Mexican Quinoa

I was browsing Pinterest the other day looking for quinoa recipes and I came across this one.  We love a good taco night around here and I'm so sick of boring rice and beans as a side.  And to be honest I don't even really like rice.  I was so excited when I found this.  It turned out to be easy and delicious. Win-win!

Here's what you need:

• 1 tbs olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 1/4 cups low sodium chicken broth
• 1 cup uncooked quinoa
• 1 can diced tomatoes and green chilis (14.5 oz)
• 1 can black beans (15.5 oz)
• 1 can whole corn kernels (15.5 oz)
• 1/2 tsp cumin
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 cup fresh cilantro
• grated cheddar cheese and sour cream (for topping)

WARNING: This makes a lot.  It doesn't look like it when you start but the quinoa gets huge. Could easily serve 6 people.

Here's what you do:

1. In a large sauce pan heat the olive oil over medium/high heat and add garlic.  Just saute until fragrant.  Less than a minute.
2. Add the rest of the ingredients (minus the cilantro and the toppings) and bring to a boil.
3. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 20-25 minutes.
4. Stir in cilantro just before serving and add toppings.

It's A Boy: A Shower For Shann

It’s A Boy!

We got in just under the wire here.  Little Patrick decided to make an early debut about 3 days later :)

Target diapers make the best diaper cakes.  Those polka dots are just too cute!

I wanted to do two large balloons with tassels but those tassels, although cute, can be really time consuming.  I can't help it though, I just love a giant balloon with a tassel string.  Blame Pinterest I guess. 

All the decorations were made by me.  I purchased the design from the Etsy shop called Haute Chocolate Favors.  The designer had a pink and blue girl whale theme and I had her do a custom package for me.  She sent the files over and I printed and put it all together.  

I made sparkling lemonade punch.  Just lemonade, club soda, lemon slices, blueberries, and ice.  Easy and refreshing.

The "salad party" has become the go-to with my girl friends.  Any time we have a party each girl makes a different salad and brings it.  It makes the food really easy and when it's all women (who eat like birds) it works perfectly.  WARNING: I would never serve this to a bunch of guys :)

My favors were small bags of candies.  I found Hershey kisses with "It's A Boy" strings which I thought were really cute.

A fun little diaper activity.  The guests write funny or inspirational messages on diapers to be reserved for late night diaper changes.  It's supposed to be a little something to get you through those incredibly tough/exhausting times in the beginning.

Blake's Grammie and Patrick's Grandma-to-be.

Making new friends :)

Niki, getting Blake down for a nap.  Thanks again for that one!!

The glowing momma-to-be opening her gifts :)

My daughter is 5 months and I still haven't gotten my hair done.  This is officially disgusting.  It has been over a year now.  This is first on my list if I ever get any "me" time and/or some money :)  But aren't her glasses adorable?

The whole crew

Nursery 2

 The shelves for Blake's library are spice racks from Ikea that I spray painted white.

Baked Oatmeal

I got this recipe by mixing together a few different Pinterest pins J

• 2 cups old fashioned oats
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• chopped strawberries
• blueberries
• 1 large egg (lightly beaten)
• 3 tbs. butter (melted)
• 2 cups milk
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract

Preheat Oven to 375˚ and spray a 9x9 baking dish with cooking spray. Mix dry ingredients and fruit in a large bowl. Save some of the fruit to put on top. In a small bowl, mix together wet ingredients.

Put dry mixture into the baking dish and arrange the remaining fruit on top. Pour wet mixture over the top and gently shake the baking dish so that milk mixture settles into the oats.

Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until the top is golden brown.  Add a sprinkle of brown sugar and put under the broiler for 1 minute.

Vanilla Extract

I love handmade gifts.  I think they are so much more special than something purchased at Target (not that I don't love Target).  This year I made homemade pure vanilla extract.  The most important part is the beans.  I got the beans on Amazon and opted for the Madagascar Bourbon variety.  There are tons of different types of vanilla but these were the most recommended online.  Good quality is very important and they can be expensive so shop around.

I got the jars at Save-On-Crafts.  The recipe is 3 vanilla beans (split down the middle but leave attached at one end) for every 8oz of vodka.  So just stick the beans in the jar with the vodka and keep in a cool dark place, like your pantry, for 2-3 months.  

I did these for Christmas this year but I made a few extra to keep around for hostess or housewarming gifts. It seems like I have been needing a lot of those lately.