How to Make Healthy “Zoodles” With Almond Pesto

Francesca Bean
Apr 18, 2016

Spring is here, and we couldn’t be happier. The sun is shining, flowers are blooming and there’s tons of GREEN all around. The perfect way to celebrate spring? With seasonal eats and fresh veggies galore! We’ve teamed up with our friends at Almond Board of California to bring you a healthy, green recipe you can whip up in no time.

Introducing our Almond Pesto Zoodles (aka zucchini noodles)! If you haven’t made zoodles before, you’re in for a treat. They’re low-carb, gluten-free and super easy to make. Plus, we guarantee our homemade almond pesto will be your go-to recipe by the end of spring. Why almonds? For one, they’re less caloric than pine nuts (which are traditionally used in pesto). They also tend to be less expensive and add a super nutty flavor to the pesto that we love. Read on for all of the deets!

Ingredients:

– 3/4 cup whole natural almonds
– 3 cups fresh basil + more for topping

– 4 garlic cloves

– 1 1/4 cups Parmesan cheese + more for topping

– salt and pepper, to taste

– 1 1/2 cups extra virgin olive oil

– 3 large zucchini

– cherry tomatoes

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Roast almonds for 10 minutes on a sheet pan. Let cool.

2. Place the basil, garlic, Parmesan, almonds, salt and pepper in a food processor. Pulse until combined. Slowly stream in the olive oil and continue to pulse. Scrape down the bowl, as needed.

3. Bring a pot of water to a boil. Use a handheld spiralizer to make your zucchini noodles. Just place one end of your zucchini against the center of the blade on the spiralizer and apply pressure while twisting clockwise. Voila! Add zucchini noodles to the boiling water. Cook 2-3 minutes. Drain.

4. Toss the pesto with the zucchini noodles. Top with cherry tomatoes, more Parmesan and some fresh basil. Enjoy!

Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Roast almonds for 10 minutes on a sheet pan. Let cool. Place the basil, garlic, Parmesan, almonds, salt and pepper in a food processor. Pulse until combined. Slowly stream in the olive oil and continue to pulse. Scrape down the bowl, as needed.

Pesto! How easy was that?

Use a handheld spiralizer to make your zucchini noodles. Just place one end of your zucchini against the center of the blade on the spiralizer and apply pressure while twisting clockwise. Voila! Bring a pot of water to a boil and add zucchini noodles. Cook 2-3 minutes, then drain. Toss the pesto with the zucchini noodles.

Top with cherry tomatoes and a few pieces of fresh basil.

Sprinkle on more Parmesan (the more, the better)!

And serve up a bowl for dinner! Doesn’t that look delicious?

And, of course, be sure to serve extra almond pesto on the side!

Happy (healthy) eating!

How To Build A Local Community When You’re A Digital Creator

Verizon
verizon

In our Take 5 series, sponsored by Verizon, we ask women in business about unexpected challenges, their inspirations, recent wins, and how the free Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program has helped propel their business forward. Here, we meet Rita Suzanne, a marketing strategist for health and wellness businesses who learned to network, connect with other entrepreneurs, and build her business online and IRL.

What's an unexpected business challenge that you've had to face and how did you overcome it?

The hardest thing for me was my sister passed away and I ended up taking custody of my nieces. I ended up being a single mom of four kids. This is the thing that transitioned my whole entire life. I stopped doing web design and started my podcast Mom Owned and Operated. I wanted to reconnect with other moms and figure out how they were able to run their businesses and raise a family and take care of themselves because I wasn't able to do all three at the same time. Through that journey, I realized that I really needed to connect with other people and how important it was for my business. It helped me to create that community that I was yearning for that I didn't realize that I needed.

What's a recent small win for your business?

For me, the win was just pivoting back to something that I actually wanted to do. Also, I’ve started to say no to things that I no longer want to do.

Who is a woman in business that you look up to and why?

I have always admired and looked up to Amy Porterfield [author of Two Weeks Notice]. I listened to her all the time when I was starting out. I think that she's amazing and I love her stuff. She just seems like a very genuine person.

Is there a resource that has made an impact on you as an entrepreneur?

I listen to a lot of audio books. One of my favorites that has been huge for me is You Are A Badass by Jen Sincero. I was told when I first started my business, by a friend who was a business coach, that I have a mindset problem. Ten years ago, I had no idea even what “mindset” was. Sincero’s book helped me to see what she meant by “mindset” and helped me adjust that mindset and fix some of the things that I didn't realize were broken.

