Yummy Eats & Treats

Here are a few recipes on this weeks menu that I thought I would share...

Spinach Strawberry Salad via {yummy life}
You can never go wrong with this salad, it is on of my favorites for summer!

Ingredients

• 6 oz (approx 6 cups) baby spinach leaves
• 1 pint (approx. 16 medium-size) fresh strawberries, hulled and quartered or sliced
• 1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion (for me I don't use onions, just not for me)
• 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
• 3-4 tablespoons raspberry poppy seed dressing* (or a raspberry vinaigrette also at TJ's)
• 1/2 cup candied pecan pieces (Trader Joe's has these)

Directions

In large bowl, toss spinach, strawberries, onion, and cheese with dressing. Sprinkle candy pecan pieces on top just before serving (so they remain crisp).

 

Cheesy Quinoa via {around the table}

This looks delicious and I have been cooking more often with Quinoa. I can't wait to try this recipe. I am sure it will be no Kraft Mac N' Cheese but at least it's healthy for you!

 

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups quinoa, rinsed and drained
• Veggies of your choice (optional)
• good pinch of salt
• a few grinds of seasoning salt
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup soy milk or non-fat milk
• 1 1/2 cups grated Cheddar cheese, more for sprinkling
• Optional- Crushed Red Pepper, Panko Bread crumbs for topping
• Toppings (optional)- salsa, hot sauce, sour cream, scallions

Lightly saute any veggies you would like in the dish
Cook quinoa to packaged instructions until fully cooked. (About 15 minutes)
Preheat oven to 350 F. Coat 13x9 inch dish( or 8 individual ramekins) with cooking spray.Whisk together eggs and milk in large bowl. Fold in quinoa mixture and cheese. Stir very well and let some of the cheese melt.  Transfer to prepared baking dish and if using Panko Crumbs or Bread crumbs add now and bake 30-35 mins, until bread crumbs are browned. 

Baked Artichoke with basil and lemon via {for the love of cooking}

I love artichokes, but have yet to find a great recipe that turns out the way restaurants make them. I am hoping this recipe does itself justice.

• 2 large artichokes
• 1 lemon
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2-3 basil leaves, chopped
• 1-2 tablespoons olive oil
• Sea salt and fresh cracked pepper, to taste
• 1/2 cup, chicken stock or vegetable stock

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. With kitchen scissors, trim all the sharp ends off of each leaf. Wash the artichoke well in cool water. Slice down the center to form two halves. Clean out all the fuzzy hairs and smaller leaves with a spoon then immediately rub all the cut areas with a lemon.

Next combine the olive oil, basil, minced garlic, lemon juice, sea salt and fresh cracked pepper in a bowl. Mix until it becomes a paste. Rub all over the artichoke halves and inside the leaves.

Coat the baking dish with olive oil cooking spray. Place each artichoke half top side down in a baking dish. Pour the chicken stock in the dish and cover with a lid or tin foil. Bake for 45-50 minutes or until soft and tender. Enjoy!

Happy Eating!
Until next time...
{Lynnae}

Congratulations Paul and Happy Birthday!

My friend Yvonne has been working on her son's highschool graduation and 18th birthday for months...letting me help her along the way. The party was the past weekend and it turned out amazing....yvonne found her inner crafter...I knew it was in there!!!

Super Cute Candy Bar and Cake

Food Table with Banner

Scrapbook and Shadow Box Table turned out sooo cute!

Cute Family!

<3 rosette

Happy Father's Day

Wishing all the Father's out there a Happy Father's Day. I feel absolutely lucky to have the best of both worlds today....I have the best Dad who means the world to me and I get to spoil my hubby who is the best Daddy to our little ones. This quote is so true....a hero and a first love! Whether your dad is still around or dancing away in heaven I hope you were able to take the time this weekend to honor their title of Dad, daddy, grandpa or Papa! Happy Father's Day!

Father's Day

Father's Day is in a few days, have you thought about what you are going to get/do/make for the best man to your kiddos or even for your own dad? Here are a few of my favorite ideas I found in the world of Pinterest:

A book All About Dad
Free Download from Eighteen25

These are always so cute for your little ones to fill out.
via {two journey's one life}

This has to be one of the cutest books....All About My Dad from Paper Coterie

I love this quote for a "Papa"
 It's true my Dad brings so much joy to my kids life by being their Papa.

