banana quinoa salad

a re-creation of tuesday night's dinner with banana. yes, banana. it was delightful. "surprisingly delightful", says john.

served with a side of baked kale chips. tasty, but i like kale this way much better.

mango quinoa salad

this meal was so delicious i made obnoxious sounds the whole time i ate like What About Bob?. i got the quinoa recipe from Donna during the vegetarian retreat and decided to add mango and stuff it in baked portobello mushrooms.


of course we had to have a side of tater tots. the side of squash was a last minute idea - i baked the butternut squash being used for soup tomorrow with the mushrooms and tots in an effort to save electricity. when i smelled its goodness while i was plating the other heavenly items i decided to sneak a little taste tonight with earth balance (vegan butter), brown sugar and cinnamon.

here is donna's recipe for the quinoa salad. you can thank us later. =)

Mango Quinoa Salad

serves 4

1 C quinoa
1 small cucumber or 1/3 slice regular size - finely diced
kernels from 1 ear of fresh corn
1 1/2 wide sliced of red pepper - finely diced
2 leaves of basil finely chopped
1 sprig of mint - leaves finely chopped
1 T finely chopped cilantro
2 t lightly toasted sesame seeds

marinade:
2 T coconut oil - if thick then heat and melt
1/4 t toasted sesame oil
1 t raw organic agave
1/2" piece of ginger (or more), grated
3 T shoyu or tamari

directions:
cook quinoa with water in a 1:2 ratio (1 C quinoa, 2 C water). bring to a boil, cover and simmer 15 minutes. while quinoa is cooking, mix the marinade, then chop ingredients. (or get someone to chop the ingredients for you while you mix the marinade like i was lucky to have tonight). allow quinoa to cool slightly. add veggies, marinade, mix lightly, and enjoy!

john was proud and wanted to take a picture of his beautiful chopping. now he understands why i make him wait while i digitally capture my meal memories. :P

*kelli's variations:
i used a bit more red pepper, left out the basil, and added one chopped mango. (i learned an interesting way to cut a mango watching this video.) i did not have sesame oil and i added a lot more ginger to the marinade since i love it so much. the ginger/coconut oil/shoyu combination really make this dish. plus the sweetness of the agave and mango! yum!

oatmeal facial

today i was inspired by hippie mom at the raw journal to treat myself to a facial and post a funny pic with the goo on my face.

(the turquoise background is the chill room we painted recently.
me likey.)

~*~

Facial Ingredients (found here):

• 2 tablespoons oatmeal

• 2 tablespoons brown sugar

• 2 tablespoons commercial pure aloe vera or aloe vera gel from a plant

• 1 teaspoon lemon juice

Directions:

1. Add all ingredients to a food processor and blend until creamy.

2. Store in a covered jar in the refrigerator for up to three days.

Instructions for use:

1. Wet your face with water.

2. Apply scrub to your face with a gentle circular motion. Take care not to tug the skin, and avoid the eye area.

3. Rinse with warm water followed by a quick cold-water rinse.

4. Cleanse your face with your normal cleanser.

i left the mixture on my face, neck, and rough spots for about 20 minutes, then rinsed it off in a nice steamy shower. my skin was left looking radiant and feeling oh so smooth. as john says, my cheeks are extra buttery. :P

i also gave myself a pedi and painted my toenails bright peach with one white flower in protest of the fall season. ( would have posted a pic but my feet are shy =)

i am not ready to say goodbye to summer just yet...are you?

more yumminess and a houseguest

fried red tomatoes sandwich with lettuce, mung sprouts and vegenaise

nutty stir-fry with barley

~*~

this is nellie grace.

miss nellie is a 2 year-old pomeranian staying with us for the week while her mommy (my cousin kate) is away. i'm learning she likes to play ball, take walks, sniff, and snuggle. she does not enjoy steps or loud noises.

nellie also thinks it's too chilly today.