Recipes, recipes, recipes: Appetizers - Dips

Seeing as how the Fourth of July is coming up soon, I figured there has never been a better time to swap some recipes. As we all know this holiday is enthusiastically celebrated with barbecues and pool parties full of drinks, food and a hefty supply of sparklers and fireworks (usually illegal.) Whether you're just attending or you bravely made the decision to coordinate one of aforementioned fiestas, you'll more than likely be responsible for some sort of dish, varying from appetizer to dessert. And if you happen to be anything like me, your culinary expertise is vastly lacking...and that's on a good day. Having been born into a family of culinary masters, I'd managed to garner some sort of cooking knowledge, be it very small and purely for survival purposes.

Here are two quick and easy recipes that are sure to satisfy any party crowd - - 

Spicy Corn Dip
Ingredients:
8 oz. of fat free sour cream
12 oz. of fat free mayo
1/2 cup of finely chopped scallions
2 cans of (drained) Mexicorn
1 can of (drained) Hot Rotel*
2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese

Now all you have to do is combined all of the ingredients, let cool for awhile, and then pop open a bag of tortilla chips. Trust me, the dip will be long gone by time you get to a second bag.

(*Side note: if you happen to prefer something a bit more mild or know that those you'll be serving dislike dishes that are too spicy, the Hot Rotel can easily be replaced with Mild or Original. Also, I prefer to cook, or in this case - mix, in a healthy manner. Any ingredients can be substituted for original or reduced fat, as per preference.) 

Hot Spinach Queso Dip

Ingredients:
2 cups Monterey Jack shredded cheese (If you want to simply the recipe further, I suggest using the Queso Blanco Velveeta type cheese that comes in the box.)

1 can of (drained) Hot, Mild, or Original Rotel
1 cup frozen spinach

All this recipe requires is for you to melt the cheese, in a double boiler or crockpot at low to medium heat until the cheese has melted. Allow the spinach to thaw out, or microwave it on for about 30 seconds to speed up the process. Then you can stir in the Rotel and the spinach and allow it to cook for about 5 more minutes.

Easy, simple and delicious. I would be embarrassed by how basic these recipes are if I hadn't gotten rave reviews on both of them. They are incredible snacks that give off the appearance of hard work with less then half the effort. I like to think of them as my own "Semi-Homemade Recipes"...minus the Semi, and add in "Not-At-All Homemade Recipes."

Guilty Pleasures: TV

We all have those little obsessions, may they be secret or openly worshiped. Most of mine fall under one category: television. If it weren't for my satellite dish and DVR, I'd be far less happy and way more productive. But who needs constructive activity when I can procrastinate on my couch, salivating over Alexander Skarsgard on True Blood? And if it's not the deliciously evil Eric Northman distracting me from house work, then it's ABC's latest stab at the ever popular "Fantasy Meets Reality" genre, The Gates. My DVR, being the good little pet that it is, accidentally recorded the pilot episode this past Sunday, and although I have yet to decide whether or not it will be worth the time, the eye candy that is Colton Haynes is very much appreciated. If you haven't had a chance to see this beautiful (yes, I said beautiful) man in all his glory, then you should really venture on over to ABC.com and check out the pilot. He's incredibly attractive for being a male model (That's a huge contradiction, I know I'm aware. Male models soul purpose is to walk around being..attractive. Somehow I find that very unappealing all the same.) If it's not obvious by now, I've fallen under the spell of Hollywood's evil plan to suffocate us with vampire/werewolves/shapeshifty things and I'm only slightly embarrassed by these guilty pleasures of mine.


And yes, before you ask - I already have my tickets to the midnight showing of Eclipse.


Now aside from the obvious swoon worthy undead/wofly male leads of todays most popular shows, I've been (unwillingly) sucked into another series for reasons unrelated to the men in the show : Pretty Little Liars. Because there aren't enough over-dramatic soap opera-esque series revolving around cliquey high school girls, ABC Family had to add to the list with this lovely chestnut based off of the books by Sara Shepard. 


Now that I've spilled my guilty pleasures, what are yours? Are you a True Blood fan? Do you plan on going to Twilight Saga: Eclipse? 

Summer Beauty Tips: Hair 911

It's that time of year again, when spring makes way for the skyrocketing temperatures of hot summer days. Summer means no school (a definite plus) and vacations from work to make way for lazy days lounging around the pool or on the beach sipping Mojitos and working on that freshly bronzed tan. As fabulous as that sounds, summer has a history of being the ultimate "frenemy" when it comes your hair and make-up routine. A little bit of sun and humidity is all it takes to turn your beautiful blow out into a frizzy mess. There are a few tried and true ways to combat these beauty woes and all it takes is a little strategical planning.


Beat The Frizz
Summer is the season that will chew up your hair and spit it out if you let it. Between the heat, humidity, chlorine from pools and the salty beach water, summer is packed with hair obstacles you must carefully navigate. 


1) First and foremost, do not over shampoo your hair. Shampooing strips the natural oils from your hair, drying it out and making it unmanageable and more susceptible to damage. Shampoo two-three times per week at most, unless your hair happens to be on the oily side. If this is the case, use a clarifying shampoo to keep your hair from getting too oily at the scalp. 


2) Condition, condition, condition. It is very important to keep your strands hydrated, especially during the summer. Condition your hair everyday to keep it moisturized. Again, if your hair happens to be oilier then normal, apply conditioner from the mid-shaft to your ends. 


3) Take it easy on the heat styling. If you're anything like me, your morning routine involves a whole lot of assistance from you hair dryer and your flat iron. Since summer has a more relaxed, laid back feel, it's okay to skip the heavy styling. If you have a day where you don't need to be at work or some kind of event that requires lots of effort for your style, skip the heat completely and limit the use of your styling products. A break from these devices will give your hair a much needed vacation and after awhile you'll notice a huge difference in the health of your hair. 


4) Don't forget to keep up on scheduled trims. This is a year round standard; one that should never be ignored. For hair to stay healthy, ends should be trimmed every 4-6 weeks. 


5) Just like your skin, your hair needs some protection from the heat. Before venturing out in the sun, there are a few ways to keep the heat from damaging your locks. Accessorizing is always your best option. A cute beachy wide brimmed sun hat or even a sporty baseball cap will provide full protection from the sun. But if you prefer a style, then a special UV Protection spray/shampoo/conditioner is the second best option for your hair. They work just like sunscreen, providing SPF coverage, and fortunately are made by nearly every popular hair line on the market today. 


A few more things to protect those locks..

• Wet your hair down with a leave-in conditioner or water before taking a dip in the pool. If you hair has already absorbed the conditioner spray or water, less damaging chlorine will be absorbed into the shafts. 
• Apply sunscreen to your part to protect your scalp. 
• Any hair treatments such as perms, colors, highlights etc. that include ammonia, peroxide, or bleach will damage your hair regardless of the time of year. 
• Use products that are alcohol and sulfate free; these will be better for your hair's overall health.
  
   

I hope you'll find these tips useful this summer while you're enjoying the beautiful warm weather. Keep a lookout for Summer Beauty Tips: Makeup Edition coming soon.


Signed,
V. Hughes