Recipe Blog

I have decided to start a recipe blog (link is on my page under Lilikoi's recipes). I love to share yummy recipes that I find, and instead of taking up my "blogging journal", I decided to use a different blog so that I can print that as a recipe book at the end of the year. Feel free to check it out and share some recipes of your own!

Recipes

Quinoa Egg Bake w/ Spinach and Garlic

1 tsp butter
½ c uncooked quinoa
8 eggs (I used 4 eggs and 4 egg whites)
1 ¼ c milk (I used unsweetened Soy milk)
1 tbsp chopped garlic
2 c packed baby spinach, roughly chopped (I only had frozen so I thawed it and used about a half a cup)
½ tsp salt
½ tsp pepper (I think not)
1 c finely shredded parmesan (I used Feta and just sprinkled it over the top)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease 8x8 glass or metal baking dish with butter and set aside. Rinse Quinoa in a fine mesh strainer with cold water and drain well (I did not do this).

In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, garlic, salt, pepper, and quinoa. Stir in spinach and pour into dish. Cover with foil and jiggle dish gently from side to side so the quinoa settles to the bottom. Bake until just set, about 45 minutes. Remove foil and sprinkle top with cheese. Return to oven and bake uncovered until golden brown and crisp, about 10-15 minutes more. Set aside and let cool briefly, then slice and serve.

*Fact* Quinoa is a super grain as it contains all 8 essential amino acids-this makes it a complete protein!

Healthy Zucchini Brownies

2 c grated zucchini
2 tsp vanilla
2 c whole wheat or whole grain flour
1 tsp salt
½ c olive oil
1 ¼ c maple syrup
¼ c cocoa
¼ tsp baking soda

Preheat oven to 350. Whisk together the dry ingredients then add the wet ingredients and mix. Gently stir in the zucchini and pour into a greased and floured 9x13 pan and bake 25-30 minutes, testing with a toothpick. Remove from oven and let cool before cutting. Serves 24 (yeah right!)


And for the Pumpkin Lover………………

Pumpkin-Spiced Gingersnap Truffles

1 ¼ c semisweet chocolate pieces
¼ tsp. pumpkin pie spice
¼ tsp. vanilla
½ c whipping cream
¼ c chopped gingersnaps (about 10 cookies)
1/3 c finely crushed gingersnaps (about 7 cookies) and/or ¼ c unsweetened cocoa powder

In a medium bowl combine chocolate pieces, pumpkin pie spice, and vanilla.

In a medium microwave safe bowl, place whipping cream. Microwave on high for 70 seconds or until boiling (or put in a saucepan and bring just to boiling.) Pour cream over chocolate mixture. Let stand 5 minutes. Whisk until smooth. Stir in chopped gingersnaps. Cover and refrigerate 1 ½-2 hours or until firm but soft enough to form balls.

Place crushed gingersnaps and/or cocoa powder in small bowl(s). Using a small spoon, scoop 1 tbsp portions of truffle mixture and shape into balls. Roll in cookies or cocoa to coat. Refrigerate 1 hour or until firm. Store covered, in refrigerator, up to 3 days. Makes 20 to 25 truffles. Yummy!

Pumpkin Bourbon Pudding

2 tbsp bourbon or 2 tbsp orange juice + 1 tsp vanilla
¼ c golden raisins or dark raisins
Nonstick cooking spray
1 slightly beaten egg
1-15 oz can pumpkin
1-5 oz can (2/3 cup) evaporated milk
½ c packed brown sugar
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1/3 c quick-cooking rolled oats
2 tbsp brown sugar
2 tsp butter or margarine, melted

In a small saucepan heat bourbon or orange juice and vanilla just until hot (do not boil). Add raisins and set aside to cool.

Lightly coat eight 6oz soufflé dishes or custard cups or a 1-quart casserole with nonstick cooking spray. Place soufflé dishes or custard cups in a shallow baking pan for ease of handling, set aside.

In a large bowl combine egg white, egg, pumpkin, milk, the ½ c brown sugar, and pumpkin spice. Stir in raisins and any liquid left in the pan. Spoon mixture into prepared dish(es). In a small bowl, stir together rolled oats and the 2 tbsp of sugar. Stir in melted butter and then sprinkle over pumpkin mixture.

Bake in a 375 degree oven about 30 minutes for the cups and 40-45 for the larger dish, or until an inserted knife comes out clean. Transfer to a wire rack and cool 1 hour before serving. Makes 8 servings.

