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Relaxing Valentine's Day With The Girls

Valentines Day isn't just for couples.

Before you have time alone with your special someone, why not have a fun get-together with the girls?

On The Early Show Thursday, contributor Katie Lee Joel had some great, entertaining ideas sure to be a hit.

Joel showed how to make some easy spa treatments to indulge in, some great appetizers to serve, and even an inexpensive gift for your guests.

And of course, it wouldn't be Valentine's Day without a little bubbly, so she prepared a sparking pomegranate prosecco drink.

RECIPES / PROCDEDURES

Spa Treatments

Strawberry Hand and Foot Scrub

Why do strawberries make a good scrub?
Strawberries are a natural skin soother, packed with antioxidants. They contain natural fruit acid, which aids in the exfoliation. The sea salt is what gives the scrub its grainy texture, which of course helps exfoliate.

Ingredients
1 cup Strawberries, fresh or frozen (packed with antioxidants & soothes)
1/4 cup Coarse Sea Salt (exfoliates)
1/4 cup favorite moisturizer or shower gel (as needed for consistency)

Directions
Mix all ingredients together into a paste in blender or food processor
Massage into hands & feet over large bowl or bath
Leave on for 10 - 15 minutes
Rinse and pat dry

Tomato Cleansing Masque

Tomatoes are packed with vitamins and minerals that benefit our skin. They contain vitamins A, C, and E, as well as iron and potassium, which help nourish the skin. They can also serve as an astringent to remove excess oil and clean out pores. If you have any black heads or impurities it will help to clear them up.

Ingredients
1 finely chopped tomato
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon instant oatmeal

Directions
Blend all ingredients to form a thick paste.
Leave on 10 minutes then remove with a damp chamois and rinse.
Follow with an oil free moisturizer.

Rose Petal Steam

The steam helps open up the pores; it's very relaxing. It's best to do this steam after you've washed your face. Often, you can go to the florist and buy loose rose pedals very inexpensively. Or, if you get roses on Valentine's Day, when they start to fade, you can use those pedals!

Ingredients
1 cup fresh Rose Petals (chemical free)
1 gallon water

Directions
Heat water in a tea kettle until near boiling. Put petals in a bowl and add hot water. Lean over the bowl and cover head with a towel to keep in the steam. Keep face about 10 to 12 inches from the bowl and allow to steam for 10 to 15 minutes.

Appetizers

These appetizers fit in the whole spa theme. Beet tartare is Joel's healthy take on steak or tuna tartare. Beets are full of vitamin C, iron, and antioxidants. These are also much cheaper than buying the expensive steak or tuna, and they have a nice Valentine's Day color. Also, the wild rice hand rolls are totally healthy! Joel uses whole grain wild rice and coleslaw, both of which are chock full of fiber.

Beet Tartare

4 small cooked beets, finely diced (look in the produce aisle for packaged cooked beets or on the salad bar.)
1/4 cup shallots, minced
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus 1 teaspoon
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon flat-leaf parsley, minced
1 tablespoon tarragon, minced
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

Pinch freshly ground black pepper
In a medium bowl, combine shallots, olive oil, lemon juice, mustard, parsley, tarragon, salt, and pepper. Mix until well combined. Stir in beets. Serve on toasted bread, endive leaves, or in appetizer spoons.

Wild Rice Salad Hand Rolls

1/2 cup uncooked wild rice
1 cup shredded cabbage (to save time, use coleslaw mix.)
1/4 cup dried cranberries
4 scallions, thinly sliced
2 tablespoons sunflower seeds
3 tablespoons Asian vinaigrette
12 large lettuce leaves (*Use radicchio, romaine, iceberg or endive.)

Cook wild rice according to package instructions. Let cool completely. Transfer to a mixing bowl and stir in cabbage, cranberries, scallions, and sunflower seeds. Toss with vinaigrette. Scoop into lettuce cups.

Pomegranate Sparkler

What do you have to drink?

Instead of champagne for Valentine's Day bubble, Joel uses prosecco. Prosecco is a great, inexpensive alternative to champagne; a good bottle costs about $10. Pomegranates are packed with antioxidants, and Joel really loves the elder flower liquor. It has a really girly, flowery fragrance and just adds a little something special.

1 ounce St. Germain elderflower liqueur
1 ounce pomegranate juice
3 ounces Prosecco

In a champagne glass, combine elderflower liqueur and pomegranate juice. Top with Prosecco.

Joel always likes to give a little gift

This is something totally easy: You can buy a half gallon of Epsom salt for about $3 bucks. Joel likes to put it in little bags and add a few drops of lavender, so it's nice and fragrant.

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