Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Super Food Quinoa!!!

Being injured blows.  Blows, blows BLOWS.  I am not feeling like myself, I am often frustrated, and I want nothing more than to be able to move around like I used to.  It takes me a year and a half to get anywhere and I'm constantly in pain.  I can't wait for surgery and start the recovery.  Because did I mention, this BLOWS?!

So, in order to feel whole - I took a trip to Whole Foods.  I bought everything green and healthy to make a super food quinoa.

In goes broccoli, cilantro, parsley, edamame, carrots, tomatoes, and chicken. I seasoned with reduced balsamic vinaigrette, salt & pepper, and shaved parmesan. So so healthy and super yummy.

Bottle of wine is from Ehlers Estate. Not bad. Not bad.


Part of the Whole Foods haul.  I bought some baby kale greens and it's oh so flavorful. Move over baby spinach.


I get started on reducing my balsamic vinegar but forget to add some mustard seeds. Trust me, makes it exponentially more delicious. Try it.


Ever since I came back from Stockholm, I can't seem to eat enough parsley.  It's also so green and pretty that it gives food a nice POP.


I did a medium fine chop. Yeah? Yeah.


Never realized how pretty a broccoli crown is.  I might want no other bouquet than a broccoli bouquet one day.


Slice them with a stalk focus? Does that make sense? Well, slice it however it makes sense to you so whether that is stalk focus or not.


Then throw them in a pan that had heated olive oil with some salt and sugar in it... medium heat should work.


Oh cilantro. It's such a staple in Asian cuisine. I chopped them the same way I chopped the parsley. Medium fine chop.


So pretty and firm.


Sliced baby carrots.


Because black beans are the superior beans. Rinse.


Ingredients that don't need cooking: parsley, cilantro, tomatoes, carrots, and black beans.


In the pan: broccoli, edamame, and carrots.


Here's a better photo. I think.


I poached some chicken tenderloin. I know, I know, can they look any more bland?!


I chopped them.


I throw them into the pan and pour the reduced balsamic vinegar all over it. See.. I had a plan.


Cooked quinoa. Oh la la.


All mixed together. How pretty!


Action shot!!! Yes, squeeze some lemon in to it if you insist.


Rib-eye. Non-related but made it to my plate tonight for dinner.


I hope I will feel the same way about my first born as I do about the fat on this piece of meat.


Dinneerrrrrr.


Tết Party @ Mi Casa

I have been so lazy about throwing an apartment warming so I used the Vietnamese Lunar New Year as an excuse to host a party with awesome food and people.

On the menu...

1) Thịt Kho Tàu with Chicken Eggs and Quail Eggs
2) Chao Ga: Congee with ground pork and thousand year old egg
3) Goi Ga: Chicken salad 
4) Pork, shrimp, and taro dumplings
5) Xôi Gà Mặn: Sticky Rice
6) Chè Đậu Xanh Bột Báng: Vietnamese mung bean dessert with tapioca and coconut jelly 


I complained to my best friend Lola as to why our ancestors make these dishes so difficult and tedious to make.  Seriously, seriously... so many fine details and one must be so meticulous!




The boys watching the game and do you notice yours truly in the back with the awesome apron?!




The ladies serving themselves and yours truly by the stove - serving congee to order.  It was a pretty legit party. 




Game gear. 




Mr. Frechette enjoying his Vietnamese coffee with condensed milk. Again, made to order. Jelly, yet?




Congee. Made. To. Order.