Healthful & Light
When you think of eating light, inevitably your mind lands upon the ubiquitous salad. Luckily, there is more to healthful eating than a plateful of raw veggies.
I have a lot of friends who are very conscious of what they eat, so I love to treat them to seafood and fish whenever possible. In the Twin Cities, Coastal Seafoods is my go-to for the best quality, as well as great recipes. Try their Thai Flavored Grilled Swordfish for loads of flavor without lots of fat and calories. Celebrity chef Daniel Green also has a great website with fabulous seafood recipes that are tasty and good for you at www.televisioncookery.com. His Miso Salmon is out of this world!
A favorite of mine is beans. Beans are high in protein and fiber, and can stand up well to strong flavors well. I like to add cannellini beans to sautéed onions and garlic, along with some red pepper flakes, sundried tomatoes and fresh basil. Finish with salt, pepper and a squeeze of lemon juice, and you have wonderful side or bruschetta topping.
Wondering what to start the party with? When in doubt, go simple - take a slice of hearty whole grain bread, toast, then spread with fresh avocado. Layer with sliced cucumbers or tomatoes, season with salt & pepper and serve. The lusciousness of the avocado will fool your guests into thinking they are getting something sinful. Another indispensable recipe couldn't be easier - Ceviche. Mix chopped raw (peeled and deveined) shrimp with diced serrano peppers, cilantro, tomatoes, avocados, red onion and mango - season with fresh squeezed lime juice, salt and pepper and let refrigerate for an hour before serving.
- Kiersa Notz, Creative Director, the Affair
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
the Glass
Healthy Pours
The phrase "healthy cocktail" seems to be a contradiction in terms. It's not "a cocktail a day keeps the doctor away." It's apples, so unless you're having an Appletini, that saying isn't going to take the nation by storm. But there are some healthy options to offer your guests.
Green tea is wonderful on its own, but it also can be used as an infusion with vodka. Use 1 tea bag per ½ c. vodka or 6 tea bags per 750 ml of vodka and let steep for at least four hours. From there you can use your imagination and create your own "healthy" martini! A great source for green tea is Mrs. Kelly's Tea at www.mrskellystea.com.
For the beer drinker at your party, it's simple. Offer a light beer. My choices are Miller Lite with only 96 calories and Amstel Light with 95. These two have very different tastes, and will offer a choice for your guests, depending on their palette.
It's not easy to create healthy alternatives for your guests when it comes to alcohol, but with a little help from your friends (from your favorite local spirits retailer) and maybe a fun taste testing session, it can be done.
Cheers to your health!
- Laurie Ziegler, Gourmet Food & Wine, the Affair
The phrase "healthy cocktail" seems to be a contradiction in terms. It's not "a cocktail a day keeps the doctor away." It's apples, so unless you're having an Appletini, that saying isn't going to take the nation by storm. But there are some healthy options to offer your guests.
Green tea is wonderful on its own, but it also can be used as an infusion with vodka. Use 1 tea bag per ½ c. vodka or 6 tea bags per 750 ml of vodka and let steep for at least four hours. From there you can use your imagination and create your own "healthy" martini! A great source for green tea is Mrs. Kelly's Tea at www.mrskellystea.com.
For the beer drinker at your party, it's simple. Offer a light beer. My choices are Miller Lite with only 96 calories and Amstel Light with 95. These two have very different tastes, and will offer a choice for your guests, depending on their palette.
It's not easy to create healthy alternatives for your guests when it comes to alcohol, but with a little help from your friends (from your favorite local spirits retailer) and maybe a fun taste testing session, it can be done.
Cheers to your health!
- Laurie Ziegler, Gourmet Food & Wine, the Affair
the Flare
Spa Décor - From Set Up to Chill Out
Looking to enjoy some pampered time with friends? Why not recreate the spa experience at home and invite your girlfriends over for some quality time together. Just like a good spa day, it is nice to experience a variety of services. I recommend setting up stations or zones for each treatment throughout your home. Depending on how many people attend, the stations might need to accommodate multiple people, so be sure to keep that in mind when setting them up. Have multiple mirrors, chairs, cute dishes of cotton balls, or whatever that station needs available along with baskets of towels and lots of comfy pillows. And if you are going to bring in professionals to provide services, be sure to schedule more than one of each so that multiple people can be getting massages while others do their nails or get facials.
