Thursday Treats: Chilled Cucumber Yoghurt Soup

Spring has officially arrived yesterday and although the weather here in New England reminds me more of mid-winter, I'm in the mood for another healthy green Thursday Treats recipe. Today's treat is my favorite Chilled Cucumber Yoghurt Soup - a dish I've known and enjoyed all my life. Take a look:

Variations of this dish can be found throughout Eastern Europe and Greece, but I'm presenting the recipe as my family has always enjoyed it - simple, healthy and delicious. While this Chilled Cucumber Yoghurt Soup is perfect for summer, I'd recommend it all year round. I usually start craving for this fresh treat in late winter and to me, eating it for the first time somehow signifies the arrival of warmer days. Here is the recipe:

Products (4-6 servings)

• 1 large 2 lb. container of Greek-style / strained yoghurt (I like to use Chobani non-fat but have also made this recipe with other varieties such as Fage) 
• 1 large English cucumber or 4 Persian cucumbers
• 2-3 cloves of garlic
• 1 tbsp of fresh dill
• Salt to taste (I usually use ~ 1 tsp)
• 4 cups of cold water
• 1 tsp sunflower oil
• chopped walnuts for garnish

Preparation

1. Cut the cucumbers first lengthwise into several long slices and then into small pieces (I've had the soup with shredded cucumbers, however I prefer to cut them into slightly larger than shredded pieces to get that extra crunch)
2. Peel and slice the garlic into small pieces or use a special garlic cutter, and add to the cucumber mixture
3. Finely cut the fresh dill and add to the cucumber & garlic mixture
4. Add the yoghurt to the mixture and stir well
5. Start adding the chilled cups of water, one by one, mixing well after each cup - the mixture should be smooth and without lumps. I like my soup to be thick and smooth, but I've also had it with more water added in some places - it is truly a matter of preference. I personally prefer to taste more yoghurt and thus, I like it thicker.
6. Add the salt and oil and stir
7. Serve chilled with chopped walnuts for garnish

Chill / store in the fridge and enjoy for a light lunch or dinner, or as an appetizer.

What are some of your favorite healthy recipes? Would you give this one a try?

Tuesday Treasures: Easter Finds For Under $13

Today's Tuesday Treasures are fun, whimsical and just in time for Easter, egg hunts and spring parties. They are also a good deal since each one is for under $13. Take a look:

The first couple of items are mini stud earrings that would be an unexpected "treasure" if found in one of those Easter eggs by some of the elder girls at your Easter egg hunt.
1) Sterling Silver Mini Rounded Bunny Earrings on Posts ($8.80) -These sterling silver darlings are adorable and such a good.
2) Spring Easter Jewelry Bunny in Easter Egg Carrot Stud Earrings ($11.35) - Another great pair to hide as an extra special surprise, these are enamel covered and really cute.
3) Umba Zoola Bunny Ring Holder in Chrome ($9.99) - How whimsical is this ring holder! It would certainly make a great hostess gift for those upcoming Easter / spring parties, but I'd gladly use it year-round.
4) Ecco Eggs, 28 Count ($11.19) - This is a great way to make your egg hunt greener this year. The set includes 28 compostable Easter eggs made from corn and 100% renewable.
5) Lindt Chocolate Carrots Easter Treat ($12.99 for a set of 4 boxes; you can also buy a single box at your local Target) - My daughter and her friends love these 'carrot umbrellas' as Easter treats! I do, too! There are smooth melt-in-your-mount milk Lindt chocolate. I like to use them at Easter time since they are different than the typical chocolate eggs or bunnies.

What do you think these Easter-inspired 'treasures'? What are some of your favorite Easter-time finds?

Graze Box Review: Nibblebox #1 (#7)

I've been receiving Graze Lightbox since the company launched in the US, but I decided to switch and try the Nibblebox for a change (Graze lets you change the type of box as often as you like). Last week, my first Nibblebox arrived and it was one of my favorite boxes so far, simply delicious! The four snacks in the box were: Walnut & Vanilla Truffle, Orange & Ginger Flapjack, Fiery Seeds and Yaki Soba::

All of these snacks were better than expected. Take a look:

Walnut & Vanilla Truffle: Walnuts, dark chocolate, raisins & vanilla seeds
So delicious, this is one of my all-time favorite snacks from Graze! It's right up there with the Poached Pear with Vanilla, and it had those same vanilla pumpkin seeds that I loved so much. It is the perfect combination of nuts, chocolate and sweet to satisfy that afternoon sweet-tooth craving (or any-time-of-the-day-craving!). 

Orange & Ginger Flapjacks: Rustic rolled oat flapjack with orange and stem ginger
Another all-time favorite in the same box, this flapjack not only combined two of my favorite flavors, but was moist and very fresh. I want to buy a whole box of these, so Graze, please make them available!

