Known for its anti-inflammatory, antiviral and antibacterial qualities, aloe vera is a useful thing to have lying around.
Even better is to have your own aloe vera plant, which will allow you to harvest gel fresh from the source, whenever you want.
You can use it to treat everything from sunburn and insect bites to pimples and athlete’s foot. It’s also a great to use as an ingredient in homemade hair conditioners and skin scrubs.
The good news is that aloe vera plants are tough, low maintenance and easy to grow, both indoors and out. All they really need is plenty of sunlight and well-drained soil.
Only attempt to harvest the gel if your plant is healthy and mature, with long, fleshy leaves. They have serrated edges, so you’ll have to proceed with caution – we’d recommend wearing a pair of rubber gloves.
It’s best to use the outermost leaves, as these are the oldest and most mature.
Cut the leaf at its base, using a sharp knife. Rinse the leaf thoroughly and, using your knife, gradually remove the outer layers of skin until you come to the aloe gel.
Transfer the gel to a storage container and keep it in the fridge – it should last for about a week.
sdenman@thenational.ae
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Is it worth it? We put cheesecake frap to the test.
The verdict from the nutritionists is damning. But does a cheesecake frappuccino taste good enough to merit the indulgence?
My advice is to only go there if you have unusually sweet tooth. I like my puddings, but this was a bit much even for me. The first hit is a winner, but it's downhill, slowly, from there. Each sip is a little less satisfying than the last, and maybe it was just all that sugar, but it isn't long before the rush is replaced by a creeping remorse. And half of the thing is still left.
The caramel version is far superior to the blueberry, too. If someone put a full caramel cheesecake through a liquidiser and scooped out the contents, it would probably taste something like this. Blueberry, on the other hand, has more of an artificial taste. It's like someone has tried to invent this drink in a lab, and while early results were promising, they're still in the testing phase. It isn't terrible, but something isn't quite right either.
So if you want an experience, go for a small, and opt for the caramel. But if you want a cheesecake, it's probably more satisfying, and not quite as unhealthy, to just order the real thing.
