the food trend lives on: 3 savory Quinoa Recipes

Just a short and sweet savory post today! I'm sharing THREE quinoa recipes for YOU.  Following food trends is fun because it changes our daily lives up.  We eat every day, several times a day, so following along the curves of foodie trends gives that extra pop of color to living. 

I realize quinoa has been the "it" magic food for a couple years now.  I have a confession.  I actually made and photographed these recipes in fall of 2011!! I am JUST NOW making the blog post about them.  I have so many un published blog posts and I need to catch up...or just move on. ;)  

These recipes were too tasty to just move on and ignore though.  

So, let's get to it.

My top favorite recipe I've ever made with QUINOA:

1) Quinoa Hash with Vegetables and Poached Eggs

This recipe is incredible!  Every single bite is worth savoring.  I serve it as a breakfast dish with a side of turkey bacon but it works for ANY meal.  It is so fresh, fresh!  The leeks are my favorite accent.  DE-licious stuff here.  Quinoa mixed with sweet potatoes, leeks, fresh thyme, and poached eggs is waking up to fresh quality breakfast heaven.  I promise.

Recipe source
Martha Stewart's Whole Living  magazine

Fall Vegetable Quinoa Hash with Poached Eggs

Ingredients

• 1 large sweet potato, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
• 2 1/2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
• Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
• 2 beets, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch wedges, greens reserved and rinsed well
• 1 tablespoon white-wine vinegar
• 4 large eggs
• 1 leek, white and pale-green parts only, halved lengthwise, cut 1/4 inch thick, and rinsed well
• 1 cup cooked quinoa (from 1/4 cup dry)
• 3/4 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Toss sweet potato with 1/2 teaspoon oil and 1/4 teaspoon salt; spread in an even layer on half of a rimmed baking sheet. Toss beets with 1/2 teaspoon oil and 1/8 teaspoon salt; spread on other half of sheet (so that beets don't discolor potatoes). Roast, stirring halfway through, until tender, 35 to 40 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, bring a large saucepan of water to a boil; add vinegar. Break each egg into a teacup. Reduce heat so that water is just simmering. Slightly immerse 1 teacup, and gently slide egg into water. Use a spoon to fold edges of white over egg. Repeat with remaining eggs. Simmer until whites are just set but yolks are runny, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer eggs to a towel using a slotted spoon, and drain.
3. Thinly slice beet greens. Heat 1 1/2 teaspoons oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add greens, leek, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper; cook until tender and lightly browned, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in quinoa, thyme, and vegetables; press down using a rubber spatula. Cook until quinoa is warm, 1 to 2 minutes. Divide among 4 plates; top each with 1 egg, and season with a pinch of pepper.

2) Bell Peppers Stuffed with Quinoa & Veggies


This next recipe is just too colorful, turning your everday meal into an instant celebration.  Mini peppers packed tight with nutrients. 


These are fun because there are 100 different variations to create your own favorite mini peppers.  Add black beans for some protein if desired.  Add any other chopped up little veggie you want!

Change it up to make the flavors YOURS

Recipe found at: Whole Foods Market

3) Lemon Quinoa Cilantro Chickpea Salad

You've likely seen this recipe pictured ALL over Pinterest and this is why:


It.is.so.freaking.good


I make this one a lot.  It's loaded with fresh cilantro, fresh spinach, avocados, tomatoes, and chickpeas. You can find the recipe at the Diva-Dish blog by clicking HERE.

Every ingredient is nutritious with full flavor.  This salad is delicious!  It's perfect for hot summertime days to so tie a string around your finger and remember to make it when summer starts!

photo via @mooreminutes Instagram

4) Bonus recipe! 

 I shared a quinoa muffin recipe last fall on my BACK TO SCHOOL MAKE AHEAD MORNING MUFFINS post if you want to click on over!

What's your TOP favorite way to prepare

QUINOA?

And what food do you hope will start trending soon?

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This post is linked to: Under the Table & Dreamin, Nifty Thrifty,  Made by You Monday, Met Monday, Tuesday Tutorials and Tips, HOMEWORK: Be Inspired, Tip Junkie, Get Your Craft On, Works for Me Wednesday, Organize and Decorate Everything, Transformation Thursday, Tablescape Thursday, Strut Your Stuff, 36th Ave, Foodie Friday, I'm Lovin It, Tickled Pink, Friday Flair, Be Different Act Normal, Funky Junk Interiors, Weekend Wrap Up, Six Sisters Saturday 

Our lovin' Valentine's Day 2013

Always so MUCH to be thankful for and always so MUCH to love! 

