Rahua Oil from The Amazon

I was recently introduced to Fabian and Anna from Cocoon Hair Studio (http://cocoonhair.com) in NYC. Their studio is located at 318 East 70th Street. I was very intrigued about their new product launch of hair products made with Rahua. Rahua is natural and organic oil found in the Amazon Rain Forest. Natural and organic ingredients are one of my other favorite interests.

Fabian explained how the Rahua is extracted and processed to be shipped here in the US for the Rahua hair care products. He explains how ““The Amazon basin is the true and original “beauty garden” of the world because of its plentiful indigenous plants, fruits and nuts that are high in anti-oxidants as well as hair and skin nourishing oil.”

For hundreds of years, deep in the heart of the Amazon, women from the Quechua-Shuar tribe have been foraging the symbiotically grown Rahua nut. Prepared during the rise and fall of the Amazon’s full moon, during the blossom on their beautiful indigenous orchids and adjacent to the Curaray River, Rahua® Elixir is handmade from the oil of the Rahua nut, long used by these women to promote long, healthy, strong hair. By penetrating deep into the hair’s cortex, Rahua Elixir repairs and rebuilds damaged strands in 3 minutes. When used with Rahua® Leave-In Treatment hair reaches unsurpassed length, remaining healthy and shiny.

Used by the Manta nationality to ward off “bad energy” and coveted by Shaman’s of the Latin culture for hundreds of years, Palo Santo is common to the coast of Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands and a tree that inhabits the South American Gran Chaco region (northern Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia and the Brazilian Mato Grosso). The aged fallen trees are ripe with the oil of Palo Santo which has been used for centuries in teas and medicinal elixirs for its many healing properties.

He also had some fascinating stories of working with native tribes and nationalities to help protect intellectual property rights and preserve the beauty of the planet’s largest living and breathing renewable natural resource.

I purchased the Leave-In treatment and I have been using it for a month now. I can actually feel that the strands of my very thin hair are actually thicker. It’s not greasy and my hair looks more vibrant. I can only imagine it getting better after using it for several months.

The Rahua line consists of a shampoo, conditioner, oil and leave-in conditioner and can be purchased at www.amazonbeautysecret.com

And you can win a vacation of a lifetime – a trip for two at Luna Runtun Adventure Spa in the heart of the Amazon Rainforest! It includes airfare, hotel, spa treatments and excursions to the Amazon rain forest. So log on to www.amazonbeautysecret.com to find out how to enter this contest!

As the industry turns to greener beauty products, I can only congratulate both Fabian and Anna for this discovery. There’s an increase in demand for natural, healthy, organic ingredients and it feels good to be part of this supply chain.

Feasts and Fotos

Food and cooking are one of my favorite hobbies, especially being Italian. No matter how busy my days get, I enjoy cooking with wholesome ingredients and spending time with people. It's a chance to communicate, celebrate, resolve, strategize or just enjoy the day and family and friends. Enjoying a great meal is one of the simple pleasures in my life.

I don't use cook books or get to watch a lot of cooking shows but I do like to pick up new cooking ideas to incorporate into my recipes. One of my favorite websites is www.feastsandfotos.wordpress.com. The recipes are simple and easy and very descriptive. And the photography is extraordinary! It really makes you want to try the dish of the day!

I am a big fan of fish so start with this one:

Baked Fish with Roasted Potatoes and Fennel

3 cups (1 pound) red potatoes, cut into 1/8 inch slices
1 large fennel bulb, sliced thin
1 tablespoon olive oil (roughly)
1/2 teaspoon each of salt & pepper
1 teaspoon fennel seeds
2 garlic cloves
3/4 cup white wine
4 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
1/2 tablespoon orange rind
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 (28-ounce) can whole tomatoes, chopped
4 6-ounce halibut fillets (or any other firm white fish)

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Combine potatoes, fennel, 1/2 tablespoon olive oil, some salt & pepper in a baking dish and toss gently to coat. Bake for 30 minutes.

In a skillet on the stove top, heat 1/2 teaspoon olive oil. Add fennel seeds (or not) and garlic, saute for one minute. Add some salt & pepper, wine, 1/2 of the parsley, orange rind, oregano and tomatoes; bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 8 minutes.

Sprinkle fish fillets with some salt & pepper. Arrange fillets over the potato mixture and then spread the tomato mixture over the fillets. Coat a nice layer over them, enough so it starts spilling over into the potato/fennel mixture. Bake at 450 for 20 minutes or until the fish flakes easily. Sprinkle with the remainder of the parsley. Sprinkle some salmoriglio sauce over fillets (or not).

Salmoriglio Sauce
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon grated lemon rind
2 garlic cloves, minced
Salt & pepper to taste
Wisk all ingredients together. Easy enough!!


So log on (www.feastsandfotos.wordpress.com)and make sure to take time out every day to eat, celebrate and communicate. I live to love and love to live - always with food!