Easter Eats

Monday, Monday, let me count the ways I loathe you... I can never decide if Sunday or Monday is worse. Sunday-anticipating monday OR Monday- When your alarm seems to go off WAY too early with a bajillion things waiting for you to do. Either way, here we are back to the grind.

I had a wonderfully (way too short) Easter yesterday. Wish that I had an extra day off, but it is nearing a close and I have survived yet again. My aunt hosted a lovely dinner with so many great dishes. The spread included lambchops, ham, cauliflower au gratin, orzo salad, sauteed green beans & broccoli, peas & mushrooms, and my dish of a quinoa salad. I found the recipe on The Kitchn, and originally was recipe for Passover, but has now made it's way to Easter! It was slightly sweet, and had lots of great textures. The colors and flavors could also be good for Thanksgiving, and was a delightfully delicious, nutritious side dish. You could even make this an entree, since quinoa is full of protein and fiber. I would just add some more veggies, and either meat or some beans for extra "fill" factor.

Easter Quinoa Salad
serves 8 as a side
adapted from The Kitchn


1 cup quinoa, uncooked
1 medium sweet potato, peeled and cubed
1 1/2 T olive oil
1/2 cup sliced almonds
3 T apple cider vinegar
2 teaspoons honey
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
heaping 1/2 tsp ground cumin
heaping 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 cup dried cranberries
3 green onions, chopped


Start by adding 2 cups of water and quinoa to a medium pan and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer for 15 minutes, or until all the water is absorbed. Let it sit covered for at least 1 hour.

In the meantime, preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Add the cubed sweet potato to a sheet pan and drizzle lightly with oil. I just used cooking spray since I ran out of oil, and it worked just fine. Roast in the oven for about 25 minutes, or until the sweet potato is fork tender.

While the sweet potato is in the oven, toast the almonds in a dry pan over medium heat for about 3 minutes. Toss them occasionally so they don't burn. You can tell when they are done when they are slightly browned and you begin to smell them. Or do as I do and give them a taste!

Next, comes the dressing. Combine the oil, honey, vinegar, salt, pepper, cumin, and cinnamon in a small bowl. Whisk to combine and set aside. Chop the green onion, and set aside as well.

When the sweet potato is done, add it as well as the quinoa, dressing, almonds, cranberries, and half the green onions in a large bowl. Stir until everything is combined. Garnish with the remaining green onions and serve.

I really enjoyed this recipe as well as many of the guests at the party. I will definitely make it again. If you can;t find quinoa in your grocery store, couscous, brown rice, or orzo would also work.





What did you have for Easter?

Sa-weet Mornin'!

"There is no snooze button on a cat who wants breakfast."  Found that quote this morning, and thought it was appropriate for this post. Cat or human, I like to start my morning with a great breakfast. It's the first thing you eat after an 8 hour fast, so why should it be either nothing, or nothing special? This is why I always start my day off with a mug of green tea, and a filling plate of goodness.


While it is about 90% humidity on this Summer morning, my incessant obsession with the autumn months has come full swing for this meal. I had half a sweet potato left over from dinner last night, and the rest was history... Really, it came to me before going to bed. Call me obsessed, but I always plan my breakfast before my head hits the pillow. Left over dinner = A+ breakfast. And so the Sweet 'Tater Pie Oatmeal was born. If you've never had Sweet Potato Pie, it's pretty much Pumpkin Pie with (drumroll please!)...Sweet Potatoes! So if you're a fan, and pumpkin pie filling is not abundant in your grocery store, I suggest trying!
Anyway, here is my recipe for a sweet and satisfying oatmeal for those autumn obsessed like myself.

Sweet 'Tater Pie Oatmeal
1/2 cup rolled oats
1 cup water
1/2 sweet potato (about 1/2 a cup mashed)
2 Tablespoons Soy (or your choice) milk
1/2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
1 heaping teaspoon Cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon Ground Ginger
1/4 teaspoon Ground Nutmeg
pinch allspice
pinch ground clove
chopped nuts (optional)
maple syrup (optional)


Equipment:
Measuring Cups
Measuring Spoons
Serving Bowl
Small mixing bowl
Utensils


First off, if you know how to make oatmeal from rolled oats, this is the first step. Most containers come with directions as well, but if not, simply combine oats and water in a bowl and microwave for about 3 minutes. I use a wide mouthed bowl since the oatmeal tends to overflow if you don't. If you prefer stovetop preparation, bring water to a boil, add oats, and reduce to simmer for about 5 minutes or until all water is absorbed.

While the oatmeal was cooking, I chopped up some almonds to sprinkle on the top of my oatmeal. Fee free to use any nut you have available, or none. I just like the extra crunch it gives the oatmeal, and mimics a crunchy pie crust. (ok, a little bit of a stretch, but delicious none- the- less.) 

I still had some time left on the oatmeal, so I combined my sweet potato, milk, and spices in a mixing bowl and mashed with a fork until it was all combined. I included vanilla in the recipe, but neglected to include it in my actual preparation, but I know it would be a delicious addition, so add your vanilla here as well. 

When the oats were done, I simply combined them with the sweet potato mixture until all were happily mingled. Then I topped it off with my chopped nuts, a little more cinnamon and soy milk, and a drizzle of maple syrup. 

Let me just say the smell of this oatmeal will make you think that Halloween is next week, and Apple season is in full swing. It's the dead of Summer, but I would make this again in a heartbeat. I would say the maple syrup makes this dish, adding just the right amount of sweetness. If you would like, a sprinkle of brown sugar would also make this oatmeal even more like the autumn pie. It's really like eating pie filling (which is my favorite part!). Anyway, this was a delicious way to start off this humid morning, and has inspired my to try using oats when it comes to making pumpkin pie this Fall. That post will have to wait, but enjoy this as much as I did, and you won't even miss the pie!

What's your favorite way to start the morning? I routinely sip on green tea while I check my email.