Tasty Tuesday

So, my friend Melissa wanted to try something this year, Tasty Tuesday, as a way to share recipes that we are trying, family favorites, and our old stand-bys. I love the idea - I'm always looking for new recipes (we do Meat-Free Monday, so I'm definately looking for great vegetarian recipes) and I love to cook, so, I'm jumping on the band-wagon and sharing a recipe every week as well.

Red Bean and Quinoa Chili

Recipe from Feeding the Whole Family by Cynthia Lair. (my new favorite cookbook!!!)

This is a one-dish meal you can make in 45 minutes. Try serving it to guests – they’ll love it!

Ingredients
2 tsp extra virgin olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
2 tsp sea salt
1 large green pepper, chopped
2 tsp cumin
1 tsp dried oregano
1/8 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp cayenne
2/3 cup quinoa, rinsed in warm water and drained
1 cup fresh or frozen corn
1 cup tomato sauce or canned tomatoes
1 cup water
1 15oz can kidney beans, drained

Garnish ingredients (optional)
Chopped cilantro
Low fat or non fat sour cream

Preparation

• Heat oil in skillet on medium heat.
• Add onion, salt, garlic, pepper and spices, saute for 5-10 minutes.
• Add rinsed quinoa and stir in.
• Add corn, tomato sauce or canned tomatoes and water to onion/quinoa mixture. Simmer together for 20 minutes.
• Add beans to other ingredients, simmer another 10 minutes.
• Top with cilantro and/or sour cream, if desired.

This is a great meat-free chili and Duffy didn't even miss the meat. We topped with avocado's and cheese as well.

Ok Ok

Yes, I have been super slow in getting anything posted that has to do with Christmas. I don't really know why, either. I'll post pictures later but I'll at least write about the month of December.

Duffy's parents bought tickets for the Santa Train in North Bend for mid-December. Since it would make for a REALLY long drive over and back in one day for us, we headed over the night before and stay in Issaquah. The girls had a great time (staying in a hotel is a favorite thing to do for them!) swimming in the pool and staying up late watching TV. The next morning we headed to North Bend to do a little shopping before meeting Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle Dennis, Aunt Becky, Zach and Lainey. It started snowing while we were waiting for the train and snowed the entire time. It was really pretty and added to the fun. The big news to all this, is that Zoe, who is mesmerized and terrified of Santa, sat on his lap! It was amazing! After an early dinner, we headed home for the last week of school.

Zoe's class had a pajama party on the last day of school and Zoe ended the week with pink eye - it was super fun trying to prescription, over the phone, on the weekend. We headed down to Montesano to do Christmas with my extended family (fun times and good food) and Christmas with the Moore's. It was really relaxing and really felt like Christmas on the Sunday before. Duffy had the week before Christmas off, so we spent most days being lazy and just enjoying the Christmas season. We had dinner with my parents Christmas eve then celebrated Christmas Day with my parents, Jordan, Bethany and Izabella and my grandparents. It was so laid back and relaxing and I got to sleep in my own bed at night!

Christmas is all put away at our house and we are getting back into the routine of school and work (I'm now working Thursday afternoons at The Good Book). We have been in a cleaning and reorganizing spree as well. We are realizing we don't have all that much time left before we will have to make some serious room changes and move things around - Harper can't sleep in our room forever! We will have to update our computer one of these days (please, don't die yet! I can't afford to replace you yet!) and when we do that, we will probably move things around to make the spare room work better for a sleeping baby!

Speaking of baby, Harper is growing like crazy! She weighs 18 pounds and is 28 inches long. She is rolling over and scooting/crawling! You can't leave her anywhere for too long because she gets into stuff or falls off the bed! She has such a laid back personality and is a really happy baby. She is teething too and I expect to find a little tooth in there any day!

Ok, time to get back to my real life - children and dinner are calling!