Crunchy Decadent Granola Bars

As one of America's favorite snack categories, granola bars are widely available in many varieties from different brands. They are also some of the easiest to make at home and keep well for future snacking. I especially love that I can customize the ingredient list to my personal taste. So of course, this recipe only serves as a template for your own creative concoctions. 

W3LL People Narcissist Stick Foundation Review

Ever since taking a class in college on the effects of endocrine disruptors, I have vowed to make conscious choices based on more research of the brand and ingredients in the everyday products I use. Ubiquitous chemicals including parabens and phthalates are found in many cosmetics, and avoiding them is no easy task. As I've mentioned in my Whole Foods Shampoo & Conditioner review, Skin Deep is a cosmetics database I refer to that is created by EWG to inform the public of potential hazards in a product. It's not the most comprehensive database, however, and often times the products I'm looking for are not listed. On one hand, I find myself giving in to a cosmetic product that received an unequivocal rating of 4-5 on the hazardous scale; and other times, I just want to give up buying makeup altogether and whip up a concoction of my own a la Crunchy Betty. In a perfect world, I wouldn't need to use anything to cover up blemishes, even out skin tone, or add color to my sickly winter complexion, because my skin would be perfect. 

In reality, there are brands out there that have created products that answered the prayers of neurotic, conscious consumers like me. I had been eye-ing the products of W3LL People for a few months before buckling down to purchase their popular, Narcissist Stick Foundation. The brand was founded by a trio of a makeup-guru, an environmentalist, and a dermatologist, who came together to make products that are effective, natural and organic, and sustainable/environmentally-friendly. Talk about a triple threat! Replacing all the potentially harmful chemicals with all natural ingredients, their line of products include foundations, mineral powders, brushes, multi-use cheek and lip sticks, eye shadows and even an eyeliner. Since I was running out of foundation (I was trying to tide myself over with what I thought would be a drugstore dupe - Almay's Clear Complexion Concealer), I ordered the Narcissist Stick Foundation on beauty.com during their 20% off Friends and Family sale.

Keep reading for my thoughts on this product...

Threads for Thought - Kami Tank review

**Currently there's a sale on all sale items (enter T4TSALE at checkout) - ends Oct. 1st! 

My search for affordable, organic and sustainable clothing ended when I discovered Threads 4 Thought a few months ago. This brand of sustainable apparel that epitomizes West Coast laid-back fashion has been a go-to for all my basic wardrobe essentials. For conscious consumers, now there's no need to feel guilty about a little online shopping because... 

The threads are sustainable, 

Fabrics are made of organically grown cotton or derived from plastic water bottles (through a really cool process!) 

Support great causes, 

Organizations include International Rescue Committee, the Natural Resource Defense Council, Rock the Vote, Girl 2 Girl, among others. On the website, they have a section of clothing called "shop the cause" with different t-shirt designs for specific causes. 

Created through fair practices 

When I first noticed the tags on my garments stating "made in Pakistan", I assumed that this company relied on sweatshops overseas for production. Then, I read on their website that they "only work with factories that respect their employees and treat them humanely and fairly." This statement made me feel more at ease about their practices even if they are outsourcing. 

Affordable and free domestic shipping & return 

Need I say more? 

As for the fashion, T4T is all about comfort and laid-back style for both men and women. Basics come in a multitude of colors and more recently this summer, there were new lines of interesting printed dresses and silk tops, which did come slightly more expensive. 

Most of the items that I have purchased from Threads 4 Thought in the past are basic wardrobe essentials - cotton dresses (2 for $30), Lisa Leggings in Charcoal ($24), and these  Kami Tanks (3 for $15, or $10 each). 

Kami Tank in Black (XS), Pearl (S), and Seashell (S) 

60% organic cotton

40% modal 

These neutral tanks are great for layering underneath sheer tops, for example. For something partially made of recycled plastic water bottles, they're surprisingly soft! My only complaint about these simple tanks is the variation in size/length. I typically wear a size xs or s, so I thought I would purchase both of these sizes in different colors. For me, the pearl and seashell colors, both of which I bought in size small, were significantly looser than the extra small black tank (which is my favorite). Even between the two size small tanks, I found that the pearl tank is shorter in length and wider in the torso than the seashell. The inconsistency in sizing is something to keep in mind. I would recommend sizing down for a fitted yet still comfortable look, especially since the tanks can stretch out from wear. 

For only 3/$15, it's hard to go wrong with these soft basic tanks from a socially-conscious brand. 