Little loves 

like the way I love a good sandwich 

and the smell of rain,

and big loves

 like the way I love every.single.little thing. my boys do 

and like the way I love the forever connection that my heart has

with my husband's heart.

Of course I love to celebrate February 14th:

Love is that extra bit of delight in daily living

It's the buffer put up to protect us around our trials

It's the added depth to life over and under us

It's the joy that exceeds any pain

It's the purpose for our tomorrows

We started out with heart-shaped homemade waffles. Love the day.  It's fresh and new and ready for us to embrace!

 I added cut up cherries to the mix for CHERRY WAFFLES!

First thing in the morning Chris surprised me with a ring...a great big red paper heart ring! 

He made an origami heart ring and it melted my lil heart. :)

He even got down on one knee again.  

Gosh, this big strong guy can be romantic too. {wink}

Remember the dozen red origami roses he made me last year?  

Well, he made a single giant rose bud this year. 

It is awesome!

Soon after that, my Dad knocked on my door.  I've shared this tradition a couple of times

here

on my blog before because it means so much to me and I hold it close to my heart!

My dad has been bringing me pink roses for Valentine's Day ever since I was a little girl.

My SWEET Mom dropped over later that afternoon with a fun and ADORABLE box

 of Valentine goodies for each of us.  

Grey cloth napkins for me, protein bars for Chris!

She made each boy a red pompom bookmark! 

Love that.

We did some HEART DAY baking too! 

I baked Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip cookies (recipe here).

Individually wrapped and ready for deliveries! 

photo via mooreminutes Instagram

The boys and I also made our traditional Cherry Kiss cookies.

I've been baking these since I was a little girl!

(recipe here)

photo via mooreminutes Instagram

The kids made Chris and I smile wide with their special gifts!

Titus handed us a handmade card, full of his classic drawn on smiley faces and hearts.

Cameron wrote each one of us a beautiful card.
He used gorgeous handwriting and a lot of care.

His words to each of us were incredible and I've tucked those words forever in my heart. 

 He is full of so much depth and I am humbled by his love. 

 His words on each card made my heart so full. 

He designed such a fun game for us!  We went on a paper red heart search and had a contest with them before we were able to open our cards.  I absolutely loved his idea and his creativity! 

I think we all felt so loved by Cameron.

Kotah surprised me with a single long stem white rose.

His money,

his own idea,

made this mama's heart soar! 

He is my heart throb.

For their school party, we gathered up the PUPPY LOVE Valentines.

(See here for classroom Valentine ideas)

and I brought a bunch of colored mini heart balloons to pass out to the students. 

Balloon shadows!

 The boys excitedly passed them out to their classmates

School party!

We loved the day 

GIVING

and 

RECEIVING

this little-big thing we call

LOVE. 

Happy

Valentine's 

Day!

This is my cute little attempt to blow kisses ;)

Thanks to EACH of you for reading and caring!

Much love!

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This post is linked to: Under the Table & Dreamin, Nifty Thrifty,  Made by You Monday, Met Monday, Tuesday Tutorials and Tips, HOMEWORK: Be Inspired, Tip Junkie, Get Your Craft On, Works for Me Wednesday, Organize and Decorate Everything, Transformation Thursday, Tablescape Thursday, Strut Your Stuff, 36th Ave, Foodie Friday, I'm Lovin It, Tickled Pink, Friday Flair, Be Different Act Normal, Funky Junk Interiors, Weekend Wrap Up, Six Sisters Saturday 

Family Dinner Lessons for Kids about MONEY, and the gift of STOCKS

 *note: This is NOT a sponsored post.  I'm just sharing what we're loving at the moment. 

I've shared before about the true VALUE in family meals.  In our hurried and overstuffed schedules, we are unable to gather around the table EVERY night, but we treasure the handful of nights that we do!

Occasionally, I grab the chance to make a fun night centered around our family dinner with little surprises, learning lessons, exciting announcements, or a time of sharing together.  If you would like to see the details of our traditional FAMILY SHOW N SHARE NIGHT, click here to see photos and read all the good details!

