Mediterranean Quinoa Bowls

March 23, 2017 Amanda Plott

I've been on a mediterranean kick lately. Can you tell with my Mediterranean Toast and now this Quinoa Bowl? I have always been a fan of Mediterranean and Greek inspired dishes. I think it's the mix of savory, salty, and the bright bold flavors that go along with it. This bowl starts out with a simple cooked quinoa on the bottom and goes from there. It's light enough to enjoy as a simple dinner and yet hearty enough to have as a filling lunch.

For this bowl, I kept it traditional with fresh tomatoes, zucchini and lemon. To get some salt in there I added greek olives, feta, and of course those artichoke hearts. The avocado is there for some smooth creamy healthy fats that you can use along with the lemon juice as a dip/spread/dressing for everything else. And... who doesn't love avocado anyway?...

Kale & Apple Quinoa Salad

January 16, 2017 Amanda Plott

So, this salad today is actually somewhat inspired by my dad who is having some health issues at the moment. We're not entirely sure what's going on, but he's been told to eat better for the time being until his next round of testing. One thing he was told to do was to 'stay away from white stuff', which clearly isn't something I stuck to here because I have to have cheese in my life. I literally think I might explode if I didn't have at least a bit of cheese every day.

What can I say? I've got to be honest here! I'm one that believes strongly in that you can enjoy everything as part of a healthy diet as long as it's in moderation. (Except of course if it's something you've been warned of by a professional.)

A few days back now, my dad and aunt were chatting at me on Facebook about how my dad is now eating more healthy and that he had tried quinoa. He wasn't a huge fan. So, I gave him some suggestions and got to thinking that some quinoa sounded really good actually. And here we are with this lovely Kale & Apple Quinoa Salad!...

Chipotle & Spinach Quinoa Cakes

August 16, 2016 Amanda Plott

I'm not sure really who knows this yet or not, but I sort of have a giant fear of eating fish. I know, I know! It's a problem that I've been dealing with my entire life. I wish that I could bring myself to eat seafood at all. So far though, I haven't found success with it. What I tend to do instead, is make an otherwise fish-related recipe into something vegetarian.

I've always been curious about 'fish cakes', since they look like they could be mighty light and tasty if done right. In the past, I've made Chickpea & Quinoa Cakes, which turned out really good. But, today I wanted to try something a little different; adding in a kick of spice and bright bold Mexican-style flavors...

Grapefruit & Avocado Buddha Bowl

March 14, 2016 Amanda Plott

So after my crazy, emotional, and exhausting week(end), I needed to get back into the groove of things today. Plus, I could use all the energy that I can get right now; and of course nothing will power you through better than good food in the form of a buddha bowl.

What's a buddha bowl? Well, they can also be called 'glory bowls' or 'hippie bowls' and usually consist of greens of some sort, raw or cooked vegetables, a healthy grain like quinoa or rice, and toppings. They are usually meatless, but still rather hearty and filling.

Exactly what I need right now!...

Chickpea & Quinoa Cakes

September 12, 2014 Amanda Plott

So, I'm not really a huge fan of seafood. Okay... and by that... I mean I absolutely cannot and will not eat any sort of seafood. I've been that way for my entire life, even after living on the Oregon coast for 5 years! It has nothing to do with taste or texture, because honestly... I've had very few tastes of seafood. It is completely a mental block.

My mom says that if I would just try seafood, I would love it. Hah. Good luck getting me to try any! With all of that being said, I can't help but day dream and wonder when I see a beautiful fresh seafood dish. One thing I think I would enjoy is a crab cake.

So, this is basically my vegetarian... vegan... paleo take on a crab cake!