No internet

I have been trying to steal internet from all of my neighbors since I moved here and apparently they all smartened up and I can not access it anymore, ergo I have not been blogging. So I am sitting at the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf trying to catch up on everything and it may be a long one (although it is FREEZING in here so we will see how much I can stand!). I am enjoying a Pumpkin Latte because I have to try and find Autumn somewhere!

Work has been a nightmare and I am working 10 hours a day right now. Hopefully I will get some new staff in this week and start getting them trained. All I can say is they are not paying me enough money and I WILL be asking for a huge raise come January!

I was able to get in some fun times and went to the Renaissance Fair last weekend.

No I did not wear this the whole time!

There were a lot of these back in those days!

Nothing like flogging a teenager (I'm not kidding) Seriously people, this is supposed to be a family event! The fair was actually quite comical and for some reason people thought that in the renaissance days you dressed like a Gothic fairy. Lots of black eyeliner and wings!

I also went to "Rock Band Live" at the Hard Rock with my friend Abby from work.

Panic at the Disco
Dashboard Confessional

Plain White Tees were there too. It was open to people of all ages so of course it was FULL of middle school aged kids. We stood closer to the back of the event.......next to all the parents. Man I am getting old! This actually turned into a bit of a blind date in which I got into a political debate with this guy and needless to say we would never work out! He did however buy us all dinner at a fancy sushi restaurant, Nobu, in which we had deep fried snapper!
He ordered for everyone without even asking, which is another reason we would not work out. I try people, I really do but it is hard to meet quality people in your 30's. I have found that it is especially hard in Vegas where people just aren't very friendly. Oh well, the search continues!

As promised here are a few pictures from Barry Manilow.


Book Club friend, Sameya

I have quite a few more but my toes are about to fall off from frostbite and I really need to get into my 100 degree car.

And lastly for Amy, I had great intentions of putting my recipe down for the Quinoa quiche and of course I left it on the counter. I did however have a picture! I will get it to you soon! I also found a great recipe for Pumpkin Truffles, Pumpkin Bourbon Pudding, and Zucchini Brownies that I want to share with you!

Forgot

I forgot, I also went to Art in the Park in Boulder City on Saturday and it was sooooo cool! Imagine the arts festival in Salt Lake but triple the size. Anyway here is the link to an artist I really liked.

http://www.orasart.com/

Quick update

I have not had any internet for the past week so I am going to do a quick update and then I will have to post the pictures at a later time. Barry Manilow was AWESOME! Seriously I forgot how much I love him. My parents had a record with his music when I was younger and I used to torture Stephanie by playing that record over and over and singing on my "stage" with my "microphone". The best part is he sounds the exact same and thanks to plastic surgery, his face looks the same too! Pictures will follow soon!

I went to book club on Sunday and we discussed "The Kite Runner". I have read this before but it was such a great book, I did not mind doing it again. Our book for next month is "A Thousand Splendid Suns" by the same author. I am also reading a couple of books by author Michael Chabon who is actually going to be coming here for a book signing and I thought it would be fun to read some of his work and then go meet him and hear a reading and have my books signed!

I also just got invited to go see Panic at the Disco and Plain White Tees at the Hard Rock Cafe tomorrow night, so I am looking forward to that and will let you know how it goes! I am trying to do as much as I can outside of work because work has been Hell lately! I had to get rid of 2 people which takes my call center of 5 dow to a center of 3. Needless to say, I am working alot and feeling the pressure! Yesterday I got the, "Are you ok? You look really tired!" Thanks for telling me I look like crap!

Red Rock

Sunday I decided to pull out the old hiking shoes and I headed up to Red Rock Canyon with a friend from book club.It made me so happy, the happiest I have been since I moved. It has been such a long time since I have been in any sort of canyon and it was so great for my soul! Here are some pic's!

There were pheasants EVERYWHERE! My friend kept thinking they were rattlesnakes in the brush-too funny! She was a bit of a wimp!Most of the rocks had this pattern on them and I loved the way it looked-therefore the picture!

It really doesn't get much better than this! The temp is getting a little better here, so I am really looking forward to weekly trips out here as it gets even cooler! Worth every penny of the pass to the canyon!
I am trying to focus on "living" so my adventures continue tonight with "Barry Manilow at the Hilton"! Stay tuned..............