BEGINNER/EASY QUINOA SIDE DISHES

A few months ago I jumped on the Quinoa bandwagon - or I should say I decided I should try to make something that tasted good with Quinoa. I was nervous since I had never made it before but decided with it's nutritious value why not try it! These are a few of my favorite recipes that are easy and delicious.

QUINOA, ZUCCHINI and CORN IN LEMON BUTTER

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup uncooked quinoa
• 2 medium zucchini, diced
• 4 scallions, diced
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 cup corn
• 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 2 tbsp light butter
• 1 tbsp honey
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Cook quinoa according to package directions. Once quinoa has been cooked, place in a large bowl and set aside.
2. Place a medium sized skillet over medium high heat, melt butter in it, and then add in zucchini and garlic Cook until zucchini is tender, about 3-5 minutes. Then add in corn and honey cook until heated through.
3. Now add the corn/zucchini to the quinoa, along with the scallions and lemon juice and toss to combine. Season with salt and pepper.
4. Serve warm or at room temperature.

This dish can be made as a main course or paired with Pork Tenderloin, Fish or even a Red Meat dish. I've made it with Pork Tenderloin as a side dish.

WARM ARUGULA SALAD with QUINOA & GOAT CHEESE

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup white quinoa
• 1 cup water
• 3 cups arugula
• 1 oz goat cheese, crumbled
• 1/2 of a lemon, juiced
• Salt & pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Bring the quinoa and water to a boil in a small sauce pan. Cover and reduce to low. Let simmer for 10 minutes, or until all the water has been absorbed and the quinoa is fluffy. Keep covered for another 3 minutes, then fluff with a fork and transfer to a mixing bowl.
2. Add the arugula to the bowl with the hot quinoa and stir until the greens have wilted a bit. Squeeze the lemon juice over the salad and mix together. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
3. Transfer the salads to two bowls and top with crumbled goat cheese bits.
4. Serve immediately.

This dish can also be made as a main course or side dish. It can be paired with any meat or fish dish. I've only tried it as a main course.

MUSHROOM QUINOA RISOTTO

Ingredients:

• 1-2 tablespoons cooking oil
• 1 cup quinoa, rinsed and drained
• 1½ – 2 cups rich chicken or vegetable stock
• 1 bay leaf
• a couple sprigs of fresh thyme
• salt
• another 1-2 tablespoons cooking oil
• 1 small onion, very finely chopped
• 2-3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 cup brown cremini mushrooms, washed and sliced
• 1 cup shiitake mushrooms, washed and sliced
• ½ cup dry white wine
• ¼ to ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• chopped fresh parsley for garnish

Directions:

1. Heat cooking oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the quinoa and toast, stirring, for 2 to 3 minutes. Add 1½ cups stock (to start, you can add more later), bay leaf, thyme, and a pinch of salt. Increase the heat, bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer 20 to 25 minutes until the quinoa is very tender. If you need to, add more stock during the cooking process.
2. Remove the bay leaf and thyme sprigs from the pot and discard them. Set the quinoa aside.
3. In another pan, heat another 1-2 tablespoons cooking oil over medium heat. Add the onions and cook until translucent, about 3 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant. Add the mushrooms and cook about 5-6 minutes. Add the white wine and cook until it is about halfway evaporated.
4. Pour quinoa into the mushroom mixtures (or vice versa, it doesn't matter). Stir gently. Taste for seasoning and adjust salt and pepper to taste. You can stir in a few tablespoons of grated parmesan here, but I prefer to pass a small bowl of grated Parmesan at the table. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley.

This dish would be good with chicken or pork - you can add asparagus or snap peas for added flavor. 

CILANTRO LIME QUINOA

Ingredients:

• 2 cups vegetable broth
• 1 cup quinoa, rinsed and drained
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• 1/3 cup chopped cilantro
• 1/4 teaspoon granulated sugar
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Directions:

1. In a large pot, bring the 2 cups of vegetable broth to a boil. Stir in quinoa and cook until broth is evaporated and quinoa is tender, about 20 minutes. Pour quinoa into a medium bowl and fluff with a fork.
2. Stir in garlic, lime juice, cilantro, and sugar. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Serve warm.

This would be a great side for any Mexican dish!

LUSH LASHES - MINK EYELASH EXTENSIONS

For my birthday this past year I treated myself to some beautiful MINK EYELASH EXTENSIONS. My good friend Heather applied them, she owns a salon called Urban Retreat. It's located in Minnesota so if you're in the state definitely check them out!!

URBAN RETREAT: www.urbanretreatmn.com

The eyelash extensions are an exciting product and technique for thicker, longer, and naturally abundant looking eyelashes. Eyelashes are made thicker and longer through professional application of an individual synthetic eyelash directly attached to the natural eyelash with a specially formulated bonding agent.

The lashes lasted me about a month and a half - they can last longer but I'm the type of person that has a hard time not picking or messing with things so eventually I ended up picking them off. Overall I really loved them, if you have a special occasion or just want the ease of not having to wear mascara I definitely would say go for it and get them! The application process is fairly quick - It took about an hour to get them applied. They are light and don't feel too different from your real lashes. I was given a little eyebrow brush to brush them out in the morning and that was the extent of the care they need.

