Sunday, December 25, 2005

Just 25 mins and US$10 DIY with milk and keep those wrinkles away !

Babies know all about milk – they refuse to drink anything but milk the minute they arrive in this world, don’t they? Because milk provides them with lots of calcium, high quality protein and good supply of B vitamins, phosphorus and zinc, all of which are important in healthy bones and teeth.

Now if you are one of those ladies who shun milk because of its high fat & calories content, re-think your choice. Do you know that if we store enough calcium in our body when we are still young, we can prevent osteoporosis in our old age? I’m sure you wouldn’t want to deal with the consequences of calcium shortage in your later life.

Milk comes in many guises – skimmed, low fat, yoghurt etc. They even come in mixed with other flavours we like – banana, strawberry, chocolate etc.

Those who are intolerant of the lactose (milk sugar) in cow’s milk, I suggest goat milk as a better alternative. For vegans who reject all dairy products, they can get their calcium from vegetables, pulses and nuts. But the drawback is the calcium from these foods is absorbed less efficiently than it is from milk.

Besides taken internally, you also find milk in shower baths, moisturisers, shampoos etc. The effect is to moisturize, strengthen and whiten the skin. Here I recommend these six facial and hands DIYs treatments, using milk as the main ingredient. Choose any one of them, apply it regularly and you will see the results as fast as in one month's time.

FACIAL DIY TREATMENTS

• Half of a ripe banana, smash it, add enough milk to form a paste, then apply on the face for 15-20 minutes, rinse it off.

(Cleanses the skin, removes freckles and pimples)

• Mix 100 ml each of Yoghurt, honey, lemon juice, with 5 capsules of vitamin E, apply on the face for 15 minutes, rinse it off.

(Removes dead skin, invigorates the growth of new skins)

• Mix 100 ml of milk, 50 g of strawberry into a paste, apply on the face for 20 minutes, rinse it off.

(Prevents premature ageing and drying of the skin, moisturize the skin)

• Mix 50ml of milk, add 4-5 drops of olive oil, and enough flour to form a paste, apply on the face for 20 minutes, rinse it off.

(Whiten the skin, keep the skin supple.)

• Mix Yoghurt and whipped cream in equal proportions, apply on the face for 20 minutes, rinse it off.

(Use over time will increase the suppleness of the skin, prevent wrinkles)

NAILS DIY TREATMENT

• This is for your nails – soak your hands in a tub of warm water, mix with 5 tablespoons of milk powder for 5 minutes.

(Prevents chipping of the nails and moisturize the skins around the nails.)

link | posted by Laura Ng at 7:23 AM | 0 comments

Tuesday, December 20, 2005

Zesty lemons

When we describe a woman to be like a lemon, it means she is tart, acidic, astringent but also surprisingly invigorating. Not many men can handle that though.

Apart from that, adding a squeeze of the lemon to food and drink does invigorates their taste and smell . Their fresh and heady citrus scent will blossom in your nose even before your eyes can spy the fruit.

Do you know a single lemon contains 35 % of Vit C your body needs every day? Not to mention other goodness they contain, like vitamin B, vitamin E, potassium and a host of other important minerals. They also contain bioflavonoids, which act as powerful antioxidants. Therefore, a glass of fresh lemon juice drink gives you the Vit C you need with very few calories.

Remedy for colds : lemon juice mix with hot water and a teaspoon of honey. Honey soothes the sore throat. Lemon juice contains an oil which may help to relieve rheumatism by stimulating the liver to expel toxins from the body.

Look out for : citrus fruits have been linked to migraine and some people are allergic to them. As lemon juice is highly acidic, it can destroy tooth enamel. Lemons are normally treated with fungicide spray and wax, so be sure to wash it thoroughly under warm tap, especially if you need to grate its skin for use.

You may notice that there are three types of lemon available, namely common (The Eureka and Lisbon), sweet (The Meyer) and rough (Rough Lemon).

Common - The Eureka and Lisbon
They are commonly found in supermarkets. Both of them are true bitter lemons with high juice and acid content. Compared to Lisbon, the eureka skin is more texturised and is virtually seedless.

