Orange Cranberry Quinoa with Walnuts

Quinoa isn't the greatest tasting grain.  Without seasoning ... it kind of tastes like socks.  Buuuuuut, once it is jazzed up a bit, quinoa is one of my favourite side dishes.  I love the texture and the fact that it is a complete protein (contains all 9 of the essential amino acids, as do hemp seed, soy and buckwheat).

I was feeling citrusy the other day so I got my zester out and went to work on this ...

Cranberry Orange Quinoa with Walnuts

1 cup dry quinoa (cook according to package directions)
Zest from 1 orange
Juice from 1 orange
2 T olive oil
1/4 cup or so chopped walnuts
1/4 cup or so dried cranberries
Salt to taste

Cook quinoa.  Add the other ingredients to the cooked quinoa. Stir and enjoy!  You could let the quinoa cool first and serve this cold as well.

 

Served with some citrusy trout (lemon, lime, salt, pepper and oregano), this made a perfect summer dinner.

And since it was a beeeeeautiful day yesterday a BBQd dinner was enjoyed al fresco. Mmmmm!

 

Sun, I love you.

How was your weekend?  Did you enjoy any meals outside?

Out with Dad

On my dad's birthday (Wednesday) he was awarded the Queen's medal for service to Canada by his employer.  He needed to bring a date to the awards ceremony and dinner and he picked me :-)

I got dressed up to head out for the evening ...

 

 

I finally broke out my new Louis Vuitton bag that I picked up on 5th Ave. in New York.  I thought the pop of colour would be perfect with my dress and matching nails.

We had dinner at a local restaurant called The Lakeshore.  I ordered the shrimp and ribs with the Caesar salad to start.

 

It was pretty good, but not great.

Last night my siblings and I took my dad out for dinner to celebrate his birthday.  We went to Teppanyaki.

 

I had gyoza to start and then shrimp and steak for my meal.

 

 

 

The sun is shining today and I am looking forward to a fabulous weekend!  

What do you have planned for the weekend?

Stuffed Cannelloni

I finally cooked something. 

Yesterday I whipped up an easy cannelloni.  It totally hit the spot.

Italian Sausage, Ricotta and Spinach Stuffed Cannelloni

1-2 T olive oil
1/2 white onion, diced
1/2 yellow bell pepper (or any colour), diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 Italian sausages (casings removed)
1 cup ricotta cheese
1 cup (packed) spinach, chopped
3-4 fresh basil leaves, chopped
1 box cannelloni
1 jar tomato pasta sauce
Grated cheese for on top

Heat the oil on medium in a high sided pan.  Once hot, add the onion, bell pepper and garlic.  Cook until soft (5 minutes or so).  Add the sausage and break up in the pan.  Cook until done.  Meanwhile boil water and cook the noodles.  Once the sausage is done add the ricotta and chopped spinach and basil.  Stir until combined.  Fill the noodles with the mixture and lay in a greased pan.  Cover with tomato sauce and shredded cheese and bake for about 1/2 hour at 350.

 

 

 

Although these cannelloni tasted great, it was really annoying trying to stuff them.  I usually stick to stuffing giant shells because it is easier.  I made such a mess trying to get the filling in these darn things.

I haven't been cooking much ... but I have been juicing!  The other day I juiced 2 grapefruits and some watermelon.  It was a great combination and a pretty colour too :-)

Today is my dad's 71st birthday!  Happy Birthday Dad!!!  Tonight I am going out for supper with him for something related to his work, and then tomorrow the family is taking him out for a fun dinner at Teppanyaki.

Have you ever stuffed cannelloni?  Do you find it as much of a pain as I do?

BBQ & Breakfast

The weather is still gloomy, but us Saskatchewanians are hardcore and BBQ anyway.  I enjoyed some of Costco's maple chipotle short ribs this week, as well as some BBQd chicken with ginger noodles.

 

 

My dad took the family out for breakfast this morning where I had Smitty's eggs Benedict.  It wasn't great, but I did like that the fruit bowl contained good fruit and no stinky melons.  The worst is a fruit bowl that is full of cantaloupe and honeydew, which are two fruits I could do without.

Smitty's makes a decent breakfast ... but a homemade one is always better.

Mmmmmm mmmmm!

I have two fun dinners that I am looking forward to this week - both with family.  

What are you looking forward to this week?

Raining Weather Eating

It has been gloomy and dreary outside the last couple of days ... but inside, all is good.

My girlfriend Shauna invited me at the last minute this evening to come over for some tiki masala.  There was no way I was turning that down!  Her roommate Alan made it, and I happily devoured this plate full.

Yesterday I was also treated to a homemade sushi dinner.  Mmmmmm!  Enjoyed with some kimchi, tea, smoked oysters and mandoo, it was the perfect dinner for a raining evening inside. 

The BBQ can wait.  I am enjoying this rainy weather eating.

Do you ever have dinner with friends during the week?  Is it raining where you are?

Yubuchobap

I am loving yubuchobap these days.  If you haven't heard of these little Korean pockets of deliciousness, you need to remedy that situation stat.  They are seasoned tofu pockets stuffed with rice.  The seasoned tofu pockets, as well as the mix-ins for the rice come in this package:

The only other thing you need to do is make some sticky rice (I used a mixture of sticky rice and black rice).  After making the rice you dump in some vinegar stuff and a packet of seeds, and then fill the pockets.

One package has enough stuff for 3 batches (the picture above is one batch).

Deeeeelish!

That has been the extent of my cooking in May, and I wouldn't call it cooking!  Other than that I have stopped at Robin's a few times:

 

I ate a sandwich at a local restaurant, Rock Creek.

 

And a scrumptious plate of food at Afghan Kabob & Donair in Saskatoon this weekend.  This place I will return to.  Very soon.

I ate it allllll up.  Afghani food makes Jolene a very happy girl.

A bubble tea next door made for a great finish to the best meal I have had in a month. 

I had a great weekend.  When is the next one? 

How was your weekend?  Have you ever had yubuchobap?  If not, get your butt to the local Korean market and doooo it up!  Do you like bubble tea?  What kind do you order?

Perfect Summer Meal

Sun is shining ... the weather is sweet.

Steelhead Trout & Salad with Sesame Ginger Dressing

 When it's hot outside ... this is what I eat :-)

I hope you're Monday has been as good as mine.

What did you have for dinner this evening?