Celebrity Chef Kai Chase's Summer Beauty Ritual: Spa Water

Going to the spa is a luxury that everyone should indulge in from time to time. But just because you're not in a spa due to the fluctuating economy or you just can't seem to find the time doesn't mean that you cannot enjoy the benefits of a spa at home.

H20 is an important and vital part to good health, pretty skin and staying hydrated during the summer, so one of my favorite summer beauty rituals is drinking Spa Water... (that refreshing beverage often served at fine spas infused with everything from rosemary and mint sprigs to cucumber and orange slices).  Spa Water is not only delicious, natural and healthy to drink, it's also a great way I like to hydrate myself while relaxing by the pool or just anytime I want to feel pretty from the inside out.

Here is my favorite way to prepare this refreshing beverage:

Citrus-Infused Spa Water

Citrus-Infused Spa Water

Ice Cubes

1 lemon, thin sliced

1 lime, thin sliced

1 orange, thin sliced 

1/2  hothouse cucumber, skin-on, thin sliced

Method:

Fill a glass pitcher halfway with ice cubes.  Toss the sliced fruit and cucumber into the pitcher.  Fill with mineral water and let rest at least 1 hour in the refrigerator.  Serve and enjoy!

Memorial Day Recipe: Chimichurri Sauce (Argentina)

Time to breakout the grill and the bbq barrels...it's summertime!  So, when putting your favorite marinated skirt steak, bone-in rib eye, grass-fed burgers and chops on the fire, skip the bbq sauce and the A-1 steak sauce and opt for the bright and vibrant flavor of  a Chimichurri Sauce. 

This zesty sauce of parsley, cilantro, sherry vinegar, red chiles, garlic and olive oil (used typically to garnish grilled meats in Argentina) is clearly a blending of Spanish and Italian cultures and cuisines. It serves a bold richness to grilled meats and punches a pack of herbal flavors when brushed on seafood and vegetables.

The amazing, aromatic flavors will have you using the sauce not just for grilled meats, but also as a marinade for fish, vegetables and tofu!  I also use it to top omlettes, as a spread for grilled seafood panini's and as an herbal dip appetizer for rustic breads.
 
Here is a wonderful Chimichurri recipe that I have prepared.  I like to make mine a little on the spicy side, so feel free to experiment and let your taste buds be your guide.  Enjoy!

Chimichurri Sauce/Marinade

Chimichurri Sauce

1 c. Flat Leaf Parsley

1 c.  Cilantro Leaves

2 Garlic Pods

2 Tbs. Shallots

3/4 c.   EVO (Extra Virgin Olive Oil)

2 Tbs. Sherry Vinegar

½ tsp. Red Pepper Flakes

½ tsp. Sugar (optional)

Sea Salt and Cracked Black Pepper (to taste)

Method:

In a food processor add the parsley, cilantro, garlic, shallots, sugar and sherry vinegar. Pulse just enough to get the ingredients coarsely chopped. Stream in the olive oil and pulse until medium chunked and well blended. You can also use a powerful blender. Pour the mixture into a bowl, add the red pepper flakes, salt and pepper. Taste and adjust seasonings to your liking. You may also prepare this sauce by hand using a knife and cutting board or morter and pestel. Great served on Grilled Portobello Mushroom Sliders (as seen below).

Grilled Portobello Mushroom Sliders with Chimichurri Sauce

Celebrity Chef Kai Chase's-Fun, Fab-Summer Fitness Tips!

Summer fun can keep you motivated and on track with exercise, so if the Great Outdoors (beach! mountains! parks! backyards!) is looking way better than that basement treadmill or the stinky weight room at the gym, ditch the same old routine.

Obey your instincts and head outside for some fun physical activity that doesn't remotely feel like exercise but has the same benefits. Fun stuff can boost fitness and burn as many or even more calories than your usual workout routine.  As a celebrity chef these are a few I live and swear by:


•Hula-Hooping. Spinning a Hula-Hoop burns 210 calories in 30 minutes and boosts your heart rate as much as a brisk walk. Hula-hooping has given me those sexy curves and keeps my belly flat, so when I'm rockin' my hip-hugger "Built By Wendy" jeans, I look incredibly sexy!  Get a Hula-Hoop for yourself, your loved one, yours kids and "hoop it up" together!

•Toss a Frisbee. This classic summer toy can help you burn 109 to 252 calories in half an hour. This is a game I use to play at the beach, in the park and in the backyard of my home.  Leaping, jumping, stretching and running to catch a frisbee will definitely shape your arms and tone your legs.  

•Dance the summer away. Join the fun when they play Dance Dance Revolution? Hit the dance floor at your bestfriend's  wedding. Accept your neighbor's invite to Zumba or Jazzercise class. Dancing regularly burns lots of calories (shakin' a sexy samba burns 10 per minute) while boosting fitness health.

•Walk in water. Love to hang out at the pool but hate getting your hair wet? Skip the laps and get in some water walking. Water supports your weight but adds up to 12 times more resistance than air, so you'll get a great workout.  A little warm-water exercise feels good especially when the sun is beaming down on you.

