Quinoa Kate

My friend once joked that I could be nicknamed "Quinoa Kate" as I have an affinity for using the grain often. I think its one of those scenarios where I buy it at Costco and think how the hell am I going to use all of this stuff and it basically becomes a personal mission to whittle away at the three pound bag.

Quinoa is one of those things that I'm not necessarily in love with but I have to admit it is a win win: it cooks easily and does have some nutritional bang for the buck. Its protein content comes in handy for the littlest turds in the house that aren't really big meat eaters. I can make a batch in the rice cooker earlier in the week and spread the love across dishes.

A few of my go to quinoa dishes are listed below if you are looking for new ideas. Or maybe you already have seen these ideas and it helps to know that one of the laziest gals on planet Earth can execute the dishes. I don't really have exact measurements except for baking the muffins. Eyeball the rest.

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Quinoa Caprese Salad
Mix a couple cups of cooked and cooled quinoa with some freshly diced tomatoes, some fresh basil and little chunks of mozzarella (if you're classy like me, you'll dice up one or two sticks of the kids' string cheese and call it a day). Toss it all with some olive oil, salt, pepper and a few dashes of balsamic vinegar.

Quinoa Black Bean Salad
Toss a few cups of cooked quinoa with a can of rinsed/drained black beans, a cup of corn niblets, a diced bell pepper, a cup of diced grapes and a couple tablespoons of olive oil and some seasonings like a teaspoon of cumin and salt and pepper to taste. A splash of red wine vinegar and some lime juice also brighten this up, but I am usually too lazy to add those things and it tastes good just the same. This is a great one to make ahead the previous night and store in the fridge for a party.

Quinoa for Anders
Take some cooked quinoa and mix in some pesto. Recipe complete. Also handy in depleting 20 ounce jar of pesto purchased at Costco, another whittling mission.

Quinoa Muffins
2 c of cooked and cooled quinoa
1 c whole wheat flour
1 c all purpose flour
1.5 tsp baking powder
1/2 c mix ins (I usually chop up some dark chocolate chunks, but you could probably use craisins or other typical mix ins) 
1/4 c canola or vegetable oil
3/4c buttermilk (I just use regular milk and let it sit with 1-2 tbsp of vinegar for a few minutes)
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla 

Mix the dry stuff (including quinoa) in a large bowl. Mix the wet stuff in a smaller bowl. Combine wet into the larger bowl with the dry stuff. Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes in a lined muffin pan. Makes 12 muffins.


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We are lucky that one of the grocery stores in town as rows and rows of powerhouse grains in bulk bins. I think I may try some Amaranth next with similar recipes and see how it goes. Wish me luck!

Dinnertime Love

Bonus: No one poked their eye with the wavering fork.

A Lazy Thursday Morning

Antics in the Bat Cave

A Lincoln Log home for our Angry Birds

Trying so so so hard.

Help me. They torture me.

The subject becomes the photographer. Also: World's closest selfie.

If it were only that simple to fix mommy's head sometimes.

Portrait of a Park Date

"When I'm not throwing rocks, I'm testing out sticks."

Tired momma, but always in it for the long haul.

Quotes

[Scene: Landon and I talking about the difference between boys and girls.]

Landon: Yeah, you don't have a wiener. Someone took your wiener.

Mom: Well, I never really had...

Landon interrupts: But you have boobies.

Mom: Yep, ladies have boobies.

Landon: Yeah, I only have polka dots. 

Mom: Huh? Oh, those are called nipples. 

A Lazy Thursday Morning

Thursdays run on the lazy side here at Casa H because it's typically the one day a week that I keep our schedule open. No school, no playgroups, no appointments, nowhere to rush to. Sometimes I'm a glutton for punishment and head to the next town over for Target, Costco, etc with the kids, but the euphoria of the clearance rounders makes up for any low blood sugar tantrums. Otherwise, life is a lot simpler on Thursday mornings. Go figure: life is less stressful if you schedule less stuff. Who woulda' thunk it?

Playdough.

Little fingers and little book flaps.

DJ Jazzy L.

The pilot is on the fire engine rescue ladder because a train is trapped in a barn on the cloud. This was how it was explained to me, in any event.

Anders reading to Stegosaurus.

"Help me. They torture me for hugs."

Carousel Time

We took the boys down to Seattle on Thursday for some aquarium time (they loved it!) and proceeded to head over to the next pier to have some lunch and came across this beautiful old carousel. It was so stinkin' cute to watch their faces light up as their horses started bopping up and down and they learned lessons in centrifugal force.

Unfortunate movie preview/ still shot.

Beating the Winter Doldrums

A few random pics from the season...

Daily brother annoyances.

Spending time with Daddy while we ride out daily brother annoyances.

Landon taking care of "Buddy Bear" - the class bear that students adopt each week. Landon chose to feed him steak and show him his potato heads. I'm sure there is a joke about meat and potatoes somewhere in there, but I just can't make it work.

Anders has figured out some computer games.

Waiting for rainy days to subside.

Attitudes abound.

Silliness abounds.

But a lot of attitudes, mostly.

Mixing things up: instead of throwing rocks, we will scoop rocks.

Stroller rides with my monsters. (too lazy to try to flip this pic on its side again - sorry)

Helping dad shave off his boat mustache.

Tandem sliding.

Throwing rocks, throwing rocks, throwing rocks.

A random day of snow! Yes! No throwing rocks!

Unable to accept that the snow has melted within 24 hours, Landon and Anders rebuild "Olaf" for the third (and final) time. Again - not sure why these pics won't rotate?!

Landon upgrades to a big boy bed!

Wormy worms. I give up on picture orientation.

More computer time. "Is there a game in which we can throw rocks?"