Food Adventures in France

This post includes some food highlights from my recent trip to Paris & Nice. As a strong believer in experiencing new cultures through local cuisine, I took a break from pescetarianism and enjoyed some classic French dishes with duck, such as the magret de canard salad and duck confit (sadly not shown below). Paris, in particular, seems less accommodating to vegetarians, whereas Niçoise cuisine has a stronger Italian, Mediterranean influence with focus on fresh produce and seafood. 

A salad with "magret de canard" (thinly sliced duck breast)
Brasserie on Rue Saint-Honoré, Paris 

Homemade Plain Yogurt

Cooking has never felt more like a science experiment than in the process of making homemade yogurt. As someone who works in a research lab, I can say that there are many parallels between growing up bacterial culture in a flask of LB broth and "growing" yogurt by inoculating milk with a yogurt starter. Now that I have whet your appetite with this comparison, I'll continue to describe the remarkably easy process of making plain yogurt at home that anyone can follow.

Disclaimer: This was my first time making yogurt at home and though successful, there are a few things that I would adjust next time I make it. Check out the end of this post for more resources! 

What you'll need: 

- a large pot that fits multiple jars

- smaller saucepan that can hold at least 1 quart of milk

- milk (I used 1 quart of whole milk from Whole Foods ($1.19). If this is your first time making yogurt, I'd suggest starting with this amount.) 

- glass jars with lids (clean jam jars would work fine) 

- thermometer 

- yogurt starter (I used store-bought Stonyfield's organic 0% plain yogurt at 5/$3) 

Note the six live active yogurt and probiotic cultures listed on the back of the Stonyfield cup - S. thermophilus, L. bulgaricus, L. acidophilus, bifidus, L. casei, and L. rhamnosus. These guys are the key players that we're trying to make happy in this recipe.

Peach Crumble Dessert

Fresh summer peaches + a friend's birthday party + Smitten Kitchen's peach shortbread recipe = a perfect occasion for a baking project. 


Shortbread, in my mind, has always been associated with dry cookies that come in tins and ten sticks of butter. So I apprehensively approached this recipe, fearing that it would come out too rich for my and others liking. The pictures on the recipe page reassured me that they would be more like a peach bar with crumble rather than a dense, dry shortbread. And the ingredients and instructions made it seem simple enough to whip up two hours before a party. 

Refreshing Summer Spritzer

Summer weather is now in full swing, which means even those of us with camel-like drinking habits are in search of refreshing sources of hydration. What started a year ago as the search for the perfect mojito in the city of Boston (verdict: blueberry or mango mojito at Top of the Hub) has transformed into a quest for the perfect mojito recipe and finally evolved into this "recipe" for a refreshing summer spritzer. Just as the key to the perfect homemade mojito lies in the mint-infused syrup, this drink also calls for mint-infused simple syrup to sweeten. 


Follow the instructions loosely, and change and substitute according to your preferences. (You can even turn this into a spritzer-mojito hybrid by adding rum.) After all, it's summertime and living is easy. 

Products Review: 365 Shampoo and Conditioner for Normal + Dry Hair in Lavender Blend

When it comes to personal care products such as shampoos and conditioners, I rarely stick to one particular brand. I have tried a few products from lines carried in salons such as Pureology, Bumble and Bumble, but most of my commonly used shampoos and conditioners hail from drugstore brands including Tresemme, Herbal Essences, Dove, Organix, L'Oreal, Aussie, etc. This is why my hair dressers (yes, I switch hair dressers as often as shampoos and conditioners) probably hate me. They have all recommended ditching my drugstore shampoos to expensive, non-sulfate salon brands, but even these products do not necessarily lack other chemicals that could be harmful to not just your hair but your health. So the search continues!


While grocery shopping at Whole Foods a few months ago, I picked up two packs of the Whole Foods 365 brand lavender blend shampoo and conditioner for normal + dry hair. Whole Foods also carries the lavender scent in formulations for normal + oily hair, as well as sets in an herbal mint scent. Each set (both shampoo & conditioner included) normally sells for $7.98, but I believe on sale, it was $4 - a ridiculous steal! I snagged two sets for stocking up my bathroom cabinet so I'll be using this for awhile. 