How has the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program helped propel your business forward?

There are a lot of things that I have loved about it. There are local networking and training opportunities, and that has been great, and the online training is very valuable. It's a great resource. I find that marketing needs a three-tiered approach, meaning you need to network it locally, socially, and then also have a very comprehensive online approach to your marketing. One of the Verizon Small Business trainings that I took was all about taking advantage of your local resources. I found that to be extremely valuable because often people think they need to just focus on social media. I don't think that people focus enough on their local community.

Learn more about the free Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program and Rita Suzanne.

Illustration by Daniela Jordan-Villaveces

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'One Tree Hill' Star Bethany Joy Lenz "Disappeared For 10 Years" After Joining A Cult

One Tree Hill fans know every little detail about Nathan Scottand Haley James Scott. How old Nathan and Haley were when they got married, Haley James Scott's birthday, and the fact that actress Bethany Joy Lenz was really pregnant when Haley got pregnant in season 8. But there's one behind-the-scenes detail OTH lovers might not have known about Lenz's life at the time: she was in a cult.

Jason Kempin/Getty Images for PEOPLE x IHG Hotels and Resorts

The actress, who's currently promoting her book Dinner for Vampires Life on a Cult TV Show (While also in an Actual Cult!), recently revealed that her cast mates on One Tree Hill (which she auditioned for while already a part of the Big House Family Cult) could tell something fishy was going on — and that Craig Sheffer, who played Uncle Keith until season 3, even said something to her.

"I could see it on their faces," she tells People. "But I'd justify it, like, 'I couldn't possibly be in a cult. It's just that I've got access to a relationship with God and people in a way that everybody else wants, but they don't know how to get it.'"

At first, the group had a lot of aspects that fans have loved about One Tree Hill for years, like connection, emotional intimacy, and "the idea that someone out there says, 'No matter what you do or how badly you might behave or what dumb choices you make, I still love you, and I'm here for you.'”

Brownie Harris/The CW

She met the pastor at 20 years old, when she joined a Saturday night Bible study in LA. At first, it was "nothing to be suspicious about," she says in an episode of Alex Cooper's Call Her Daddy podcast, because it was just like other church gatherings she'd been a part of. But before long she was sucked in, and basically "disappeared for ten years."

The loving environment morphed into one that Lenz says villainized independence, and her One Tree Hill costars quickly realized where she was at. The cult's control continued to expand as they told her not to trust her cast mates (and to isolate herself instead), caused her to stop communication with her father for six years, and led her to turn down major movies. Oh, they also took upwards of $2 million from her.

Amazon

Bethany Joy Lenz ended up marrying the son of the cult leader around 2005, and despite the fact she'd always had "crazy sex drive," she didn't desire sex with him, and it got to the point the couple was put on a literal schedule. Even though she hated it, she believed her duty as a wife was to have sex, so she agreed. “I take marriage seriously, and I made a promise before God. This is something I really want to figure out how to make it work."

But when her husband came to town, her "stomach dropped every single time." The schedule affected her so deeply that it gave her PTSD in future relationships. However, it was still too risky to leave. "The stakes were so high," she tells People. "They were my only friends. I was married into this group. I had built my entire life around it. If I admitted that I was wrong...everything else would come crumbling down."

Warner Bros. Television

During the period of filming the show, she used the role of Haley James Scott as a sort of escapism. She'd lean into her onscreen relationship with James Lafferty while filming, but clarifies she "never had to worry" about developing feelings for him off camera: “I always sort of saw him in real life as a brotherly figure and he was lovely.”

However, while she treasures her relationship with Lafferty, fans have theorized a feud between Lenz and Hilarie Burton (who played Peyton Sawyer until season 6), a rumor that first started when fans realized they weren't following each other on social media. “I love Hilarie,” she tells Alex Cooper. “I have always and will always and I don’t have any problem with her...There have been some bizarre misunderstandings that I really hope we can figure out one day, but I love that girl."

Michael Loccisano/Getty Images

When One Tree Hill wrapped, and Bethany Joy Lenz started therapy, she had the breakthrough that would change everything. Her therapist pushed her to set boundaries, and helped her leave her physically abusive relationship. But having to start a new life was far from easy.

