Quinoa Recipe from AARP

It's a telling sign of my age that I actually find myself browsing through the AARP magazine.  This recipe came from an article in the August/September 2013 issue about former President Bill Clinton's new vegan diet.  I've been experimenting with quinoa lately as part of my on-going search for foods with a lower glycemic index, so I gave it a try . . . It.  Was.  Fantastic!!!  You MUST try this!  My husband gave it his very persnickety stamp of approval.  What else could you possibly need to know?

SPICED AND HERBED QUINOA WITH GREEN ONIONS
This recipe is adapted from Rhys Rosenblum, executive chef, Restaurant Associates.
Serves 4

1 cup quinoa
2 cups vegetable stock or water (I used chicken stock)
½ cup hothouse cucumber, diced
½ cup tomato, diced
2 tablespoons, red onion, diced
2 green onions, thinly sliced
2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
1 teaspoon chopped jalapeño
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

1.  Cook the quinoa according to package directions, using stock or water.  Let cool completely.

2.  In a large bowl, combine the quinoa with the remaining ingredients.  Toss to mix thoroughly.  Serve chilled.

Nutrients per serving:  268 calories, 6g protein, 34g carbohydrates, 3g fiber, 13g fat (2g saturated fat). 0mg cholesterol, 483mg sodium.

Enjoy!

Summer's Glory

Start with a glorious sunflower for inspiration . . .
 

 

Gather a bunch for unapologetic delight . . .

Add a rich, blue plate for contrast . . .

Make it a calico plate, smothered with wild flowers . . .

 

Simple burlap bows to tie the napkins . . .  

And the napkins must be yellow, the color of ripe corn . . .

Flatware that evokes unfurling flowers . . .

 

A pretty glass, as blue as the summer sky . . .

 

A wheelbarrow to hold the salt . . . 

The days may be getting shorter . . .

 

But summer is still alive with possibilities . . .
 

 

We may as well enjoy it . . .

Featuring:

Dinner plates - Blue Calico by Burleigh
Water goblet - The Dollar Tree
Flatware - Treble Clef by Gourmet Settings
Napkins - Sferra, Mustard color
Placemats - Pottery Barn
White pitcher - Pottery Barn
Wheelbarrow Salt Cellars - Pottery Barn, from several years ago
Burlap ribbon - Joann's

Joining Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday.  Stop by for some delightful inspiration.

My first 5K!

It's so true that when we declare an intention, a true, deep desire to do anything, the universe opens up the flood gates and sends us the resources with which to accomplish them. 

The moment I made a commitment to change my lifestyle into one that focuses on health, I have been the recipient of tremendous love and support.  My family has astounded me the most!  They have been there for me every step of the way.  They have changed their eating habits, embraced exercise, learned about diabetes and educated themselves on what makes my glucose spike and how I can avoid it.  Gone are the cookies, and the candy, and the bad carbs.  Everyone has lost weight . . .

At work, suddenly, I find myself surrounded by co-workers who are committed to health!  They have shared their enthusiasm, tips on eating and exercising, and given me their understanding and encouragement.

And that is how I found myself in this photo surrounded by friends, co-workers and family:  My wonderful husband, Leo, and son, David; my friend and boss, Leo and his wife, Angela, and the guy who challenged me to try this, my friend and co-worker, Justin.  This entire group joined me on my biggest challenge to date - a 5K walk.  As a bonus, we also helped raise a little money to help find a cure for Lupus.

When the walk ended and I walked into the finish line, I stopped for a moment and thanked God:  “Thank you for sticking with me.  Thank you for sending me angels to help keep me on the right path.  Thank you for all the grace and love that you have bestowed on me.”  I'm glad I remembered to do that.

I'm joining The Tablescaper for her Seasonal Sundays blog party.  Please stop by.

L'après midi dans le jardin

Summers are so short!  Time to enjoy a little respite in our backyard!

I fell in love with the heart-shaped wrought iron chairs last year . . . the fact that they also swing and that they are red just put me over the edge.  I had to have this set! And then, it went on sale!  Who could resist?

  

For my college graduation, a dear friend gave me a picnic basket that included these charming napkins.  She understood, even before I did, that I always seemed drawn to cute little garden bugs.  When she found this fabric, she made me some napkins.  Aren't they wonderful?

The little herb patch in the backyard has really done well this summer.  Right now it's exploding with thriving plants.  So, I picked a little of this, and a little of that . . . and in no time ended up with a bundle of “herbes fines” in my hand.  And then, the little voice in my head started chanting:  “Cucumber sandwiches . . . cucumber sandwiches . . . ”

I used tarragon, parsley, lemon thyme and chives in the cream cheese spread.  Oh, my . . . this is marvelous . . . I adore cucumber sandwiches!  My idea of heaven includes cucumber sandwiches and a cup of oolong tea every afternoon . . .

