Cookbook Giveaway

I so want this cookbook. I love food, I love cookbooks and I love cooking. My creativity extends to the kitchen as well as the rest of my world.

Heather over at Home Ec101 has a cookbook giveaway.

So Heres to Hoping I win. If you want to enter for a chance, head on over to Heathers place and read all about it, but hurry hurry, contest ends on the 9th.

Quinoa Salad - My own Recipe.

So I am craving beans, especially bean salad which i never eat. I think my body is screaming out for protein, not just craving beans but peanut butter as well.
Anyway this recipe was a quick something But was in the works for over a week, that is rolling around my brain.

2 cups of raw black beans ( dont use canned they are too soggy)
2 cups of raw lentils
1 Large red onion cut in half and minced
4 cloves of garlic ( or to taste. I love garlic)
1 each -- green ,red, yellow, orange, bell peppper
Sliced mushrooms ( couple of handfuls or to taste) ( I used baby bellas)
1 can garbanzo beans drained ( chick peas)
1 packet of good seasons Garlic and herb salad mix ( and cruet to make it)
2 cups of Quinoa
1 Box of chicken broth
1 ham hock.
About 3 tablespoons of Olive oil. ( I eyeballed it)
2 tablespoons of butter
Salt and Pepper to taste. ( I prefer the taste of fresh ground Black pepper)

I started with 2 cups or so of black beans. I put them in a bottle in the refrigerator and covered with water for 2 days. ( one day woulda worked but I need to get the ham hock so it was an extra day). Drain off that water it was soaking in and add fresh water to pot.

I cooked them in a Large pot of boiling water ( I used my dutch oven pot that we use for pasta), with the ham hock. NO SALT

After an hour drain the water out and put in bowl to cool, Now add salt and pepper.

In a smaller pot I put about 2 cups of lentils covered with water and let them boil for about an hr. NO SALT.

After an hour or however long it takes for water to cook down ( I think it was about 50 minutes) drain the water out and put in bowl to cool, Now add salt and pepper.

In a large fry pan ( I used my deep fryer Pan) put about 3 tablespoons of olive oil ( I just eyed it) I cut up the red onion, and about 4 cloves of garlic. cook on high for a few minutes, to that I added the peppers, & mushrooms add the butter and Stir fry these for a few minutes, and add the box of broth ( measures out to 4 cups) and add 2 cups of quinoa Cover and let simmer down for about 20 - 30 minutes or so. I walked away and got on the phone..I almost forgot..OOPS. :-)

By now the beans should be cool (esp. if you put them in frig right away to cool) Let the quinoa cool ( about 30 minutes or so).

In a large bowl scoop out some quinoa mix and add several handfuls of each bean, and add one can of garbanzo beans (drained.)

In a cruet I made good seasons italian garlic and herb dressing. I mixed this to the salad
( Yes all of it)

Keep adding quinoa and beans to this until well balanced. YUM. Refrigerate over night and it is sooo good after it sets up.

Dont ask me calories or net carbs, I dont know . I do know that there is nothing bad in this. NO Flour, No Sugar, and it is mostly all Protein, as Quinoa is a perfect grain, It is a vegetarians essential for 100% protein. It contains all the amino acids.

Bon Appetite.


The quinoa seed is high in protein, calcium and iron, a relatively good source of vitamin E and several of the B vitamins. It contains an almost perfect balance of all eight essential amino acids needed for tissue development in humans. It is exceptionally high in lysine, cystine and methionine-amino acids typically low in other grains. It is a good complement for legumes, which are often low in methionine and cystine. The protein in quinoa is considered to be a complete protein due to the presence of all 8 essential amino acids.

Evil Bunny is Back.........

.........And he is after the corn!



I figure this lil bunny is climbing the fence and stalks to nibble....I found one stalk on its side and the others were nibbled.....





Now I am trying a new plan of attack.....

I have these can tops and bottoms left from my soda cans ( after cutting) and was trying to reuse them. I made some redneck windchimes (lol) and was working on making morraccas for kids when i ran into a problem. I abandoned that idea until I could find another solution, in the meantime I have all these tops and bottoms.....

A voice whispered what to do. You know that small still voice? Sometimes we call it GOD or intuition, or good sense , sanity, and even Insanity....LMAO....Well I seen the solution as it was whispered to me....



I posted my mini shepards hooks that I use around the front garden with chimes and put them near the plants with the can chimes. I hope the shiny deflectors scare the critter away.

I hope this works. I didnt know bunnies could climb!

Meanwhile......





CUCKES ANYONE? They are taking over the garden ... Holy Crap and I don't even eat them.( I grew them for the other family members)

How about?

ZUCCHINI?

My neighbor shared zucchini with me after i shared lettuce with him and now spinach and green beans for more zucchini...YUM! I never liked it before, but even my youngun ate it.

I found a great fritter ( pancake) recipe, changed it slightly and now...MMMMMM I got a new summer favorite.

3cups zucchini ( shredded)
2-3 eggs *( if using jumbos use 2 eggs, medium use 3)
1 cup all purpose flour ( can add a lil more if it seems too wet)
1 tsp. dill
1tsp. baking soda
salt and pepper ( I used sea salt)
1 cup grated romano ( can use parmesan)
2 medium onions ( Shredded)
oil for frying ( I use olive oil EVOO a lil at a time)
Sour cream

***After shredding zucchini salt it ( I eyeballed it) and leave in bowl for 15 minutes or longer to remove bitterness.

Use cheese cloth or strainer to remove the liquid from the zucchini and add to onions ( DO NOT strain onions...Leave onion juice in)

Mix in eggs and flour, dill, salt and pepper, and cheese.

Drop spoonfuls ( I used a large serving spoon, the ones slightly larger then a tablespoon with slots to drain liquid) into pan. Not to big or they will be hard to turn and will fall apart. ( about 2-3 inches big should be fine)

add oil as needed.

Fry, Flip and drain on paper towel.

serve with sour cream.

MMMMMMM.....To die for.