Every Monday night my girlfriends and I get together to watch Gossip Girl and catch up on the latest gossip in our own lives. We take turns as hostess and look forward to this weekly night of much needed girl time.

We usually delve into an array of junk food items such as pizza, Pringles, cookies, etc. But every once in awhile, we think it might be more beneficial to our health if we opted for some more nutritious snacks.

Always on the lookout for healthy snack food options, I discovered this super quick and easy recipe for a Coriander Fruit Dip. It’s simple, delicious, and perfect for a girl’s night in.

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Simply combine cream cheese, yogurt and honey, along with coriander seed powder, cinnamon powder and nutmeg ground, for a sweet spiced dip. (Click here for the full recipe from Frontier Natural Products Co-op.) Serve chilled with any variation of fruit. (I chose strawberries, bananas and pineapple.)

The dip was a hit. Plus, the ingredient that gives it its flavor, coriander, is a powerful anti-bacterial agent and a good source for minerals such as potassium, calcium and iron. If I make it again (which is a strong possibility) I might try to spice up my presentation by making fruit kabobs. 

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Now it’s your turn. What kind of simple and easy dishes do you recommend I whip up next time I host girl’s night in? Send me your suggestions at gdebacker@ogdenpubs.com and I might publish your recipe in an upcoming post.

Take advantage of what's in season right now, and right now, during the month of October, figs are in season.

Figs provide an array of health benefits. They are rich in antioxidants, calcium and fiber; treat constipation, indigestion and bronchitis; increase energy and sexual desire; and have anti-diabetic properties.

There are four major fig varieties: black mission, which is dark purple, brown turkey, which is seen mostly in fresh markets, kadota, which is nearly seedless and most often dried and canned, and calimyrn, which has a nut-like flavor and golden skin.

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Try these herb-infused fig recipes.

• Fresh Figs with Ricotta and Apricots: Chop up fresh chervil and French tarragon, mix it with ricotta cheese and honey, and serve with figs and apricots.

• Dried Figs with Fennel Seeds: Scatter fennel seeds on a small plate, dip fig halves into them and arrange on a second plate. You can press a few toasted almonds or cashews into each fig to serve.

Also, remember that figs are highly perishable, with a shelf life of 10 to 12 days, and should be consumed immediately.

Constantly in search of the best natural face wash, I’ve recently stumbled upon a company with endless natural beauty treatment choices: derma e. The company combines vitamins, antioxidants and botanicals to create eco-friendly beauty treatments, such as its new formula Very Clear Cleansing Scrub ($13.95).

This exfoliant is a new product to join the Very Clear Skin collection, which includes the Very Clear Problem Skin Cleanser, Cleansing Scrub, Problem Skin Moisturizer and Spot Blemish Treatment. The formula combines tea tree, willow bark, rosewood, lavender, aloe and chamomile to treat blemish-prone skin.

The exfoliant, designed to remove dead skin cells in order to stimulate new cell growth for clearer skin, is gentle, relaxing and seems to work very well with my skin. My acne has stayed under control as of late and I truly believe it has something to do with this 4-ounce tube. Its major ingredient, tea tree oil, is amazing because it’s natural and powerful as a disinfectant; it most commonly treats a wide variety of skin ailments such as acne, rashes or sun burns.

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However, it is an herb that you either hate or love, in my opinion, because the smell of tea tree oil is very strong—and the derma e formula is no exception. I’m not a fan of the tea tree oil smell and have found other formulas that my olfactory system enjoy a lot more. If you absolutely can not stand its scent, you may not enjoy its powerful aroma lingering on your face.

(Ode to Tea Tree Oil)

Still, even if you’re not a fan of its smell you may want to learn to just deal with it because recent studies have shown tea tree oil to be a very powerful, natural antibacterial agent. A study in 2000 showed that tea tree oil is 5 percent more effective than commercial medication when treating scabies mite in an in vitro situation. More recently, a new study may soon prove that a tea tree oil wash can prevent Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), which is resistant to most commonly used antibiotics. According to Reuters Health, the study is expected to be complete in 2010 and looks promising for tea tree oil based on previous studies.

So what do you herbies think? The price is reasonable and the results are positive. Will you be trying the Very Clear Cleansing Scrub anytime soon?

You don’t have to abandon your love for herbs to stay up-to-date with the latest technology. Keep herbal knowledge at your fingertips with the new iPhone and iPod Touch application “Natural Cures.”

Created by Jacob Teitelbaum, MD, the author of Pain Free 1, 2, 3—A Proven Program for Eliminating Chronic Pain Now (McGraw-Hill), “Natural Cures” is a free application that combines natural and prescription schools of thought. Alphabetically presenting more than 100 health conditions, this application is more or less a travel-friendly guide to treating every-day ailments with natural remedies. It has been placed in the top ten “Top Free Apps” list for the Healthcare & Fitness iPhone category.

The Herb Companion has not been lucky enough to test this application, so we really would like to hear your thoughts! Have you used this application? Was it helpful? Did it offer a comprehensive list of herbal treatments for common health conditions? Go try it out—it’s free!

Click here to purchase the application for your iPhone or iPod Touch.

With my wedding coming up in less than three months, I’ve got to keep my skin moisturized, healthy and glowing. For that, I need to find the right herbs for the job.

Aloe seems to be the go-to medicinal herb for most skincare solutions. But there are many other herbs that heal skin, such as:

• Chamomile: This is used in most facial-care products and is useful in calming an irritated complexion and treating acne.
• Comfrey: This healing herb contains allantoin, a protein that speeds up cell renewal.
• Rose: This works as a gentle cleanser that has refining and softening powers.
• Witch hazel: This skin astringent contains alcohol but heals and soothes skin.

John Masters Organics has recently re-launched its line of organic skincare products. Their beauty line offers natural healing products such as the Green Tea & Rose Hydrating Face Serum, the Moroccan Clay Purifying Mask and the Rose Foaming Face Wash. But their skincare collection also offers something I have personally been on the lookout for awhile: a toning mist.

The Rose & Aloe Hydrating Toning Mist ($20) is a beauty product certified by the National Organic Program. I’ve kept this product on a shelf near my keys so that as I leave for work, I quickly mist my face with one to two sprays. I instantly feel awake, toned and ready to start the day.

The ingredients work together to create a natural toning mist combination: the essential oil of rose soothes skin by increasing blood circulation; oat kernel improves defense against pollution; white tea protects against oil-causing bacteria; aloe vera promotes healing; and aspen bark protects against harmful bacteria. 

The glass bottle is a little too heavy to tote around in my purse for a daily refresher, but so far my “front-door-solution” has worked out great.

I’ll be on the lookout for more herbal skincare treatments to keep skin fresh and healthy. But what about you? Have you ever used this beauty product? If not, what have you used and why do you or don’t you like it? And what are your favorite herbs for skincare? Drop me a comment!

The Herb Companion is ahead of the trend! Did anyone else watch the newest episode of Desperate Housewives on Sunday night? I just now got around to watching it on my DVR. Check this out: Bree Van de Kamp is wearing a blue polka dot Jessie Steele hostess apron. This adorable apron was featured in our March 2009 issue. And thanks to our awesome new sweepstakes, it could be yours! Sign up for our sweepstakes before the deadline, March 13.

I think I might sign up for our sweepstakes, now. I want to wear what Bree, the domestic goddess of TV, wears!