Mushroom and White Bean Quinoa

Mushroom lovers rejoice! This is awesome! Makes a great lunch, side dish served with chicken or beef, or main dish served with some bread with melted cheese!

1 cup Quinoa
3 cups Chicken or Beef Stock (or substitute water or veggie stock to make it vegetarian)
1 can White Beans, drained and rinsed
8 oz sliced Mushrooms, sliced (about 15 mushrooms of your favorite kind. I like white button.)
1 teaspoon fresh Rosemary, finely chopped
1 clove Garlic, finely chopped
1 tablespoon butter and extra virgin olive oil
salt and pepper to taste

In small sauce pan cook 1 cup Quinoa in 3 cups of liquid (stock or water) according to package directions. In saute pan, saute sliced mushrooms in butter and olive oil for a few minutes on medium/high heat. Add garlic and rosemary and continue to cook mushrooms until slightly browned. Salt and pepper to taste. Add to a serving bowl with white beans and cooked quinoa. Salt and pepper to taste. Serve warm.

Not Your Average Pumpin Seeds!

Sweet & Salty Cinnamon Seeds

2 cup raw Pumpkin Seeds

1-2 teaspoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1/2 teaspoon Salt

1/2 teaspoon Sugar

1/2 teaspoon Cinnamon

Combine all ingredients well in a bowl. Pour onto a cookie sheet. Bake at 325 degrees for 45-60 minutes flipping/stirring seeds once or twice.

Savory Pumpkin Seeds

2 cups raw Pumpkin Seeds

1 tablespoon melted Butter

1/2 teaspoon Garlic Salt

3 teaspoons Worcestershire Sauce

1/4 teaspoon Salt

Sprinkle of fresh ground Pepper

Combine all ingredients well in a bowl. Pour onto a cookie sheet. Bake at 325 degrees for 45-60 minutes, flipping/stirring once or twice.

Grilled Peaches with Honey & Goat Cheese

This is so delicious, and fairly healthy dessert!

You can make as little or as much of this recipe because it's just simple ratio's: 1 peach per person with equal parts honey and Goat Cheese.

For 4 people:

4 Peaches, cut in half and pit removed
4 tablespoons honey
4 tablespoons Goat Cheese

Grill peaches flesh side down 5-7 minutes on medium heat. Mix honey and goat cheese. (This recipe makes a thick syrup like consistency but you can do more or less of either ingredient to your own taste.) Remove fruit from grill and top with 1/2 tablespoon honey, goat cheese mixture on each half of a peach. Serve warm.

So, yummy and you get a peach cobbler taste without all the fat!

Roasted Veggies and Quinoa

Roasted Veggies + Quinoa = Delicious and super healthy side dish!

We love it with Lemon Pepper Fish from the grill. Recipe here!

Brian licking every bite of this yummy dinner from his plate!

1 cup Quinoa

2 1/2 cups Water

1/2 cup Tomato Sauce

2 Zucchini sliced

1/2 med. size Onion, chopped (or any other mixture of veggies that you like)

Olive Oil

Salt and Pepper

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Put a pot on the stove to boil water and tomato sauce. Cut up veggies into like sized pieces and arrange a single layer on baking sheet. (As seen in picture above). Drizzle with olive oil, and liberally season with salt and pepper. Roast for 10-15 minutes. When water/tomato sauce is to a boil add some salt and the Quinoa. Reduce to medium heat and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Toss roasted veggies and quinoa in serving bowl. Serve warm or cold.

Lemon Pepper Marinade

Lemon pepper is definitely not a new concept for grilling, but try this real marinade instead of just the stuff in the jar:

For 2 servings--approx. 8 ounces

Adapted from Rachel Ray's Lemon Pepper and Herb Chicken

Zest of 1 Lemon

1 tablespoon Pepper

1/2 teaspoon Salt

1/4 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Put all ingredients in a plastic food storage bag with chicken or fish. Marinate for 15 minutes, or up to 3 hours in fridge, turning occasionally to season all sides.

We tried it with Mahi Mahi on the grill today and it was so delicious!