Fiery Seeds: Chilli pumpkin & sunflower seeds
Simple and yummy, these had just the right amount of spice and that is the reason I loved them so much. I found this to be a very generous portion and had it in more than one serving.

Yaki Soba: Soba peanuts, edamame beans, noodles & chilli broad beans
While this was a snack that I 'just' liked compared to the other three snacks, it was still very tasty. It's definitely not a typical snack I'd choose, but I liked the crunchiness in this Asian-inspired treat.

My verdict: I loved my first Nibblebox from Graze! Since there is no calorie limit to the snacks included (as in the Lightbox), I found it offered a bit more variety. All of the snacks were around 200 calories each (it's ~ 150 calorie per snack in the Lightbox) and some of them were more filling because of that. That allowed me to enjoy them in two servings instead of one - for example, the three pieces of Orange & Ginger Flapjacks were perfect with my morning and afternoon cups of coffee. I'm going to keep trying the Nibblebox for now; my next week's box has two of my favorite dips included - can't wait!

Graze has limited the amount of invite codes we can use for new members to just one. I'm not sure if my code will work, but my account says I can still invite one new member - use my code 4DCWNCR if you wish to try Graze.  

What do you think of these snacks? Have you tried any?

Love With Food March 2013 Review

This is my first Love with Food box and I was impatient and excited to receive it! If you are not familiar with this food sub, here's the gist:

The Box: Love with Food

Get a box of gourmet food shipped to you monthly, with new flavors curated with a different theme every month.

Price: $12 / month ($10 + $2 / shipping)

Highlights: *gourmet food; *shop full-size products at a discount; *meal donated with every box; *earn credit points from reviews

This month's Love with Food theme is Classics with a Twist and the box was filled with "classic bites and sips with surprising new twists". Here is the box filled to the brim:

It included a cute information card detailing all of the treats included in the box. I received a total of eight items.

Dark Chocolate Orange Good Fortune Cookie from Emily's Chocolates

I love good fortune cookies - not just for the fortunes - and have never had one covered in chocolate. This was my favorite treat from this box - so yummy and crunchy, I wished there were more than one included. I would gladly buy more!

Granola from Ola! Foods

I am a big granola fan - especially for breakfast. While I prefer nut varieties, this vanilla one is tasty and not too sweet.

Chocolate Covered Wasabi Peas from Chocwasabi

I was not too sure about this snack, but I absolutely loved it! It's an interesting combination - it is definitely more chocolate-y than I expected. I would love a dark chocolate variety, as well. This was one of my favorite treats from the box.

Fruit & Veggies Juice from Kids 50

My 5-year old is not a big juice drinker, so I'm not sure if she'll want to try that. I might try it though. It's apple, carrot & acerola berry blend.

Salted Caramel Baked Corn Cosmos Creations

I thought I'd like this one more than I actually did. It was just too sweet and salty for me... while I do like combos like that, I found this one just a bit too much of both.

Green Tea Infuser from Revolution Tea

I got Acai Green tea with fruit flavors. I like tea in winter, so I'll give this a try. The packaging is really cute.

Wheat- and Gluten-free Crackers from Mary's Gone

I love crackers and these were a winner. This was my second-favorite item from this box - super crunchy, packed with nutritious grains and simply delicious crackers.

Wild Berry Flat Fruit from Wacky Apple

This was tangy and sweet at the same time, very pleasant. I shared this with my mom and my daughter and we all liked it.

My verdict: I liked my first Love with Food box a lot! The number and quality of the goodies was great! I found some new treats that I really enjoyed and that I'd gladly purchase in the future. And, a meal was donated because I purchased my box. If you'd like to try Love with Food, you can sign through my referral link here. Thanks!

What did you think of this month Love with Food? If you are subscribed to more than one food subs, what are your favorites and why?

Thursday Treats: Romaine, Veggies & Feta Cheese Salad

It's time for my Thursday Treats again and this one is healthy, fresh and colorful - just perfect for spring! Today's treat is my favorite Romaine, Veggies & Feta Cheese Salad that I've been making for the last month or so. While the main ingredients are the same, I've varied and played around with the add-on's depending on my preference and the ingredients I had at the moment. Take a look:

This is my own recipe and everyone in my family loves it. I love salads, especially for spring and summer time. You can vary or substitute some of the ingredients, depending on taste. For instance, some people find feta cheese too strong - if so, you could use shredded aged cheddar instead; I've tried it like that and it is delicious.

