Home Spa

Once in a while, I love to take a home spa break. It is a wonderful occasion to eat a lot of vegetables and fruit and finally reach the required daily number of 5 servings. It does wonder for the complexion, not to mention the figure. It must be the cocktail of natural vitamins being soaked by a parched body. And for those of us who think that beauty is more than skin deep, it cleanses the system. The length and frequency of the regime is up to you. I feel energized and enjoy pairing it with daily yoga or stretching session.
I use it whenever I have overindulged. A full winter weekend is a nice way to start. All you need is a blender, a juicer, a cutting board, paring knife, running water, fresh or frozen fruit, seasonal vegetables and the desire to take care of yourself. In between the intake of smoothies, drink a lot of vegetable broth, water and green tea: 6 8-oz (250 ml) glasses of green tea a day can help rev the metabolism. The flaxseeds I add to the smoothie contain Omega-3. It is a wonderful lubricant for the digestive system as well as for the skin. If you like massages, book one. It will provide the natural complement to the treat you are giving yourself.

Vegetable broth (Easy, preparation and cooking time: 30 minutes, Cheap)

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons olive oil (28 ml)
2 medium onions peeled and thinly sliced
2 small leeks split lengthwise, rinsed and thinly sliced
1 medium fennel bulb, halved and thinly sliced
2 carrots peeled split lengthwise and thinly sliced
1 large tomato halved
1 whole garlic head, halved crosswise
2 large shallots peeled and thinly sliced
1teaspoon salt
1teaspoon peppercorns
2 thyme sprigs coarsely chopped
2 flat leaf parsley sprigs coarsely chopped
2 pints (890 ml) water

Material:
4-quart saucepan and its cover
Salad bowl
Strainer

In a large saucepan, warm the oil over medium heat. Add the vegetables, garlic, shallots and salt. Cover and cook the vegetables for 10 minutes.
Add 2 pints of water and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce to medium low and simmer uncovered for twenty minutes.
Add the thyme, and parsley. Simmer for an additional 10 minutes.
Remove the pot from the heat. Add the pepper and infuse covered for another 5 minutes.
Strain the stock in the salad bowl. Refrigerate for up to 3 days.

Make about 2 pints.
Once cold, you can drink it all day long. You may use it in place of water to blend the vegetables.

Cold green tea

Ingredients:
Green tea bags
2 pints (890 ml) cold water

Material
1 pitcher

Seep 4-6 green tea bags in 2 pints of water in the pitcher for 4 to 6 hours.
Drink immoderately.

Breakfast smoothie (Easy, Preparation time: 5 minutes, Cheap)

Ingredients:
¼ cup (60 g) flaxseed grains
2 cups (500 ml) watermelon peeled and finely sliced
1 cup (250 ml) pomegranate juice
1 cup (250 ml) frozen raspberries

Material:
Coffee grinder
Blender

Grind the flaxseeds in the coffee grinder. Transfer to the blender. Add the fruit and juice and blend until smooth. Divide in two tall glasses and drink instead of your usual breakfast.

Choose any of the following three juices in place of lunch and dinner.

Sunshine: Pumpkin juice (Easy, Preparation time: 5 minutes, Cheap)

Ingredients:
½ butternut squash peeled, seeded and cut in pieces
1-inch (3 cm) piece of ginger peeled and finely chopped
2 cups (500 ml) vegetable broth

Material:
Blender

Pour the broth in the blender. Add the vegetables and ginger. Blend until smooth. Divide in two glasses, refrigerate and drink within 24 hours.

Sunset: Beet Gazpacho (Easy, Preparation time: 5 minutes, Cheap)

Ingredients:
3½ oz (100 g) beetroot raw, peeled and chopped
1 pear peeled, cored and cut in pieces
2 stalks celery chopped
1-inch (3 cm) piece of ginger peeled and chopped
2 cups (500 g) tomato juice
1 cup (250 ml) vegetable broth
1 tablespoon (14 ml) red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons (28 ml) olive oil
Drops of Tabasco to taste

Material:
Blender

Pour the liquid in the blender. Add the vegetables and blend until smooth. Divide into two glasses, refrigerate and serve within 24 hours.

Fruity veggie mix (Easy, Preparation time: 5 minutes, Cheap)

Ingredients:
4 Granny smith apples washed and quartered
1 fennel bulb washed and halved
4 celery stalks washed
3 carrots washed
1 1-inch (3 cm) ginger root peeled

Material:
Juicer

Juice the fruit and vegetables. Divide the liquid into two glasses and drink immediately.