determined to eliminate procrastination~Journal #24 4/3/2010

Outlook...determined to eliminate procrastination

On My Mind...a new Personal Progress challenge issued at church yesterday not only to LDS Young Women but all women. I've got something in mind to accomplish by the November deadline.

Delicious in the Kitchen...Lately, I've taken to turning old favorites into flavor packed powerhouses of low-fat, high-density Quinoa Taco Salad. Since iceberg lettuce has been black-balled as practically worthless in nutrition, I prefer to make our salads with romaine, spinach, or my own micro-greens. I'm making this delicious version of taco salad using a mixture of the above greens plus cilantro and sprouts as a substitute for iceberg for our FHE dinner tonight. Instead of fried chips, we'll enjoy the nutty, crunchy texture of quinoa. I'll serve this with mixed berry, banana, orange, and buckwheat green smoothie. Won't you give it a try?

1 c. Quinoa

1 onion, pureed

2 cloves garlic, minced

½ c. Red Pepper, thin julian strips

½ c. Yellow Pepper, medium julian strips

½ c. Green Pepper, thick julian strips

1-½ t. Cumin ½ t. Oregano 1 t. Chili Powder 1/2 t. Cayenne Pepper

2 c. cooked black or pinto beans

1 c. diced tomatoes

3 whole limes

10-16 oz, baby spinach, romaine, and micro-green combo (or choose only one)

1 c. cilantro

1 c. clover or alfalfa sprouts

1-2 avocados, sliced

Nutritional Yeast Flakes

1. Cook the quinoa according to package instructions.

2. Meanwhile, slowly saute onion over low heat for 15-20 minutes, until it begins to brown and is very soft.

3. Add garlic, cumin, oregano, chili powder, and cayenne and saute for an additional 5 minutes.

4. Remove from heat.

5. Stir in the black beans, peppers, tomatoes, and the juice of 1 lime.

6. Stir in the quinoa. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

7. Chill.

8. Roughly cut spinach and romaine into strips, as iceberg lettuce is shredded for tacos.

9. Chop cilantro leaves.

10. Toss cilantro with greens. 1

11. Divide green mixture evenly among 4-6 salad plates.
12. Top each plate with a scoop of the quinoa salad and a small handful of sprouts.

13. Top each salad with a sprinkle of nutritional yeast flakes and sliced avocado fan that has been sprinkled with the juice of one lime and a dash of cayenne.

14. Cut the remaining lime into slices to garnish the plates.

Homemaking...Pantry Principle Area 3 again

Biblio Fix...spending time with many children's picture books right now...

Praying for...little Oakley, since she's my grandchild of the week. Let all her little girl worries be lovingly understood and little girl trials and burdens will be made light. Let her remember to be kind and good to her parents, siblings, and everyone she meets.

Appearance...khaki ballet length skirt with rear kick pleat, powder pink v-neck sweater with white blouse, black berkies

Movement...not much...even though I'm not as stiff after my little adventure last Friday as I thought I'd be, exercising is on the back burner for a few more days.

Scripture Meditations..."Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death." 2 Corinthians 7:9-10 Grateful for the ability to repent. sometimes I'm such a disaster.

Something New...I love to do things out of the ordinary. I'm in the planning stages to build a window farm in my kitchen window for culinary herbs.

My week is looking...full as I prepare to visit family in AZ.

God has been teaching me...once again to think before I speak.

Simple Pleasure...sunshine streaming through the window...