STITCH FIX - THE PURCHASED ITEMS Part One

I'm sure you've all heard of Stitch Fix - if you haven't check it out here. It's your own personal stylist - hand selected women's fashion shipped free to your home. You answer a bunch of questions about your style and then they send you 5 items! You can schedule your "fixes" whenever you want - the convenience of not having to go out shopping is what makes Stitch Fix great. I've gotten numerous comments on all of the below items and love telling my friends that it's from Stitch Fix!

The negative; I like knowing the brand of the item, Stitch Fix doesn't tell you the brand until it arrives. Which I'm sure it's so you can't try and find the item online cheaper -- some of their clothes aren't released by the designers yet which is a positive getting exclusive items. I've also noticed that not all my "fixes" are spot on - I've had some that aren't even close to my style and some that are perfect. I suggest using Pinterest as fashion inspiration and add your Pinterest to your Stitch Fix profile to help your stylist know what you like.

HERE ARE A FEW OF MY FAVORITES:

A. Arissa Sheer Button Up Shirt Tail Tank  by Sanctuary (great with white skinny jeans)

B. Parker Floral Tie Neck Blouse by MM Couture 

C. Pamela Pleated Print Dress by Mystree
D. Bevin Front Tie Feather Print Blouse by Kut from the Kloth (one of my favorites!)
E. Ivan Bejeweled Neck Tribal Print Tank by Under Skies

F. Tilda Asymmetrical Zip Hoodie by Jack by BB Dakota (love this hoodie!)
G. Marci Dot Stripe Tab Sleeve Blouse by Collective Concepts
H. Zig Zag Blouse by Everly (Can be dressed up or down)

I. Lacework Bar Short Necklace by Geranium
J. Outlined Hinged Bangle by AV Max (Goes with just about any outfit)

K. Bilson Silk Pleat Tabsleeve Blouse by Daniel Rainn (Love the color)
L. Striped Aztec Print Scarf by Subtle Luxury
M. Delevan 2 Pocket Button Down Shirt by Moon (perfect with leggings & knee high boots)

Here's what I actually look like in a couple of the above items:

SAVORY SUMMER PIZZAS!!

I LOVE pizza... I honestly don't know many people who don't. I enjoy easy, but delicious pizza recipes that can be made in about 30 minutes or less. These recipes are perfect for a girls night or a weeknight when you don't want to spend a lot of time cooking. They can be paired with a nice glass of wine as well!

SHAVED ASPARAGUS AND MUSHROOM PIZZA

Ingredients:

For the sauce -

•         1 small clove garlic, crushed
•         2 green onions, chopped
•         1 tbsp olive oil
•         1 tbsp whole wheat flour
•         ½ cup unsweetened soy milk
•         Pinch salt & pepper

For the toppings -

•         6 button mushrooms, sliced
•         12 asparagus, shaved (use a vegetable peeler)
•         75g low fat mozzarella cheese, grated
•         25g Emmental cheese, grated

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 500F.
2. In a small saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add green onions, garlic, salt and pepper and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
3. Add flour and whisk to combine. Slowly pour in milk and whisk until sauce becomes thick and “smooth” and flour is fully cooked, about 2 minutes. Feel free to add a little bit more milk if you feel the sauce is too thick, but keep in mind that you do want it to be on the thick side. A sauce that is too thin will result in soggy pizza dough.
4. Spread “béchamel” sauce and top with half the mushrooms, then add mozzarella cheese, shaved asparagus, followed by the rest of the mushrooms and finally Emmental cheese.
5. Bake in the oven for about 10 minutes, until cheese is melted and starts to color on the edge.

LEEK, MUSHROOM AND BACON PIZZA

Ingredients:

For the sauce -

•         1 1/2 tablespoons butter
•         1 1/2 tablespoons flour
•         1 cup milk
•         few grates of fresh nutmeg

For the toppings -

•         1 leek, chopped and cleaned
•         1 tablespoon butter
•         1 tablespoon olive oil
•         fresh mushrooms, sliced
•         1/2 pound bacon, diced and cooked
•         1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan
•         1 cup freshly grated gruyere

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 475F.
2. Make the sauce: In a saucepan, melt the butter. Stir in the flour and cook for a minute or two. Whisk in the milk and grate in a bit of nutmeg. Cook over medium heat until thickened.
3. Prepare the toppings: Add the butter and olive oil to a large sauté pan. Add the leeks and cook for a few minutes. Add in the mushrooms and cook until the mushrooms have cooked down.Put the pizza together:Spread the sauce on the pizza, leaving a 1/2-1-inch border. Top with the leeks and mushrooms, then the bacon. Sprinkle the top of the pizza with the Parmesan and Gruyere. Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes, or until the crust has browned and the cheeses are melted and bubbly.

