Cornbread

• I got this recipe on Allrecipes, but I have modified it quite a bit. So this is my version of the recipe.
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• 2 cups cornmeal
• 2 1/2 cups milk
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
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• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a small bowl, combine cornmeal and milk; let stand for 10 minutes, whisking every couple of minutes. Grease a 9x13 inch baking pan. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, sugar and brown sugar. Mix in the cornmeal mixture, eggs and oil until smooth. Beat for 5-7 minutes with electric mixer. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake in preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a knife inserted into the center of the cornbread comes out clean.
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Tabouleh salad

Sorry, this recipe was sitting in the draft box for awhile.  I feel like I never have time to sit.  It's funny that Darci just posted a Quinoa recipe also.  And then I went to Our Best Bites and they have a post about quinoa.  It's my favorite grain-ever! We have been replacing the meat in enchilada's and using quinoa instead.  It is sooo good!  I don't have to put in a lot of cheese either.  It gives the enchilada's a nice texture.
This recipe comes from two of my very best friends. Both are very healthy eaters, and have helped me to cook more delicious and healthy meals. I have had tabouleh salad in the past, and was never that fond of it. True tabouleh salad calls for a whole entire bunch of fresh parsley. You really can't taste much of anything else in the salad. When I was pregnant with Isaac, my friend Tora came over to teach me how to cook with quinoa. So she showed how to make tabouleh salad. I told her she had to take it easy on the parsley. Her salad was so good, that I pretty much ate the whole thing myself.  Just a little FYI, quinoa is a super duper food! It so good for you! Google it. It's healthy, tasty stuff. Isaac and Lynden love this stuff. Okay, on to the recipe. Also, boxed quinoa is really expensive, at least by me.  But, if you go into a health food store, you should be able to buy it in bulk, which makes it a little cheaper.

Tabouleh salad
1 cup cooked quinoa (important note: quinoa needs to soak in water for at least an hour, because there is a bitter taste to it if you don't).
1/3 cup of lemon juice ( I have used both bottled and real lemons)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 garlic clove minced
1 T dried parsley
1/4 cup green onions
1 large tomato (chopped)
1/2 15 oz. can olives  (chopped)

To cook Quinoa:  After quinoa has soaked, rinse with fine strainer.  Bring 1 3/4 cup of water to a boil, add the rinsed quinoa. Turn burner on low and simmer for 15 minutes with lid on.
While quinoa is cooking, add lemon juice, oilive oil, garlic and parsley.  Let marinate until quinoa is done.  When quinoa is cooked, throw quinoa into a medium size bowl.  Add the lemon juice mixture and onions, tomato and olives.  Mix it real good, and try not to eat the whole thing.  It really is supposed to be chilled, but we eat both ways.  But it is awesome chilled! 

Quinoa Salad

This is the first and only recipe that I have ever made with quinoa, but really like this a lot.  It is a very hearty dish, and we actually eat it warm, but the recipe says to serve it cold.  I am sure that it is good both ways.  This is so filling by itself but if you feel like you need to have some meat with it I am sure you could add some flavored cubed chicken and it would be good.  This recipe is from one of my favorite cooking blogs, Mel's Kitchen Cafe.

1 Tbsp olive oil
1 diced onion (I never add this due to the picky husband, but I bet it is really good in there!)
2 cloves garlic
3/4 C uncooked quinoa
1 1/2 C chicken broth
1 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp salt (I never add this, I think it is a waste of sodium)
1 C frozen sweet corn
2 cans black beans
1/2 C. cilantro (or more if you are like me and pretty much love this stuff!)
lime juice to taste

Saute onion and garlic in oil.  Add quinoa and cover with broth. Add seasonings and stir.  Cover and simmer for 20 min on reduced heat. Once water is absorbed stir in corn and black beans and heat through. Stir in cilantro and lime juice.  Top with tomatoes and avocadoes if desired.  (as in I LOVE it with that stuff and Brad won't get near me when I eat it)

Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

So I know that we all have like 12 different recipes for chocolate chip cookies.  I always struggled to remember which ones I liked the best, but thanks to the lovely ladies at Our Best Bites, no more do I have that struggle!  This are by far my favorite recipe.  These are not a cakey cookie at all, so if that is how you prefer your cookies than this is not the recipe for you.  But if you like them chewy and gooey then you will love this one.

2 C. plus 2 Tbsp flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
12 Tbsp butter- melted and cooled until just warm
1 C. Brown sugar
1/2 C. granulated sugar
1 large egg plus 1 egg yolk
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 C.  Chocolate chips (I usually like to do 1C of semisweet and 1/2 C butterscotch)

Mix flour, salt, and baking soda and set aside.  Mix melted butter and sugars until thoroughly blended.  Mix in egg, yolk, and vanilla. Add dry ingredients and mix until just combined.  Stir in chips.  Bake and 325 for 10-13 minutes.  Do not transfer to a cooling rack, let them cool on the baking sheet!  YUMM!

Sausage and Beans with Rice

So I will totally admit that this does not sounds like the most enticing recipe, but it is actually pretty yummy stuff.  In fact this is probably one of Brad's favorite meals. Seriously, if he has had a rough day, I always know that if I make this for dinner he will suddenly be very happy.  The best part about it to me is that it is super easy and I don't end up with a bunch of dirty dishes.  (I really think that the clean up is the worst part of cooking)

1 C. Instant brown rice
1 C.  Broth- I use chicken but you could use whatever you want
1 can Kidney beans
1 can great northern beans
1 tsp. minced garlic
1 lb. smoked sausage (I use the turkey kielbasa sausage)
1/4 C packed brown sugar
1/4 Ketchup
1-2 Tbsp maple syrup
Mix all ingredients together in a 9x13 pan. Cover and bake at 350 for 15min.  Uncover and bake for an additional 10-15 min.  I really think that the baking time depends on the rice you use.  I always just try a bite and make sure that the rice is tender.  Sometimes it needs a few extra minutes.
But seriously, thats it! I am all about keeping it simple!