So far this week has been, well, interesting…
Basically I’ve been drinking my weight in Gypsy Cold Care and Throat Coat, sucking on way too many cough drops, sneezing and sulking lounging around the house because my leg now hurts to even walk. I think I’m making it sound worse than it is, but honestly it hasn’t been very fun. Who gets a sore throat and cold in the summertime – I mean really?!?
On the sunnier side of things, I was able to attend the monthly Whole Foods Cooking Demo with the renowned Chef Jesse on Monday night. He always has a delicious menu planned and this month was no different with a caprese pasta salad, Seafood Stew, Grayson Grilled Cheese, Braised Chuck Roast (no pict. b/c I didn’t eat any), and Grilled Nectarines with Crème Fraiche.
The night’s theme was local! Whole Foods deems items local if they are produced within a 200 mile radius from the store so not everything featured was from VA, but was still from somewhere nearby.
I really like caprese salad so the pasta dish was right up my alley. Plus, it is really easy to toss together – basically just a mixture of pasta noodles, tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, evoo, balsamic and S&P. The heirloom tomatoes were not only gorgeous to look at, but so flavorful as well. Better get my fill of yummy summer tomatoes now because it seems the cool weather is already settling in.
The grilled cheese was made on Billy Bread and the Grayson cheese was pretty stinky, but I loved dipping the “sandwich” into the seafood stew.
My favorite dish of the night! Although, I’m now certain I don’t like clams. I’ve given them a fair chance- I really have. Jesse tends to make them a lot in his classes and I’ve tried them several times, however they’re just too chewy.
Last but not least, the grilled nectarines were heavenly. Not too soft, but not hard and perfectly sweet.
Overall, it was another fun night of cooking! Besides meeting up with the always fab, Stephanie, I was also able to chat with a couple other ladies. They even told me about a dance studio that offers pole dancing classes. hmm.. might have to check that out. 
After the demo I found a little treat that brighten up my day:
I still haven’t found all the new Larabar flavors, but I’m half way there now. I ended up having this one as a snack on Tuesday afternoon. The Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip was good but tasted just like the Peanut Butter Cookie flavor with a few chocolate chunks mixed in. Not as out of this world, new and amazing, as I expected.
On the other hand, dinner last night turned out to be quite the winner.
Basically just a quick quinoa salad I threw together while chatting on the phone…
Quinoa is perfect for a week night dinner because it cooks so quickly and can easily be paired with a variety of different foods. This particular dish could be served as a side but I ate it as a meal.
Quick Quinoa Salad (serves 2-3)
- 1 1/4 cup vegetable broth or water
- 1 cup dry quinoa, rinsed and drained
- 2 T olive oil
- 1 T balsamic vinegar (I used a blackberry, pear balsamic)
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 orange bell pepper, chopped
- 1 cup chickpeas
- 1 medium tomato, chopped
- 6 picholine olives, pitted and chopped into small pieces (you can use any type of olive, it’s just want I had on hand)
- 5-6 leaves fresh basil, chopped
- Fresh ground black pepper, to taste
Prep:
1.) Place the vegetable broth in a pot and bring it to a boil; add the quinoa and simmer until the liquid has absorbed and the quinoa is tender, about 12 minutes.
2.) In a large bowl stir together the oil, balsamic and garlic. Add a dash of pepper.
3.) Add the cooked quinoa, bell pepper, chickpeas, tomato, olives and basil to the bowl and gently mix. Serve immediately.
*A couple things to note, it does have fresh garlic, which is pungent and might not be to everyone tastes. You could use a bit of red onion in place of the garlic or simply leave it out. I didn’t mind my breath being super garlicky because Isaac was out of town last night. Also, I ended up having the leftovers for dinner tonight and it was just as tasty straight from the fridge. You seriously can’t go wrong with quinoa. It’s great cold or hot, for dinner or for breakfast – remember my quinoa parfaits? If you haven’t tried this little pseudo grain yet, you surely should. It’s one of my favorite foods.
And, for tonight’s dinner I paired some of the leftover quinoa with one of my favorite foods – butternut squash fries. The cooler temperatures we’ve been experiencing have me craving a bunch of fall foods (i.e. pumpkin, sweet potatoes and b-nut squash). Luckily we had a nice baby butternut from Isaac’s parents’ garden sitting in the pantry this evening.
Yes, I know it looks like 1/4 of my plate is covered in ketchup and while I do love ketchup, I don’t typically use this much. I found out the hard way that my new bottle of Montebello Kitchens chipotle ketchup pours really fast. It’s spicy and delicious though – I’m a fan.
For now, I’m off to get comfy and hang out with Isaac – he’s finally back in town after being gone since last Friday. Enjoy your Wednesday evening.
Wouldn’t it be so much greater if Modern Family had a new episode tonight? I can’t wait for the new fall season to start!!!
What types of fall things are you most excited about?
-Brittany
Brittany Mullins, HHC
{ 29 comments… read them below or add one }
love the quinoa salad! I have been so into quinoa and millet lately
I wish my whole foods had monthly things like that, It would be fun If I could do demos like that since I love healthy cooking…one day in my future!
I’m excited about apples, pumpkins, football and wearing sweatshirts!
