Sassy Beans & Quinoa

Ingredients:

2 cups dry quinoa

2 15oz cans black beans

2 carrot stalks, chopped

1 pablano pepper, chopped

1/2 large onion, chopped

olive oil

1/2 cup salsa

1/2 cup cilantro

2 tsp hot sauce

4 T white wine vinegar

Pepper

Sautee the onions, pablano pepper and carrots in olive oil. Meanwhile, cook quinoa according to directions. I used a 2.5 cup water/1 cup quinoa ratio and added some salt and pepper to the water. I brought it to a boil and then reduced it to a simmer, uncovered, until the water was evaporated. Mix up 1-2 T olive oil, hot sauce, cilantro, pepper, salsa, and vinegar. Stir beans, quinoa, cooked vegetables and sauce together in a large bowl and enjoy.

Pea & Potato Soup

Apparently my husband *LOVES* peas. I had no idea! I discovered this after making him this yummy last minute dinner I threw together out of some leftover ingredients in the fridge. We both really enjoyed it so I thought I'd share!

Ingredients:

5-6 Large Russet Potatoes, cubed
1 bag Frozen Peas
3/4 cup of crushed tomatoes (I had part of a can leftover)
Olive oil
1 Large Onion, chopped in large chunks
3 cups Frozen Cabbage, chopped in large chunks (I did this last fall)
2 Bay leaves
Pepper, Salt
Coriander

Sautee the onions in the olive oil. When translucent add in cubed potatoes and cover with water. Stirr in crushed tomatoes, and seasonings. Bring to a boil and cook potatoes for 5-6 minutes. Stir in cabbage and peas and heat through. Just before serving, using the back of a spoon, crush some of the potato chunks against the side of the pot to thicken the broth. Serve.

A Very Happy Easter Sunday

First we went to Battle Creek and found a park on the Linear Bikeway path. I was so excited to see the white geese and the blooming trees!

Pretty pink and purple flowers covered the fresh green grass. Did anyone else notice that with the sun and rain this week that the grass is vibrant green for the first time this year!?

We went on 3 geocaching adventures by bike. 1 successful, 2 stumpers. :)

Looking hard but in all the wrong places....The beautiful Kellogg Manor house. Ill live there! :)

...ok, I'll live there if we can move it to somewhere outside of Battle Creek :)

Friendship Park and Battle Creek

Back home in the evening we read a book in one of our little "parks" and played on the large artwork. :)

My FAVORITE tree downtown! I think he's so cute!