#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛
Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged photo, but Lola just has ZERO boundaries and Clifford is exceptionally patient. 😂
I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s so good for you), so when I saw that a local patisserie has a smoked salmon croissant available (weekends only), I added it to my list of things to seek out. I popped into @chocolatinenj early on Mother’s Day and was rewarded with this deliciousness. Layers of soft flaky croissant dough, tender smoked salmon, light whipped cream, thinly sliced red and green onion slivers and dotted with capers… it was every bit as amazing as you’d imagine it would be. If you’re local, don’t sleep on this one. 😋
Weekend photos in review, the belated edition. 1/ Weekend photos in review, the belated edition.

1/ hit up a few yard sales and snagged this beautiful pasta dish from Italy with my favorite color for a buck, 2/ and one of these printer trays came home with me too, 3/ pre Mother’s Day celebrations with 30 local moms, 4/ finished the weekend supervising furniture assembly
Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd bir Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd birthday. Unfortunately she’s not here to celebrate because she died suddenly at age 49. I think of her often … every Mother’s Day because we spent most of them together since her husband worked weekends … when I discover a new food adventure (we once did a day long donut crawl) … when I’m sharing a special time with my kids knowing that her then-11 year old is growing up without her. Before she passed, I always appreciated every day, but since then, even more so. You never know what the next day can bring, so relish in the sunshine, surprise rainstorms, making wishes over railroad tracks and all the wonderful randomness life can throw your way. Don’t waste a single second, say yes, live on the outskirts of your comfort zone, laugh often, tell people you love them, give eight second hugs, and squeeze every ounce of joy you can out of life. Do it for the people who can’t. ✨
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Sweetnicks

Food and Life

Recipe: One Pan Quinoa Bake

September 28, 2017 · Narrative

Are you on the fence about quinoa? This recipe for a One Pan Quinoa Bake just might change your mind. It worked for my kids.

Untitled

I probably discovered, and fell in love with, quinoa (pronounced KEEN-wah) some seven or eight years ago. I kind of use it the same way I use cous cous … as an add-in to a stir fry, casserole, salad, or something else along those lines that needs an ingredient to bulk it up a bit. Quinoa doesn’t have a ton of flavor on its own, but it soaks up the flavors of whatever it’s added to really nicely.

My kids, on the other hand, are not exactly fans, so I usually don’t mention it’s in a dish. It’s not like I’m trying to hide it or sneak it in … I just don’t call attention to it, and everyone is happy.

Because, to be honest, quinoa is one of those quiet super foods that is really good for you, so I want my family to be eating it more often, so if I have to add it into a delicious casserole bake with cheese … well, so be it. You can check out some of quinoa’s health benefits right here, but in a nut shell, it’s a grain that is high in protein, has been eaten for thousands of years (starting in South America), has been studied by NASA as a “suitable crop to be grown in outer space,” and 2013 was designated as the “International Year of Quinoa.” I mean, how do you ignore that type of pedigree?

A few months back, the folks at Pereg reached out and offered to send me samples of their quinoa line, so of course I said yes. Their product line has several different flavors, and are all super quick to prepare, and low-maintenance, and I used the roasted garlic version for this dish.

I am a huge fan of one pan meals because between a reasonably busy life and my cooking workshops, the less dishes I have to deal with, the better. I found this recipe from Veggie Balance, and it was on the table in under thirty minutes. Hello weeknight savior! I’m not gonna lie, my kids totally picked out the sweet potatoes and left them on the side of their plate but … hey! They ate quinoa! Small victories! And really with Mexican flavors and melted cheese, I knew it was going to be a winner from the start.

Hungry for more quinoa dishes?
This Asian Quinoa Salad makes for a healthy, delicious lunch.
These granola bars are a unique way to use quinoa and kept me snacking happily for a good week.
And if you’re sad to see summer go, you can hang on just a wee bit longer with this recipe.

One Pan Quinoa Bake

Ingredients
1 pound ground turkey
1 (15 oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 small sweet potato, chopped
1 cup quinoa, rinsed (I used Pereg’s roasted garlic)
1 cup water
2 Tablespoon taco seasoning
1 (19 oz) can mild enchilada sauce
1 (4oz) can diced roasted green chiles
Pinch of salt and pepper
½ cup shredded cheddar cheese (I used a mix of Cabot’s Cheddar and Monterey Jack)

Directions:

In a large skillet on medium heat, brown turkey meat, drain grease out of pan.
Stir in black beans, sweet potato, quinoa, water, taco seasoning, enchilada sauce, roasted green chiles, and salt and pepper to taste.
Cover skillet, turn down to low-medium heat. Cook 20-25 minutes or until quinoa is fully cooked and tender.
Remove from heat.
Sprinkle cheddar cheese over quinoa enchilada, cover again for 2 minutes or until cheese melts.
Serve immediately.

Nutrition information:
Serving size: ? serving Calories: 240 Fat: 6 g Saturated fat: 2 Carbohydrates: 26 g Sugar: 2 g Sodium: 330 Fiber: 4 g Protein: 20 g Cholesterol: 40 mg

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Posted In: Narrative · Tagged: Cabot, casserole, healthy, Mexican, Pereg, quinoa, recipe, superfood

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#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛

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#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛
Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged photo, but Lola just has ZERO boundaries and Clifford is exceptionally patient. 😂
I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s so good for you), so when I saw that a local patisserie has a smoked salmon croissant available (weekends only), I added it to my list of things to seek out. I popped into @chocolatinenj early on Mother’s Day and was rewarded with this deliciousness. Layers of soft flaky croissant dough, tender smoked salmon, light whipped cream, thinly sliced red and green onion slivers and dotted with capers… it was every bit as amazing as you’d imagine it would be. If you’re local, don’t sleep on this one. 😋
Weekend photos in review, the belated edition. 1/ Weekend photos in review, the belated edition.

1/ hit up a few yard sales and snagged this beautiful pasta dish from Italy with my favorite color for a buck, 2/ and one of these printer trays came home with me too, 3/ pre Mother’s Day celebrations with 30 local moms, 4/ finished the weekend supervising furniture assembly
Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd bir Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd birthday. Unfortunately she’s not here to celebrate because she died suddenly at age 49. I think of her often … every Mother’s Day because we spent most of them together since her husband worked weekends … when I discover a new food adventure (we once did a day long donut crawl) … when I’m sharing a special time with my kids knowing that her then-11 year old is growing up without her. Before she passed, I always appreciated every day, but since then, even more so. You never know what the next day can bring, so relish in the sunshine, surprise rainstorms, making wishes over railroad tracks and all the wonderful randomness life can throw your way. Don’t waste a single second, say yes, live on the outskirts of your comfort zone, laugh often, tell people you love them, give eight second hugs, and squeeze every ounce of joy you can out of life. Do it for the people who can’t. ✨

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