for the love of quinoa

To kick start the new year I thought I'd share a healthy recipe that I love, and share about one of my favorite seeds!

Yes, it's a seed!

This beauty is quinoa (keen-wha).  It took me a long time to finally say it right.  It's a little intimidating at first, but once you figure out how to cook it there is not turning back.  I've been eating and cooking with quinoa for a little over a year now and am in L-O-V-E.  It is SUPER healthy, filled with tons of amino acids, and is packed with protein.  

Go here if you don't believe me.  

How to prepare:

On the stovetop, add 1 cup dry quinoa to 1.75 cups liquid, bring up to a simmer and cook covered for 15-20 minutes or until fluffy and tender.  The seeds will sprout tails, and you will know it is done!  Then season and serve on its own, or mixed together with beans, veggies, or tofu – the possibilities are endless with this versatile grain.

I like mine both cold and hot.  I will make a big batch of quinoa with fun mix-ins, eat it warm, and then throw it in the fridge to enjoy cold the rest of the week.  

Today I want to share how to make my favorite mediterranean version with quinoa.

You'll Need:

1 cup dry quinoa

1.75 cups water

1 cup diced cherry tomates

1/2 cup diced artichoke hearts

1/2 cup roughly cut kalamata olives

1 tbsp. olive oil

2. tsp. fresh squeezed lemon juice

salt to taste

Directions:

1. Prepare quinoa at the stovetop following the above directions.

2. Place all of your chopped veggies in a large bowl.

3. Mix the cooked quinoa in with your veggies.

4. Stir in olive oil and lemon juice, sprinkle with salt to taste. 

5. Enjoy!

It is super easy and crazy versatile, it all depends on your mood! 

If I had feta cheese of crumbled goat cheese I would have added that to it as well.  OH, and toasted pine nuts...just mix and match what you like!

Here are some of my favorite recipes I have made with quinoa that even my husband asks for over and over again! (That is a true testament to how good they are.)

Quinoa Tabouli

Mediterranean Quinoa

Mexican Quinoa with Black Beans and Avocado

Hearty Chicken Stew with Butternut Squash and Quinoa

I hope you try out one of these fabulous recipes and let me know how it goes!

reno recap

As promised I'm back with some fun pictures from our time up in Reno.  Kylee and her husband moved back home to Reno at the beginning of the summer, so we decided to make a trip to visit them and play in the snow.

Sadly, we brought the beautiful San Diego weather with us...if you are born in raised in SD you'd like to see some change of weather, at least some inkling to actually tell you it's winter.  Well, they experienced record highs and there was no snow in sight :(  We still had a blast and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.  Here's our camera roll:

{1} Ice skating in downtown Reno  {2} Taking a quick pic on the ice while trying not to fall

{3} Our amazing hostesses  {4} Steven sandwich in front of the beautiful tree 

{5} Cooking lesson with Steven's granny!!!  {6} The yummy flautas she taught us how to make

{7} Her adorable little cookie platter, oh and some veggies too!  {8} We decided granny needs a cooking show, she was THE cutest and had everything all set up and ready for us

{9} Dinner at Old Granite Street Eatery, it was the cutest place  {10} Celebrating NYE with my sweet husband

{11} My bun was the biggest I've ever had it before, but it was NYE so my motto was "Go big or go home" 

{12} Posing

{13} It was freezing!  We finally got some cold conditions as we awaited midnight on the streets

 {14} The four of us in front of the cutest river walkway

{15} The husband making fun of us for being on our phones {16} A gorgeous walk along the river behind their house, gorgeous!!

happy 2012! iPhone style

{blessed}

2011 I was blessed

blessed with a loving husband

blessed with beautiful friends that have helped me understand that quality wins over quantity

blessed with amazing family that live so close

blessed by my Faith

blessed with a job that provides me with so much satisfaction

blessed with graduate classes that push me

blessed 

It may not seem as though 2011 was a big year for us over at the LaFuze residence, but it was a year of Jamie.  I have slowly been able to get over my people-pleasing tendencies and realizing who I am as a person and a woman of God.  A huge weakness of mine is never feeling good enough and insecurity in friendships.  God has met me in this area and has shown me that my friends love me for me and I have given as much as I could into each relationship.  It has been a blessed year.  There has ben family tragedies and sadness, but we have grown strong as a family and gotten through these struggles.  2011 has been blessed.

We were blessed to go on a fun trip up to Reno to spend New Year's Eve with some friends of ours.  Here are our random pics from the iPhone (got to love it!).  More coming tomorrow!

OH, I forgot one major blessing...

I have been blessed by YOU!

My little blog has been a huge joy in my life this year, I look forward to writing posts and interacting with such beautiful and uplifting girls.  It is a blessing to share my life with all of you and to feel your love and kindness.

I wish you a very blessed 2012!