Monday, July 26, 2010

southwestern quinoa stuffed tomatoes

Today was jam packed and I know the rest of the week will be just like that. It's wedding crunch time, people! I'm feeling the pressure...

I slept really well again last night. I think I just really have a peace of mind knowing I am in my new house and pretty settled before the wedding. I woke up promptly at 7 a.m. ready to start my day!

I wasn't really that hungry this morning, but I decided overnight oats needed to make an appearance in my life - okay, let's be honest: when don't overnight oats make an appearance in my life?

do you like my pretty place mats? i got them from pottery barn - FH calls them "grandma placemats".

If you're wondering, or in case you have never made overnight oats, it's really simple! At night I combine:

- 1/3 cup oats
- 1/3 cup water, 1/3 cup almond milk
- 1/2 smashed banana
- 1 tbsp flax
- splash of vanilla

Stick it in the fridge to absorb the liquid over night. In the morning, add your favorite toppings!


my favs are blueberries, cinnamon, coconut, and peanut butter!


I did a six miler after breakfast this morning - it was absolutely perfect. The humidity was almost nonexistent this morning and it was a cool 72 degrees when I set out. Six miles in 55 minutes? I'll take it!

Today was one of those days where I was going to be gone all day and needed to prepare. I had my makeup trial, errands to run, a facial, more errands... and more errands!

On my way to my makeup trial I had this larabar:




On my way to my facial I had this:



Then when I was done with my facial, I stopped by the 'rents and gobbled down a bowl of leftover veggies from last night. I realized when I had one piece of sweet potato left that I hadn't snapped a picture. Whoops.

I also had an unpictured ice coffee from Starbuck's because they help me feel better when I am a crazy mess! :)

When I got home, I had one thing on my mind: FOOD! And a lot of it!

I created Southwestern Quinoa Stuffed Tomatoes

You'll need:
  • 1 cup dry quinoa
  • 1 can black beans, drained
  • 1/2 zucchini, chopped
  • 1/2 red pepper, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, grated
  • 1/4 white onion, diced
  • 1 cup fresh spinach
  • 2 cups liquid (veggie stock or water will do)
  • mexican spices of your choice (black pepper, red pepper, chili powder,  cumin, sea salt)
  • 4 slicing tomatoes, hollowed
How to do it:
  1. Cook your quinoa according to the package instructions. One cup of quinoa plus 2 cups of liquid on the stovetop for approximtely 15-20 minutes.
  2. While that is brewing up a storm, chop up your veggies and sautee them with cooking spray or EVOO in a saute pan.
  3. During the time in which your veggies are sauteing, hollow out four slicing tomatoes using a steak knife and spoon.
  4. Once the quinoa has cooked (they should look like little fish eggs) and the veggies are tender, combine the two and add your black beans. Mix until evenly combined.
  5. Add mexican spices to taste.
  6. Spoon quinoa mixture into hollowed out tomatoes.
  7. Served warm or chilled.



this baby not only looked delicious, it tasted delish too!

i won't lie... i had to have mine sans black beans because i don't have a can opener!
On the side, I had half of an avocado.

And a side salad! This was the perfect summer meal. All of the flavors went together very well!



Tonight, FH and I practiced a few things such as our first kiss and dance - do you think that's dorky? If you do... I don't really care. I found it to be fun. If you're married, did you practice this too?

I'm off to go snack - those blueberry muffins are calling my name!

Question: What is your idea of the perfect summer meal?

24 comments:

  1. That dinner looks awesome!

    My husband and I were so busy, I don't even think we thought about practicing those. But if that makes you more at ease, go for it!

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  2. mmm your dinner looks amazing!!! grilled things and salads are summery to me. dude. your wedding is like here. i think i'm going to get my toes done for you!!! :)
    and your placemats are not grandma to me, they are so vintage chic!! :)

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  3. Dinner sounds amazing! We didn't practice that stuff as I was so busy at the time I don't know that it crossed my mind, but I think it's awesome that you guys did! I think it's so cute!

