Melanzane (Eggplant) Roast!

Ciao a Tutti!
Eggplants are absolutely wonderful! As American’s we don’t eat enough eggplant. I love it because it soaks up the flavors of accompanying foods, herbs, and spices like tofu (minus the soy). It makes for a great meat substitute, side, dip, stew, sauce, or dip.  Did you know that the earlier versions of eggplants were smaller, white in color and resembled eggs; hence their name.

You will need

1 Large Eggplant

1 Zucchini

½ Carton of Grape Tomatoes

1 tbsp Olive Oil

1 tbsp Basil Paste

1/4 tsp Coarse Salt

1/2 tsp Black Pepper

1 tbsp Dried Italian Herb Blend

Pre-heat your oven to 375. Slice your eggplant in 2.5 inches thick, slice your zucchini, and cut all the tomatoes in half. Layer the eggplant at the base of your roasting pan, then the zucchini, then the tomato. Drizzle EVOO all over  the vegetables with your spices and herbs. Mix all the vegetables together until everything is covered with all the spices. At 20 minutes mix around the vegetables to cook better. Bake for 30-40 minutes, until all the vegetables get brown and beautiful.

Remove pan from oven, serve and mangia, mangia!

Plant Strong Pasta * Vegan and Gluten Free

Hello Loves!

Who doesn't Love Pasta? I know I do, there was a time in my life that I wanted to marry an Italian man so that I could eat all the Italian food in the world  (true Story). But since it's not that waistline friendly I gave up on that dream. This alternative to Pasta is delicious and Filling. Seriously I was stuffed

You will need:
1 Zucchini
1/2 Cup Mixed Vegetables
1/2 Tomato
1 tsp Basil Paste
1 tsp Olive Oil
1/4 tsp Sea Salt
1/4 tsp Black Pepper
4-6 Grilled Asparagus Spears
1/3 Cup Cooked Sweet Potato


I already had previously grilled my asparagus and baked my sweet potato. you can cook these prior to making this dish. Feel free to cook either how you like, whether it's grilled, baked or boiled. I then made the "noodles" using my Spirelli. Purchase yours at Amazon here

In a bowl add the zucchini, chopped tomatoes, and all the rest of your ingredients. Toss with basil, oil, salt and pepper. Viola! a Super easy and delicious alternative to a high carb meal.

Enjoy!

Good-bye Split Ends DIY Treatment

The ends of our hair are the oldest and most fragile parts of our strands. They need love and moisture. When styling, avoid too much heat on your ends, tuck your ends away as often as possible, and remember to give them extra conditioner during your treatment process.

  

I have a homemade treatment that will help nourish those old ends and give them an extra pep.

1 cup Shea butter

5 tbsp EVOO
½ tsp Vitamin E oil

4 Drops of Rosemary Essential Oil

Shea Butter is a think emollient and when used over time it will prevent from your ends splitting. It almost acts like a glue for your ends.

Directions:

Slowly warm up the Shea butter in your microwave until it becomes almost liquid. Stir in the olive oil and essential oil and set aside and let it cool for 15-30 minutes. Don’t let the mixture harden again. Once it it as it’s almost solid state vigorously whisk in the vitamin E oil. 

Apply to ends and rest of hair strands and let it sit in hair for 15 minutes, under Heated cap. If you don’t have a heated cap, cover your hair in plastic and then wrap your head in a towel. You can also use this mixture on dry hair as a moisturizer