Asian Quinoa-Kale

I hope you're not sick of quinoa just yet! I love cooking with quinoa because it tastes just a little nutty so it definitely isn't bland, but it also really takes on whatever flavors you mix in with it. This is another great weekday meal that is very easy and fast to make. It's also great cold as a leftover for lunch!

Quinoa
Quinoa is made 2 cups of water to 1 cup of quinoa
Mix together in a pot and simmer until all the water is absorbed
Quinoa takes about 20 minutes

Kale
2 cloves of garlic, minced
2 stalks of chives (green onions), chopped
Sautee the chives and garlic in olive oil for 1 minute
Add in 1/2 a bag of frozen kale (another great thing about this recipe, other vegetables can easily be substituted in here!)

Once the frozen kale has cooked add:
2 tablespoons of rice wine vinegar
4 tablespoons of tamari soy sauce
4 tablespoons of red pepper flakes (I like things spicy! If you don't, add less than this)

Add the Kale mixture into the pot with your quinoa and you're done!

Enjoy! Thanks for following along! 

Sky

Baked Tomato Special

Wow what a hiatus! I moved to DC from Boston in September 2013. At the time I was so overwhelmed by my move, my new job, and my new city that I just did not have the time to continue my blog. Finally though, after a year and a half (almost 2 years, wow!) of living in this wonderful city, I'm ready to begin again. I have had so many food and travel adventures since my move and I can't wait to share with all of you!

First up- a recipe I've been loving lately. I call this my baked tomato special. This is the perfect recipe to make after a long day of work- it doesn't require many ingredients, it's fast, it's easy to prepare, and it's an inexpensive meal.

Quinoa
This will be the base of the recipe. I buy quinoa in bulk from the Whole Foods grain bins. It's actually much cheaper than buying quinoa from a pre-packaged bag.
-Quinoa is made 1 cup of quinoa to 2 cups of water
-Pour ingredients into a pot and simmer until all the water is absorbed
-This usually takes 20 minutes
-When finished turn off heat and drizzle in olive oil and parmesan cheese (I use 1/4 cup of cheese)

Tomato
While the quinoa is cooking start working on your tomato, it will also need 20 minutes
-Preheat your oven (or toaster oven) to 400 degrees
-Cut your tomato in half
-With your tomato halves face up, sprinkle whole wheat bread crumbs, olive oil, salt and pepper
-Set your timer for 20 minutes

Seriously it's that easy! It's a grilled cheese with tomato soup rendition that tastes heavenly.

I use a toaster oven...

Look at that golden crust!

Once you break into that tomato it falls apart into a cheese quinoa center... yum! (excuse my computer I was hungry and blogging)

Enjoy! Thanks for following along! 

Sky

Tzatziki

Tzatziki is a delicious snack made with greek yogurt. We all know how many health benefits there are to eating yogurt, so test this out!

Ingredients:

2 cups zero fat greek yogurt
2 large cloves garlic, minced 
2 tsp lemon juice
1/4 cucumber chopped finely, no seeds
Salt to taste
Dried dill sprinkled on top

Mix all the ingredients in a large bowl. Ready to serve immediately, but will be more garlic-y the next day! Tzaiziki is great on toast (whole foods quinoa and flax bread below), on a cracker, on carrots, or just as a side salad. 

Spanish Chicken

Step 1: Marinate the Chicken (2 pounds)
-Ground pepper
-1 tsp Adobo spice
-1 package powdered chicken bouillon
-1 T dried cilantro
-4 large garlic cloves
-1/2 cup cider vinegar
-Save marinade, will need it later!

Step 2: Soffrito
-Chopped Onion
-1T olive oil
-1 can Hunts petit diced tomatoes
-1 large red pepper, 1 large green pepper
-1 jalapeño
-1 T Recatio
-1 can Roman beans (do not rinse! just pour off top water)
-Some green olives and capers

Sear the chicken until brown on both sides and remove from the pan.
Add oil, peppers, and onion.
Add the Soffrito ingredients plus the chicken marinade. 
Finally, add the chicken and cook the rest of the way.

 Great served with brown rice!