World's Best Guacamole (trust me!)

I've never been a fan of avocados. For some reason, I always thought they tasted quite eggy. It wasn't until I perfected my guacamole recipe that I started to eat avocados religiously. Granted this isn't the fanciest guacamole out there but it's super simple, easy to make and absolutely delicious. Here's what you'll need:

Ingredients:
- 1 Medium Avocado (soft)
- 1/2 Small White Onion (optional - you can always substitute with a different type of onion [ex. shallots, green, red])
- 1/2 Lime
- 2 tbsp. Heinz Ketchup
- 1 tsp. Crushed Cumin
- Salt
- Black Pepper


Preparation:
1) Create the sauce by combining 1/2 lime juice, 2 tablespoons Heinz Ketchup, 1 teaspoon crushed cumin with salt and pepper to taste in a bowl
3) Finely chop 1/2 small white onion
2) Add the chopped onion and 1 medium-sized soft avocado to the bowl and crush with fork whilst mixing in the sauce (if you enjoy a more smooth guac, then throw all of these ingredients into a blender).

Voilà, you are done! One World's Best Guacamole ready for you to devour. When I'm trying to be extra healthy, I take a couple tortilla chips and crush them into my guac (as opposed to eating a whole bag of chips). You still get that amazing crunch from the chips without eating a bunch! 

TRY OUT THIS RECIPE AND LET ME KNOW IF IT REALLY IS THE WORLD'S BEST GUACAMOLE!

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Richtree Natural Markets Restaurant - July 13th, 2013

I always pass by Richtree Natural Markets Restaurants (click on the hyperlink to visit their webpage) and I never bother to order anything spectacular. I usually get the regular penne pasta with marinara sauce (something I could easily make at home). This time, my friends and I decided to hit up the crêpe/waffle bar. I never thought of Richtree as much of a dessert place but I can safely say that their desserts are INFINITELY better than their real food (in fact, I could probably make the food better at home so it's always somewhat of a disappointment eating there). Here are some images of the masterpieces:

Mixed berries waffles with French vanilla icecream, whipping cream and chocolate sauce with a side of berry lemonade (add $2.49).

Mixed berries crêpes with  plain vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce. 

There is actual a crêpe/waffle artisan that makes the scrumptiousness right on the spot. If you've never seen anyone make a crêpe before (not so much the waffle because that goes straight into a waffle maker so it isn't as fun to watch), I think it's worth stopping by and taking in the experience.

The only downside to this whole situation was the ridiculous price! Granted you get a HUGE portion but the total came to around $15 with taxes. I think that's a little pricey for a bistro type restaurant. Here's the total breakdown: about $9 for crêpes or waffles with mixed berries (I think if you get a singular fruit like banana or mango, it's a $1 cheaper), about $3 for 1 scoop ice-cream and an additional $1 for whipping cream (chocolate sauce is free of charge). 

To be perfectly honest, we were going to hit up a stand alone crêpe place which would have been 1/2 the price and just as delicious however, it was no where to be found (guess it went out of business - sigh). However, we decided Richtree was worth the splurge as you don't eat these things every day and what's better than to enjoy some high-fat, high calorie and high in deliciousness crêpes/waffles with some of your dearest friends! 

PS - Here's a little secret (that I feel most people already may know). If you hit up Richtree a half-hour before closing time, all of their packaged food goes on sale for 50% off. This excludes the crepes and drinks (as these are not packaged goods) however, most of their baked items like muffins, quiches, cookies and cakes are all 50% off including their pastas and sandwiches.

Let me know, what is your perfect crêpe or waffle combination? 

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Hard Candy Glamoflague Concealer in Tan

After hearing rave reviews about the Hard Candy Glamoflague Concealer, I decided to finally pick it up from my local Walmart. I bought it for around $7 and with Walmart's easy return policy, you can bring this product back if you don't end up enjoying it. 

