Healthy Cooking Tips and Recipes

Orchards at The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain

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Fall is here, and the oranges, tangelos and grapefruits growing in the orchard at The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain in Marana, Arizona, are prime for the picking. It doesn’t get much fresher than gathering your own fruit and having the staff at the resort’s CORE Kitchen & Wine Bar squeeze you a fresh glass for breakfast. Or, use the fruit to have one of CORE’s signature cocktails made, like the Arizona Greyhound.

(Obviously, fresh juice from the resort is the best way to enjoy the signature Arizona Greyhound, but if you want to make your own version at home, the resort graciously shared the recipe for it with us here!)

The pick-your-own practice is encouraged over at the spa as well, where you can select an herb from the spa garden to be used in your treatment. Choose between mint, lemongrass, rosemary and lavender, then pick out your favorite salts and aromatherapy at the apothecary bar, and the spa’s staff will create your own customized body scrub. We can’t wait to visit and make our own!

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Chocoveda's Chakra Box

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We already know that a little bit of dark chocolate every day is good for us, but these chocolates from Chocoveda are even better.

The 100% natural and dairy-free truffles are infused with Indian Ginseng (traditionally known as ashwagandha), an Ayurvedic healing herb that has been proven to relieve stress. Our favorite is the “Chakra Box” collection. It features seven differently-flavored truffles (like chai, pomegranate and lemongrass), each representing one of the seven chakras of the body. The box retails for $30 and can be purchased at Neiman Marcus or at chocoveda.com.

Want to read more about Ayurveda, its benefits and history? Check out our India feature in the upcoming Fall issue of Spa, on newsstands August 23! Or, if you're lLooking for some more healthy chocolate desserts you can make at home, check out our photo gallery!

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Try your hand at making gluten-free dessert bars or peach salsa.

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Photo by: courtesy of The Hills Health Ranch

One of the many wonderful things about destination spas is the food: It's amazing how spa chefs make healthy meals taste so good. Well, The Hills Health Ranch—a spa vacation resort located in British Columbia that specializes in weight loss, fitness, and hiking—lends some insight with these two recipes you can try at home. (As someone who's gluten-intolerant, I'm especially eager to try the gluten-free Coconut Chick Pea Dessert Bars.) The recipes were developed by owner Juanita Corbett, who owns the destination spa along with her husband, Pat.

Coconut Chick Pea ( Garbanzo beans ) Dessert Bars

Ingredients 
4 cups of organic Garbanzo beans drained and well rinsed 

3 organic eggs

3 tablespoons of grape seed oil

dash of salt

2 cups of organic unsweetened coconut

1 tablespoon of orange extract

3/4 cup of organic brown sugar or organic granulated sugar

1 ½ cups of white chocolate chips 

Directions: Blend beans in food processor until smooth (or mash with potato masher). In a separate bowl combine all other ingredients and mix well. Add beans and mix thoroughly. Pour into an 8 x 8 pan and bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 40 min or until done. It should start coming away from the sides. Allow to cool, then enjoy. Want to add a non-fat whip topping? Watch one of their chefs make it.

Peach Tomato Salsa (zero fat, low calories)

Ingredients
4 cups blanched, peeled and diced ripe organic Roma tomatoes
2 cups firm diced peaches
Zest and juice of 2 limes
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1 or 2 fresh organic Jalapeno peppers, diced with seeds removed (adjust for heat tolerance) 
1 medium finely diced red or gold onion
2 cloves garlic minced or pressed
2 teaspoons chopped cilantro
1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
Fresh ground pepper

Directions: Mix all ingredients together and simmer on medium heat for 10 to 15 minutes. Allow to cool, then serve. 

Would you rather schedule a visit and have someone else do all the cooking? The Hills Health Ranch is currently offering several deal specials, including mother/daughter getaways and a great family package.

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