Dear Quinoa...

...I like you...a lot. You make such a great lunch! You provide me with energy to make it through the afternoon with your protein, not to mention your fiber that helps me stay full. I know my husband doesn't care for you, nor anything with a texture similar to couscous, but that's ok. I don't have any problem finishing you off.

-kelley


Lemony-Herb Quinoa
serves 4-6, depending on how you're using it

1 1/2 cups quinoa
2 3/4 cups chicken stock
1/4 cup plus 3 tbsp. lemon juice
1 1/2 - 2 tbsp. olive oil
2/3 cup fresh basil, chopped
2 tbsp. fresh thyme, chopped (3/4 tbsp. dried, which is what I unfortunately had to do this time)
zest of one lemon
salt and pepper

Bring stock, 1/4 lemon juice, and quinoa to a boil in a saucepan. Cover and reduce to simmer, allow to cook for about 12-15 minutes, until all the liquid is absorbed. While the quinoa cooks, mix together the oil, 3 T. juice, basil, thyme, zest, and about a quarter tsp. each of salt and pepper (can add more later if needed). When quinoa is cooked, mix into herb mix, and enjoy!

Great served warm or cold. Feel free to add some roasted veggies, fresh cherry tomatoes, or grilled chicken to make it more of a meal, or it makes a great side.

simple, healthy, and quite tasty

I promise I will start taking real photos with my real camera...the iPhone camera is just so convenient though!

In a dinner bind? Only have about 20 minutes until you just give up and get Taco Bell? No worries, I'm sure you have everything you need for a simple, quick, healthy, and what I thought was quite tasty dinner.

The Menu: Grilled rosemary salmon, steamed Brussels sprouts, and fresh tomato and basil bruschetta. Chardonnay is highly recommended.

The Plan: Heat grill to medium high heat. While this heats, chop and combine bruschetta ingredients. Throw the salmon on the grill. Pour some wine and season sprouts. Flip salmon. Steam sprouts. Enjoy!

Grilled Rosemary Salmon (serves two Adams)
2 salmon steaks, 2/3 lb. each
1 large sprig of rosemary (dried may be substituted, but fresh is the way to go if you have it)
salt, pepper, garlic salt

Season both side of steaks with salt, garlic salt, and a generous amount of pepper. Sprinkle both sides with chopped rosemary. Spray pre-heated grill with cooking spray and put salmon on. Grill about 4-5 minutes on each side until just cooked through (you can use a fork to peek in the middle of one). You should have some nice grill marks on each side, and the fish should be fairly firm to touch.

Bruschetta with Fresh Tomato and Basil (serves two Adams)
7 1/2 inch slices of a french baguette
1 1/3 large vine-ripe tomatoes, chopped (feel free to use other types of tomatoes)
1 1/4 inch slice of a large red onion, finely chopped
3/4 tbsp. olive oil
3/4 tbsp. balsamic vinegar
1 tbsp. fresh basil (1 tsp. dried may be substituted if you must)
1 small garlic clove half

Preheat broiler. Toss ingredients (except bread and garlic) together. Toast both sides of bread under broiler until slightly browned, remove and immediately rub with cut side of garlic. Just before serving, mound each slice with tomato topping.

Brussels Sprouts (sub roasted asparagus if you're not a fan)
10 sprouts (the tighter they look, the better)
salt, pepper, garlic salt

Place steamer basket over half inch of water and bring to boil. Add sprouts and season with salt, garlic salt, and a generous amount of pepper. Steam about 5 minutes until bright green.

Feel free to follow with ice cream. Enjoy!

Not for the Faint of Heart

Ever heard of Phall? It is an Indian curry dish, supposedly the hottest one out there. According to a very small amount of searching on Google, I found that it is typically made with twelve habanero peppers (the good stuff probably has a few more different types of peppers mixed in there), a large amount of fresh ginger, and other delicious, warm spices. Think of the flavor of a really good Texas chili that has been cooking for hours, allowing those deep, warm flavors to meld...you get the same effect with phall, except that it sets your mouth ablaze.
Our waiter was kind enough to warn us about this when ordering, and then after we were able to dig into it a bit, he offered to bring us some raita to cool us down, but did we need it? Nah. We had delicious, slightly charred naan bread and basmati rice with peas and coconut.

"It's so angry!"






Next step: learn to cook this and many other delicious, warm Indian dishes