Easy one-pan pasta

For once, I am sitting in a quiet house. My boys are peacefully napping, which means I have time to get some work done. But I am having a hard time finding words today. Apparently I am only able to be productive when, "MOMMY! My toe just fell off!" is being screamed across the house. Productive under pressure. That should be the subtitle of my life. 

Last night after I ran across the idea of a one-pot meal in the most recent issue of Martha Stewart Living Magazine, I threw one together myself. Why had I not ever thought of this? Throw everything into a single pan and 10 minutes later, dinner is ready! The version I made last night was so easy and delicious. The leftovers are sitting in my fridge, begging me to come take a bite. I can't wait till dinner!

And there goes my quiet, so certainly now the words will flow with ease!

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Breakfast quinoa with blueberries

Nice weather is (mostly) here, and that makes me one happy girl. At this very moment I am working outside while my little boys run around and play "castle" in our bushes. I have longed for this moment for seven months and it is finally here! Pinch me! Dan and I both make most of our money in the summers, so it is a very busy but good and productive season for us. Welcome, summer!

I have had this lonely box of quinoa sitting in my pantry for a while now. The other night Dan and I had fed the boys since they adore eating at their little table outside when the weather is nice. We were feeling lazy and didn't know what to make for ourselves. I remembered the box of quinoa and thought about transforming it into a breakfast! For dinner! Scandalous!  

In a medium saucepan, combine:

1 cup quinoa

1 cup water

1 cup almond milk

Bring to a boil. Cover and reduce heat. Simmer for 15 minutes, or until the liquid has been absorbed.

Remove from the heat and add:

2 tablespoons honey

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1 teaspoon vanilla

Mix well and divide between 4 serving bowls. Sprinkle with blueberries, or fresh fruit of your choice, and serve!

Enjoy!

Printable recipe: Breakfast quinoa with blueberries

Spicy Buffalo Salmon

You know you have been using a plentiful amount of hot peppers in your cooking when you begin receiving concerned emails regarding the state of your stomach lining. I'm not worried in the least about my stomach's lining, but I am worried that I might be addicted to hot peppers! They make everything better, don't they?! 

Before I get to the recipe, I feel I should share that I laid my tired post-workout body on the sunny and very warm ground this afternoon in the very spot where a giant Yard Glacier stood mere weeks ago. Spring is finally here and I absolutely could not be happier about that. Spring is finally here! 

Onto the salmon! This was seriously yummy and it could easily be grilled instead of baked. May as well grill while the grilling season is here!

Place a 1-pound salmon fillet into a shallow baking dish. 

Add:

2 tablespoons hot sauce

1 tablespoon honey

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 jalapeño pepper, diced

1/2 teaspoon each of salt and pepper

Stir the marinade ingredients around and heap everything on top of the salmon fillet.

Cover and refrigerate for 6 hours.

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (or light your grill).

Pour the marinade into a small saucepan, leaving the salmon fillet in the baking dish. Bake the salmon in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until the fish is cooked through.

Bring the contents of the saucepan to a boil over medium heat. Reduce to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, for an additional 10 minutes.

Drizzle the warm glaze over the cooked salmon and serve! Soooo good! I'm off to enjoy a little bit o' spring with my cuties!

Printable recipe: Spicy buffalo salmon

Mango crab guacamole

This beautiful weather is almost too much to comprehend. I'm finding that it is very difficult NOT to put on a coat when I go outside. It's been a habit for so many months! And just when I break that habit, the cold front will blow in. It looks like it's going to be in the 30s again by the weekend. Living in Minnesota certainly is an adventure!

We didn't get the news we had been hoping for, but Elijah's surgery went flawlessly last week. Our sweet boy who has already endured way more than his share is now minus all ear bones in his left ear and has very limited hearing. He will need to undergo another surgery in a few months to have a prosthetic device placed in his ear that will hopefully give him some of his hearing back. One more thing to tackle! 

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Good riddance, glacier in our yard

I have exciting news for one lucky winner! The Yard Glacier melted today! Two commenters guessed April 27th as the date it would finally vanish, so I had Elijah blindly pick one of the names. He was so excited to help, can you tell?! 

Can you read the name? Here's a closer look.

Congrats, Tiffany Henriquez! Please send me a mailing address using the CONTACT button at the top of the page in order to receive the $200! Please contact me within the next 48 hours, or the loot will go to the runner-up. 

Needless to say, we were VERY happy to say goodbye to the Yard Glacier today. It was a beautiful, very-cherished and much-anticipated day.