Good Eats

So, I immediately thought of Daniel when I saw this recipe for quinoa burgers about a month ago and I knew we needed to make it. What is quinoa you ask? Well, it is actually a grain-like crop related to spinach and beets. It is unique because it is a complete protein, meaning it has all of the essential amino acids needed by the human body. We used red quinoa in this recipe, which was combined with great northern beans, carrots, scallions, egg, breadcrumbs, and a few other things. They could have probably used a little more egg or breadcrumb to hold them together a little better, but they tasted good. A little like falafel, especially when served in a wheat pita with homemade cucumber yogurt sauce and fresh, local tomato slices. Also- roasted up some sweet potatoes, parsnips, yukon potatoes, and red onion that I picked up at the farmers market that evening.


This was probably the cooking highlight of my week. Peach butter and marscapone cheese stuffed french toast. Yum. No recipe on this one. It came to me in a dream. Not really, but I did wake up and decide that the peach butter I purchased friday at the farm would be good with marscapone and french toast. Luckily there is a gourmet market a block away where I got fresh baked whole wheat bread, marscapone and new milk (the kind in the glass bottle- exciting). Made pretty standard french toast with thick slices of the wheat bread, then stuffed it with the mixture of peach butter and marscapone and baked in the oven for about 10 minutes. Then topped off with a little powdered sugar and agave nectar. I really want a bed & breakfast.

Next post: Farmville...... Have a healthy and delicious week!

Why I love my job...

Why my job is cooler than yours. So, I guess that is just my personal opinion, but days like these make me love my job. I think that it is really important to teach food prep skills with nutrition classes. Most adults learn better by doing than by listening to a lecture (studies have shown). Those of us who love cooking take for granted the fact that we know how to cut up a pepper or make a sauce, but cooking and basic food prep seems to be becoming a lost art. I was surprised when I went to college and I had friends who didn't even know how to make kraft mac n'cheese. We need to teach young people how to do basic food preperation. Giving them the confidence to prepare their own tasty, healthy meal is an important step towards reducing the obesity epidemic facing our country.

Confetti Spaghetti (whole wheat pasta, spinach, red pepper, purple cabbage, cauliflower, carrot, italian dressing). Eating the rainbow at its finest.

Pumpkin Pie Pudding- I love making this with kids and adults

MyPyramid Wraps- All of the food groups in one wrap.

Enough of my rant, but I do love that I get paid to cook and teach people to cook. It makes all of the boring days in the office worth it.

What came first?

Let's start off with a little Miss Shirley's brunch. Yum- a great place in Baltimore. Pumpkin Cheesecake Stuffed French Toast. Lauren and I shared this and an omelet- you know a little sweet, a little savory. Good breakfast with good friends.

Last night I was really exhausted from an awesome reunion weekend in Baltimore, but I still love making Sunday dinner. Fish tacos of sorts. Cod coated in cornmeal and pan fried it along with some green peppers and onions. Served with homemade corn tortillas, purple cabbage slaw, tomatoes, salsa, pepperjack cheese and avacado. This photo is actually from tonight- leftovers.

Last week was pretty busy, but I did manage to do a little cooking. I picked up a butternut squash at the farmers market last week so I decided to make some soup. I had tried this once last fall and it was pretty good. No recipe- just in my head. Its pretty easy- squash, vegetable broth, onion, garlic, thyme, nutmeg, touch of milk. Topped off with homemade croutons and pear slices. It actually turned out pretty good. (These pics were taken with my phone so they aren't the best.)

Much more to come....

Foodist

Why do I consider myself a foodist? Well let's start off with my first word- ca ca. Or cracker- meaning all food really. I have always had a passion for all things food- cooking, farmers markets, eating, nutrition, the whole nine yards. And I am even lucky enough to have a career that involves all of these things.

This blog is for sharing my passion with you all as well as my numerous food pictures and cooking adventures. Bon Appetit.