Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Lentil Quinoa Pilaf Over Wilted Arugula

I made this wonderful recipe from Vegetarian Times a couple of nights ago.  Eating it for leftovers last night was even better!
I love searching the web along with my cookbooks for new recipes.  I rarely cook something twice because there is just so much out there to try!  Make your own vegetable broth with scraps of veggies for even more flavor.
I really like the lentils along with the quinoa in this recipe. It is such a great texture of flavors in the end product along with the great flavors of the added pine nuts, currants and balsamic at the end.


The ingredients are:
  • 2 ½Tbs. olive oil, divided
  • 6 green onions, sliced (1 cup), divided
  • 4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
  • 1 ¼ cups green lentils, rinsed and drained
  • ¾ cup quinoa, rinsed and drained
  • 3 Tbs. pine nuts
  • 8 cups baby arugula
  • ¼ cup dried currants, divided
  • 1 Tbs. balsamic vinegar
The full recipe can be found on Vegetarian Times.

Friday, October 5, 2012

Love, Love, Love to COOK!

I really, really love to cook.  I was gone most of September and then just hit the grocery on the way back in and  bought "whatever."  That is not my "normal."  I like to plan my menus then shop to that.  The result is that I never wonder what is for dinner and I don't waste stuff that I buy impulsively. AND after working at a computer for the day I love to play some music, pour a glass of wine and cook.  It relaxes me to look out the window towards the pond and bird feeders, and to see the vastness and calmness of our property. Cooking yummy veggies and grains makes it all feel "good for me."
With that being said, I was so excited to make my menus last night and for the first time in two weeks, head to the grocery today.  So, you may be curious about what's for dinner during the next several nights---
Here's what's cooking:
  • Rustic Farro Soup
  • Shrimp and Zucchini with Brown Rice
  • Baked Penne
  • Roasted Squash with Kale
  • Carrot Soup with Roasted Pistachios
  • Lentil Quinoa Pilaf over Arugula
  • Vegetarian Brats with Warm Potato Salad
  • Southwest Quinoa with Black Beans
With great recipes like these at hand with the ingredients to match I cannot wait to pick and choose nightly what is on the menu.  I am planning to add a page on the site for recipes and pictures, so stay tuned!

How about you?  Planner, Impulsive? Like to cook or not?