BBQ Chicken Quinoa

This is a fairly quick and very healthy summertime meal. 

It's great for dinner and almost better for lunch the next day. 

You can change it up or add more stuff to it if you'd like. 

Might be good with shredded carrots, peas, tomatoes, etc...

Happy cooking to you:) 

Ingredients:

1 cup uncooked quinoa (I used organic white)

about 2 cups frozen organic corn

about a handful of snap peas, cut in half or thirds

about a half of a bunch of green onions, chopped

1 clove garlic, minced

4 chicken tenderloins, boiled and shredded

 BBQ sauce (I used Annie's Naturals 

Organic Sweet & Spicy BBQ sauce from whole foods)

Directions: 

1. Boil chicken 

(bring water to boil, add salt and pepper, 

drop chicken in and let cook for 4-5 minutes. 

remove from water, cool, and shred)

2. Cook quinoa according to package 

(usually 1 cup quinoa, 2 cups water. bring to a boil then cover, 

reduce to a simmer and let simmer for 10-15 min. fluff with a fork when done)

3. In a sauté pan at about medium heat add a drizzle of olive oil, 

add minced garlic--watch it so it doesn't burn 

4. Add thawed corn and cook a few minutes

5. Add chicken, cook a few minutes

6. Add snap peas and green onions, cook for a few minutes 

7. Add chicken and vegetables to quinoa and add BBQ sauce  to taste (a little at a time so it doesn't overpower it)

8. If needed add s&p and/or more bbq sauce 

Garnish with cilantro. 

enjoy!

cinco de mayo

We had our 2nd annual Cinco de Mayo party this weekend. 

So fun!!! 

I had a great time preparing for it, planning the menu, decorating, plucking fiesta-ish flowers from neighbors gardens (with permission, don't worry..), but the best was time with friends, 

sharing our home, and hosting with my man...oh and of course, delicious margaritas.

I loved it :) 

I didn't get as many pictures as I'd hoped to (I'll be better about it next year), but here are a couple pics and a few snip-its about the menu: 

"fiesta" streamers made from dyed
coffee filters

food table (dark, not very pretty picture :/) 

menu: fajitas, grilled veggies,
mexican rice, black bean salad, quesadillas, chips,
salsa, and guacamole

food labels-limes and
bamboo skewers...and "mexican" sangria bar in background.

sangria has oranges, cloves, cinnamon, and other goodies.
next time I think i'll add some brandy.

living room with fiesta banner

peonies and cute margarita straws :) 

my cute host partner :)
...and desserts in the background on the buffet

dessert menu: mexican brownies (picture and recipe below),
no bake oatmeal chocolate PB cookies,
margarita cupcakes, and
"scotcharoos" (rice crispy, butterscotch, chocolate goodness)
and m&ms to go with the fiesta theme! 

mexican brownies 

My very favorite brownies are ghirardelli dark chocolate brownies 

with chocolate chips...from a box. Yep, I said it. They are dang good. 

Trick: cook them 7 minutes less than the minimum cooking time says on the box. 

I use a glass pan usually and the cook time says 

45-50...no sirree, 38 minutes and those babies are perfect! 

My ultimate treat is these dark chocolate brownies with a scoop of Bluebell homemade 

vanilla ice-cream. That was before I had "Mexican-ized" these. 

Mmmmmmm! 

Recipe: add 1 teaspoon cinnamon and 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper to brownie mix. Follow all other instructions like normal. Try it, try it! So good and "fancy" in a split second.

Enjoy! 

 

my favorite way to eat corn...thanks, Mom!

What you'll need:

5 ears of corn (with all their clothes on..if you know what i mean. corn clothes=husks)

3 big cloves of garlic

about 2 T olive oil

about 1/2 tablespoon of butter

a little salt

a little pepper

a dash of cayenne pepper

What to do:

-Bring a big pot of water to a boil

-put all 5 ears of corn (husks and all) in the pot of boiling water

-boil for about 3 minutes

-remove from boiling water with tongs and place under cold water

-remove husks and cut corn off the cob

-heat olive oil and butter in skillet

-add garlic and corn

-saute for a couple minutes

-season with salt, pepper, and cayenne

it's crunchy and sweet and ohh so good.

enjoy!

White Wine Sangria

This is one of those recipes that you can change up a lot (like next time, I might use peaches and fresh basil...or watermelon and honeydew..), add or take away some fruit, or make it just like I did.

 I brought some to a friend’s for dinner and served it over good crushed ice (sonic ice to be exact!) with a splash of sparkling water. It was a great night…good friends, perfect Spring weather, sangria, grilled chicken and vegetables, Joy the Baker’s cookies that I can’t stop thinking about à  http://www.joythebaker.com/blog/2011/04/brown-butter-toasted-coconut-chocolate-chip-cookies/

What you need:

-regular sized bottle (750ml) of dry white wine (I used a Pinot Grigio)

-1/2 cup orange liqueur (triple sec or cointreau)

-1.5 cups lemonade

-3 kiwis, cut into thin slices *

-1 large granny smith apple with skin, cored and thinly sliced *

-1.5 cups green seedless grapes, halved *

-1 lemon

-1 lime

-handful of strawberries, thinly sliced*

-handful of blueberries*

-splash of sparkling water or ginger ale, optional

*save some fruit for “garnish”…and by garnish I mean to toss a good amount of fruit on top of your sangria. The wine-infused fruit makes a nice little snack.

What you do:

Slice fruit and put it in a big pitcher. Add wine, triple sec (or cointreau), and lemonade. Let it soak and mingle and get good overnight. Serve over good crushed ice with a splash of sparkling water, and a generous handful of fruit, bring it to a party….or have a party as an excuse to make this.

Do you have a fun Spring/Summer drink you love making? Please share!

some glimpses of Spring...

Dad's famous margaritas!!

Our heat is off. I ran in shorts and a t-shirt all week. I put my winter boots in the closet. We made margs! Thank you, little groundhog, looks like it really is going to be an early Spring. yahoo!!!!

Consider this your birthday and Christmas present for the next...well a long time (jk).  I'm about to share my Dad's margarita recipe.

bad lighting, picture doesn't do it justice, but here she is..in all her glory!

What you need:
spring or summer weather, good company, and good food
and...

1 can minute maid limeade (small) (don't throw limeadae can away, this is what you'll use to measure the other stuff)
1 can tequilla
1/2 can triple sec or cointreau
however much ice you want to make it the consistency you like
margarita salt
limes
a spoonful of grand marnier on top, if you're fancy like my Dad :)

What to do:
Blend it.
Well, first put in limeade, tequilla, triple sec, and ice. Blend.
Rub lime on rim, dip in marg salt, pour deliciousness in your glass, and top with a spoonful of grand marnier.

No margarita mix flavor, just limey tequilla-y goodness.

Enjoy!