What's for Dinner: Quinoa

Hi Darlings!

As promised, here is the recipe for the quinoa I so raved about in my last post.  This is one of my new favorites to make because it's just the perfect amount of spice and it's very filling, but healthy at the same time.

I absolutely adore cooking and experimenting with different kinds of food and recipes to make them my own, so it's pretty rare that I measure - especially with seasonings.  I definitely don't make it a science.  If you decide to try this one out you will find that you don't need to be a master chef to master this one.  It's easy and oh so delicious!  

What you need:

- 1 tbsp. of olive oil 

- 1 small onion

- 1 red pepper (optional)

- 3/4 cup of white quinoa (rinse first)

- 1 1/2 cups of chicken or vegetable broth

- Salt

- Pepper

- Cayenne Pepper

- Cumin

- 1 can of black beans

-3/4 cup of corn (I used frozen)

- Handful of cilantro

- 3/4 cup of medium salsa (optional or in place of cilantro)

Directions:

1.  Saute 1 small onion in olive oil until translucent. Add a red pepper if you desire.

2.  Add 3/4 cup of rinsed quinoa and 1 1/2 cups of your broth.

3.  Add seasonings - salt, pepper, cumin and cayenne pepper - I don't measure, but add enough to flavor    sufficiently.  I am very generous with the cumin.

4.  Bring to a boil then cover, reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes

5.  Add black beans (rinse first), corn, and cilantro and heat through.  If you don't have cilantro you can add salsa instead.  I add salsa in addition to the cilantro as I like a little spice.

  

6.Taste and see if more seasoning is needed and buddaboom you are finished...now see how easy that was!!  Enjoy:)

There you have it!  Happy cooking and see you later on tonight with my regularly scheduled post:)

Love bunches, 

In the Mood

Monday, monday...it's just one of those blah kind of days, but I decided to dip my feet in the water in search of a little spice and try out my little sis's quinoa recipe.  When I was at my parent's house this past weekend, she made it one night and I simply could not stop myself...pretty sure I had four helpings, maybe more, but who's counting?  Certainly not me!  Good thing it's healthy...and did I mention it's delightfully scrumptious-dilly-umtious too!  

That's all for now darling dears.  I'll be posting the recipe in case your curious, or perhaps you have one of your own.  Either way, this one won't disappoint.  

Lately I've been in the mood for some Glenn Miller and Twizzlers Cherry Nibs.  

I'm very random like that:)

Have yourself a sweet week!

Love bunches, 

Just Me and Keane

Outfit Details: Dress: UO//Blouse: Modcloth (gift from hubby)//Hat & Cardi: Target//Shoes: Seychelles

Happy weekend Darlings!
Today finds me out of town again...this time in my hometown to celebrate my little sis's birthday.
I'm oh so busy and things seem to move at a fast pace lately...I guess this is what living out of a suitcase does to you.  These photos were snapped last week on an afternoon spent out and about running around and my little guy Keane tagged along.  Afternoons with him are the most fun.  Can I just tell you how much he has my heart?  Cold and dreary, windy days are the worst in my book...but lots of color and this little dude always make the day a whole lot brighter.

Wishing you a bright weekend.  Any exciting plans on your horizon?
Hope to catch up with you loverly darlings very soon!

Love Bunches, 

Wonderland Woods

Outfit Details: Dress: Darling via Asos (Gift from Hubby)//Hat: Handmade by friend//Sweater: Thrifted//Neck Bow: Taken from another dress//Shoes: Jeffrey Campbell

Why hello there darlings,
It's February 2nd...hooray!!!  I would have been typing this on February 1st, but those darn sniffles had me on the couch all day, though that's besides the point.  It's now the month of love (please don't gag) and I am ever so delighted because that means January is finito and I made it through in one piece not frozen into a solid block of ice.   Guess I'm being a little dramatic here.  If I've learned one thing about living in the mountains...it's to appreciate the snow.  I can't deny, it's pretty darn beautiful.  These photos were taking just at the end of the road on which I live.

I do have some fun little things up my sleeves this month, but right now I must be off as the confections call me.  Lots of cupcake baking in order for my sister's birthday this weekend.

Tootaloo for now!!
Love bunches,

City Tavern and Macarons

Outfit Details: Dress: The Attic People Vintage//Cardi: Thrifted//Hat: Target//Brooch: Antique Marketplace//Bag: Vintage//Shoes: Modcloth

This was my Saturday...

