Rice Noodle Salad

Ginger, cilantro and mint help support a healthy immune system as well as incorporates great flavors for this exotic and healthy salad inspired from Vietnam.

Serves: 4
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: none

INGREDIENTS

4 oz. rice vermicelli noodles
2 persian cucumbers, matchstick
2 medium spicy red peppers, seeded, and minced
1 thumb sized fresh ginger, peeled and grated
3 Tbsp fish sauce
2 - 3 limes, juiced
3 cups cilantro, rough chop
2 cups green onions, chopped
1 heads of romaine lettuce, torn into bite sized pieces
3 cups fresh mint, rough chop


WHAT TO DO
1 Prepare noodles according to the package directions.

2 Mix the peppers, ginger, fish sauce, and lime juice, in a large bowl.

3 Add the noodles, cucumbers, cilantro, green onions, and lettuce to the sauce and toss well.

4 Serve and enjoy immediately.


TIP
To save time, make the dressing, prep the greens and noodles up to 1-2 days ahead of time.

Guacamole

This is one of my favorite appetizers. It's fast, easy, and well, just plain good and good for you!

I know lots of people who are afraid to consume avocados because of it's high fat content. It contains a whopping 50 calories in one 1 inch slice with 35 of those coming from fat. What you need to also understand is that there are many different types of fats and not all of them are going to be bad for you whenever you eat them. The type of fats that are included in an avocado are monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats, which should be included in any good diet lifestyle.

Another positive impact they have is to reduce cholesterol, as the monounsaturated fat in avocados helps to reduce triglyceride levels and increase HDL, which is the good cholesterol. Eat avocados in moderation to get all the amazing benefits it offers. They don't call it a 'superfood' for nothing! 

INGREDIENTS

4 avocados, smashed
1 small onion, diced
1 medium tomato, diced
1 cup cilantro, chopped
2 limes, juiced
sea salt to taste


WHAT TO DO
Mix all the ingredients in a bowl. Serve with your favorite vegetable chips.


TIP
If you want to make this ahead of time (same day), cover with plastic wrap. Make sure the plastic is touching the mixture with as little air bubbles as possible. The air will turn the mixture brown.

Cats Eye

 

These are my favorite earrings! They're so fun to wear on the weekends or sleek enough to wear to the office. Definitely a must have!!

Length

a little less than 2-1/4" (55 mm)

Materials

4 mm round Pearls

10 mm glass beads - Light Purple or Green 
Silver/Gold/Antique Gold colored wire

Simple Hoop Earring

Supplies:
2 - 10 mm green bicone glass beads

2- 6" silver wire, 20 guage
2 - silver earring hooks

Tools
Basic Tool Kit

Ring Mandrel

Duration
30 minutes

Length: 3 1/2"

The Idea

Decide on the size of the hoop for the earring and wrap around the 6" wire on the mandrel. Wrap the wire until it crosses each other. Leave about 1 1/4" so that you can wrap that end to create a wire wrapped loop, but don't forget to insert the bead before closing the loop. With the remaining wire sticking up, leave about 1/4" in to create a wire loop. Connect the hoops and your done!

Tip:

The hoop will be a little bit bigger after it's wrapped around the mandrel.

Tip 2:

This earring is so versatile. You can change the beads to match any color in your wardrobe!

See Green

 

I never thought I would ever wear these psychedelic earrings! Never say never. They really came in handy when my girlfriends and I celebrated 80s night! It was a rad night!!!

Supplies:
24 - 2 mm green glass beads

24 - 2 mm blue glass beads

16 - 2 mm green glass beads

2 - 6" silver wire, 20 - 22 guage

2 - hooks

Tools
Basic Tool Kit

Duration
25 minutes

Length: 2.5"

The Idea

Create a loop with your chain nose pliers, with the silver wire and bend the remaining wire 90 degrees perpendicular to the loop you just created. Wrap the wire around a 1" mandrel until it overlaps, to create the round shape for the loop. Add the beads (refer to picture for color scheme). Once all the beads are in place, close the wire loop with 2 loops. Cut the remaining wire and add your hooks. Repeat.

Tip:

Lay out your beads in order to see the color scheme and to speed up the process of threading the beads..

Green With Envy

Supplies:
2 - earring hooks
2 - sea green foiled glass beads
2 - 7 mm silver beads
2 - 3 mm silver spacer beads
2 - silver headpins

Tools
Basic Tool Kit

Duration
15 minutes

Length: 2.5"

The Idea
To create the dangle, thread the spacer bead, green bead and silver bead through a headpin and close with wire loop or simple loop. Attach earring hook. This casual earring will make your friends green with envy. (Tip: Round beads work great too!)