ROASTED GARLIC, CHICKEN and HERB WHITE PIZZA

Ingredients:

•         1 pound pizza dough
•         1 tablespoons butter
•         8 cloves roasted garlic, minced
•         2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
•         ½ teaspoons black pepper
•         ½ cup skim milk
•         ¼ cup half and half
•         ¼ cup Parmesan cheese
•         1½ cup boneless skinless chicken breast, cooked and shredded
•         ¼ cup red onion, diced
•         ¾ cup Mozzarella cheese
•         1 teaspoons fresh thyme, chopped
•         ½ teaspoons dried oregano
•         1 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped 

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
2. Prepare a baking sheet with a liner, or grease and sprinkle with cornmeal.
3. Melt butter in a small saucepan. Sauté roasted garlic for 1 minute. Add flour, and mix until well blended. Cook for 1 minute. Slowly whisk in the milk and half and half. Mix in the pepper. Cook for about 3 minutes, or until it starts to thicken. Remove from heat, and stir in Parmesan cheese.
4. Spread dough into roughly a 12 inch circle on prepared baking sheet. Spread white sauce over the dough. Top with chicken, red onions and cheese. Bake for 17 minutes, or until the crust is golden, and the cheese is melted. Remove from the oven, sprinkle with herbs. Cut and serve immediately.

THE MODERN CAT HOUSE

I spoil my cat (Vegas) rotten - I don't know any pet owner who doesn't like to spoil their pet! I recently just bought a couple things for her and I hadn't read many reviews on them - so here's my personal reviews!

POD BED by HEPPER

Our pets have a tough life – love, play time, free food – and from all the attention, they definitely need good rest. Pets/Cats can get their best sleep ever in the Pod Bed ($88.00). The Pod bed is made so that cats can curl up in a cozy modern cave – complete with protection from other critters, a padded liner and up-off-the-floor views.

You can find the Pod Bed here: http://www.hepper.com/

My/Vegas's review of the Pod Bed by Hepper: The Pod Bed is the perfect size for my 10 lbs. kitty. I would say if your cat is a little larger it might have a hard time squeezing into the Pod Bed. The materials that make the Pod Bed are very soft and flexible - the inside has a sherpa lining on one side and suede on the other so you can use either side. It's low to the ground which makes it easy for the kitty to hop in and out. Vegas hasn't spent a lot of time in the Pod Bed quite yet - I just got it a week ago so I think it will take her a little time to get used to using it. I also think as it get's cooler (fall/winter time) she'll be using this more. I bought the Pod Bed from Gilt Groupe on sale so if you can find a site selling it on sale I wouldn't hesitate buying. Overall a very cool modern bed for your cat!

CAT CABIN by SUCK UK

The Cardboard Cabin ($35.00) provides a more grown-up place for your feline friends to fall asleep. Shaped like the homes built by men of the American frontier, they evoke adventure, pioneering spirit and a life-on-the-edge attitude to life. None of which house cats have of course, but they will also be grateful of a private place to sleep and for the playballs and toys that come with both designs asleep. Ideal for other small pets like rabbits too.

You can find the Cat Cabin here: http://www.suck.uk.com/products/cat-play-house/

My/Vegas's review of the Cat Cabin by Suck UK: It is GREAT, Vegas loves playing inside it and the little peepholes are purrfect for little kitty paws to reach and grab toys. I don't know about anyone else but my cat seems to love cardboard boxes so this cardboard cabin was made for my cat! It's really easy to set up and make your own... I didn't decorate it too much other than writing Vegas's name on it but if you are arts & crafty you could easily make this Cat Cabin into something pretty snazzy! The cardboard is durable, I haven't seen any rips or tears so it does stand up to any fun your cat has with it. Overall for the price and the use my cat has gotten out of it so far it's worth getting.

HOISIN - GLAZED TURKEY MEATBALLS

These meatballs are amazing - whether you make them as a dinner or appetizer you can't go wrong. I made them as a dinner along with some jasmine rice, you could definitely use quinoa as a more healthy option.

HOISIN-GLAZED TURKEY MEATBALLS

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons reduced-sodium Tamari or Soy Sauce

• 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil

• 2 teaspoon finely grated fresh ginger root, preferably grated with a rasp-style grater
• 1 teaspoon Sambal Oelek sauce  or 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper

• 1 teaspoon sugar

• 1 tablespoon cornstarch

• 2 scallions, minced plus sliced scallion greens for garnish, divided

• 1/2 cup drained, finely chopped water chestnuts

• 1 pound lean ground turkey

• 1/4 cup purchased Hoisin Sauce
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves (coriander)

• 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice
• Black and/or white sesame seeds, for garnish

Directions:

1.  Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Whisk Tamari or soy sauce, sesame oil, ginger, sambal or crushed red pepper and sugar in a large bowl. Whisk in cornstarch until smooth. Stir in 2 minced scallions and water chestnuts. Stir in turkey until completely combined.
3. Drop turkey mixture by rounded tablespoons onto the prepared baking sheet, gently re-shaping into ball shapes if necessary. Lightly coat the balls with cooking spray and transfer to the oven. Bake until the meat is cooked through, 15 to 17 minutes.
4. Stir Hoisin sauce, cilantro and lime juice in a large bowl. Add the cooked meatballs and gently stir to coat. Sprinkle with the remaining sliced scallions and sesame seeds and serve hot with toothpicks.

Here is what mine looked like: