Quinoa Salad

Have you heard of this little grain? It's called Quinoa; pronounced keen-wah. I've known about it for years and have been cooking with it for a while now. It is super healthy and it by itself contains 14 grams of protein! This salad was a cool, refreshing dinner on a hot summer day, and very easy to make. I added a cucumber and some edamame and omitted the vile weed called cilantro. I hope you will try it.

Kenna helped me make the salad and took a huge serving for herself! All the kids loved it!

Yum!

Quinoa Salad

1/2 cup uncooked Quinoa
1 cup water or broth
1 cup diced red peppers
1 cup frozen corn, partially cooked
1/2 cup chopped red onion
1 cucumber
1 cup cooked edamame seeds
1/2 cup chopped cilantro (optional)
juice and zest of one lime
1/4 tsp. cumin
3 Tbsp. olive oil
salt & pepper to taste

Rinse quinoa well under water.  Add quinoa to 1 cup water or broth and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 15-20 min. or until tender.  Chill in the refrigerator.  Add peppers, corn and cilantro.  Whisk lime juice, zest, cumin and oil and pour over the top.  Mix.

Super YUM! Try these, you must!

I have been wanting to try these for a while! A dear, dear friend told me about this blog.

There are so many yummy, yummy recipes that I've been wanting to try. Like this one, or this one.

There are a few that I have tried like this one (dipped in white chocolate). THIS ONE is the bomb!

So, I was very excited to try these:

Baked Sweet Potato Fries

1 large sweet potato

Olive Oil cooking spray

Salt

Pepper

Fresh Rosemary

1. Peel the sweet potato and cut it into strips…to look like fries! Try to make them all the same size so they cook evenly.

2. Spray a baking sheet and put the potato fries on the sheet, spaced out.

3. Spray the fries lightly with the cooking spray.

4. Sprinkle with seasonings…salt, pepper, and fresh rosemary. Or use whatever spices you like.

5. Roast in a 400 degree oven for 30-40 minutes. Make sure you turn the fries every ten minutes or so.

6. Let them cool briefly and dig in!

My Valentines Day present!!!!!

I GOT A BOSCH MIXER FOR VALENTINE'S DAY!!!

Many of you out there may not think that this would be a good Valentine's Day present. You may be saying, "A mixer? How could her husband get her a mixer for Valentines?" Well, let me just tell you, I WAS THRILLED!!!! I've had my own wheat grinder for a few years now and I've loved having it. I've been able to make a lot of things with it, but not much bread. You see, most the bread recipes I've inherited or been passed along don't just make 1 or 2 loaves. They make 5 or 6 loaves! I only have beaters, people. I have a hand mixer. That's it. There is no way I was going to try those recipes by hand. You may ask, "Well, why not try to scale down the recipe to make 1 or 2 loaves?" I've tried that too, and once you start getting into fractions and decimals with measuring cups, it just doesn't work. I've had a few attempts at this and the outcome was not desirable.....

So, I've been wanting some type of mixer for a while....but since we've been feverishly working on getting out of debt we could not justify the expense.

I had to wait.

Well, the waiting was worth it!!!! Here is my new beauty of a mixer:



Yesterday I made bread! I made 5 loaves of 100% whole wheat bread. I ground the wheat in my own wheat grinder and I mixed it all up in my new Bosch! I made it and it turned out so good! I was so excited! I think I was smiling all day!

Here is the recipe I used. It's from a good friend, Sandy who shard her bread making talents and an enrichment night during the summer.

2/3 Cup vegetable oil
1 Tbsp. salt
3 T. instant yeast
2/3 cup honey
6 cups hot water
6 cups whole wheat flour to start, plus approx. 8 cups

Mix oil, honey, salt and water. Add 6 cups flour. Mix, then add yeast. Mix in rest of flour, one cup at a time until the desired consistency. Use kneader attachment and knead for 6 minutes, or knead by hand for about 10-12 minutes. (I just let my dough mix around in my Bosch for about 8 minutes). Let rise until double. Punch down. Let rest for 1 minute, Shape and put into pans. Bake for 10 minutes at 400*. Lower temp to 325 for 20 minutes. Remove from pans and cool on racks.

**My favorite loaf that I made yesterday was a variation that Sandy suggested at her class. I rolled the bread dough out, spread a little olive oil across the surface of the dough. I then added dried rosemary, garlic and basil. Then you roll up the loaf and bake it just like normal. It turned out SO YUMMY!!!! Seriously, it tasted like a loaf from Great Harvest. SUPER, super good!!!

Green Tomatoes

Ever wonder what to do with green tomatoes from your garden? Well, I have the solution for you....I have a few solutions for you. These have been tried and they seriously are so good.

So good, that they have already been eaten and are gone.

I have no pictures for your viewing pleasure. Sorry.

But, here are the recipes. First,

Delicious Green Tomato Bread

3 eggs
1 C. oil
2 C. sugar
2 C. Green Tomato Puree (small amount of water if needed)
1 T Vanilla
3 C. Flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 C. chopped walnuts (optional)- I didn't add
1 C. raisins (optional)- I did add

Mix eggs, oil, and sugar. Add green tomato puree and vanilla. Sift dry ingredients together and add to other ingredients. Add nuts and /or raisins if desired. Grease and Flour two 9x5 loaf pans. Divide batter evenly and pour into pans. Bake at 350° for 45-60 minutes.

This makes a very pleasant sweet bread that has a mild citrus-like "tang" to it. We especially liked it topped with our raspberry/peach jam. Great way to use those green tomatoes!!! No, the loaf doesn't end up green...it's a lovely golden yellow. Two spoons way up!

Fried Green Tomatoes

1 lb green tomatoes (4 medium)
3 Tbs flour
3 Tbs grated Parmesan cheese
1 Tbs sugar *
2 tsp (or so) salt
1/8 tsp pepper
1 egg
2 Tbs water
1 1/4 cups bread crumbs
*If less tart tomato flavor is desired, sprinkle slices lightly with a little extra sugar.

Combine flour, cheese, sugar, salt and pepper, set aside. Beat egg and water, set aside. Cut tomatoes in 1/4 inch slices. Dip green tomato slice in flour mixture to coat both sides. Dip in egg, then into bread crumbs to coat thoroughly. Allow slices to dry slightly while heating enough oil to cover bottom of frying pan. Fry until browned, turning once.

Not the healthiest of treats, but SO GOOD!! You have to have these at least once a season!

Let me know if you try these. Trust me on the bread! It's worth it!