide variety of ways. If you’ve never tried it, here are five simple recipes for polenta that you can make at home:

• Cook the polenta in chicken stock to add more depth of flavor and stir in fresh rosemary, golden raisins, and grated Parmesan cheese. This is an excellent side dish that goes with just about any main course.
• For breakfast, cook the polenta in milk instead of water to give it a more robust flavor. Mix in shredded Cheddar cheese, top with a fried egg and serve for a Southern-style start to the day.
• Polenta makes an excellent base for many kinds of meals. Serving a traditional ratatouille (a mixed vegetable stew) on top of a cake of polenta will let the flavors seep into the corn, perfectly finishing the plate.
• If you are cooking for people with a sensitivity to wheat gluten, polenta makes an excellent pizza crust. Cook as normal, let dry and smooth over the base of a pizza pan. Top as normal, bake in a hot oven and serve.
• Polenta cakes are also a great way to serve the dish. Mold them into the size and shape of a can lid, quickly fry them in a pan and top with shredded chicken, chipotle peppers, and shredded cheddar cheese. Bake them in an oven to melt everything together.

Sweet Treats: Five Great Ice Cream Toppings

Sure, ice cream is great on its own, but sometimes you need to add a little something more. If you’re getting sick of sprinkles, here are some suggestions for lesser-known ice cream toppings that will jazz up your dessert service:

• Fruit is a great addition to any bowl of ice cream, both to add fiber and vitamins and also to make for more interesting flavors. One of my favorite additions are super-ripe fresh blueberries – they taste great with a little chill to them and go with just about any flavor of ice cream.
• To add a little crunch to a bowl of ice cream, sprinkle with homemade or store-bought granola. Again, this is something that makes the bowl a little healthier in the long run – not that you should care, if you’re eating ice cream.
• For a super decadent treat, drizzle a bowl of ice cream with caramel sauce and large-grained sea salt. The combination of sweet and savory flavors is absolutely unforgettable.
• To add a Mexican flavor to your chocolate ice cream, make a hot fudge sauce and stir in a liberal dose of ground cinnamon. This vastly improves the flavor, making it richer and more complex.
• Homemade whipped cream is much tastier and better for you than the pre-packaged supermarket variety, and it’s not really difficult to make. When you’re whipping the heavy cream, stir in a little cocoa powder for an extra treat.

Hitting The Water: Take A Trip To Key West

The Florida Keys are among the most beautiful destinations in the Sunshine State, and there’s no better gateway there than Key West. The southernmost point of the continental United States, this island has been a destination for sun-seekers and fun-lovers for generations, and there are many great reasons to visit.

Most people head to Key West for the water activities there – the Atlantic Ocean is crystal clear and warm most of the year, and beaches are full of beautiful people catching rays. But there’s more to do here than just enjoy the climate. To learn a little more about Key West, visit the Audubon House and Tropical Gardens, a beautiful museum that was once home to the legendary naturalist.

Key West is also home to one of the biggest sailing events in the United States, the Key West Race Week every January. This annual regatta brings boats from all over the Eastern Seaboard and is thrilling to participate in.

Key West is also a vibrant cultural center, with a number of hip clubs to enjoy live music, DJs, and dancing. Visual arts have a home here as well, with the Studios of Key West, located in the island’s historic armory, providing working space for artists of all stripes.

For some of the best nightlife in town, head to the Duval Street district, which is home to excellent restaurants, bars, and clubs. Everything here is within walking distance, which makes it more convenient.

A Little Something – Five Great Trifles

Trifles are coming back into fashion in the dessert world. If you’ve never had one, they’re layered treats made with candied fruit, cream, and spongecake, usually presented in a clear dish so you can better admire the visual splendor of the dish. Here are five great ideas for making trifles:

-          Chocolate is an awesome trifle base. Start with lush, creamy brownies, layer them at the bottom of your trifle dish, and then layer coffee-flavored pudding on top. Add chopped chocolate and toffee to finish off the trifle.

-          Angel food cake is a traditional trifle base, and pairs perfectly with fresh berries. One classic trifle uses interspersed layers of cake, fresh whipped cream, blueberries, and strawberries.

-          Bananas make a great trifle base as they retain their shape well when layered. Pair them with coconut macaroons ground up and formed into a cake layer, and then top with whipped cream.

-          Using crumbled graham crackers as the base of a trifle can make it a delicious down-home treat. This pairs exceptionally well with blueberries and fresh cream, as well as melted chocolate.

-          Caramel apple trifles are a great autumn dessert, with crisp, fresh apples cooked with walnuts and maple syrup to make a delicious filling and served over caramel cream cheese and poundcake cubes.

True Stories: Five Essential Non-Fiction Classics

Many readers prefer non-fiction to fiction. The world we live in is so rich and complex that there’s enough to explore without departing from reality. If you’re looking to dip a toe into the most important true stories ever told, this list will get you started:

-        The Diary of Anne Frank. One of the most affecting and powerful historical documents of all time, this slim volume collects the personal journal of a Jewish girl during the Holocaust. Frank’s sad tale is one of the most important artifacts from this terrible time.

-        Walden by Henry David Thoreau. Thoreau’s retreat from society to a cabin in the woods is one of the most important books in American history, as much of the modern environmental movement draws inspiration from his uncomplicated life.

-        The Souls Of Black Folk by W. E. B DuBois. This essential volume is one of the strongest statements in favor of civil rights. Published in 1903, DuBois’s arguments have informed thought for over a century.

-        Homage to Catalonia by George Orwell. Orwell is famous for his fiction, including Animal Farm and 1984, but his first-person account of the Spanish Civil War is gripping and intense, a rare glimpse inside a nationwide upheaval.

-        Working by Studs Terkel. The most recent book on this list, Terkel’s interviews with ordinary people about their jobs ushered in a new era of documentary nonfiction, and it’s an engaging and addictive read.

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