In order to ensure you and your guests are relaxed, create a calming atmosphere using the soft lighting instructions in my previous article "It's All About the Lighting - Creating That Soft Glow." Add in some flowers or candles with calming scents, like lavender. Then let the music help set the mood - a mix of soft, relaxing tunes can help you zone out in the best way possible. I recommend Cesaria Evora's albums - I can't understand her lyrics since they are in Portuguese, but her haunting velvety voice carries the emotion of her music so clearly that I can't stop swaying. Café Atlantico and Miss Perfumado are my two favorite albums by her. Or you can have the folks at Mix & Burn create a custom music mix for your party, which also serve as great parting gifts for guests or hostess gifts. Their wide selection of music styles allows you to craft just the right blend of sounds for anything from a spa party to a global dance party. The Mix & Burn kiosk can be found at the Woodbury Borders store, along with a great selection of CDs.
- Colleen Fox Slack, Home & Culinary, the Affair
Looking to enjoy some pampered time with friends? Why not recreate the spa experience at home and invite your girlfriends over for some quality time together. Just like a good spa day, it is nice to experience a variety of services. I recommend setting up stations or zones for each treatment throughout your home. Depending on how many people attend, the stations might need to accommodate multiple people, so be sure to keep that in mind when setting them up. Have multiple mirrors, chairs, cute dishes of cotton balls, or whatever that station needs available along with baskets of towels and lots of comfy pillows. And if you are going to bring in professionals to provide services, be sure to schedule more than one of each so that multiple people can be getting massages while others do their nails or get facials.
In order to ensure you and your guests are relaxed, create a calming atmosphere using the soft lighting instructions in my previous article "It's All About the Lighting - Creating That Soft Glow." Add in some flowers or candles with calming scents, like lavender. Then let the music help set the mood - a mix of soft, relaxing tunes can help you zone out in the best way possible. I recommend Cesaria Evora's albums - I can't understand her lyrics since they are in Portuguese, but her haunting velvety voice carries the emotion of her music so clearly that I can't stop swaying. Café Atlantico and Miss Perfumado are my two favorite albums by her. Or you can have the folks at Mix & Burn create a custom music mix for your party, which also serve as great parting gifts for guests or hostess gifts. Their wide selection of music styles allows you to craft just the right blend of sounds for anything from a spa party to a global dance party. The Mix & Burn kiosk can be found at the Woodbury Borders store, along with a great selection of CDs.
- Colleen Fox Slack, Home & Culinary, the Affair
the Inspiration
Mind, Body and Spirit
In the true spirit of Staycations, we've modified our spa routine as well. When lounging for a weekend at Sundara Inn and Spa in the Wisconsin Dells area is no longer an option, consider bringing the peaceful atmosphere to you! Every moment and every aspect of your 'normal' routine can feel like a personal treatment, if you pair up with these award-winning, and chi-conscience vendors.
Hilary Bullock – Consultation, Land Care, and Garden Design works with you to create personal landscapes that are beautiful, dynamic and livable - while promoting ecological health, energy conservation and environmental stewardship. The use of stone, metal, local botanicals and wood will further preserve and enhance the tranquility of your garden.
To continue to surround yourself with beauty and inspiration, turn to Summer Harsh Botanical Artistry. This are not your typical bouquets! Summer's mission is to make exquisite, high-end floral design accessible to all.
A relaxed and rejuvenated spa princess needs not plan meals and menus either. Solo by Bonicelli has developed one of the most ideal fresh meal delivery programs in the metro are, it is like having your own personal chef. Solo's unique packaging makes preparation simple and entrees' cooked to perfection.
