Wednesday Memes

Just kidding

 

Find the Kitty

 Can you find the kitty here?  I did!  

Quinoa Salad

 I made this quinoa salad just after Christmas using this recipe.  I made the quinoa easily in my rice cooker.  One part quinoa (rinsed)  to 2 parts water basically.  Then you mix it with chickpeas, cucumber, a bell pepper and finally add your dressing.

Stuffed Squash

 I made this stuffed acorn squash this past Chrismas Day.  My friend S had included it with her Christmas gift along with some other thoughtful non food items.  

This Jamie Oliver TV show had given me an idea for a stuffed squash.  I was further inspired by this recipe.  This is what I ended up doing:

1 large acorn squash halved tip to stem, seeded

1-2 tbs olive oil

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

1/4 tsp red pepper flakes

1-2 tbs lemon juice

1//2 onion chopped

2 cloves garlic minced

1/2 tsp dried oregano

1/2 c uncooked 10 multigrain rice (can substitute quinoa)

1 c water

1/4 c dried cranberries

1 rib celery chopped

400F

line baking sheet with parchment paper

Rub olive oil, salt, pepper over cut side of seeded squash pieces.  Bake cut side down 30 minutes.

Meanwhile cook quinoa or multigrain rice with added water.  I used my rice cooker.  Transfer to a medium bowl and mix in cranberries.  

In a skillet, saute onion, celery then garlic.  Add salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, oregano.  Squeeze in lemon juice.  Add this to the cooked rice or quinoa.  Fill the squash with this when it is baked.  Return to the over for another 20 minutes.

Travelling Vicariously

 My brother and his family were recently cruising Australia among other places and shared these photos of koala bears and Kangaroos at the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary in Brisbane Australia.  They got to hold the koalas and my sister-in-law says they are as soft and huggable as they look!  Travelling vicariously as Jenn would say!

3-4" Spider

Friday Art - Yangtze River scene

 Welcome to Friday Art!  I am showing a Yangtze River scene inspired by a photo taken by my sister-in law-years ago when they did a cruise to China.

Linking to Gillena's Art for Fun Friday.

For Nicole's Friday Face Off I am showing my Koala ACEO ( 2 1/2" x 3 1/2") inspired once again by my sister-in-law's photo taken on a recent trip to Australia.  This piece was done in watercolour pencils and pens.

Rain's Thursday Art and Dinner Date - Aerial View and sirloin tip roast

 Welcome to Rain's Thursday Art and Dinner Date.

For the art date I am showing my aerial view ACEO (2 1/2" x 3 1/2") using my water based markers.  It is a view looking down into a living room from an upstairs balcony (not my house).

For the dinner date I am showing my sirloin tip roast.  I used this recipe as a guide.  It is not a tender roast, so has to be cooked differently than a tender roast.  It is delicious.

1 4-5 lb sirloin tip roast

2 tbs olive oil

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp pepper

salt to taste

1 tsp dried herb, can use fresh

1 onion

marinate roast

place roast on top of sliced onions

roast at 450F for 15 mins

then at 300F 50-75 mins 135F internal temp for med rare

I ate the onions with my thinly sliced roast.