Thursday, October 22, 2009

Happy Thursday!

So Happy Thursday everyone! I am so awful at keeping up with this little blog- oh well, I'm sure your all used to it by now :-) I thought I would show you some random pictures from the week, since that always seems to be fun, the top photo of course is this years pumpkin I carved. I think I am still in tropical mode, hence the palm trees and waves.... Plus we are heading south of the border on saturday to catch some more sun before the very long winter :-) I tried to cook a lot this week, but I was so sore from Ski Conditioning ( way too many squat jumps!), that what mostly ended up happening was just Jim and I watching the first season of LOST for like 10 hours! oh well, here are some pics for you, ENJOY!!
Garlic from our harvest this summer. These are the largest cloves of the bunch, so we planted these in the garden this week, so we can have yummy garlic next summer!
No this is not a trick shot, the photo is actually supposed to be rotated counter-clockwise- but I digress, this is the MEAD we have been paitiently brewing for the past 8 months! It's delicious.
Some Cranberry Walnut Muffins from earlier this week, We also just finshed eating the Maple Blueberry muffins too ( they wen't so fast, I forgot to take a picture!) I attempted to make granola this week :-) It's yummy, by a little too toasted, if you know what I mean! I also tried to come up with a recipe for a veggie burger to submit to Better Homes and Gardens (don't ask me why, I never win anything :-) anyway, here is the recipe I submitted- (minus the picture, I wrapped them all up before I remembered too- this is becoming a trend.)
Quick Quinoa Burgers
2 Cups Cooked Red Quinoa (¾ cup quinoa ,1 ½ cups water) 1 Tbs grape seed oil 1 Small carrot- diced 2 ribs of celery- diced ½ med white onion- diced 1 clove garlic- minced ½ yellow bell pepper- diced 1 can kidney beans- smashed 1 Tbs Veganaise ½ cut of rolled oats ¼ cup barley flour Salt Pepper 1 tsp Italian seasoning (you can add any fresh herbs you have on hand as well)
Cook quinoa, set aside to cool. Sauté carrots, celery, onion and bell pepper until softened. Add garlic and stir- turn off heat and let cool. In a medium bowl, smash the kidney beans and mix in the veganaise. Add the cooled quinoa and sautéed veggies. Add the oats and flour and season with salt, pepper and seasoning. Form into eight patties, and place them on a parchment covered cookie sheet. Chill patties in fridge for at least 30 min. Pan fry the patties in grape seed oil on medium heat, flipping sides after five minutes. Serve on buns with all the fixings.
And last but not least, a single photo from our honeymoon picks, just to entice you- I am setting up a photo gallery online so you can just check them all out, it's easier than loading six pictures at a time to blogger :-) the link to the photo gallery will be e-mailed to you. we stayed just to the right of the chairs, on a private island with no one around. It was awesome. Well thats it I think. I know I cooked a lot more this week than I can remember.... All those episodes of LOST are messing with my brain! Well have a wonderful weekend- and If I don't get around to writing before we head of to mexico.... Adios Amigos!

Monday, October 12, 2009

We're Back!

Thought I forgot about you eh? well no, I didn't, It was just REALLY remote where we were, REALLY remote. Which was wonderful, Nothing to do but relax :-) I thought I would just teaste you with a few photos of the trip, (I believe these were all taken within the first few days) we were gone for so long, i'm not sure which day was which! We did manage to write a journal while we were there though, just to try and remember all that we did. I'm a bit tired from the traveling, so bear with me ok? -----So here we go, you ready? let's see some photos!
The First Sunset, Taken right from the little place we were staying.
This was just outside the first place we stayed, probably twenty steps at the most. I know it doesn't look like much, but I was trying to show you how clear the water was by showing you my feet through it- I'm standing in the water, not on the beach- the water was so clear it was like glass.
Etu Moana- or blue starfish - taken in the clearest water imaginable
Muri Beach, The second week we stayed close by here-
They held the Pacific Mini Games outrigger canoe races here. Tahitii won everything, but The cook island Women came in second in both the 1500 meter and the 800! More Muri beach- The Lagoon water was amazing- The bluest blues I have ever seen! So there you go- like a said, just a tease of photos- sorry, but if I were to upload them all it would take me days :-) we probabley have over 600! so i'll just keep posting a few at a time! (Ha!I think I'm still on island time) - So hope everyone had a wonderful fall, we missed you!
We are so glad to be home :-) I LOVE the Smell of fall!
Lots of Love to you all! and remember, Always take time to Relax and Enjoy Life :-)
~Kia Orana~