Product review : Looly's couscous

I am sad to admit that I just recently started incorporating couscous to my meal rotation and was never a big fan. A visit to Teranga , a Senegalese restaurant in Boston changed my view of couscous. I remember ordering a lamb shank entree' with couscous and it was so well prepared and tasty. After their delicious couscous I was motivated to try it one more time. I found that cooking couscous in broth and mixing it with other ingredients increases its flavor. 

I received receive a sample of Looly's couscous through a fellow blogger and was very impressed with how it turned out. The couscous itself was so quick to cook, all I added was some lemon juice, garlic, parsley, olive oil and it was delicious. Being that I am a health nut myself, I love that their couscous is made from wholegrain non GMO wheat. The sample I tried also had some thyme and turmeric in it which was a nice touch. 

Making this was super easy. I started off by boiling 1 1/2 cups chicken broth then added it to a bowl of 1 1/2 cups Looly's couscous. After covering the bowl I proceeded to make a simple dressing of 1 tbsp lemon juice, 1 tsp minced garlic, 2 tbsp olive oil and a 2 tsp chopped fresh parsley. After the couscous was ready about five minutes I added the dressing and let it sit while I made some salmon and veges to go with it. The picture below shows what it looks like after it has absorbed the broth.

Dinner was ready in exactly 26 minutes including the pan seared salmon and vegetables. 

Do you like couscous ? I would love to know your thoughts. 

Please note the opinions in this review are purely my own.

How to accessorize a leather jacket

One of my favorite closet staples are leather jackets because they give instant edge and to any outfit. To avoid looking like a biker the best thing is to do is accessorize your jacket well. During the cold winter months try pairing your jacket with a pashmina or layer it with a feminine top for a softer look.

Two important things to remember when purchasing a leather jacket :

1. Don't pay full price - unless money grows on trees in your area leather jackets are pricey. Do your research, you can always find one on sale somewhere. 

2. Quality is very important - always make sure its 100% leather not fake leather aka 'Pleather'  Like all other closet staples you want it to last you for years.

I had planned on accessorizing with just the pashmina but I found that adding the necklace would be a nice touch.

I opted for a pashmina instead of a scarf. Pashminas provide a effortless yet stylish look. I received this ethnic print Pashmina as a gift from Pakistan. I love how it offers texture and provides a nice contrast to the leather.

Product review: Whole Foods Multigrain Deli Thins

It's been a while since I reviewed a product so this week I am talking about my current obsession.....Whole Foods Multigrain Deli Thins. My go to bread choice has always been Trader Joe's Quinoa bread but I recently came across these multigrain thins while shopping at Whole Foods and they have become a regular in my house. One deli thin has a whopping 5 grams of dietary fiber and you will not find any artificial preservatives in these babies. 

If you are on a low calorie diet you will love that these multigrain thins only contain 100 calories per thin. I like to pack one for lunch with sliced avocado, spinach and shaved carrots.

Although I am loving these now, the Quinoa bread is still my top choice but the multigrain thins are a close second. Did I mention they only cost $2.99 for 8 thins.

What is your favorite bread? 

Easy lobster tail recipe

Imagine my excitement when I walked up the Whole foods seafood counter and found that 2 lobster tails where going for 10 bucks. I had never made lobster before so this was the perfect time to try especially at that price. After doing a little research online I decided the best way to cook these was to broil them in the oven simply because it was a weeknight and I wanted something easy. The end result was delicious and had me feeling like a master chef. 

Ingredients

2 fresh lobster tails

1 large clove garlic minced

1 tbsp butter

1 tbsp olive oil

1 pinch sweet paprika

salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Directions

- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

- Cut the top shell of the lobster in half with kitchen scissors and expose the flesh. 

- Meanwhile add garlic and butter in a small bowl then melt in the microwave for about 10 seconds.

- Spoon the melted garlic butter on the Lobster flesh, then sprinkle paprika, salt and pepper on top. 

- Pour olive oil in a griddle pan, place the lobster with cut side up and cook for 5 minutes.

- After 5 minutes spoon some garlic butter from the pan over lobster and cook another 5 minutes.

- Make sure not to overcook the lobster as it will turn rubbery.

I served the lobster with my 15 minute spinach spaghetti . Stay tuned for recipe!

How to get healthy and beautiful skin

Many people have asked how I get healthy skin and I always say it's a combination of what I eat, drink and products I use. I would say 80% is diet and 20% is skin products. To get beautiful skin you need to include loads of fruit and veggies like carrots, spinach, grapefruit, strawberries and more to your diet. Salmon is great for healthy skin and it has been said that drinking green tea helps clear your skin.

When it comes to products you need to know if your skin type is sensitive, oily, dry or combination then you can choose what works for you. Every morning I wash my face with Body shop's tea tree wash then apply a small amount of rose hip oil before I use my vitamin E moisturizer with SPF 15. Before I go to bed I apply the rose hip oil 5 nights a week and the remaining 2 nights I use the Estee' Lauder advanced night repair. This regimen has worked for me and my skin has never been better.

What is your skincare regimen? I would love to hear what products are working for you.