Cheesy Quinoa

I love quinoa.  I like the little pop you get in every grain, I love how quickly it cooks.  I love how diverse it is.  I love to say it.  "Keen-wa".  Fabulous.  I found a recipe that used quinoa in place of the pasta in mac and cheese on Pinterest (where else, right?).  I was saddened when I followed the link and found that it contained evil ingredients such as low-fat cheese and soy milk.  Really?  What did mac and cheese ever do to her?  I do realize that quinoa is an extremely healthy ingredient, but it also tastes fantastic.  I cannot say the same for soy milk and low-fat cheese.  Anyhoo, I made up a version I would be willing to eat, even though it has a pretty decent nutritional value.

Cheesy Quinoa

Ingredients
1 c. quinoa
2 c. water
1 c. milk (I used 1%)
1-1/2 c. shredded sharp cheddar
2 eggs
4oz. (1/2 block) low fat cream cheese
salt
pepper
garlic powder
hot sauce

Directions
Combine quinoa and water along with 1/2 tsp. salt in pot and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat to a simmer, cover and cook until water is absorbed (10-15 minutes).
While quinoa is cooking combine milk, eggs and cheddar cheese.
Add cream cheese to cooked and still hot quinoa and stir to combine.  Add in milk mixture.
Add salt, pepper, garlic powder and hot sauce to taste.
Spread in greased 8" square baking dish and bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes.



Frosty Date Balls

I love the holidays.  I love the decorations, the time with my family, the music...  Mostly I love that I can bake copious amounts of cookies without judgement since most people assume I am passing them out as gifts.  Snort.  I guess I do start with good intentions, but they fly out the window as soon as the oven timer goes off.  Since this is the season of giving, I felt I should stop being so stingy, so I have decided to share my cookies with you...  Unfortunately, the Internet does not yet transmit baked goods, so all I can offer you are the recipes.  Shoot.

Frosty Date Balls

 

 

Ingredients

1 stick butter, softened

1/3 c. powdered sugar, plus extra for rolling

1 Tbsp. water

1 tsp. vanilla

1-1/4 c. flour

1/8 tsp. salt

2/3 c. chopped dates

1/2 c. chopped walnuts
 

Directions

Cream butter and sugar.

Stir in water and vanilla.

Add flour and salt and mix well.

Stir in dates and nuts.

Roll into generous 1" balls and place on a parchment lined baking sheet.  Bake at 300 degrees for 20 minutes until set, but not browned.

While warm, roll in powdered sugar.

 

Where Have I Been?

So I flaked.  Well, maybe it was laziness.  Lack of motivation?  I was just tired.  Really, REALLY tired.  I have missed quite a few months on here, but I have spent those months working on a HUGE project.  Would you like to see it?

Hopefully a picture of my sweet new baby boy will forgive all.  I am back.  I am breastfeeding.  I am hungry.  Be warned.