One of my favorite new ways to enjoy quinoa is by adding a good bit to my breakfast.  I eat oatmeal or oatbran just about everyday for breakfast.  I’m pretty much an oatmeal purist, which means I don’t like to add a lot of “stuff” to my oatmeal.  I also do not eat “oats in a jar”, it’s just not my style nor does it make for an attractive food picture to look at (true statement).

Of course there are a few exceptions of things I’ll add to my oats, like fruit for example.  Oh summer time and peach oats, how I cannot wait for you to show up!  Another thing I really like adding to my oats is quinoa.  It gives my morning breakfast a little bit of a twist in texture but not enough to throw off the meal.  It’s an easy and quick way to bump up the protein content of the oats without having to rely on a nut butter or going the savory oats (eggs, etc) route.  Since I don’t like savory oats at all, quinoa is right up my alley!

I add in cooked quinoa when I add in the oats.  If I’m making oatbran, once it starts to thicken up a bit, then I’ll toss in the quinoa.  I add probably about 1/2C of quinoa to the mixture.  The oats and oatbran I make in the morning gets divided between Scott and I.  I eat 3/4 of it because I eat and need a bigger breakfast than he does.

I’ve read that one can make a breakfast dish with straight up quinoa.  Cooked quinoa with the addition of some liquid will result in a creamy breakfast dish much like oatbran in texture.  I have not tried this out only because I’m too in love with oats and oatbran to move on to another.  For now, I’ll just keep adding in some quinoa from time to time.

Today ends pizza month here at OHC!  Hopefully you all had fun talking about pizza as much as I did!

One of the best tips I have for making pizza at home is prep ahead!  You all know by now that I’m huge on getting things done ahead of time when you can.  It makes life so much easier! And it will make you feel great when you can easily assemble a wonderful meal at home as opposed to reaching for something processed and icky.

Prepping ahead is key for me!  If I didn’t prep ahead then we wouldn’t be having pizza on Thursday night!

Dough:

We’ve talked about how you can make the dough ahead of time and freeze it.  You can also make it a day early and just keep it in the fridge.  I usually make the dough the day of, after lunch and let it hang out till I’m ready to use it.

Toppings:

Toppings I will sometimes prep the day before especially if we’re going to have a lot going on.  I precook sausage too!  My goal is to have everything ready to go so that when it is time to assemble the pizza, that is the only thing I have to do is assemble.  Nothing else!  No chopping, mixing, prepping, nothing.  Just layer and bake!

If you make sauce, definitely get that going early.  You can even make large batches and freeze in servings just the right size for pizza.  Pull it out the day before and stick in the fridge to thaw.

If you use pre-shredded cheese, stock up when it goes on sale!  That will store in the freezer easily.  Then when ready, pull out and stick in the fridge for a few hours before you need it to give it a chance to thaw out.

Know your veggies:

All veggies are great on pizza but some need a little more love and care before topping your pie.

Carrots and zucchini are faves around here.  They contain a lot of liquid and can make the pizza soggy if not dealt with before using.  I like them shredded because then I can fit more on the pizza!  I shred them and place them on paper towels.  I fold them up in the towels and place in a storage bag. I let them hang out like that in the fridge for several hours or even a day.  The paper towels (or dish towel if you prefer) will soak up and pull the moisture out of the veggies.  This way they will not cause the pizza to be soggy, but will turn out nice and crispy when baked!

Mushrooms can be full of water too.  I lightly sautee them before adding them as a topping.

Peppers and onions, if thinly sliced will brown up nicely.  Big thick slices of pepper might not cook enough and can leak some water out on the top.

Sundried tomatoes can burn quickly, even the marinated kind.  They do best mixed with cheese instead of right on top.

Broccoli should be chopped small so that no one is forced to bite into a huge broccoli floret!

Fresh spinach can be chopped and sprinkled right on top.  It will wilt nicely! Precooked spinach can sometimes lay heavy and taste the same.  Fresh keeps things light and airy!

Now get busy prepping for pizza this week!  You know you want to make some!

Ever see this at a pizza joint?

Veggie Lover’s Pizza! Contains: Onions, Peppers, Mushrooms!