Reduce, reuse, recycle your clothes

The official start of summer coincided with a heat wave that brought temperatures of over 90 degrees along the East coast. It was also fitting that I, a huge procrastinator in every aspect of my life, finally finished spring cleaning of my closet. Most of the clothing that I weeded out were items that have not and will not get much wear - for example, a baby blue sweater vest with ruffle detailing that was given to me as a gift from my aunt, and a longer black and white chevron striped skirt in a jersey material, purchased from The Garment District. Even though I have worn the black and white striped skirt in the past, as both a skirt and a strapless dress or beach coverup, I don't see the potential of a revival in my wardrobe. (I had thought about turning it into an eternity scarf, however, the material is just too slinky.) 

For all those items of clothing that no longer receive any love, luckily there are many options for reusing and recycling that could also earn you some cash. 

Healthy Dessert: Quinoa Coconut Pudding

Holidays such as Father's Day (today) always give me the opportunity to concoct scrumptious desserts. With limited ingredients in my kitchen this time, I decided to experiment with a quinoa dessert. I bought two bags of truRoots organic quinoa at 2/$7 from Whole Foods a while back, when I was looking for a carb substance to replace my run-of-the-mill pasta that I had been bringing to work. Since then, I have been discovering as well as creating different recipes using quinoa, including portobello stuffed quinoa and curry quinoa. I also learned that this versatile superfood can be used to make dessert puddings! 

Back in the fall, I made a delicious rice pudding. I figured I would base this quinoa pudding off that recipe and essentially substitute quinoa for the rice. This recipe yields roughly 6 servings and takes about 40 minutes. 

Homemade Pizza with Trader Joe's Dough featuring Fresh Basil

Homemade pizza has always been a go-to meal for me and my boyfriend. In the past, we have created pizzas using store bought items including Boboli crust, pizza sauce, and frozen chicken appetizers. Since my meat-consuming days, we still enjoy tossing ingredients onto a pizza crust for a meal that allows great flexibility - his half, the omnivore's delight, doused in extra parmesan cheese and mine with fresh veggies.

Lately, we have been purchasing the $1 pizza dough from (you guessed it) my favorite store Trader Joe's. Of the three varieties of dough (regular, wheat and garlic & herb), we have been getting the garlic & herb flavor. The instruction says to allow the dough to sit in room temperature for about 20 minutes before kneading and stretching it out on a floured surface. And it only needs 8-10 minutes of cooking at 450 degrees! 

Oil Cleansing Method Beauty Experiment - Part II

Inspired by all the resources I found online and oil cleanser samples from my coworker, I made my own personalized oil facial cleanser. This process of researching and gathering supplies took about two weeks, but it was well worth the wait! 


Supplies:
*make sure all your containers are completely dry - otherwise the polysorbate-80 will react

• 1 clean glass jar (in a previous life, it was a jam jar) 
• small plastic containers with caps
• medicine droppers 
• (measuring spoons - 1/2 teaspoon and/or 1 tsp) 
• Jojoba oil (8.44 fl oz) from The Jojoba Company, purchased from Whole Foods - $13.49
• Castor Oil (8 fl oz) from the HomeHealth brand, purchased from Whole Foods - $5.99
• Polysorbate-80 (4oz by weight) purchased from Etsy seller CountrySoapShack - $4.95 + $2.50 shipping
• CountrySoapShack also sells other oils, waxes, dyes, and raw materials for making beauty/body products

Note: There are also companies from which you can order materials online 

Lotioncrafter carries polysorbate-80

Mountain Rose Herbs has a wide selection of oils, as well as essential oils that add lovely scents

Oil Cleansing Method 101 - Part I

Yes, I realize that I just raved about the Trader Joe's nourishing facial cleanser in a post a few weeks ago. And while I still stand by the product and use it in my routine (more on that later), I feel compelled to share this exciting and radical facial cleansing method - well, radical to me at least. Using samples of an oil cleanser and moisturizer that my coworker (the same one who introduced me to ginger chews) made, starting three weeks ago, I began trying the oil cleansing method, or OCM for short. 

Like many, I was skeptical at first. The thought of using oil to clean seemed so counter-intuitive, until I realized that the beauty industry brainwashes consumers to believe that any amount of oil on your face = bad. From oil-free cleansers that leave your face dry and tight to oil sheets that soak up oil from the T-zone, the broad spectrum of products that claim to keep your face free of excess oil sends the message that oil doesn't belong on your face, let alone in any products you wash with. But for thousands of years, people have used oils (such as olive oil) as cleansers and moisturizers on their hair and body. From a quick search on Google, it seems that the oil cleansing method remains popular as a natural alternative to drugstore cleansers containing various chemicals. 

Mother's Day Strawberry Scones

In celebration of Mother's Day, I whipped up some strawberry scones using this recipe from Smitten Kitchen, one of my favorite cooking blogs. The recipe is for meyer lemon and fresh cranberry scones, but since we have no cranberries and a lot of fresh strawberries in my house right now, my adapted recipe is for a meyer lemon and strawberry scones/biscuit hybrid! 

1 1/2 tablespoons freshly grated lemon zest (from about 2 lemons; preferably Meyer)
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (+more for the flour-covered surface)
1/2 cup sugar plus 3 tablespoons additional if using fresh cranberries (strawberries!) 
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 stick (6 tablespoons) cold unsalted butter, cut into bits
1 1/4 cups fresh cranberries, chopped coarse, or 1 1/4 cups dried cranberries, if you insist  (strawberries!) 
1 large egg
1 large egg yolk
1 cup heavy cream (I only had 2% milk in my house) 

Preheat oven to 400°F. I baked the first batch directly on a baking sheet and formed them into triangles, and the second batch in a muffin tin so they turned out more like biscuits. 

Using a knife, I scraped the insides of 1.5 lemons to remove the zest while careful to avoid seeds. 

In a large bowl, combine 1/2 cup sugar, baking powder, salt, butter and zest until mixture resembles coarse meal. 

Dice up 5-6 strawberries to fill about 1 1/2 cup, add 1.5 tablespoons of sugar and stir into flour mixture.

In a small bowl, beat egg and stir in milk. Adding about 1/2 cup of the mixture is enough because there is enough liquid content from the lemon zest and fresh strawberries.

On a well-floured surface, pat dough into a 2-inch thick ball. To evenly distribute the flour, I played "hot potato" with the ball. I shaped the ball into a triangle once on the baking sheet. 

** for my second batch, I just dropped the balls into a greased muffin tin without further shaping (you can say that I got lazy by this point...) 

Bake for 15 minutes or so, or until light golden. 

Finished biscuits! (second batch)

Enjoy! 

Chew on This

I was never fond of ginger - fresh ginger, cooked ginger, even the pickled pink ginger slices that grace delicious sushi rolls. Despite all the known benefits of ginger, for example, in aiding digestion and suppressing nausea, I just never enjoyed the distinct taste of this spice... until I discovered the Ginger Chew in my coworker's candy bowl. Being the adventurous eater that I am, I tried the candy and to my pleasant surprise, loved the ginger flavor in this chewy candy form! 

Rainy day baking projects

It's a rainy Sunday afternoon so I decided to bake a couple of desserts - an apple bread (for breakfast this week) and chocolate chip oatmeal cookies, which I have been craving for awhile. 


Apple Bread
Here is my version of the above recipe: 
1/2 cup oil (I used slightly less) 
1-1/2 eggs
1 cup (light brown) sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla  (I had no vanilla) 
1-1/2 cups (old Fiji) skinned apples, diced - 1 medium sized apple
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)
I also added about 1 cup of mashed soybean paste (I don't know what to call it) that was leftover from making homemade soybean milk. 

INSTRUCTIONS Combine and set aside the oil, eggs, sugar, and vanilla. Sift flour, cinnamon, soda, and salt. Add dry ingredients to oil mixture gradually. Add apples and nuts. Bake in 2 regular loaf pans or 3 foil loaf pans for 1-1/2 hours 45 min at 300 350°F. Cool 10 minutes in the pan. Sprinkle with sugar, if desired.

*note: I baked the bread at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes


My bread did not rise as much as I expected it to... Perhaps not enough baking soda? I had a slice and it was delicious and moist! Also since I used light brown sugar instead of granulated (the recipe does not specify), the bread is sweet without being overly so and the taste of the apples really comes through. 


Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies 
(adapted from Quaker Oats' Vanishing Oatmeal Raisin Cookies) 
Ingredients 
1/2 cup (1 stick) plus 6 tablespoons butter, softened (I left it at room temp for a few hours)
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar 
1/2 (maybe 3 tablespoons) of granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla (again, no vanilla)
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt (optional)
3 2 cups Quaker Oats (quick or old fashioned, uncooked)
1 cup raisins Trader Joe's semi-sweet chocolate chips :) yes I'm very healthy


Heat oven to 350°F. In large bowl, beat butter and sugars on medium speed of electric mixer until creamy. Add eggs and vanilla; beat well. Add combined flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt; mix well. Add oats and raisins (chocolate chips); mix well.
Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets.
Bake 8 to 10 (14) minutes or until light golden brown. Cool 1 minute on cookie sheets; remove to wire rack. Cool completely. Store tightly covered.
Prep Time: 20 min
Cook Time Time: 14 min
Yield: I made my cookies fairly big, but this recipe should yield about 2 dozen cookies

(Yes, these really do vanish) 

• PS Happy Earth Day! 

Trader Joe's Products Review: Facial Cleanser & Hand Cream

A few weeks ago I was in a local Trader Joe's store picking up groceries when I saw a display of their unique brand of hand cream (Trader Joe's Nourish Shea Butter Hand Cream) - on sale for only $1.99! It comes in a 2 fl oz capped tube and contains natural moisturizers such as shea butter, cocoa butter and almond oil, as well as Vitamin E. This hand cream is also vegan and claims to not have been tested on animals. 

My hands have been extremely dry this past winter and I haven't been able to find a decent hand cream that is not a) greasy and b) overly scented. The Trader Joe's shea butter hand cream is a godsend. It hardly has a scent and is creamy to the touch. A little goes a long way, and once fully massaged into the skin it makes my hands feel buttery soft for hours - even after washing my hands once or twice. At a drugstore price of only $1.99 it is remarkably affordable for a product that truly moisturizes without grease, extra fragrance, or chemicals. My only regret is not having discovered it earlier! 

Finding the hand cream inspired me to explore Trader Joe's section of other personal care/household items, which I have never browsed before. They have a range of lotions, facial moisturizers, hand soaps, face washes, and body products. Since I was also on the market for a new facial cleanser, I decided on the Trader Joe's Nourish (Dermatologist Formulated) All-In-One Facial Cleanser (in the same "Nourish" line as the hand cream). I read that TJ's teamed up with a dermatologist to come up with this product, which the dermatologist sells in his own practice at over $20. Thanks to simple packaging and little marketing, this 8.45 fl oz bottle only costs $5.99 at Trader Joe's (read this).

The packaging of the All-In-One Facial Cleanser reminds me of a hand soap pump bottle, which makes dispensing the product very easy. In the description on the back of the bottle, it claims to "simplify the routine and leave your skin feeling clean, smooth and cared for. It washes away the impurities and treats your face to a feast of antioxidants without any drying effects." The ingredients list includes:

•  green tea extracts, which is probably the main source of antioxidants
• Vitamin B5
• Vitamin A
• Vitamin D3
• Vitamin E, and 
• Vitamin K among others                                                                                                            

In many ways, the cleanser does remind me of hand soap - however one that is gentle enough for your face! The consistency is a fairly thick gel that lathers up with water. I have been washing my face every day with this cleanser either by itself or with a little rubber scrubber for exfoliation. I do find the product to be very gentle and not drying at all as it claims. Like the hand cream, it has a very light scent if any and just feels natural. (This product is also not tested on animals, however, it is not vegan.) Overall, I'm extremely satisfied with both of my much-needed products at Trader Joe's . Who knew it has such great personal care products? At such reasonable prices for natural products, TJ's might very well replace the drugstore for me. 

(note: your new bottle of All-In-One Facial Cleanser will be full... I've been using mine for about 2 weeks now)

Not your average salad

Lately I have been really into making salads to bring to work for lunch. These are not your flimsy, unsatisfying, salads that taste like you're munching on your lawn or make you feel like you're on a diet. I like to add ingredients that add texture and sweetness such as dried cranberries or apple slices. (This was inspired by a build-it-yourself salad station on my college campus. I've missed it a lot since I've graduated) 


The main ingredients in my salads: 

• Olivia's organics Spring Mix (out of an 11oz package)
• Bel Gioioso Fresh Mozzarella (Ciliegine aka "cherry size") - cut in halves
• Trader Joe's dried cranberries
• Whole Foods organic walnuts - halves & pieces
• Full Circle brand Organic Balsamic Vinagrette

Some days I also add sunflower seeds, sliced tomato or avocado. Other days I substitute just olive oil for balsamic vinagrette, although I do think the vinagrette works very well with the dried cranberries for a tangy-sweet flavor. The salad itself is pretty filling since I add so many delicious (and healthy) goodies to it, but I also like to bring an additional snack or carb, plus a little dessert :) 

All the ingredients added together cost only about $20 (spring mix $6, mozzarella ~$4.50, dried cranberries $2, walnuts $2, vinagrette $3) and can feed me for over 2 weeks or as long as the salad greens keep fresh. So that breaks down to $2/lunch. Not bad for a tasty, healthy meal... 

the main ingredients that I toss into a tupperware

finished product - tadaaaa!