I used this winter cozy family dinner night as a time to teach.  It was a kick off to a new educational series of money, investing, and personal finance for our kids!  Personal Finance is a skill that our boys will be practicing every.single.day. of their adult lives.  I've felt an intense responsibility, as their parent, to find a way to incorporate this teaching into our schedules.

As they ran down the stairs for dinner, they quickly noticed the mysterious kraft paper-wrapped-somethings in the center of the table, along with a stack of books.  In the middle of our cups of water, Correlle dishes,  S&P shakers, was a stack of FUN in the center of our table.

turkey meatloaf for a cozy winter meal

along with family time to learn 

personal finance

I am so excited to start this financial curriculum with my boys!  I have so much to learn as well and I can't wait to make positive changes in our life.  There are a few curriculums available to use in teaching children about personal finance and simple economics.  I chose Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace Jr. (again, this is not a sponsored post, I'm just sharing our pick!).  

In the box...

We have a lesson plan to follow, a commission chore chart system, and budget envelopes for each of the boys.  

I also bought Dave Ramsey's financial book series for kids.  We kicked off our money lessons with a story on saving.  These books teach all the basic and essential values of money in simple and entertaining style for kids.  

We did a brief overview over dinner, introducing the kids to this new program. 

We will also be incorporating Warren Buffet's program for kids, Secret Millionaires Club to learn investing AFTER we complete the personal finance program. 

photo source

After the kickoff was complete and our plates cleared, I revealed the mystery underneath the kraft paper wrapped packages.  We presented the boys with their own specially framed shares of stock.  

We actually bought these shares for the boys when they were toddlers.  However, I waited to give them  out until now.  I wanted them to have an introductory understanding of what investing was, what a share is, and what stock in a company means!  Chris has taught the boys some of this through the years and I'll never forget the year Cameron (6 years old at the time), asked for stock in Wal Mart for Christmas!  

After I finished showing the boys the Dave Ramsey finance curriculum, Chris talked to them again about shares, stocks, companies, and business.  I was part of the eager audience!  I have so much to learn.  I've always LOVED listening to Chris teach.  His voice is so soothing and he explains everything perfectly.  (Kinda love that guy a lot) ;) 

They were very excited to hang their shares in their rooms!  These shares don't have a big financial value, they are simply ONE share.  It's the concept that counts.  They make super unique gifts too!  You can visit OneShare.com to pick a stock of your choice, personalize it, and buy it.  

When I chose a company to buy a share of stock in for each child, I tried to find something exciting for kids and fun.  Again, I bought these stocks several years ago when the boys were just toddlers.  

I also personalized each share at the bottom, tying in the theme of the company with my words.  For Cameron, I chose stock in Disney because he was always so full of wonder. 

Dakotah's nickname is Kotah Bear, and he has always been our cuddly boy so a bear themed company worked!

 Titus was always happy so the cheerful LeapFrog company worked for him!

These framed shares of stock hang in each of their rooms, hopefully reminding them of how much they're loved, to always work for their dreams, and to be wise with their money. 


One of my personal goals is to focus more on using wisdom with each dollar God has blessed us with.  It's difficult to change habits, but I am full of hope and anticipation as I embark on new challenges.  I want to learn right along beside my kids, so that I can be the best steward of our money and foster a spirit of gratitude for the age of abundance we all live in.

photo source

To see other blog posts I've shared in the archives on MONEY, click HERE and enjoy! =) 



My favorite blog post on money was one of my very first blog posts called 5 at a Time.  This is a unique and easy concept to start saving CASH.  

Here are the rules:
 1) Use cash for all purchases
 2) Never keep a $5 bill
 3) Put all $5 bills in a jar

 (if you get handed a 5 dollar bill as your change, it goes in the 5 dollar jar.  5 dollar bills NEVER go back in your purse or wallet.  You'll be so SURPRISED at how quickly you'll accumulate cash by using this simple method.  

If you have any tips for us as we begin this new adventure as a family, pretty please let me know!

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This post is linked to: Under the Table & Dreamin, Nifty Thrifty,  Made by You Monday, Met Monday, Tuesday Tutorials and Tips, HOMEWORK: Be Inspired, Tip Junkie, Get Your Craft On, Works for Me Wednesday, Organize and Decorate Everything, Transformation Thursday, Tablescape Thursday, Strut Your Stuff, 36th Ave, Foodie Friday, I'm Lovin It, Tickled Pink, Friday Flair, Be Different Act Normal, Funky Junk Interiors, Weekend Wrap Up, Six Sisters Saturday