For The Love of Quinoa

A favorite for years I have tested many ways of making Quinoa and tonights was one of my new favorites.


















Ingredients
1 Cup of Quinoa
2 Avocados, chopped
3 Vine Ripe Tomatos, chopped
3 Cloves of Garlic, crushed
Pickled Jalapeños
1/2 Can of Black Beans, drained and rinsed
1/2 Can of Fresh Cured Green Olives, sliced
1 tbsp. Extra Virgin Olive Oil, I prefer Olio Di Gio from Dry Creek Valley
Feta Cheese, crumbled
Dash of Sea Salt

Directions
Cook Quinoa as directed. Combine 1 cup of Quinoa with 2 cups of water. Bring to a boil then reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Stir and let cool.  Mix all of the above ingredients. Once the Quinoa is cooled to a luke warm toss it in the mix. Salt to taste. Then enjoy!

Peach Summer Salad

Last week I visited the local farmers market and as usual, purchased way too much fresh yummy food for one person. So what did I do? Made a new favorite summer salad, took it to a party and it was a huge hit. I hope you enjoy it too.

Ingredients
Baby Arugula
Fresh peaches
2 Garlic Cloves
Sea Salt
Olive Oil
Mixture of shaved Parmesan, Asiago and Pecorino cheeses
Fresh lemon juice

1. Peel and slice the peaches, sprinkle with lemon juice (this will keep them from turning brown. 
2. Place baby Arugula in a bowl and toss with just enough olive oil to coat lightly.
3. Peel and press the garlic cloves, add to the Arugula and toss to coat.
4. Add fresh ground sea salt to the salad mixture and toss. This is to taste.
5. Add the peaches with lemon juice.
6. Add the shaved cheeses and toss.

Serve with your favorite protein and enjoy!

Pantry Raid: Garlic Chicken & Broccoli Pasta

I love to cook, so there is nothing worse than being on a food budget. No wine, no fancy fixings just whatever I was able to budget in for the week.

Tonight when I opened my fridge there was...Milk, broccoli, Pecorino cheese and left over chicken, BORING!

Thank goodness things I will never skimp on are good olive oil, sea salt and garlic. With them you can make a lot of different dishes.

Ingredients:
- thin spaghetti noodles - 1 1/2" diameter when holding in hands
- broccoli cut into medium size pieces
- 2 cloves of fresh garlic, peeled and pressed
- olive oil
- grated pecorino cheese
- rosemary sea salt
- left over cooked chicken, diced

Boil pasta water and follow instructions on package to cook pasta. Before putting the pasta in the boiling water quickly blanch the broccoli for about 1 minute so there is still some crunch to it. Then remove the broccoli and add the pasta to cook.

While the pasta is cooking, heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a skillet, add pressed garlic and diced chicken, just to long enough to heat of the chicken.

Drain the pasta and put in a bowl. Pour the chicken and broccoli over the top and toss lightly to coat with the olive oil. Sprinkle with rosemary sea salt and cheese, toss again to mix, then serve.

Dinner turned out great, I only wish there was a bottle of wine around. Sigh!

Pantry Raid - Chicken, Rice and Kale

So tonight's Pantry Raid was surprisingly tasty.

What did I have to throw together?

- Left over cooked Chicken Breast - Diced
- Left over White Rice
- Fresh Kale
- Garlic Gloves
- Tabasco Sauce
- Sea Salt
- Pepper
- Butter
- Lemon Juice

Rinse and chop the kale and saute in butter with fresh sliced garlic and a dash of lemon juice until tender.

Add chopped chicken, rice, salt and pepper to taste and saute until heated thoroughly.

Put a few dashes of Tabasco over the top and enjoy!

Summer Pasta

Olive Oil – good quality

Spaghetti

Mozzarella Cheese

Cherry Tomatoes

Black Olives

Fresh Basil

Fresh Garlic

Slice cherry tomatoes in half and place in medium size bowl.

Mince fresh garlic and add to the tomatoes.

Chop olives and add to the garlic and tomatoes.

Chop fresh basil and add to above.

Pour olive oil over the top of above mixture until covered.

Let this sit for at least 3 hours at room temperature.

Boil pasta according to instructions on bag.

Grate Mozzarella cheese.

When pasta is ready place in a large bowl and pour mixture over the top, stir until thoroughly coated. Add cheese and stir in.

Serve warm!