Sweet – The Meyer
The meyer has lower acidity, reduced bitterness and softer pulp texture. The mature fruit turns from yellow to an orangey colour.

Rough – Rough Lemon
It has a very coarse skin, is round and slightly bigger than common lemon.

Have a go at this simple recipe. You may substitute apples with other fruits like bananas.

APPLES FRITTERS WITH A ZEST
Ingredients :

• ½ cup all-purpose flour


• 1 pinch salt


• 2 tablespoon white sugar


• ¼ cup milk


• 2 eggs, beaten


• 1 ½ teaspoons grated lemon zest


• 2 large apples


• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil


• 1 tablespoon butter

Directions:

• In a large bowl, mix flour, salt and sugar, pour in milk, a little at a time, stirring to make a smooth batter. Beat in eggs and lemon zest.



• Core and peel apples, then cut in wedges, cut each wedge crosswise into thin slices. Toss apples in batter to coat.



• In a large skillet over medium heat, heat oil and butter, drop fritter mixture by spoonfuls into pan and cook, turning once until golden brown. Plate and sprinkle with sugar. Serve warm.

link | posted by Laura Ng at 8:12 AM | 2 comments

Sunday, December 04, 2005

Who says Mr Cucumber is cheap and useless?

Ladies on diet love the cucumber for its refreshing and low-in-calories quality as 96.4% of it is water. It is a natural diuretic, but not a particularly powerful one.

Choose firm cucumbers without soft spots. With the exception of lemon cucumbers, they should have a solid green color without signs of yellowing or puffiness. Cucumber can be eaten on its own or as a garnishing to dishes. For those nights when you don’t feel like cooking up a storm, I recommend this quick, simple-to-prepare vegan salad recipe of a sweet-sour-salty taste which never fails to increase your appetite. It goes great with egg/tofu and rice.

SALAD RECIPE
Ingredients : Serves 6 to 8

• 1 seedless (hothouse/English/burpless) cucumber


• 4 shallots (or 1 red onion)


• 1 piece radish, coarsely chopped


• 1/2 cup (125 ml) rice wine vinegar


• 2 teaspoons soy sauce


• 1 teaspoon sesame oil


• 2 teaspoons evaporated cane juice (or light brown sugar)


• a pinch of cayenne


• salt and pepper to taste

Preparation :

1. Remove the ends of the cucumber and slice as thinly as possible.


2. Cut off both ends of the shallots (or onion), peel and slice lengthwise as thinly as possible. If any of the shallot slices are attached at the root end, pull them apart.


3. Toss cucumber and shallot slices in a large bowl.


4. Whisk together remaining ingredients and pour over vegetables. Serve immediately or store in refrigerator until ready to serve.

Another of my favourite quick-to-cook recipe is Cucumber Omelette, which sure to attract both young and old alike.

CUCUMBER OMELETTE
Ingredients : Serves 4

1 seedless cucumber, cut in strips

2 slices of ginger

4 eggs, beaten

2 tablespoon of parmesan cheese

2 teaspoons Light soy sauce

Black pepper to taste

Preparation :

Stir-fry ginger till fragrant. Add in cucumber and fry for a minute before adding the soy sauce. Lower the heat, pour the beaten egg evenly over the cucumber and sprinkle the cheese and black pepper evenly over the egg. When one side of the egg is cooked, slowly flip it onto the other side and let it cooked completely. Serve it hot.

Cucumber is also widely used in facial mask for its cleansing and soothing effect. Here’s a simple and commonly DIY facial mask to try.

CUCUMBER FACIAL DIY

Ingredients:
- 1/2 cucumber
- 1 egg white
- 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 Teaspoon dried mint flakes

Method :
1. Mix all ingredients together in blender until smooth.

2. Refrigerate for 10 minutes.

3. Apply to face and leave on 15 minutes.

4. Rinse with hot water, then cool water.

5. The facial mask is best when used immediately as the ingredients are perishable. The leftovers can be refrigerated in the coldest section of the refrigerator for up to 1-2 days but should be discarded after that.

link | posted by Laura Ng at 6:33 AM | 1 comments

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