Well life has gotten busy unfortunately =) 

I did, however, go through a bread baking frenzy about a week ago and I'm happy to share the results with you.

I am a big fan of chewy, grainy, healthy breads, and this recipe does just the trick. The prep was a little timely because my black thai rice needed cooked, the pumpkin seeds needed toasted, and the wheat germ needed heat as well. After the preparation though, it was really very simple (thanks to my mom's bread machine) =) Well here are a couple pictures and a link to the recipe. Enjoy!

Delicious Forbidden Seed Bread

It has been a little while since I have updated (school and other exciting things have been taking up most of my time). A little less than two weeks ago my boyfriend Nathan proposed and I was happy to accept! =) Since then I haven't made much time for being in the kitchen. I was, however, able to try one of the many burger recipes I have acquired these past months last Friday afternoon. I made my fiance an interesting lunch - lentil burgers with avocado and yogurt. I found this recipe on 101 cookbooks, which I believe is a treasure chest of delicious and wonderfully healthy recipes. Instead of using the normal hamburger buns with the burgers, the recipe advised making the patties very thick and then cutting them down the middle. Then you can stuff all sorts of good things inside - it is essentially a burger and bun in one!

I was able to stick the leftover patties in the fridge and fry them the next morning for Nathan's lunch box. I once again provided a link to the recipe at the bottom of the page - enjoy!!

( This recipe also gave me an opportunity to use my new food processor which I got from my wonderful friend Rachelle for my birthday.)

 

                          

PS: A delicious variation: Instead of making one thick patty, make two thin ones and use those for the bun. Also when frying the thin patties add lowry salt to each side and fry until very crisp. (Nathan and I both liked this variation better than the original)

                       

                 Nathan and I the night he proposed =)

Lentil Burger Recipe

As I nervously anticipated the national election's results (which to my dismay, did not go well) I decided to try a recipe I saw on a recent DeliciousWisdom post (another one of my favorite blogs). I thought it was intriguing that this lasagna did not only have no meat, but also very little cheese. The many different spices blended together well, and the result was a lasagna that really was more like chili than anything else. I'm happy to say that even my meat-loving boyfriend got second helpings! =) 

 

Chili Lasagna

 Last Friday I had the wonderful opportunity to spend my morning baking some fall goodies =). (Of course this meant my mounds of homework were ignored) I had the inspiration from my good friend Whitney who told be about carving out the pumpkin to use as a bowl for the dip.  

I found the gingerbread cookies off 101 Cookbooks (one of my all time favorite food blogs) I provided the link at the bottom of the page. As far as the pumpkin dip, it was really simple and incredibly good. I hope you enjoy!

     

           

                                           

Gingerbread Cookie Recipe

Pumpkin Dip Recipe

So this is my official first post and I am severely excited to enter the food blogging community =). I am from a family of seven people and cooking a meal for them is challenging at best (I honestly don't know how my mom does it day after day). 

The past couple days I have been experimenting with quinoa - a super grain that is fairly tasty, but a little pricey. I was also able to pick up some fresh ingredients at a fresh produce stand close to where I live. 

(This made me very happy because I much prefer local produce)

Last night I was able to make Quinoa Stuffed Peppers for my family and boyfriend. They turned out very good and accompanied with bright orange baked sweet potatoes, made a wonderfully healthy meal. I decided to post some pictures of this "healthy endeavor" and include a link that will take you to the recipe on the deliciousliving website (a site I would recommend for unique, good-for-you meal plans). I hope you enjoy as much as we did! =)

P.S. If the price of quinoa is an issue substitute brown rice (it will be just as good, if not better!)

P.S.S. I would also recommend eliminating the pine nuts if you are going for a more frugal meal because they are not at all necessary

quinoa after if has soaked up the water

the final product =)

Quinoa Stuffed Peppers Recipe