Cute candy jar idea with a free printable via {My Sister's Suitcase} 
Can be for dad or grandpa

I hope that you find the perfect gift or idea for Father's Day. If all else fails, a great big kiss a hug and a day that daddy can relax is the best gift also!

Until next time...
{Lynnae}

Favorite Quotes of the Week

Happy Friday! Just thought I would share some of my favorite quotes this week. Hope everyone has a great weekend.

Gratitude, thankfulness, gratefulness, or appreciation is a feeling, emotion or attitude in acknowledgment of a benefit that one has received or will receive. Some days we all need a little reminder to have Gratitude in all we do.

Happy weekend!
Until next time...
{Lynnae}

Yummy Eats and Treats...

We are starting a new series "Yummy Eats and Treats" due to some "high demand" from some friends to post weekly recipes. I am going to admit, they won't all be recipes that I have made, but they will be recipes that I have either tried from someone else or that someone else has shared with me to post or recipes that one day will make it on "our menu" as my little ones say. Hopefully you get around to making them as well.

The first 2 recipes come from two sweet friends who brought these to work this last week and they were both so yummy I couldn't resist to share the recipes...

Recipe and photo from The Diva Dish

Lemon Quinoa Cilantro Chickpea Salad

Ingredients:

1/2 C. dry quinoa

2 C. vegetable broth

1 can garbanzo beans (drained and rinsed)

1 c. cherry tomatoes cut in half

2 avocados diced

2 C. spinach

1 bunch cilantro

1/4 C. onion

2 small cloves garlic

For the dressing:

Juice of 2 lemons

zest of 1 lemon

2 tsp. dijon mustard

2 tsp. olive oil

1 tsp. agave nectar

1/2 tsp. cumin

dash of salt and pepper

Directions:

1. Make your quinoa first (you can get this at Trader Joe's). Soak the quinoa in a pot in the veggie broth for about 15 minutes. After that, turn on the heat to medium high and let the quinoa come to a boil. Once it boils, reduce heat to medium/low and let quinoa simmer. Stir every so often, and cook quinoa for about 20-25 minutes just until the liquid absorbs. You don’t want it completely dried out, so when there is just a TINY amount of liquid left in the pot, remove it from heat and put a lid on it. Set it aside, and make the rest of the salad until cooled.

2. In a food processor, add your spinach and cilantro and finely dice, set aside in a bowl

3. Finely dice the onion and garlic (can be done in a food processor too), and add to the greens mixture.

4. Add the chickpeas to the mixture and stir until everything is combined and coated.

5. Once the quinoa is cooled, add it to the mixture

5. Make your dressing by whisking all the ingredients together. Pour over salad, and mix until combined. Add in tomatoes and avocado and mix. Set in fridge for about 10-15 minutes before serving so the flavors set.

Tabbouleh via Ina Garten

Ingredients

1 cup bulghur wheat

1 1/2 cups boiling water

1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (2 lemons)

1/4 cup good olive oil

3 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt

1 cup minced scallions, white and green parts (1 bunch)

1 cup chopped fresh mint leaves (1 bunch)

1 cup chopped flat leaf parsley (1 bunch)

1 hothouse cucumber, unpeeled, seeded, and medium-diced

2 cups cherry tomatoes, cut in half

1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Place the bulghur in a large bowl, pour in the boiling water, and add the lemon juice, olive oil, and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt. Stir, then allow to stand at room temperature for about 1 hour.

Add the scallions, mint, parsley, cucumber, tomatoes, 2 teaspoons salt, and the pepper; mix well. Season, to taste, and serve or cover and refrigerate. The flavor will improve if the tabbouleh sits for a few hours.

These were both so delicious and great summer salads and side dishes! Thanks friends for giving me some inspiration on a new series.

Happy cooking!
Until next time...
{Lynnae}

Tea Party by English Rose Teas

Who doesn't love a tea party?!? I am married to a British man and I have the BEST Mother-in-love who hosts tea parties and she does a fabulous job! Everything is made from scratch (no stuff from the "box" here) and it is so delicious! A few weeks ago she hosted a tea party for all her friends and of course I was invited. It was a perfect day, sitting outside, sipping tea, eating lots of goodies and chatting with the girls. It was a day to be a girly girl and relax and my M-in-Love did a wonderful job! If you would like to throw a tea party you can check out her blog here at English Rose Teas.



Isn't she amazing!!! I can't wait to host my next Tea Party, my girlfriends and I always have a blast!

Until next time...

{Lynnae}