Quinoa Tabbouleh

Inspired by a bag of organic whole grain Quinoa (Keen-wa) at Costco the other week, I decided to make Quinoa Tabbouleh.  Thanks to Martha Stewart and her Tabbouleh rendition, I enjoyed making, eating and sharing 3 recipes of this refreshing salad.  Although I thought that I was cooking, can you cook salad?  Well I did roast and boil the Quinoa grains, kinda like boiling noodles or steaming rice.  Does that count?

Supposedly high in fiber and iron, according to wikipedia, this grain was derived from the Middle East and has a lot of nutritional value that they are considering this as a staple for space food for astronauts. 

Baking: Banana Blueberry Streusel Muffins by Cooks.Com

After being inspired to watch Julia & Julie, I looked through the refrigerator to see what main ingredients we had...found Costco frozen blueberries and a bunch of apple bananas.  So, I typed those two ingredients into Google and found Cooks.Com Banana Blueberry Streusel Muffins to include all the other ingredients I already had in the house.  

In case you're wondering, Streusel, according to Wikipedia is a German word meaning 'something scattered or sprinkled' referring to a crumb topping of butter, flour and white sugar....(learned something new). 

I realize though, I didn't make my streusel correctly...didn't quite come out crumbly, but I know now what to do with the topping...none the less, got a thumbs up from hubby and family!  Bon Appetite!

 Yay!  Got all the ingredients!

Martha Stewart Mini Muffin pan (greased)

Yay Muffins to Share!

Movie Review: Julia & Julie

Kristen recommended this movie since it also involved blogging and a passionate hobby.  This was such a cute and inspiring film about 2 women of different eras rebuilding their lives post WWII and post 9/11. Based on two true stories of Julia Child and Julie Powell, actors Meryl Streep and Amy Adams do a wonderful job portraying and telling their tales.   With a passion for cooking and sharing food with those they love, this film was inspiring and heartwarming.  Both of their husbands were so supportive of their wives and had a blissful but also a real life relationships.   I admire Julie Powell for sticking through so diligently to go through 524 recipes in 365 days - she actually accomplished something from start to finish, something she has been known not to do by her mother.   Here's to rebuilding and finding our passions to share with those we love. 

Which leads me to my next post.

Crafts: Gift Bags

So, I thought to look around the house to see what supplies I had for a possible hobby and I found these in the closet from a craft hobby that I was attempting to start and expand.  Didn't get too far.   I was inspired by someone who gave a gift bag similar so I thought to use what I had a create these gift bags from the ribbons, paper and accessories I found. 

Using existing supply of papers

Using Existing supply of ribbons

Final product - 3 fun gift bags

Movie Review: The Karate Kid

Since I still think watching movies can be a hobby, I am writing about the latest movie in my NetFlix Queue, "The Karate Kid" with Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan.  Some of the key takeaways from this movie...
~"Even when you fall or get knocked down in life, only you can pick yourself back up."  You may have friends along the way helping, but only you can get back into the game. 

This also made me start thinking of another possible hobby...working out with discipline to be in great shape for martial arts (does Tae Bo count?)  To have a passion and desire to get through without giving up.  A lot of times I start a project and give up half way either due to a distraction from another possible hobby or not motiviated to finish...this film helps me to be motivated to finish things...hopefully it's not motivated by fear of bullies chasing after me at school in a foreign land.