"To leave a TV show after nine seasons, to leave all my friends that I had known for the last 10 years, to leave my marriage, to leave the state, all at the same time," she says. "Not knowing how I was going to make rent because all the money was gone...I had many, many weeping-on-the-floor nights, just trying to figure out how to manage and what I was going to do and what to do with my emotions, the anger, the injustice, all those things."

So why talk about the experience now? "I don't think of [opening up] as brave," she says. "I think of it as important. Living silently in the suffering I experienced, I don't know if that helps anyone...I think of this more as the right thing to do."

Dinner for Vampires Life on a Cult TV Show (While also in an Actual Cult!) is available to purchase starting October 22. Pre-order it now!

Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

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We Tested This Viral Lip Gloss On Four Different Skin Tones – Here Are The Results!

City Beauty
beauty products

We love a good beauty hack, from time-saving tips to discovering new beauty finds that make us feel confident and glowy for the season.

The B+C edit team recently swapped out our summer lip routine for City Beauty’s new plumping gloss, City Lips Sparkling Cider, and City Lips Night Oil, a smooth exfoliator that hydrates your lips while you sleep. I’m literally obsessed with it! They’re both Leaping Bunny-certified (AKA cruelty-free), and made without irritants or harsh chemicals. Plus, they plump more and more over time.

We all agreed the color looked great on our respective skin tones and the plumping factor didn’t sting like other plumping glosses. “I seriously can't believe it doesn't tingle when you apply it!,” said Jasmine, our staff editor. Read on for our full review of the City Lips Sparkling Cider plumping gloss and City Lips Night Oil, plus other City Beauty products!

Mallory Levy, Editorial Social Lead

The Cider lipgloss is great to have on hand in your car or on your desk for those last-minute touch-ups before your next Zoom call. “I love the soft sparkle. It’s not too flashy for work or casual outfits,” says Mallory. “It’s a great daytime shade to wear on no or light makeup days so I don’t look dead on Zoom calls.” LOL. It looks great layered on top of a base shade too. “I wore it on my anniversary and my husband loved it, “ says Mallory, who celebrated her first wedding anniversary. “He never notices my makeup!” She also found it less sticky than other lipglosses, which is a bonus when you have long hair on windy days.

Jasmine Williams, Staff Writer

Jasmine, who tends to avoid color on her lips, loves the color for fall. “I usually rely on clear lip oils whenever I wear makeup, but I can't get over how much Sparkling Cider reminds me of a golden sunset.” SAME. “Considering it's a plumping lip gloss, I'm shocked at how moisturizing it is. I only needed one coat to get the job done, but the smooth application made me add a few more.”

We all agreed there was no tingling effect, which was awesome. “It's not super sticky like some lip glosses tend to be,” adds Jasmine. “I can see myself reaching for Sparkling Cider no matter which fall outfit I choose to wear.”

Meredith Holser, Affiliate Writer

“I love the plumping component,” says Meredith. “I can definitely tell it’s working when I put it on, but it’s not overly distracting or painful. Plus, I notice a difference in the volume of my lips after applying!”

The color is also an ideal match for Meredith’s skin tone and lip color, though a bit more shimmery than the lip products she typically uses. I personally love the shimmer and it’s not too overwhelming. Meredith also really liked the City Lip Lip Oil. “The scent is very unique, almost floral,” she says. “The oil is definitely thicker than other lip oils I’ve tried, which is nice for the long-wear since you’re meant to apply it at night and let it soak in.”

Theresa Gonzalez, Branded Editor

As someone with naturally thin lips, I love the lip oil too and agree it feels weightier than other oils, which is part of its appeal. The gloss color is super pretty over my neutral base, especially for a fall look.

As the only (tired) mom on the edit team, I appreciated the Lid Lifting Treatment and was surprised how quickly I noticed a lift! I applied it at night and in the morning with a small dab on my lids, and I felt that I looked visibly more awake! It nourishes your skin too to soften the look of fine lines and wrinkles. It makes a great primer for eye makeup too.

Want to try it yourself? Upgrade your lip routine this fall with City Beauty’s new City Lips Sparkling Cider plumping lipgloss, and City Lips Night Oil!

Photos by B+C Edit team

Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.