I bought the colour Tan which ended up being the best match for my skin however this colour was far too yellow (and I have a yellow-based skin tone). Long-story short, I kind of hate this concealer and these are the reasons why:

1) There are only 4 available shades available
2) The undertones of the concealer are far too yellow
3) Caused major breakouts when used on the face (I used this as a spot concealer and I tried mixing it in with a moisturizer to make my own foundation, both leading to serious breakouts!)
4) Tends to settle into fine lines 
5) Extremely oily/emollient product 
6) Takes a long to set (and even when it does set, it tends to leave a greasy film on my skin)
7) Product separates horribly and because it is in a tube, you cannot mix the product without cutting open the packaging and removing the product (clearly a case of poor design)
8) Very off-putting mouldy vegetable mixed with herbal smell (hard to describe but it smells awful - trust me!) 

Now it seems as though I've totally bashed this product however, I think think it would be excellent for someone given they fit both of these criteria: (1) dry under-eye and (2) skin colour/tone match concealer shade (good luck finding a match with their extensive range of 4 colours) and (3) do not have acne prone skin. Also, it would be important to mention that this concealer provides medium to buildable full coverage however, I thought that the finish was quite heavy and cakey regardless of how much I applied. 

The only redeeming quality of this concealer, for myself, was that it came with a small concealer pencil which was convenient for facial touch-ups (the pencil didn't make me break out) however, nothing to write home about - it was very average. To be honest, I haven't reached for it since the first week of purchasing when I was testing out this product. 

OVERALL RATING: 4/10

Let me know if you've tried this concealer and how you liked it in the comments below!

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Peppers and Paneer

Peppers & Paneer is one of my go-to recipes that everyone absolutely adores. I could literally eat this every single day and GUESS WHAT; it's actually quite healthy for you!

• Sweet peppers (red, yellow, orange)
• Brar Paneer (1/2 pack)
• Yogurt (1 cup) [thicker the consistency, the better the marinade will adhere]
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil (2 tbsp)
• Salt
• Black Pepper
• Turmeric
• Paprika

Preparation:

1) De-core and slice your peppers (and other vegetables)
2) Cut your paneer into even cubes

3) Prepare your marinade by mixing 1 cup yogurt with 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil and a pinch each of the following: salt, black pepper, tumeric and paprika (if you can't tell by now, i'm not a big fan of precise measurements)
4) Add the peppers and paneer to the marinade and evenly distribute 

5) Apply plastic wrap over mixing bowl and place in fridge over-night (this is an optional step; when I'm pressed for time, I start cooking right away)

Cooking:

1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit 

2) Place peppers and paneer into a large baking dish and place in oven on bake for 20 minutes

3) After 20 minutes, broil for additional 10 minutes

Voilà, you are done! Finish it off with a squirt of lemon or lime juice if you want a nice tang. Your peppers and paneer should be crisp on top with some nice charring due to the 10 minute broil. The beauty of this dish is that you can throw in other vegetables to make it uber healthy (I opted to add some mushrooms, zucchini and eggplant this time around). 

TRY OUT THIS RECIPE AND LET ME KNOW HOW MUCH YOU LOVED IT IN THE COMMENTS BELOW!

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Real Techniques Expert Face Brush

Meet my new HG foundation brush - the RT Expert Face Brush. I am very skeptical when it comes to celebrity endorsed products. Since the RT line was created by Youtube celebrity/MUA Samantha Chapman, I didn't have high expectations for her brushes (I thought it was simply another gig to make more money). Fortunately, I was terribly wrong. I can't speak for the other brushes, however the RT Expert Face Brush is incredible. 

Pros: 

• Synthetic fibres
• Easy to clean & dries quickly
• Densely packed bristles allow for medium-full coverage
• Small brush head
• No shedding
• Soft to the touch
• Multi-purpose
• Easy to manoeuvre
• Relatively inexpensive price (US $8.99 @ Ulta) 
• Sleek design

Cons: At this point in time, I cannot think of any cons for this product. If I were to fault the RT line in general, it would be that it is not easily found in stores across the globe. Although these brushes can be found online and shipped internationally, I think it would be more convenient if they were available at more physical retail vendors. 

OVERALL RATING: 10/10

Let me know if you love the RT Expert Face Brush as much as I do!

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