I love summer, even when I was a young girl growing up in India. It’s a time for cool evenings on porches, surrounded by family with stories and laughter drifting away into the night air. It’s a time for lazy days of reading, cool and lighter summer dresses, and fresh fruits and vegetables from farm stands. But for me, where is one fruit I adore above all others, one which was the national fruit of my beloved India: Mangos.
My family would buy a big sack of them not quite ripe yet, and store them until they were juicy and ready for chin dribbling eating. One fresh bite is like tasting the essence of summer, it’s bright and floral and so aromatic. There are 1,000 varieties of them in all different shapes and sizes, each with a slightly different taste. Though time and distance bring me away from India, the Land of Magos, I eat quite a lot of them this time of year for one reason: fitness.
Though I stay active all year round, summer feels like coming out of hibernation and when things get hectic at work, at home or even with so much going on in the world that I feel the need to unplug and escape to sunny beach paths or shady trails, the thought of my special Mango Smoothie awaiting me at home keeps me going to beat my personal best. My Mango? They have a hair growth boosting trifecta:
- Vitamin E, which improves circulation in the scalp, promoting hair growth.
- Vitamin C, which promotes collagen production.
- Vitamin A, which helps to naturally condition your scalp, for stronger, shinier hair.
If you want to feel as good on the inside as you do with great hair on the outside, take some time to head outside. Keep reading as I wanted to share my go-to, very simple 3 ingredient smoothie recipe!
Summertime for me, especially this coming weekend is all about barbecue and outdoor gatherings with family, friends, and animals. I adore floral dresses, off shoulder tops and shorts, but I think every gorgeous woman needs fun summertime hats that protect your hair from the sun’s rays. When it comes to hair, summer offers so many fun styles to love depending on your mood: from scrunchies to buns or even ponytails with glam accessories to make your statement.
We’ll gather our family together and make one of my favorite dishes: Tandoori Chicken. If you’ve never experienced the juicy, flavorful, tenderness of it…your summertime barbecue is missing out! The flavors burst and play so well off fresh fruits and salads and so often friends ask for our secret to juicy grilled chicken. I’ll tell you: Greek yogurt. Chicken on the grill tends to dry out, but Grilled Tandoori Chicken is coated with yogurt, keeping it moist and delicious. Serve it with a fresh field green salad or even basmati rice with lime. If you’d love to try it for yourself this summer, I’ve got you girl! Scroll to the bottom.
From all of us at Perfect Locks, to you and your family at home have a healthy and fun summer!
Priyanka’s Mango Smoothie Recipe
Smoothies don’t have to be expensive or complicated. Mine is just 3 simple ingredients:
- 1 cup of fresh diced mango
- ½ cup of good Greek yogurt (I’d suggest vanilla or plain as fruity yogurts will muddy the mango flavor)
- ¾ cup of fresh whole milk (but you can also use a nut based milk or even coconut water)
Chop and dice the mango and toss in the freezer for 30 minutes. It gives the smoothie a nice cool taste with some icy texture.
Next, just mix your mango, Greek yogurt and milk in the blender. Pour and enjoy!
Priyanka’s Grilled Tandoori Chicken Recipe
- ½ cup Greek yogurt
- 3 tablespoons olive oil (cold pressed
- 5 cloves garlic finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon garam masala
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon turmeric
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon coriander
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- Optional: 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper for a little heat
- 1 to 1 ½ pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts or chicken thighs (bone-in)
Serving sauce:
- ⅔ cup Greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro finely minced (put on top)
Mix all of the ingredients above (except for the serving sauce) in a large marinade bag or sealable glass container, making sure you fully cover and coat the chicken. Marinade overnight, or at least give the marinade an hour to really coat and penetrate the chicken.
Preheat the grill to medium-high. Place the chicken on the grill and cook 4 to 5 minutes per side until done. Chicken breasts will cook faster than bone-in thighs, so if you use those make sure the chicken is cooked to the proper temperature.
Take the chicken off the grill and let it rest while you make the serving sauce. Serve your family or friends and enjoy!