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The 5 Best Moments You Missed From Last Night's Victoria's Secret Fashion Show

Tyra Banks' modeling days aren't over — after 20 years away from the catwalk, she commanded the runway yet again during last night's highly anticipated Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. Not only is Tyra one of THE '90s It Girls, but she had us all "smizing" and practicing our own modeling skills for years with America's Next Top Model.

Thankfully, Tyra's back on the runway after her two decade hiatus, helping to revamp the highly controversial lingerie show alongside some other incredible models. And she's not the only big name helping to revitalize the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show — an iconic diva for the ages is took the stage, and let's just say you'll want to "turn back time" to watch her performance again and again.

Here are all the exciting details you need to know!

The BEST Moments From The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show 

Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Victoria's Secret

Bella Hadid

The Model Lineup Was Impressive

We held our breaths at the beginning of the show because we genuinely wanted to believe Victoria's Secret would have the best models for the show. It seems like they've been listening to customers because some of favorite faces made an appearance. It was hard to keep up with the names of everyone we say, but E! News made our day with their breakdown of names we may have missed:

  • Bella Hadid
  • Gigi Hadid
  • Ashley Graham
  • Paloma Elsesser
  • Kate Moss
  • Lila Moss (Kate's daughter)
  • Jasmine Tookes (We were bummed she didn't get more screen time)
  • Candice Swanepoel
  • Irina Shayk (Super interesting because Gigi Hadid and Bradley Cooper are an item)
  • Behati Prinsloo
  • Adriana Lima
  • Alessandra Ambrosio
  • Barbara Palvin (Dylan Sprouse's wife)
  • Joan Smalls
  • Liu Wen
  • Doutzen Kroes
  • Taylor Hill
  • Awar Odiang
  • Vittoria Ceretti
  • Mika Schneider
  • Valentina Sampaio
  • Maty Fall
  • Alex Consai
  • Mayowa Nicholas
  • Grace Elizabeth
  • Anok Yai
  • Imaan Hamman
  • Blesnya Minher
  • Devyn Garcia

Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Victoria's Secret

Ashley Graham

Body Positivity Was On Display

From Paloma Elsesser to Ashley Graham, we were genuinely excited to see more diverse bodies on the runway. It's our belief that all bodies should be celebrated, not just those with slender frames. As we know, bodies come in all shapes and sizes, complete with stretch marks, thigh dimples, and more!

Mike Coppola/Getty Images for Victoria's Secret

Gigi Hadid

Angel Wings Made Their Memorable Return

We were wondering if we'd see the famous angel wings on display during the Victoria's Secret fashion show and we were not disappointed. Our favorite pair was the soft feathery design worn by Gigi Hadid. She wore a sexy satin romper that gave way to a little peek-a-boo underwear action that gives us some ideas for our next sleepwear spree!

Kevin Winter/Getty Images for iHeartRadioGettyImages

Cher

Cher's Performance

One of the best moments from the show was watching Cher give an electric performance that made us forget she's almost 80 years old. She wore a monochromatic outfit that featured silver hardware and wore her signature jet black, middle-part hairstyle that flowed each time she moved.

She sang "Strong Enough" and "Believe" as the audience swayed to the beat. It seems like these were fitting choices for the night because the models seemed to gain an extra dose of confidence in their walks.

Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Victoria's Secret

Tyra Banks

Tyra's Major Comeback

Just like we predicted, Tyra's comeback at the end of the night wowed us. She wore a stunning sparkly corset that accentuated her cleavage and let us know she still hasn't lost the 'smize' we've always adored. We can tell she genuinely enjoyed being on the runway again because she held both hands up at the end of the show and was smiling from ear to ear as pink confetti flowed down.

When did Victoria's Secret announce the 2024 Fashion Show?

Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Victoria's Secret

Adriana Lima

Victoria's Secret shared a cute reel on Instagram in May about the return of the fashion show. It wrote, "We've read the comments and heard you. The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show is ✨ BACK ✨ and will reflect who we are today, plus everything you know and love—the glamour, runway, wings, musical entertainment, and more! Stay tuned…it only gets more iconic from here. 🪽#VSFashionShow," in the caption. For the most part, fans seemed eager to see the models, lingerie, and energy of the show on their TV screens again.

What is the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show?