I also made some ham tea sandwiches on marbled rye pumpernickel bread for my husband . . . He is not a fan of cucumber sandwiches . . . Alas, nobody is perfect . . . 

I'll be busy pretty soon drying herbs and making pesto, but for now . . .

I'll just sit in my backyard and enjoy a quiet summer tea . . .

Ocean Dreams Tablescape

My dear, dear brother and sister-in-law, Robert and Barb, came to Chicago for a family reunion, and we invited them to dinner so we could have them all to ourselves and catch up before the rest of the family descended.  It was a cozy dinner for just the four of us.  It's summer, so with beachy thoughts in my head, the inspiration couldn't be anything but the ocean . . . 

This table came together so easily!  I already owned everything I needed, so it was just a matter of putting things together.  There's no stress at the beach!  It's a rule!  I started out with the white homespun tablecloth that's become an indespensable go-to item in my tablescaping arsenal . . .  I used this tablecloth here, for Easter.

The tablecloth was followed by Barcelona seagrass placemats from Crate and Barrel . . .

I love the color and the weave . . . and feels like it belongs with beachy things . . .

Then I used my ever-reliable white Traditions dinner plates from Williams-Sonoma, followed by glass Orion salad plates from Crate and Barrel . . .  I bought these salad plates ages ago, and I could kick myself for not having bought more.  The rippling is reminiscent of the ocean . . . how perfect can it get?

I fell in love with these soft, crossed-dyed napkins from Pottery Barn.  The color is called Blue Opal, and it seems fitting considering the many shades of blue that form the fabric, just like the ever-changing colors of the ocean . . .

A beautiful marine blue for the water goblets . . .

I picked up the fresh limonium at my local supermarket.  It reminded me of seaweed growing on the ocean floor, and I liked how the purple looked with the other blues on the table . . . 

Mr. Octopus guarding the salt and pepper cellars . . .

Red pepper flakes to go with the spicy menu . . . 

I pulled out my lantern and kept layering the blues by adding some sea glass pebbles . . . I first used this lantern in my first Watermelon table.  I love its shape and the fact that it works with so many different tables.



More whimsy with these mini-bottles of Tabasco sauce from World Market . . . I tend to go easy with the spices on the food, and offer guests a variety of ways to crank up the heat to their own taste . . .

The table is set . . .  Now for the menu:

Bacon Corn Muffins

Caesar Salad

Shrimp Creole, Cuban-style

Brown Rice

Baked sweet potato fries

And for dessert . . . Lime mousse topped with a dark chocolate/macadamia dolphin . . .

And the most important touch of all . . . wonderful family and lively conversation!  Here is my brother-in-law nibbling on fish crackers while we waited for dinner to be ready . . . 

One last look at the table . . .

Wishing you ocean dreams . . .

Lee on the Grass

This was not the plan.  The plan this summer, after a very hectic 2012, was to kick back, do a little bit of maintenance work, but, for the most part, just relax and enjoy the weather . . . (sigh) . . . the best laid plans of mice and men . . .

Lee bought, what he thought was, weed killer, but the stuff has destroyed our lawn.  Our lawn is currently riddled with patches of dead grass.  Let me put it a different way:  If our lawn was a dog, it would definitely be a dalmatian.  So for the last two months, he has been painstakingly tilling, removing the dead grass and planting grass seed.  He's about half done.

It's been a lot of work, but my husband is the most patient man that walks this Earth.  He is making the tedious job fun!

When Lee and his 6 siblings were growing up, someone was always writing Lee's name on the butter, then blaming him.    It's a running joke within the family, and we now receive notifications by e-mail of new “Lee” sightings.  Clothing, restaurants, gas stations . . . we never know where Lee's name is going to pop up next . . . 

I think he felt the next “Lee” sighting should be closer to home:  He cleared a patch on the lawn, and planted grass seed spelling his name!   Maybe it wasn't his siblings writing on the butter after all . . .

Greek Caprese Salad

Use Feta crumbles instead of mozzarella, add non-pareil capers, some calamata olives, and a few other tasty morsels, then drizzle with some Greek olive oil . . . and you have the makings of a wonderful tidbit tray to share while steaks are grilling . . .

Lemon thyme, native to the Mediterranean, and some peppery arugula, compliment these luscious little tomatoes . . .  Easy and delicious summer goodness.  Oh, summer, how do I love thee, let me count the ways . . .

And, as the 4th of July approaches, I'm seeing the red, white and blue everywhere . . . even a star thrown in! 

If you'll pardon me, I'm going back outside now . . .

I'm linking to Seasonal Sundays hosted by The Tablescaper.  Please stop by.