    My perfect summer meal is anything on the grill and a very large fruit salad!!

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  4. Love the Grandma place mats :)And your dinner looks great and summery! I love that you are practicing, so cute :)

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  5. @teenagehealthfreak ahahaha yessss! I think you should too - we're all going on Thursday, so I'll think of you! :)

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  6. hey beautiful1!!
    LOVE that summer meal! I LOVE STUFFED PEPPERS! never had a stuffed mater tho! i bet id love that. fav summer meal- GRILLING OUT!
    feel ya on the starbucks thing.. starbucks is so soothing!

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  7. Aww I think it's sweet that you practiced your first kiss and dance. That's too cute! And I can't believe you're so calm in the week leading up to your wedding! I'd be freaking for sure...

    That quinoa dinner looks delish! My fave summer meal is pretty much anything with grilled veggies, avocado, and salsa.

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  8. The perfect summer meal can probably be anything for me- as long as it's paired with salad! I love how refreshing it can be...

    Good luck with all the last minute details!

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  9. Oh, those stuffed tomatoes look great!

    My favorite summer dinner is probably tons of grilled veggies finished off with a large dish of super cold watermelon. Yum. :D

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  10. Oh wow this looks great! I think I'll try it w/ couscous :D

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  11. Love avocado.
    I like big oatmeal messes. A recent combo I tried was a mess of oats, yogurt, walnuts, tons of coconut flakes, blueberries, banana, etc...and adding brown sugar and maple syrup to oatmeal is amazing...try it!
    (and happy belated birtday).

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  12. That meal is genius! Love it!
    We did not practice our first dance at all, but we made sure we were on the same page with our first kiss...we ended up joking around and laughing so hard at all the hilarious ways we could kiss each other. Ha! good memories.

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  13. @carascravingswe went through the "no that's too long", "no that's too short!" phase... then we moved onto hand placement (bc if I know FH, he would do something innappropriate haha!!!) - I told him I needed to put my hand on the side of his face where the photographer wouldn't see it so it wouldn't be blocked!

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  14. I love how colorful that is - the stuffed peppers look delicious!

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  15. that is a goregous stuffed tomato and salad. haha i love that you practice that wedding stuff. :) I'm not married but i imagine i would!

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  16. I love how the quinoa is like overflowing from the tomato! That's my kind of stuffed tomato :D

    I hope these types of good days continue for you!

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  17. The stuffed tomatoes look delish! I'll be making them when we get home from vacation!

    We did not practice our first kiss or our first dance, but it probably wouldn't have hurt! Nothing went "wrong" on wedding day, but the hubs was REALLY nervous, so practicing might have calmed him down a little (On the other hand, it might have stressed him out even more)!

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  18. Ahhh I LOVE quinoa and I've been looking for something to do with all the tomatoes from my garden! This looks tasty!

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  19. i never would have thought to stuff a tomato!! seriously a genius idea girlie :) I will have to try that asap.

    oh that cashew cookie larabar. makes me swoon :)

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  20. Love the stuffed pepper idea! I've made this before but with rice so quinoa would be a great change!

    My hubby and I have 4 left feet so we didn't do a first dance. But I think it is too cute that you guys are practicing for yours!

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  21. I must try to make those stuffed tomatoes! They look absolutely divine!

    xo

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  22. best thing i read in this post.. THE FACIAL! i bet that was so relaxing, made me kind of relaxed just picturing one <3

    i love tomatoes more than peppers so the idea of stuffin a tomato appeals to me immensely!! thats a very clean meal combo, lots a vitamin and minerals jammed in there !!

    xoxo :)

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  23. I love your "grandma placemats"!! And iced coffee totally makes me feel better too. Your stuffed tomatoes look quite perfect.. my favorite summer meal is anything grilled! And LOTS of fruit too :)

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  24. My perfect summer meal would be an asian-inspired salad with sugar snap peas, coriander, shredded cabbage, prawns or tofu and a zingy, spicy, sweet, thai dressing. I wish it was summer here now!

    And that we had larabars in Aus...

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