I get so disappointed when I see that!  How generic can you get?  Plus mushrooms aren’t even a veggie!  Perhaps just using onions, peppers, and mushrooms is cheaper but it is very much of a let down when you love veggies.

I don’t even consider that a veggie pizza!  Three toppings?  Pleeeze.

I love veggies on my pizza and I love experimenting with new toppings.  Some of my favorite veggie toppings are:

• Spinach
• Shredded Carrot
• Shredded Zucchini
• Chopped Broccoli

Spinach is just fantastic no matter what.  Carrot and zucchini get nice and crispy as the pizza cooks and roasted broccoli is one of the most amazing things.  All of them make excellent pizza toppers! And uh, adding cheese to the mix just makes things that much more awesome.  That includes soy cheese! I have had some very yummy soy cheese on pizza before.  Mmmm veggies and cheese!

We’ve done artichokes and sundried tomatoes as well.  I haven’t tried cauliflower or eggplant yet but that will for sure make the rotation eventually.

I suppose some people are picky and don’t want veggies on their pizza.  If you have one of those peeps in your life, try putting the shredded carrot and zucchini under the cheese.  I swear you can’t even tell it’s there! And you might get to sneak some veggies into someone’s life.

Trying different veggies allows you to not only experiment with the veggies but provides you a different application in which to try them out.  Maybe you will fall in love with something you didn’t really enjoy before!

Do you like veggies on your pizza?  If so, what are some of your faves?

One of the best things about pizza is that it is a vehicle for whatever you decide to do to it.  It can carry whatever toppings you want and it can also have whatever sauce you want.

Trying out different base sauces for pizza can be a very rewarding experience! And while something might not turn our perfect, the chances of it still tasting mighty fine are high.

While I do love old school style with straight up pizza sauce, I also enjoy testing out new sauces as well!  Pesto works really great as a pizza base and it’s something that can easily be made at home with honestly, whatever ingredients you have on hand.

Heating up some olive oil with a few cloves of cracked garlic, then brushing that on top of the dough can be used as a base to great pizza.  Simple and very easy! Plus it helps keep the pizza really light and airy.

Did you make pasta and have some leftover sauce?  Use that as a base! It doesn’t even have to be a tomato sauce, maybe you have some creamy cheese sauce leftover?  Maybe you have leftover BBQ sauce from a recent cookout?  Or perhaps a leftover dressing from a salad?  Try it!  Who knows, you just might discover the next best thing!

Remember it’s pizza month!  Sunday I posted my very favorite dough recipe that we always use for pizza night.  Today I’m passing on the tip of freezing pizza dough.

Perhaps you don’t have the extra 10 minutes in a day to make your own dough.  This is okay!  There is still a way you can have fresh homemade pizza dough ready when you are, all you have to do is freeze it!

There has to be a day when you have some extra time.  Perhaps it is during the weekend?  Maybe it’s Sunday evening when you are prepping everything for the upcoming week.  Use this time to make some dough!

Once the dough is made, wrap in plastic wrap and place in a freezer bag.  Then just toss in your freezer.  This way it is ready and waiting for you when you need it.

The day you want to make pizza, pull out the dough, unwrap and stick in an olive oil coated bowl.  Let it thaw and it will rise as it thaws.  When you are ready to make pizza, roll out the dough and get to it!

The dough will take a few hours to thaw.  You can also pull it out first thing in the morning before heading to work.  Do the same as above but stick the dough in the fridge.

Easy peasy homemade pizza dough ready when you are!

Making food at home doesn’t have to be a daunting task, nor does it have to take you hours to create.  Planning and multitasking can acheive just about anything!  Now really, by this point you just have no excuse not to make your own dough.

Hey gang!  This post is spawned from my most recent encounters with drivers as me and my running shoes are navigating the roads in the mornings.

Because I run early in the morning, and by early I mean, I am the sun’s alarm clock, I get to encounter sleepyheads on their way to work, school, store, dealer, where-ever they happen to be going.

First things first, I run on the road.  The road is softer on my knees and it’s easier.  The sidewalks tend to be uneven and have stuff on them.  Including snow when people don’t feel like shoveling.  Anyway, because I’m on the road that means I’m sharing space with drivers.