Products (~3-4 servings)

• 1 large romaine lettuce heart (rich in protein, omega-3s, iron and vitamin C, romaine is highly nutritious; not to mention crisp and delicious)
• 3-4 green onions / scallions
• 1 English cucumber or 2 Persian cucumbers
• 1-2 peeled roasted red peppers
• 1/3 can of corn (I also used chick peas or beans instead - delicious!)
• 1/3 cup of shredded carrots
• 1/3 cup crumbled Feta cheese
• Salt to taste
• 1 tsp of apple vinegar
• 2-3 tbs olive oil or sunflower oil

Preparation:

1. Wash and cut the romaine heart in tiny strips
2. Cut the scallions into small pieces and add to the romaine
3. Peel and cut the cucumbers, cut the roasted red peppers lengthwise and then into small pieces - add the veggies to the romaine & scallion mixture
4. Add the corn and shredded carrots to the salad mixture
5. Add salt to taste, vinegar and oil to the salad and mix thoroughly
6. Finally, add the crumbled Feta cheese and stir

This salad is best if enjoyed immediately or within an hour. It's so simple yet super healthy and yummy. Enjoy! 

If you love healthy cookies and mini muffins, check out my previous Thursday Treats!

What are your favorite salads or other healthy treats?

Special Edition Popsugar Must Have SUMMER FUN Box

In my Popsugar Must Have March shipping notification email, there was a reference to "stay tuned as our next Must Have Special Edition will be on sale soon". Today on the Must Have website, you can order the Special Edition Must Have Summer Fun Box:

The Must Have Summer Fun Box costs $100 and promises to prep you for summer with all hand-curated finds. It is said to arrive in mid-May. It definitely sounds intriguing and I'll have to seriously consider this one.

What about you, are you going to get the Must Have Summer Fun box?

POPSUGAR Must Have Box March 2013 Review

My March POPSUGAR Must Have Box finally arrived today! I already knew what items I was getting (I can't stay spoiler-free) but I was still excited to see everything in person, as well as the varieties of the included products. Take a look:

This month's theme is around Spring and greeting the new season in style. I would say this box strikes a good balance of a variety of items that many people would find appealing and / or useful. I personally am happy with the box and like most of the items.

Must Have Fashion:

Heather Belle Signature Tassel Necklace ($72) - (So, it was not a bracelet after all and I'm actually happy about it since we've already gotten a bracelet in a previous box). I really like this necklace - it's long, very much on-trend and has a bit of Bohemian feel. It's casual, easy to wear during the day or on a night out. The design was just added on on the Heather Belle website (today actually, as it was not there when I did my post yesterday). I approximated the price based on other brand pieces. Now I have the exact price.

Hollywood Fashion Secrets Sweater Saver ($7.99) - As I mentioned in the Spoiler post, I haven't heard of this product before but it sounds like a useful one. you use to grab and remove pulling, fuzz and knots from your sweaters. I will see how it works.

Must Have Home:

The Laundress Denim Specialty Wash ($20) - I wasn't familiar with this brand but I'm really glad to try this fabric detergent. I was hoping to get the Delicate or the Denim wash, so I'm happy with this item. Getting to try brands like this - higher-end, specialty and not something I would necessarily buy - is one of the reasons I love Popsugar Must Have.

Corkatoo Corkscrew ($13.99) - This is one of the items I was most excited about! I don't need another wine opener but this is such a cool, bright (I love the green with pink accents!) and stylish piece. I'm still deciding if I'll keep this one for me or gift to a very close person who will love this.

Must Have Beauty:

Buxom Sculpted Lash Mascara ($12.99) - I'm always excited to try new kinds of mascara and I've heard only good things about this brand. The wand has a unique S-shaped brush that I haven't tried so far.

The New Black Nail Polish ($10) - I'm always excited to get nail polish, especially mini ones as I never use a whole regular bottle. I've never used this brand before but I was a bit disappointed with the colors I got (I would have preferred blues or reds) and the fact one of the bottles had spilled. The idea behind this duo's is to use them together as a unique French manicure or on alternating fingers / toes, so I might give it a try.

Special Extras:
Marshmallow Peeps (~$1) - Perfect for Easter!
Hollywood Fashion Secrets Fashion Tape Assortment Pack (~$5) - A sample of the brand's most popular fashion tapes, this is a good one to carry in your purse in case of an "emergency".
Also, included in the box are a couple of coupons: one for a mini Buxom lip gloss with a Sephora purchase and the other for 50% off a Hollywood Fashion Secrets purchase.

The total value of this month's box comes to ~$143 - is consistent with the high box value to monthly subscription price rate that Popsugar has been giving its subscribers.  No complaints here!

If you want to sign up for POPSUGAR Must Have and want to use my referral link, you can do so with code REFER5 for $5 off your first box.

NEW: Check out my growing Subscription Box Directory!

What do you think of this month's Must Have box? If you got one, what color variations did you receive?