DailyQuote

Its beginning to look a lot like christmas!

Every year I want to decorate the house earlier and earlier and this year me and the boy decided to put it up just before december!  I have this tradition that I will buy 1 new ornament every year so therefore my tree has a different bauble on it. I shall try and do this with my future children too so they too can have their own tree decorations! So this year I have yet to decide on a bauble to buy. Perhaps one from a christmas market!

The Great Quinoa Adventure!

Last night, as usual I was finding it hard to sleep.  So you find yourself browsing Pinterest for hours on end.  I stumbled upon this recipe for baked parmesan quinoa & this lunchtime I wanted to find out how truly scrumptious it really was. 

I had some quinoa in the cupboard (a year out of date but after 10minutes googling I discovered that it can have shelf life of 2-3 years after its printed date, thanks eatbydate*!)


Ingredients

1 Tbsp olive oil
1 medium onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced (i used 2 large cloves and chopped finely)
2 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce 
1 (15 oz) can no salt added diced tomatoes (i just used 1 can of plum tomatoes in sauce)
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (left these out as did not have any!)
basil and oregano, to taste (I used about 1/4 cup total) (again i used sage & oregano!)
1 cup quinoa, uncooked
2 cups water
1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 cup (4 oz) fresh mozzarella cheese, shredded and divided ( i also used mature cheddar instead of mozzarella!)
1 oz parmigiano-reggiano or pecorino romano, shredded
2 Tbsp breadcrumbs (optional, exclude to make gluten-free) (I left these out as well!!!)

I made the quinoa first - 2 cups of water & the quinoa, bring to boil and simmered for about 20minutes. Drained & left to cool.
Water In a pan, bring to boil & simmer with chicken breasts in for 5 minutes, turn and repeat for another 5minutes
In a pan, gently cook the chopped onion until soft, add the garlic (30 seconds) I added the balsamic and cooked until absorbed.  
Add the tomatoes, season with pepper & herbs, I also splashed some white wine in (make sure you burn off the alcohol slow simmer for 10min or so) 
Add chicken and then quinoa. 
Transfer half to baking dish and add grated cheese of choice (mozzarella,cheddar etc) then the rest of the sauce then top with rest of cheese.  Cover with foil and bake in oven (375 or 170 fan) for around 10/15minutes or until as desired! 

As you can see I enjoyed this thoroughly, very tasty, although I would of used fresh herbs if i could of & possibly half a tin of tomatoes on top of that 1 can I used. Overall a lovely different dish and quinoa will be a staple in my kitchen from now on!! 

love
harrietflorence
x

References

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/127086020710859428/
http://www.eatbydate.com/grains/quinoa/
http://preventionrd.com/2012/05/money-matters-baked-quinoa-and-chicken-parmesan/

Im munching on.....

This gorgeous salad is something i always go to for lunch. A basic salad but mix up your toppings every so often to keep it interesting. Today i have living salad with cucumber, tomato, spring onion, olives, orange peppers & carrots.  My toppings are chorizzo and stilton. A little cap full of olive oil, a balsamic glaze, you know the thick gloopy stuff (sell it in morrisons in squeezy bottle) & finally some pepper to taste.  V nice!

Healthy New Start

Not exactly new year is it? But that doesnt stop myself, oh no I am one hundred percent up to my challenge of becoming more and more healthy each day. By one day, i mean one day! The food is healthy & fresh, more salads, less carbs, more fruit, less fat. The balance is key and so far good results! I shall be keeping to my word and updating this frequently, so perhaps a daily food photo

Addiction with Killings....

I have really been addicted to The Killing, us version recently. The way the actors connect with each other, to the plot itself. Leaves me hanging on to watch the next and the next. To be sure its a good series.. Will the end leave me in enough suspense to by the next....?! 

Magic Your Way.....

Totally excited about the 4 week wait until i am 30,000 ft in the sky jetting towards sunny Florida!! Staying in Disneyworld, will be the best 2 weeks of my life!!! Crippling my bank balance, trying to fit a whole life's worth of wishes and dreams into fourteen days - exhausted.co.uk!! Will not regret it & look forward to bloggin about jt soon :) 

Be happy, HarrietFlorence 

XxX