Sometimes this can be a little dodgy because I have discovered that early in the morning people aren’t really paying attention to where they’re going.  They are on autopilot.  When you are on the road and someone in a huge metal box is approaching you at a high rate of speed and you realize they are not paying attention, yes things can become tense there for a few seconds.

We all need to share space and respect each other’s boundaries, right?  Right!  So here’s some quickie little tips for Drivers on how to handle The Runner.

1. I understand that this might seem odd to you but I promise that we are allowed on the road to run.  Really, we are.  And while it might seem strange, yes we are in fact supposed to be running facing traffic.  Going with traffic is for bikers because they are technically on something considered a mode of transportation.  Therefore they have to follow the same rules as you.  As runners, we need to be able to see things coming at us just in case we need to get out of the way, hence running facing traffic.  Looking at us like we’re crazy or making gestures like we should be on the sidewalks doesn’t endear us to you.  We can see you when you do such things.  Just like the drivers picking their noses, you aren’t invisible either, we can see you in there.

2. When you do encounter a runner on the road please scoot your car over a bit making room for everyone.  If I can touch your car as you drive by, you are too close for my comfort and what should be yours!

3. When backing out of your driveway, please look around to make sure the way is clear.  I have brought this up before.  When you do spot a runner waiting on you to finish backing out, don’t wave them past.  Especially do not do the exasperated wave as if we are in your way and you are waiting on us to stop being a nuisance.  Waving us past, I understand might seem like a polite gesture but really it isn’t.  I will tell you why, runners have no desire to run behind your running car that is already in reverse and sitting on a slope just waiting for gravity and the car motor to get to work. By running behind you like that, we are forced to trust you with our lives.  Trust that you aren’t going to start backing up or to gun it knocking us over.  Best course of action is just to finish backing out of your driveway so that all parties involved can then move on and go about their business.

4. Turn signals are your friend and a runner’s friend.  If I am running down the road and a car approaching me just stops in the middle of the road, I am also going to stop.  You stop, I stop.  I have no idea what you’re about to do and honking at me, cursing at me, and waving frantically at me doesn’t help the situation.  If you don’t have your turn signal on, how am I supposed to know you are trying to park?  Or turn into that driveway?  Or turn on to that other street?  Unless you provide me with some cues, I have no idea what your intentions are.

These are things I have been encountering more of recently and I’m not sure why the increase but it is a bit frustrating.

The bottom line is that you are in a vehicle and a runner is not.  A runner doesn’t have tons of steel to protect them if they get hit. There are some butthead runners too, so please don’t think I’m just slamming on drivers.

The truth is that everybody is responsible for everybody else along with being responsible for themselves.  Keep that in mind when you’re out on the road, whether you’re driving or running.  Be aware, be courteous, and be responsible.

Drinks on us

Most of us drink water throughout the day right?  Sure we might have some coffee or tea at some point as well but water is what makes the day.  Or at least it’s always on my mind, making sure I get enough water.

Taking in enough water keeps my system running smooth and believe it or not, helps keep the bloat at bay.  But you want to know a secret?

By the end of the day I am sometimes very tired of drinking some flipping water.  I want something a little different to shake up the day.  A squeeze of lemon or a slice of cucumber added to the water for zing, doesn’t cut it.  I want something more.  Something with UMPH! Something that keeps my mouth from being bored.

I started having evening drinks.  I’m not talking about wine or beer or something alcoholic.  I just mean something different that I didn’t have all day long.

I typically have seltzer and when I’m feeling super special, I’ll have some flavored mineral water. Oh I know what you’re thinking, “Ooo look at you living on the edge!”

Whatever.  It’s different and that’s my point.

Seltzer is cheap.  I can buy a liter of it for 79 cents at most places, including Whole Foods.  Most times I have it straight up but sometimes I have it with some fruit or a splash of juice.

I realize that this might sound a little dorky but having a special drink at the end of the day really helps me relax and unwind.  Everyone usually mentions that in regards to wine or the like, but let’s be honest, that isn’t always an option.  Despite the “health benefits” drinking alcohol everyday isn’t really a great idea.  So change it up and create your own special end of the day drink!  One that is unique, flavorful, special, and also keeping in line with your healthy lifestyle.

