Quinoa Pudding

I've been using quinoa in my cooking lately. Sweet sounded good, and I just knew that I would find a quinoa pudding (like rice pudding) recipe online. This is the recipe I used, tweaked just a tad. 

The quinoa needs to be rinsed before used. Since I haven't added a fine mesh strainer to my kitchen yet, I used this old salsa jar - filled it with my quinoa, water, and then strained upside-down through a folded paper towel. Gotta get creative.

In my pan I added 3 cups of fat free half and half (no idea how it is fat free, but I'm alright with it!), cinnamon, vanilla extract, and brown sugar.

Once simmering, I added the quinoa, covered the pot 3/4 of the way, and let it go on low heat for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Kevin studied. He's not so much a fan of rice pudding, so I figured he wouldn't be super excited about a quinoa version...

MacDuff was bored. He prefers my undivided attention. Except when I'm trying to train him to "sit" and lay "down" and "come". But more on that another time.

After 30 minutes I took the pudding off the heat and let it sit fully covered for about five minutes.

This was my taste test - complete with mini bowl and spoon. (And a little extra brown sugar.)

Inspired by the recipe I was using, found here, I prettified my pudding in a small glass and chopped dried fruit - cherries and mangoes that I had on hand.

Over time, I found that the quinoa continued to absorb the cooking liquid.

This was especially delicious warm.

Later, I tried the warm quinoa with a spoonful of peanut butter mixed in. Also delightful.

I love trying new things!

So tell me: What new ingredient are you using in your kitchen?

Update

Not so much weekly.

I'm a little behind.

My house is fairly clean. The dishes are mostly done. The food is pretty much prepared (for this and next week).

It's been an up and down week. Good and bad days. Nothing too fancy or horrific.

You know?

Feeling down about my body, nothing new there. Feeling excited about gardening and canning this summer, which is actually very new.

Dreaming about the future with my husband. Planning our dream home in our minds as we fall asleep.

Shaving down MacDuff for the summer and feeling like we got a brand new dog.

Haven't exercise in a long time; unless you count the weeding I did yesterday (which my hamstrings do).

Watching "House" with Kevin in the evenings as we eat dinner. And in the mornings when neither of us work.

Having married adventures like slug dissection and Cricut card making.

The last week or so has been good and bad, up and down, boring and exciting, lonely and life-giving, crazy and normal.

All in all, I am content. Not always happy, but content. 

God is good. So is coffee. And dark chocolate. And dogs. And especially, marriage.


So tell me: How are you?

Welcome to My Humble Abode

I promise: this post contains way more pictures of our apartment than you want to see. Enjoy!

Our stairwell "entryway".

"Front" door. 

BEFORE: Living Room.

BEFORE: Living Room.

Notice the large wire contraption. Not the prettiest piece of furniture, but it keeps us sane.

BEFORE: Dining Room/Kitchen.

The kitchen extension and pantry.

BEFORE: Kitchen

Dry erase board on the fridge.

Extras bin. Little bit of everything.

One of my favorite little aids to fitting it all in.

Notice the very long curtain. One of my "to dos" still undone.

Laundry room, extended pantry, and a spaghetti squash.

Magnet board above my kitchen sink.

The MacDuff cupboard.

Who invited you, Sir?

BEFORE: Bathroom.

BEFORE: Office.

This is the catch-all room. 

Sadly, most of my scarves are buried in our storage unit. We will be reunited again soon, my loves!

Closet: games, tools, gift wrapping paraphenelia, vacuum, exercise equipment, etc.

BEFORE

The hubs studying away. Good job, Babe!!!

BEFORE: Bedroom.

Closet: I have used every last inch of space to make everything fit!

My re-planted herbs in my MIL's greenhouse. There was no direct sunlight in our kitchen (where they were living previously), so they had to be relocated. Thanks, Mom, for the herbs! I hope I didn't kill them!

I am so excited to be settled, unpacked, decorated, and even entertaining in just three weeks after moving! God has been so good to us, even when we can't see it right away. I am feeling blessed, missing the comforts of my hometown, and thanking God every day for the tremendous blessing in my husband and partner. This (huge) transition would be unbearable without you, Kevin. Thank you for listening to me, tending me, and being patient when I "OCD" about the bathroom counter!

Thank you, too, all my readers, whoever you are. Thank you for joining me along this journey. And welcome to my new home!

So tell me: What things or areas in your home give you the most joy?