Mmmmm…mmmmmm….mmmmm!!!!

This is probably my most favorite make-ahead lunch recipe of all time! 

It’s a bit of work to put together – and it takes about 45 minutes to make this large batch (if you multi-task) – but it’s soooooooooooo worth it when lunchtime rolls around!

Yum! 

Feel free to cut this recipe in half if you don’t need so much. I like to make the whole batch, though, so Chad and I will have lunches ready for the next several days. 

Southwestern Quinoa Salad Recipe 

Serves 8 

INGREDIENTS:

2 cups dry, uncooked quinoa
4 cups water
2 cans black beans, rinsed and drained
2 yellow bell peppers, seeded & diced
2 red bell peppers, seeded & diced

6 large green onions, thinly sliced 

2 jalapenos, seeded, minced (optional)
2 small bunches cilantro, chopped

DRESSING INGREDIENTS:

3/4 cup freshly-squeezed lime juice (about 4 large limes)
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 tsp sea salt
2 tsp black pepper
4 tsp cumin
2 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp garlic granules
4 dashes cayenne pepper

DIRECTIONS:

1. Cook quinoa according to package directions.

2. Meanwhile, whisk together dressing ingredients in a small bowl. 

3. In a very large mixing bowl, combine all of the veggie ingredients and black beans. 

4. Pour dressing over the veggie/bean mixture, and stir to combine. 

5. After quinoa is cooked and cooled, fold it into the veggie/bean mixture. 

6. Cover and refrigerate for at least an hour before serving to allow flavors to combine.

7. Enjoy! And be sure to check out our RECIPES PAGE for more delicious recipes!!!!

We LOVE dry roasted, unsalted nuts at our house!

Buuuuuuuuuuuuut...nuts are friggin’ expensive AND… we tend to have better luck finding them at cheaper bulk prices if they are NOT already roasted.

Sooooo...we tend to buy them at Costco and just roast them ourselves.

Added bonus – the house smells amazing! Boom!

Here’s how we roast ’em up…

Dry Roasted Nuts Recipe

INGREDIENTS:

Approximately 1 pound nuts (plain/unsalted, not roasted)

*We’ve tried cashews, pecans and almonds using these directions. Yum!

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Spread nuts onto large, ungreased cookie sheet. It’s okay if they are in a slightly double layer.

Bake for about 5 minutes. Give them a stir, then cook an additional 5-6 minutes until they just start to turn color.

Cooking times may vary, so watch them carefully the first time until you learn how long your oven takes!

Allow to cool for a few minutes before serving. Enjoy warm or store for later! The nuts may not be crispy right away. If you let them cool completely, they’ll crisp up. 🙂

And be sure to check out our RECIPES PAGE for more delicious recipes!!!!

Growing up (and for much of my adult life), I hated yams!

Yes, “hate” is a strong word. And, yet, its usage is 100% appropriate here! I literally shivered at the thought of yams. Bleh!

Of course, my only exposure to yams had been to yams from a can! Ewwww! 

Luckily, I eventually discovered fresh yams! Now, they’re one of my favorite foods!

Whether you already love yams…or you’re just now willing to try them for the first time…I hope you love this recipe as much as we do at our house!

Mmm…….

Sweet & Savory Yams Recipe

Serves 4    (Well…serves 4 as a side dish, but 2 of us tend to eat it all as a meal with berries or veggies!) 

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 large yams, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks
• 2 TBSP olive oil
• 2 TBSP pure maple syrup
• 2 tsp dried thyme
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp sea salt

DIRECTIONS: 

1. Preheat oven to 400F degrees.
2. Grease a casserole pan.
3. Add yams to the pan.
4. Drizzle with oil and syrup, and sprinkle with spices.
5. Toss to coat evenly.
6. Bake, uncovered, for 30-35 minutes, stirring at least once. Bake until tender and browned.
7. Season with more salt, to taste, if needed.
8. Enjoy! And be sure to check out our RECIPES PAGE for more delicious recipes!!!!

Do you love lamb?? 

OMG!! Me tooooooooooooooooo!!!!

If you’ve never tried lamb, I highly encourage you to get your feet wet with this recipe!

For one thing, this recipe is SUPER quick and easy and doesn’t require any expensive ingredients (well, except for the lamb). So you won’t have a ton to lose if you don’t turn out to be a lamb lover. 

If you’re new to lamb, I hope you’ll be excited by the punch of flavor that it adds to a dish compared to ground beef! Yummmmmy town!!!

It does cost quite a bit more than ground beef ($2-$3 more per pound usually), buuuuuuuuuuuuut…it’s such a unique flavor that we LOVE adding it to our dinner menu rotation from time to time. 

(Pro Shopping Tip: At our regular grocery store here, ground lamb usually costs $7.99/lb…but…if you live near a grocery chain called Grocery Outlet, they often have it there for just $5.99/lb in our neck of the woods! Does the grocery chain Aldi still exist in places? If so, that may be another good place to check for better pricing.)

Anywhoooo…the original recipe I found that inspired this one actually involved raw shelled pistachios and freshly chopped mint for garnish. That recipe also instructed you to spread yogurt on your plate and then scoop the lamb and rice dish on top of that.

While all of that sure sounded delightful enough, I didn’t have any of those things on hand (and I love lamb on its own)…so I kept things basic. 

Apparently, it was still delicious because… well… Chad and I gobbled up the entire batch!

(Hey, what happens at the dinner table, stays at the dinner table. Right?!?!?!)

Lamb & Rice Recipe

Serves 4     (but 2 of us ate it all! Whoops!) 

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 lb ground lamb
• 1 medium onion, diced (optional)
• 1/2 tsp sea salt
• 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
• 1 cup uncooked white rice
• 2 cups water

DIRECTIONS: 

1. In a large skillet (that has a lid), brown the lamb (and the diced onion if using).
2. Drain excess grease.
3. Add salt and pepper. 
4. Stir in uncooked rice and the water. 
5. Bring to a boil. 
6. Cover. Simmer over Low heat for 15-20 minutes, until rice reaches desired tenderness and all of the water is absorbed. 
7. Serve with veggies of your choice. We enjoy fresh cucumber slices or Baked Cabbage. 
8. Scarf it down! Mmmmmmm!!! And be sure to check out our RECIPES PAGE for more great recipes!!!!