It will be something you can look forward to and when you sip it, you know that your day is done and it is time to unwind.  I like sipping on seltzer when I start making dinner some evenings.  I like making a special drink for Scott and I to have while we discuss our days.  I like the idea of having something special at the end of everyday.  I am a firm believer in that everyday should be treated like it’s golden while still keeping health in perspective.

Just like how your body gets used to you reaching for that mug of coffee or tea in the mornings, it will react the same way when you start having a lovely drink in the evenings.  You’ll instantly know that it’s time to kick off the shoes, slap on some jammies, and get busy with Mr. Couch.  I mean that in a totally literal sense.  It’s time to chill before starting all it over again the next day.

Grab a drink and relax!

Despite the fact that I can’t stand Valentine’s Day and would rather celebrate Zombies instead, if you think I’ll pass up all the cutesy decorations you are totally wrong.  That stuff goes on sale fast and you can get it for el cheapo!  Stores treat Valentine’s decorations much like Halloween decorations, once the day is over they are worthless and marked down like crazy.  That’s when I make my move and snatch that stuff up like Britney at a drive-through.

Valentine’s Day decorations and whatnot don’t have to be just for Valentine’s Day.  I promise, it’s totally true!  I use this stuff all the time for our birthday celebrations and our anniversary.  I have nice red wrapping paper with hearts all over it that I use to wrap up Scott’s birthday presents.

For nice date night dinners I pull out the candle holders and heart plates.  Use the heart champagne glasses and maybe pull out the heart mugs for the next day’s coffee.

I also take some of this stuff with us when we go stay in cabins.  It’s a romantic getaway so why not take that extra step and make it super special?

My point being, don’t fall into the trap of thinking that Valentine’s Day stuff can only be used for that silly holiday in February.  Branch out and use it for your next date night at home!  Or for your anniversary dinner!  It’s cute and it’s fun; might as well get the most out of it that you can!

Ever meet one of those people who hates vegetables?  Or they only like certain vegetables like corn and potatoes?  Or they come back with, “Yeah I had that once and didn’t like it.”, therefore totally dismissing the veggie never to try it again.

I’ve come across many people like this.  Most of them are very hard to convince to try something.  Shaking their head and pushing it away like they’re a toddler.

What I want to tell them is try the veggie again using a different cooking method.  Different cooking methods bring out different tastes in the vegetable.  Roasted cauliflower tastes totally different than steamed cauliflower, which tastes totally different than boiled cauliflower.

The best example I have for this situation is the relationship between me and carrots.  Oh cooked carrots were vile vile things.  Mushy and totally flavorless unless you were lucky enough to get some that tasted like basement.  Mmmm tasty!

But raw carrots I love!  Love them!  So I thought, “Andrea this is ridiculous, you love carrots so there must be a way to enjoy cooked carrots.”  And I worked on it till I found out what I liked.  I love roasted carrots.  I also love carrots that have been roasting with something else, like a chicken or porkchops.

My point being that before you write-off a vegetable completely give it a few chances to woo you.  And yes I’m realistic, I know there are going to be some things that no matter what, are not going to be tasty.  We all have those!  Mine tends to be mushrooms even though they are not technically a veggie but a fungus, they do seem to be included in all veggie things.  Have you noticed that?  I hate mushrooms and even covered in glorious cheese, I find them repulsive.  I don’t mind cooking with them and have no problem picking them out of something because their taste doesn’t affect the overall dish to me.  Unlike olives, for example, which corrupt everything they touch.  Ick.

When I purchase a veggie that I have not had before I tend to go with the roasting method first.  I really like roasted veggies and it’s the safest technique for me to try out.  Unless it’s greens, then I go the soup or noodle dish route.  Doing this  introduces me to the veggie and tells me about it’s taste and texture.  Then once I have that down I can play with the veggie a little bit more figuring out how I like it and how I might not like it.

So many people claim to not like veggies or they have a huge list of veggies they don’t like that it makes me wonder if they’ve really given the veggies a chance?  If you’ve only ever had jellied cooked carrots that your Aunt Peggy makes for every family function, then how do you know what a cooked carrot really tastes like if you’ve never tried it outside of that one dish?  Give veggies a chance!  Expand your palate and try cooking the veggies in different ways.  Maybe you’ll discover a new love!