quinoa goodness

My friend gave me this fabulous recipe, and after having a bag of quinoa from costco that I've been needing to use up, it was the perfect find.
It has few ingredients but a hearty taste.
I added tomatoes and avocados-love this.

Ingredients:

1 teaspoon vegetable oil
1 onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped
3/4 cup uncooked quinoa
1 1/2 cups vegetable broth
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
salt and pepper to taste
1 cup frozen corn kernels
2 (15 ounce) cans black beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Directions:

Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the onion and garlic, and saute until lightly browned.
Mix quinoa into the saucepan and cover with vegetable broth. Season with cumin, cayenne pepper, salt, and pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 20 minutes,
Stir frozen corn into the saucepan, and continue to simmer about 5 minutes until heated through. Mix in the black beans and cilantro.

valentiney banner

was looking for something valentine-y to hang up on my wall, but not so traditional.
found this fun idea here.
used up some scraps of fabric and they are all a little crazy in size and shape but i love it.

here are a few more fun links for valentines day:

http://www.themodernmarigold.com/
this is my sister-in-law and this lady has creativity down.
love her style.

www.armommy.com
this lady + her mom make some amazing crafts.
and most of them are kid friendly to boot.
here is a link for some free love notes to print!
http://www.armommy.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/love-notes.pdf

smoothie party on the deck

january 10, 2011 temperature in minne: 22 F
january 10, 2012 temperature in minne: 50F

that calls for a smoothie party on the deck!
the girls and i have been experimenting with spinach lately.
we mixed up spinach, apples, yogurt, carrots, and mango.
deliciouso!
zoe was working with a straw for a bit, then decided that it wasn't enough and put all fingers in.
notice that brynn has only tights on.
we are loving this weather and wishing it would stay!

cheers to heroes of utah

one night last week while browsing the news i found a story about a car that had flipped over in a river. intrigued i opened the link, and found out that not only was it in utah, but it was in logan canyon; ten miles from where i grew up.

i read the story, about the car who went down a ten foot embankment and then flipped over in the river. about the father who escaped the car, and the three children left inside the car. about the people who jumped in the river to flip the car. about the man who shot the window out and cut the seat belts to get the children out. and how everyone cheered when the last child was breathing.

after i read this story i was just grateful for the happy outcome of it, and that people do amazing acts each day. thanks to fast acting people this family is alive.

the next morning evan sent me a link from cnn which had my brother phil quoted in it. that was pretty cool, and then yesterday i learned that phil and the other heroes of this story and the family would be on the ellen degeneres show.

here is the link: check it out.

http://ellen.warnerbros.com/2012/01/the_amazing_rescue_from_the_utah_river_0110.php

cheers to the heroes that helped this family out! and cheers to people that do acts of service like this each day!