Quinoa Mac & Cheese

First of all, I have Shape Magazine to thank for this brainiac idea. In their March issue this year they have a whole section on lightening up hearty meals. I can't wait to try their French Onion Soup and Chicken Pot Pie recipes. Using quinoa instead of pasta in this dish provides you with more nutrients and is a great gluten-free option.

I found myself  thinking about my grocery list one Monday at work (when I didn't have a chance to get to the store that weekend) and I didn't have my magazine with me so I resorted to the internet to find the recipe. Surprisingly, I couldn't find the recipe anywhere on Shape's website! It was the weirdest thing. And I kept thinking, I must be looking in the wrong spot, or using the wrong search term. Who knows. All I know is that I personally could not find it.

So I did the next best thing and resorted to Google. Lucky for me, many people out there have made this dish and have shared their recipe. Thank you Good Clean Fun Eating for an easy to follow and surprisingly delicious Quinoa Mac & Cheese recipe! I say surprisingly because even with homemade mac and cheese, it's sometimes not as cheesy/salty as I'd like. But the cheesy flavor of this dish is spot on.

I followed the recipe as provided here. My only tweak being that I decided to add 1/2 cup of Trader Joe's organic frozen spinach into the mixture when it was time to add the shredded cheese. And next time, I plan on adding 1 full cup. Nothing like adding a few greens to a meal. And already having frozen spinach on hand, why not?

Ok, here is my go at Quinoa Mac & Cheese through pictures.

The necessary ingredients

Whisk together milk, egg, garlic, parmesan, cream cheese, yogurt, salt and pepper

Add mixture to quinoa once cooked (*cooked with skim milk & water), add cheese

Toss in some frozen spinach to be healthy

Pour into casserole dish

Cover with more cheese

Drool over the finished product

Enjoy. :)

With the way our work schedules currently are, I find it a whole lot easier and less stressful if I can prepare a meal ahead of time that J can stick in the over while I'm on my way home from work. The week I decided to make quinoa mac and cheese also happened to be the week of 80 degree heat here in Boston. Not a great combo.... I prepped this on a Wednesday night and put the uncooked casserole in the fridge for the night with plans of having J pop it into the oven Thursday night. 80 degree weather and living on the top floor of our building do not always bode well for us. And there was no way in H E double-hockey-sticks I was running the oven for 40 minutes. 

So in the fridge the casserole stayed until I cooked it up Friday morning while getting ready for work. And it was a perfect lunch to bring to work. And was still delicious when we snacked on it Saturday too. I really can't wait to make this again. I may make it as more of a side dish next time with some BBQ chicken or something similar as the main protein source, we'll see.

Wedding Wednesday

This past weekend, I had the privilege of enjoying a weekend on Martha's Vineyard with friends I've had since elementary school. It was just what I needed. And I made some new friends too! We were there for Michelle's bachelorette party, which you're going to have wait until next week to hear about! Haha, sorry. But before the bachelorette party is the bridal shower. And we must discuss this shower because Michelle's bridesmaids did a fabulous job.

These girls put so many thoughtful touches into Michelle's shower. 

Bridal Bingo, Custom Napkins, Wildflower seed "Let Love Bloom" Favors

 Mason Jar/Floating Candle Centerpieces

Desert Table and "Love is Brewing" coffee prizes for the games

 They asked everyone to bring advice for the bridge & groom to be

 They played the Almost Newleywed Game & it was hilarious! They had great questions planned. In this photo, the MOH had asked Tom what he would change about Michelle and he wrote "Nothing, she's already perfect." Smooth move Tom, smooth move.

 Michelle and her bridesmaids

And lastly, the happy couple

I can't wait for the wedding! Although I still haven't figured out what to wear (as discussed here). Any suggestions?

San Francisco

During the 4+ years my sister lived in San Francisco, I had the opportunity to visit her more than a handful of times. And seeing as Jackie decided to move to 3 different neighborhoods in 4 years, I definitely feel like I was able to see much of the city. Every trip was a little different and I loved everything I was able to experience (well, except for the occasional foggy weather that worked wonders on my hair...).

Some of the places I was able to visit include:

- Alcatraz  - Yosemite  - Tahoe  - Napa  - Sonoma  - Muir Woods  - Salsalito  - Big Basin  - Red Sox v. Oakland A's series in Oakland   - Stanford University - And too many areas within SF to name

(Jackie, did I miss anything??)

Here's a recap of the trip J & I took in June 2010.

J's first view of the Golden Gate Bridge

 A trip to Muir Woods to see the Red Woods

Sonoma!

A view of SF from across the GG Bridge

View from Twin Peaks

Lola enjoying the park!

 

This photo kills me. Haha, poor Adrian.

 A trip to the martini bar, Martuni's (a must every trip)

 Dim Sum in Chinatown

Drinks at the Rogue Brewery

Fisherman's Wharf, Pier 39

Biking to Sausalito

Seven Sisters - Jackie & Adrian lived right near Alamo Square & these Painted Ladies (yes, the Full House houses)

My favorite restaurant in SF is definitely Burma Superstar. It is the only place I've ever gone for Burmese cuisine and let me tell you, it's phenomenal. And if you're looking for a quick, cheap bite to eat, Nick's Crispy Tacos is another fan favorite over here.





And Martuni's is so much fun for martinis, especially if you're in the mood for a piano bar. And who isn't?!





San Francisco certainly has its share of varied weather, but it's not as extreme as the Northeast can have. However, it is not sunny San Diego. That was definitely a harsh reality for me at first, especially visiting in November and May when the weather has already cooled off, or has not warmed up yet. But my trips to SF in June (above) and October were warm, blue skies everyday. I'm glad I had the opportunity to visit the city so often and truly experience what it had to offer.

Planning a trip to San Francisco? I'd be more than happy to recommend a few places, or pass the questions along to my sis!