There was lunch in Old City, Philadelphia at the City Tavern celebrating my mom's and mother in law's birthdays' with the whole family.  The traditional colonial-american food and the historic atmosphere made for one charming and delicious little meal.  Cornmeal oysters, braised duck with honey and barley, and white chocolate and orange bread pudding were what I feasted on...nom, nom, nom.  Typing this makes me want to go back for 2nd dibs, it was just that fantabulous.  Can you tell, food makes me very excited!

Later on Albert and I headed off to center city to meet up with Chaucee of Streets and Stripes.  Can I just tell you how much I love that gal!   We chatted on over coffee and french macarons at Miel Patisserie and I walked away feeling inspired.  Oh by the way, her blog rocks and her photography is gorgeous.  Shameless plug...hehe, you should check it out:)  It was a sweet end to a sweet day.  Cheers to good conversation and new friendships.

That's all for now darlings.  If my update seems a little sterile in the writing department, it's b/c I caught a little bug in my throat and am under the weather.  Thank goodness for tea and honey and plenty of zinc.

Happy Monday and Love Bunches,

Starburst Winter

Outfit Details: Sweater, purse & headscarf: Grandmother's//Shoes & Tights: UO

Happy weekend dearest darlings!
Seems to me it has been snowing on and off here where I live in the mountains and well, as much as I hate 5 degree weather, I do love how wintery wonderland everything is looking in these parts.  Dresses are just not an option on days like this, so this is my uniform on a casual day in colder than cold weather.

I was most thrilled to come across my grandmother's sweater one day when I was packing up her old things for Goodwill before we moved from her house.  When I saw this sweater, I knew I could never part with it and since it just so happened to fit me, it became mine for the keeping.

That's about all for now.  I'm Philly bound again this weekend to celebrate both my mom's and mother in law's birthdays together.  It shall be fun.  Wishing you a swell weekend too!

Love bunches,

Guest Blogger: My Modern Vintage

Hi everyone! I’m Ilana and I write the blog My ModernVintage. I started blogging in December 2010 and haven’t looked back since. I live in Brisbane which is along the south east coast of Australia. I only stay here for my family and hope to move somewhere colder someday.

I am studying journalism and really hope to find a job in this industry soon even if it means I have to move! Hmmm maybe I can move to the US??? The thrift shops seem so amazing there!

I love vintage and turning old things into new hence my blog name. I also make steampunk jewellery which you can see at my Etsy shop.  I love to look unique and try not to follow the crowd too often. I found Marisa’s blog recently through another blog and it was blog-love at first sight. She has amazing personal taste and is incredibly kind to let me guest post on her lovely blog.

Thanks for taking the time to read this and I do hope you will pop on over to say hi to me sometime!

XX Ilana

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Thanks so much to sweet Ilana for taking over the reins today while I am out of town the rest of this week in work meetings with my husband and also celebrating our mothers' birthdays.  Wishing the rest of you darlings a splendiferous weekend!  Though I am tied up at the moment, I hope to catch up with all you very soon:)

Love Bunches,

The Beginning...

If you're curious as a cat, come follow me on over to A Little Slice of Special today where I'm getting all kinds of nostalgic and guest blogging about why this lil ol blog got started.

Perhaps I'll see you there:)
Love Bunches,

Ramblings of Nature and The Bradys.

Outfit Details: Dress: Vintage//Cardi: Thrifted//Hair bow: Miss Selfridge//Shoes: UO

Happy Monday!

It's really kind of nice that Monday is here and finally I feel like I can relax....funny as that is not typical of a Monday.  However I have been the busiest bee all weekend long cooking, entertaining, baking up a storm, meeting with friends and for an introvert like me, it can all be a little tiring though I completely love it to pieces these days as we have met some of the most beautiful hearted people here in our new town.  

Speaking of our new home...these photos are from the lake/beach area in our neighborhood.  The grandeur of nature here has me feeling completely blessed.  There's a calming serenity in the air and beauty for miles.  What more can I say?  Guess I'm in love with the mountains.

 As for me, well I scored this little vintage dress a few weekends ago in Philly and fell completely head over heels for the print as it reminded me of something from The Brady Bunch.  Remember the wallpaper in Marsha, Jan, and Cindy's bedroom?  Haha.  I never said I was cool.  I will shamelessly admit that The Brady Bunch was my favorite show growing up and that I had the biggest crush on Greg Brady.  Just for the record...it was the reruns I was watching.  I am no where near that old:)

Have a groovy week darlings!  (hehe)

Love bunches,