•Hit the beach. Dial up your favorite beach tune on your iPod, slap on plenty of sunscreen, and go coastal. Walking on soft sand can burn 20% to 50% more calories than walking on a hard surface, thanks to the extra effort it takes (the softer the sand, the harder you'll work). Ready for more fun? Look for a beach volleyball game. Despite what you see on TV, you don't need a bikini (shorts and a T-shirt are fine), but if you get hooked and start playing regularly, you might be bikini-ready soon. A 30-minute beach volleyball game burns up to 355 calories.

Baco Mercat

In my never ending journey to try all types of wonderful foods, a business colleage and close friend suggested we dine on rustic Spanish cuisine and invited me to dinner at Baco Mercat, an authentic nuevo latino restaurant, serving comforting Spanish cuisine. 

Located on a vibrant street strung with twinkling street lights, in the historic old bank district (which reminded me a little of the meat packing district of a "sex and the city" segment) sits this rustic restaurant with great ambiance and friendly service.  Once in the door, the place felt warm and inviting, with an eccletic selection of music and a full bar.  The menu is big with a variety of choices, but not overwhelming and the prices are reasonable.

The Menu

Baco Mercat is known as the home to "the baco" which is a signature flat bread created by chef Josef Centeno. The baco bread is served in its original sandwich form and comes in many flavorful varities. The most popular is "The Original," which consists of a heavenly mixture of beef, pork belly, carnitas, smoked aioli and salbixada.

The Original

The Egg - Salsa Verde, Farm Fried Egg and Ricotta

Although "the original" baco sandwich (which did look extremely appetizing) seemed a little heavy for my appetite considering we were dining after 8pm, we decided to experience "the coca" which is a flatbread pizza, rolled out thin, baked crispy and loaded with toppings for an incredible pizza packed with flavors that are out of this world.

Caesar Brussel Sprouts

Blistered Okra

After perusing the menu we selected on a few delicious small plates to share and accompany our "coca."  We ordered the "Caesar Brussel Sprouts" and the "Blistered Okra."  Quite honestly I think we could've ordered a "baco" and vegetarian "coca" with two sides, along with our Spanish red wine and would've been completely satisfied without being stuffed.

Healthy Tip of the Week...Curbing Your Sweet Tooth!

We are all guilty when it comes to giving in to our sugar cravings.  For most women, our sugar rush comes particularly during certain flucuations of our hormone cycles.  So how do you fight those fearsome sugar cravings?  Well, just as nature creates the urges for "sweet snacking" nature can help you tame them as well.  Here are some pretty cool tips you can adhere too when the "sweet tooth fairy" comes a callin':

Curb your sugar craving by drinking a cup of licorice tea! Did you know that a cold or hot cup of licorice tea can satisfy that sugar craving?  Yes!  Licorice Tea (grown in the Mediterranean and Asia) is sweeter than sugar and the best part is that it's 0 calories.  The slightly sweet nature of the tea will please your palate, and the stew of healthy herbs will also hydrate you!

Curb your sugar craving by keeping your blood sugar levels balanced! If you don’t eat anything all morning long, your blood sugar levels will drop and by afternoon you will be ravenous and chowing down on anything in sight- especially something sweet. Remember always eat breakfast, but also eat small, healthy protein-rich snacks throughout the day so you never feel famished. Remember, the number one cause of overeating is undereating.

Curb your sugar craving by not keeping the devil around! Everyone has their weakness. Superman has kryptonite, I have Haagen-Daaz and Cheetos, and you just may be addicted to Oreos.
Do NOT buy these items and keep them in your house; (the key word here is KEEP) otherwise you are just one weak moment away from gorge-city all week long. Don’t deny yourself what you really love, just buy tiny packages or enjoy a single scoop of ice cream outside the house.  Buying a whole gallon is just tempting fate and then you'll find yourself indulging in a sugar frenzy all week long.

Curb your sugar craving by giving in!  A life of denial is no fun, and the first way to wind up gorging on a bowl of chocolate mousse is to strike all sweets from your diet. I find indulging one day a week on the right things, like fine dark chocolate or a thin sliver of pie. Eat mindfully, and slowly, and don’t waist your cravings on a junk bag of cheap cookies or whatever candy just happens to be around. Eat the sweet you want, and then put the fork down.  Then get it out of the house until that one splurge day, the following week.  One cheat day a week certainly won't kill you!  It's only natural.   

Celebrate Earth Month 2012

It's Earth Month in almost 200 countries and in protecting the health of the planet here is a natural contribution for sharing your love for the earth.

Donate Your Time!

Volunteering is free to you, but very valuable to causes and organizations that you care about, and it can be fun too!  There are celebrations and events around the world in honor of Earth Day!  So get involved!  Participate with your local schools, community centers, senior centers and children's organizations by giving of your time and sharing love. 

Celebrate Earth Month 2012

It's Earth Month in almost 200 countries and in protecting the health of the planet here is a natural contribution for sharing your love for the earth.

Choose Organic!
Choosing organic has got to be the #1 most recommendation for protecting the planet and its inhabitants.  Organic farming supports natural ecosystems by limiting the input of toxic and persistent chemicals into the air, soil and water.  So support you local health food markets and local open farmers markets and buy organic.  You'll probably find tons of organic products on sale too!