Frank Micelotta/Getty Images

Once known as one of the United State's most popular lingerie brands, Victoria's Secret created a fashion show to showcase popular lingerie designs with the help of gorgeous models, reimagined angel wings, and an amazing musical score to boot!

Debuting in 1995, this show highlighted lingerie in a way that was previously unheard of, and it really caught the attention of the fashion industry (via Fashionista). However, it wasn't until 1997 that the well known "Angel" collection for the brand was introduced to the public. According to Fashionista, Tyra Banks was actually the first person to wear the famous 'wings' onstage, starting a lasting legacy.

Why was the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show considered controversial?

Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Victoria's Secret

Taylor Swift and Karlie Kloss

This was the first Victoria's Secret fashion show to premiere on TV since 2019, and that's sadly due to controversy that plagued the brand. While they attempted to bring the show back in 2023, people weren't showing as much interest in watching, so the brand made the difficult decision to cancel, according to NBC News. This is probably due to the horrific comments it's parent company's former chief marketing officer, Ed Razek, made in 2018.

He didn't see the need to include transgender models that were usually seen on the runway "because the show is a fantasy," (via NBC News). Razek later tried to clean up his original statement by saying, "We've had transgender models come to the castings ... And like many others, they didn't make it ... But it was never about gender," but the damage was done.

Things continued to go downhill for the brand when its models penned and signed a call-to-action letter to CEO John Mehas. It made a connection to L Brands' CEO Leslie Wexner's friendship with the disgraced and deceased Jeffrey Epstein along with rampant sexual misdeeds in the entire fashion industry (via NBC News). Yikes...

Plus, many people didn't feel like these shows embodied body positivity, only showcasing traditionally thin women on the runway. As of this year, it seems like the brand is committed to change, though.

The Victoria's Secret fashion show is available to watch on Amazon Prime! You can also relive your favorite moments by heading over to YouTube!

Are you excited to watch the Victoria's Secret fashion show? Let us know & follow us on Facebook!

This post has been updated.

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When Is Starbucks' Red Cup Day?

The holidays at Starbucks are creeping up on us, people! Per menu leaks, Peppermint Mocha season will return on November 7. If you’re a die-hard Starbucks fan, you know Red Cup Day is a whole holiday in itself – the frenzy for a free reusable cup is truly no joke. There’s even an entire website dedicated to counting down the madness! Even though there’s no official word on when Red Cup Day 2024 will be, there are several clues that cue us into the annual event. Scroll on for details!

What is Red Cup Day?

Starbucks

Red Cup Day is Starbucks’ highly-awaited annual event that marks the start of holiday beverage season at the coffee chain. For one day only (and while supplies last), customers who order any of Starbucks’ holiday drinks receive a reusable red cup that features a bespoke design for the respective year.

Starbucks

Here’s a list of all the drinks rumored to be available on the Starbucks holiday menu starting November 7:

  • Peppermint Mocha
  • Peppermint White Chocolate Mocha
  • Caramel Brûlée Latte
  • Sugar Cookie Almondmilk Latte
  • Chestnut Praline Latte
  • Salted Pecan Crunch Cold Brew
  • Iced Gingerbread Oatmilk Chai

What do the red cups look like for 2024?

Starbucks

Starbucks hasn’t officially announced when Red Cup Day will be for 2024, let alone what the famed red cups will look like this go-around. The one obvious point is that the cups will be red! They’ll also likely feature some festive motifs that echo the holiday season. Last year’s red cups boasted playful white and green stars and ornament-like shapes.

Why should I participate in Red Cup Day?

Starbucks

Red Cup Day = freebies, which can feel really rewarding if you’re really into receiving free goodies. Plus, it’s just a fun way to lean into the holiday spirit. The red reusable cup keeps giving beyond Red Cup Day, though! Every time you use the reusable cup for future Starbucks orders, you get a 10-cent discount as well as 25 bonus stars toward your Starbucks Rewards account to save up for more discounts on drinks, food, and merchandise.

When is Starbucks' Red Cup Day 2024?

Starbucks

Again, Starbucks hasn’t alerted us on when Red Cup Day will be for 2024, but based on previous Red Cup Days, we can infer it’ll land on the third Thursday of November. In 2022, Red Cup Day happened on November 17, and for 2023, it was November 16. The third Thursday of November in 2024 hits on November 21, so mark your calendars, everyone!

Additionally, check back here for official info as Red Cup Day approaches.

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