By Liliana Moyano for Shine Latina

QuinoArroz

Quinoa is a popular grain grown in the South American Andes that has gained popularity in the US over the past few years. It looks like couscous, and its preparation is very similar to that of the Middle Eastern grain. Besides being totally delicious, quinoa is high in fiber- great for keeping the digestive system balanced and healthy. These days it can be easily found at most supermarkets.

Mi tío Rafa, who's a practicing surgeon in Colombia and is always looking for ways to stay healthy, introduced me to this product about a year ago. My uncle even started incorporating the grain, mixed with the staple rice, into his patients' diets when he discovered its benefits. Last year he came to visit my family and bragged about the product so much that I ended up giving it a try. QuinoArroz

First, I used it in a salad, and then eventually I learned how to use it in juices and with rice. I was delighted with the salad and the juices, but the rice mix didn't

By Liliana Moyano for Shine Latina

Mussels in Chilean Chardonay

My family is big on gatherings, and appetizers are always served to entertain our guests before dinner. When we get together we usually sit around the kitchen counter to drink wine, talk about life, and make scrumptious meals. My sister Angie and her husband, David, have kept with the family tradition of greeting guests with unique starters that leave you hungry for more.

Ten years ago, when Angie introduced David to the family, he was met with our numerous weekly reunions and the different kinds of food we ate (like fish with its head still on!), which left him quite baffled. Being from North Carolina, he'd had little exposure to Latin food and a lot of what we ate was far from his culinary considerations. It took him some time to develop his Latin gastronomic skills. Now, more than a decade later, he travels to Latin America a couple of times a year, has learned to dance salsa like a native and has become an accomplished Latin cook

If your skin has olive or dark undertones, you may not be getting the right facial treatment at the spa. Here's why.

Your cultural background may influence your spa experience.Sometimes, not all skin treatments are created equal. There may in fact be a need for special attention given to olive or warmer-colored complexions when it comes to spa skin care therapy.

According to spa and skin care specialist Linda Harding-Bond there is a link between darker skin tones and subpar treatments.

"An esthetician's education is always done from the European perspective. This limited training places professionals in a disadvantage from the get-go, so women with darker skin end up at the bottom level of the professional's learning curve," says Harding-Bond who believes women need to take charge when it comes to their skin by researching individual needs, spas before visiting and knowing which questions to ask.

VIDEO: Find out how to build the right skin care regimen

Panamanian spa client Arlene Pitterson found herself the unfortunate

Don't miss frizz-fighting tips in this video blog.In this videoblog, I'll show you all the fabulous products I use to keep my hair silky and frizz-free.

By Charleen Gonzalez for Shine Latina

Dry shampoo

As a Latina with frizzy and thick wavy hair, I have to constantly battle the elements in order to keep my locks in check. I'll show you how the right products will help you transform your hair into a luscious and frizz-free mane. For starters, try not washing it everyday. Why? Your hair has oils that work to keep it naturally conditioned and hydrated. Every time you wash your hair, you strip it of its natural oils, leaving it less hydrated than before and causing potential frizz. Instead, opt for washing your hair every other day, or in my case, every two days. In between hair washings I use Oscar Blandi Pronto Invisible Dry Shampoo Spray, which sprays clear and cleanses the hair and scalp, as well as removes excess oil build up, and adds volume to the hair.

Check out my video to find out the best anti-frizz products in

Jamie Pressly is Lola Sombrero (Kenn Viselman Presents)Who is that fiery chica dressed in red? Well, it's none other than actress Jamie Pressly in her latest role as Lola Sombrero, a flamenco dancer who travels in a flying Mexican hat along with her dancing partner, Lero Sombrero (actor Christopher Lloyd) in the new movie "The Oogieloves in the Big Balloon Adventure".

In the movie still, Pressly is pictured striking one of flamenco's typical dancing poses as three of the Oogie characters clap along. Decked out in a ruffled fire-engine red dress, heels and lips, Pressly shows you don't have to be Latina to have some fun with the culture.

See Pressly in action here as she struts her stuff on an appropriately-decorated set complete with hanging piñatas and sombreros.

In the scene, the blonde beauty shows off some serious dancing moves with a mix of Cha-cha, Rumba and, of course, Flamenco that is sure to get everyone dancing. And that's exactly what the film hopes to achieve--turning the normally sedentary theater into an exciting

Ingrid Hoffmann took a chance on television as a joke. This Yahoo! original series will introduce you to success stories, to the public figures who have crossed cultures and languages to leave a mark in the Latin and US markets. In this episode, get to know Ingrid Hoffmann- a Colombian celebrity chef passionate about food and life whose rise to fame is a "Delicioso" chapter of the American dream.

When the Food Network was looking to spice up its lineup with a Latin cooking show, they knew they had the full package in Ingrid Hoffmann. The Colombian chef's passion and personality combined with her excellent culinary chops made Simply Delicioso a favorite among the network's viewers. "It was the biggest challenge of my career…bringing an authentic Latin flavor to the Food Network," says Hoffmann, who feared her Latin style of cooking would be perceived as simply Mexican. "Americans think all Latin food is Mexican," she says. And while Hoffmann considers having a food show in US television a landmark accomplishment in her life, the chef

By Liliana Moyano for Shine Latina

Cilantro & mango tilapia

Mi hermanita chiquita Lina just came back from a tai-chi retreat in Thailand. I was very intrigued to learn about her trip, but most of all I wanted to know about her culinary experience. She finally invited me over to talk about her travels and made something for lunch I never imagined putting together. While we talked in the kitchen, she fixed a leafless salad that to me looked very Latin. She put together cilantro, ripe mango and red onions with salt and dressed the dish with lime and olive oil. The colorful blend of ingredients was beautiful and very appetizing. The contrast between the sweetness of the ripe mango, the acidity of the lime, the aroma of the cilantro and the crunchiness of the onions was absolutely perfect.

My sister also showed me a little trick to cut down on the strong onion flavor. Before mixing it with the salad, she soaked the slices in warm water for a minute and then dumped them in an ice bath to maintain their

Sofia Vergara doesn't shy away from making fun of herself, be it exaggerating her Colombian accent or flaunting her voluptuous curves on the hit television show, "Modern Family", and in a photo posted on her WhoSay account, the actress is showing off those comedic chops in an homage to legend Lucille Ball.

Ditching her usually straight, brunette locks and form-fitting attire for a red wig and a 1950's appropriate dress, Vergara does her best to capture one of Ball's iconic looks.

A strand of white pearls, high eyebrows and big red lips complete the style Ball was famous for wearing on screen. The playful photo is accompanied by a caption that reads: Lucyyyyy Im hooome

Vergara channels legendary comedienne Lucille Ball.

Credit: Sofia Vergara on WhoSay

Although, we can't help but wonder whether the Latina is more Ricky Ricardo than Lucy. It seems appropriate Vergara would reference "I Love Lucy" given her own similarities with the show's co-star, Cuban actor Desi Arnaz. Arnaz's interpretation of Lucy's husband made him