A cleansed mind, body and spirit deserves equally cleansed and clean clothing! Mulberrys Cleaners delivers, literally. 100% toxin-free cleaning, combined with innovation and customer service. The use of odorless CO2 stain-removal means no chemical smell, fading, shrinking or pilling. Freshness mission complete!
- Janna O'Meara, Entertaining & Events, the Affair
In the true spirit of Staycations, we've modified our spa routine as well. When lounging for a weekend at Sundara Inn and Spa in the Wisconsin Dells area is no longer an option, consider bringing the peaceful atmosphere to you! Every moment and every aspect of your 'normal' routine can feel like a personal treatment, if you pair up with these award-winning, and chi-conscience vendors.
Hilary Bullock – Consultation, Land Care, and Garden Design works with you to create personal landscapes that are beautiful, dynamic and livable - while promoting ecological health, energy conservation and environmental stewardship. The use of stone, metal, local botanicals and wood will further preserve and enhance the tranquility of your garden.
To continue to surround yourself with beauty and inspiration, turn to Summer Harsh Botanical Artistry. This are not your typical bouquets! Summer's mission is to make exquisite, high-end floral design accessible to all.
A relaxed and rejuvenated spa princess needs not plan meals and menus either. Solo by Bonicelli has developed one of the most ideal fresh meal delivery programs in the metro are, it is like having your own personal chef. Solo's unique packaging makes preparation simple and entrees' cooked to perfection.
A cleansed mind, body and spirit deserves equally cleansed and clean clothing! Mulberrys Cleaners delivers, literally. 100% toxin-free cleaning, combined with innovation and customer service. The use of odorless CO2 stain-removal means no chemical smell, fading, shrinking or pilling. Freshness mission complete!
- Janna O'Meara, Entertaining & Events, the Affair
the Ensemble
Spa Style
StormSister Spatique carries all the fun products you need for your spa party! Located at the top of the Smith Ave. High Bridge in St Paul, StormSister is a really unique boutique. Owner Becky Sturm combines the luxury spa products you would see at a spa, locally produced organic products, as well as beautiful accessories and other must have items all in an artsy boutique style setting. In addition to having a storefront, her products are also all available online at www.stormsister.biz. Now onto the essentials!
Don't forget to pick up a Knot-a-Schmata for each of your guests. Available in many fabrics and colors, this is a great take home gift, as well an essential when holding the hair back during facials or when the cucumbers are on the eyes. They are a stretchy, cotton fabric, worn to look like a scarf, but with no knot. It never falls out, or gets tangled in your hear, and holds your hair back just like a headband. Your guests will love them!
StormSister also has the perfect parting gift - Bath Bombs. Everyone will think they are actual cupcakes! Remove the wrapper and throw it into your foot spa or bath for a fun extra special treat. Available in Eucalyptus, Lavender and Sweet Tangerine.
See these gifts and more at StormSisters booth at the Affair.
- Sarah Ramsay, Fashion & Lifestyle, the Affair
StormSister Spatique carries all the fun products you need for your spa party! Located at the top of the Smith Ave. High Bridge in St Paul, StormSister is a really unique boutique. Owner Becky Sturm combines the luxury spa products you would see at a spa, locally produced organic products, as well as beautiful accessories and other must have items all in an artsy boutique style setting. In addition to having a storefront, her products are also all available online at www.stormsister.biz. Now onto the essentials!
Don't forget to pick up a Knot-a-Schmata for each of your guests. Available in many fabrics and colors, this is a great take home gift, as well an essential when holding the hair back during facials or when the cucumbers are on the eyes. They are a stretchy, cotton fabric, worn to look like a scarf, but with no knot. It never falls out, or gets tangled in your hear, and holds your hair back just like a headband. Your guests will love them!
StormSister also has the perfect parting gift - Bath Bombs. Everyone will think they are actual cupcakes! Remove the wrapper and throw it into your foot spa or bath for a fun extra special treat. Available in Eucalyptus, Lavender and Sweet Tangerine.
See these gifts and more at StormSisters booth at the Affair.
- Sarah Ramsay, Fashion & Lifestyle, the Affair
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)