Hi Brittany! I just re-found your blog, so I thought I’d say hi! I’ve never been to a WF demonstration (I’m vegan, and it seems they rarely have an all-vegan demo), but those look delicious! I love quinoa, too, especially with tomato & avocado. I look forward to reading your blog regularly!
such a fun class this time around! i’m so ready for pumpkin anything as fall rolls around… it’s getting to be that time again
good seein’ ya girlie and have a great rest of the week@
I am so sorry you aren’t feeling well…but it sounds like you attended a fabulous class. I’m such a fan of stinky cheese so seeing that photo made my mouth water. I can’t wait for pumpkin, spices and Brussel sprouts!
I just discovered a new favorite fall food! It is called dessert hummus. I LOVE the pumpkin pie flavor. I know it is still August but the stuff is so good that I have been eating it daily and pretending it is fall already.
Ugghh totally sucks being ill in Summer, I’m right there with you. I’ve spent the past few days, coughing, sniffling, and getting chills….
Hope you feel better soon.
P.S Love the grilled nectarines. Yum!!
Looks like a great recipe. I have a box of red quinoa that I need to figure out something to do with. Maybe I should make a salad!
Oh, I just love quinoa – that salad looks delish!
I hope you’re feeling better today! I’m usually the one to get a cold in the summer – it’s just not right is it?
I had one earlier this summer, so I know how you feel!
Have you tried just the Cookie Dough Larabar? Yum. I haven’t found the Carrot Cake one yet, but the cookie dough flavor is awesome.
That pasta dish looks very good. Thanks for posting all its ingredients. I’ll be giving that a try.
I am looking forward to: Football, cool weather for the kids to play outside, Halloween crafts with the kids, and Hiking. I love the fall!
I just got over a cold not too long ago! Mid-smack in the summer! Iwork around kids though so…that would explain my cold. Ug. It took about a week to go completely away!
As far as quinoa, I just cannot get in to it! I think it’s just one of those thing I honestly don’t like. I wish I did!
I used to get sick EVERY summer so I know how you feel. Maybe it’s time to get a second (or third?) opinion on your leg. I hate to hear how uncomfortable you are.
I love Modern Family — I have only seen it a few times but it cracks me up every time!
The quinoa salad looks great, and a little (or a lot) of ketchup is ok Brittany
I usually get sick in the summer whenever the weather changes — so in between each “season” I get a cold of some kind. Ugh!
i hate being sick in the summer, so im sorry you aren’t feeling well. sending positive vibes your way! i just picked up a big bag of red quinoa the other day, and this looks fantastic! i cant wait to try it!! feel better girl!
Boo, I hope you feel better soon. Nothing is worse than a summer cold.
Love the quinoa idea! And I am definitely going to try butternut fries. My favorites for fall are definitely butternut squash soup, and all manner of roasted vegetables.
I’m still working on finding those new Larabars! I found a carrot cake one at WF yesterday, but the cookie dough ones are so elusive. I think they sell out really quickly.
Your quinoa salad looks good, and quinoa is good for us. I too have discovered Montebello Kitchens healthy chipolte ketchup and even used it on oven roasted cauliflower. It jazzes up veggies.
Can’t wait to make your butternut squash fries. By the way, you get extra credit for creating a meal and talking on the phone at the same time! Hope you feel better soon.
Hope you’re feeling better today! Summer colds are terrible, aren’t they?! Yuck.
Great quinoa recipe! No matter how many days in a row I eat quinoa, I never, ever get sick of it! Hands-down, one of my favorite foods, too.
I’m totally with you on the clams; there’s just something about the taste that doesn’t work for me, although I’ve never had a problem with the chewiness. Mussels are a bit better, but they have to be in a mind-blowingly good sauce (like cioppino).
haha this reminds me of when i used to be a cheese conisseur and loved my stinky cheese. everyone in the house hated when i would melt some cheese on bread like urs. i would put it in the oven and it would disperse throughout the house and i was told “you can never be allowed to make stinky ass cheese again” lol..
for now.. i stick to grueyere or havarti lol.
Sorry you’re not feeling well! One thing about the Fall that I am NOT looking forward to is cold and flu season. . . ugh. Great post though. Fall is my favorite season and I am really looking forward to the cooler temperatures, fresh apples, autumn/winter squashes, and being able to bake things in my small kitchen without heating the whole apartment up to 100 degrees. I’m ready for this central VA heat to end!
I always miss the WF demos – I need to sign up for email reminders or something because they look like so much fun!
the quinoa salad looks/sounds delicious!
I’m with you on the lara bar. It was okay, but not crazy good. I do, definitely love the chocolate brownie flavor, though!
I can totally sympathize with your sickness. I’ve been hit so hard with allergies this week!
I haven’t seen the peanut butter Larabar yet, but I am a huge fan of the brownie flavor!
I have been dying for fall to get here as well! I can’t wait for hot soup and even MORE cinnamon in everything!
I have never had quinoa but couscous is another one of those speedy little grains that takes almost no time to make. They are so handy to have around the kitchen
It WOULD be great if Modern Family was new! I’d actually take any new show at this point.
That dinner looks great, I’d love to go to a Whole Food demonstration.
And that quinoa dish is beautiful! I love how versatile it is.
I love Modern Family. I’m excited for the fall lineup to come back.
I have yet to try quinoa. That recipe looks simple enough for me, though, so I may have to pick some up today. The grilled nectarines look delicious! Hope you feel better.
I love grayson, though I prefer mine straight up, not melted. And I am looking forward to apple picking!
That grilled nectarine looks delicious. Grilled fruit is such a fun dessert.
I keep looking and hoping just one of the new Larabar flavours will finally show up in Canada, but still, no luck. Le sigh.
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