my 2 favorite new ways to use olive oil

Ever since I was a tween, I've bought exclusively "oil-free" face washes. I have oily skin, you see. So that made sense to me. It's never really helped, of course, but I didn't know what else to do. Last week I started a new routine which sounds absolutely crazy. The Oil Cleansing Method (OCM). Basically, you mix castor oil and olive oil (see? food related!) and rub that all over your face instead of washing it with soup (ha ha! I meant soap of course, but I'm leaving my typo because it makes me laugh. Soup on the brain!) and water. You the place a hot wet washcloth over your face until it cools, then use the cloth to wipe away all the oil. I've been at it for almost a week and have had no breakouts! I had a couple zits, but they pretty much disappear in a day! Who'da thunk it? Olive oil is not only delicious and heart healthy, it's good for your skin...even if you have oily skin!!

Now for the edible side of olive oil. So, say you're having a dinner consisting on french bread, olive oil, salt and pepper, with some meats and cheeses. Say You're full of the meats and cheeses but you still have some bread left. And you spot a bite size dark chocolate within arms reach. Here's what you should most definitely do....dip your bread in the oil/salt/pepper, warm the chocolate with your hand a little, put it on the oily bread and eat it. You will be a very very VERY happy person. Talk about foodgasm. *melts*

note to self: try these

Here's some recipes I've collected over the past few weeks that I absolutely must try. Soon.

Pork and Hominy Stew with Red Chiles: Posole Rojo

Baked acorn squash with pine nuts and garlic

Squid With Chilies and Greens (video here)

Mummy's Brown Soda Bread. I'm thinking this with a roasted chicken and that acorn squash above...mmmmm.

Brandied Prune and Chocolate Chunk Cookies.


And as a non-recipe aside, here's what I had for dinner last night:

It's a baked sweet potato topped with black beans and salsa (specifically Frontera/Salpica Tomato Jalepeno salsa....highly recommended...those Frontera products always seem to be good.) So simple. So fast. So Healthy! Very filling and comforting. I think I'll do it again tonight...