{recipe} quinoa "risotto" with mushrooms & spinach

So. I have been on a gym kick lately. 

I really don't enjoy the actual act of working out, but I sure do love how my body feels after I do it. There is nothing quite like the post-work out endorphins release to make you feel like a hundred bucks. When I got home from the gym last night, I knew that I wanted something fresh and healthy. I have already talked about all of the health benefits quinoa has and how much I love it in another blog post. This meal did not disappoint either. 

Quinoa "Risotto" with Mushrooms & Spinach

Recipe adapted from Wednesday Food Blogging

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/2 cup diced sweet onion
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 2 cups mushrooms, sliced
• 1/2 cup white wine
• 1 1/2 cup quinoa, rinsed
• 1 1/2 cups chicken stock
• 1/2 lb fresh spinach, chopped
• Parmesan cheese, to taste.

**Notes: The original recipe called for shallots but I didn't have any, so I substituted the onion and garlic for it. Also, you can use mushroom or vegetable stock and omit the Parmesan cheese to make this meal vegan.

Directions:

1. Heat the olive oil in a large saute pan. Saute onions and mushrooms in olive oil over high heat, until onions are clear and soft. Add the garlic and stir for 30 seconds.
2. Stir in the white wine, and when the wine is absorbed, add the quinoa and the mushroom stock. Stir to combine and lower the heat as low as possible. Cover the pan and let simmer for 20-25 minutes until most of the liquid is absorbed.
3. Add the fresh spinach to the top, cover, and heat for 2-3 minutes or until spinach is cooked. Stir to combine.
4. Serve immediately, with Parmesan if desired.

This meal was perfect after a long workout at the gym.

What is your favorite post-gym dinner? 

xo, Jen

{recipe} cinnamon sugared & spanish spiced roasted almonds

I adore flavored almonds but they are S-O-O expensive.

I never realized how easy and inexpensive they were to make on your own until my roommate nominated me to make them for a little martini and appetizers party we had at our apartment before finals week. I was the only one out of all of my friends without any finals (um, perfect last semester schedule right there), so I cooked my little heart away for about 7 hours straight. It was exhausting. Now I know how my parents feel whenever they throw dinner parties. Whew.

My favorite out of the two of these were the cinnamon sugared almonds, but the spanish spiced were quite yummy too (and much easier to make!) 

Cinnamon Sugared Roasted Almonds:

Recipe by How Sweet It Is.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup raw almonds
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/8 cup cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup raw sugar
• 1-2 egg whites, beaten until foamy

Directions:

1. Mix sugars, cinnamon, and salt in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, beat egg whites until foamy.
2. Dip almonds in egg whites, then in sugar mixture. Place on a baking sheet.
3. Roast at 275 for 30-45 minutes, tossing occasionally. 

Spanish Spiced Almonds
Recipe from Food.Com

Ingredients:

• 4 teaspoons olive oil
• 1 1/4 teaspoons smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 2 cups whole raw almonds
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt, to taste

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 300*F.
2. Warm the oil in a small saucepan over low heat. Add paprika and cumin, and stir 1 minute to mix and release flavors. Remove from heat when mixture just begins to bubble. Move to a medium bowl and stir in almonds.
3. Transfer almonds to a parchment paper lined baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes.
4. Sprinkle right away with salt, and more to wire rack. Let dry at least two hours before serving. 

I hope you enjoy these recipes. 

I have a feeling that they would make wonderful gifts in cute little mason jars.  

xo, Jen

{blog love} the liebster award

I was recently nominated by my sweet sorority sister Jacki for the Liebster Award. 

Fun fact: Jacki was the president of my sorority the first semester of my freshman year in Phi Mu. 

The Liebster Blog Award is for bloggers with 200 or less followers. 

Rules:

1. Choose five up and coming blogs to give the award to, must have 200 or less followers.

2. Show your thanks to the blogger who gave you the award by linking back to them.
3. Post the award on your blog.
4. List the blogs you gave the award to with links to their sites. Leave a comment on their blog to let them know they have received the award.
5. Share five random facts about yourself.

My tagged blog friends:

1. Ashley from Loving Life & Lilly

2. Lauren from Lights in the Sky
3. Jenna at Leggings Love
4. Katie at His Diamond and Mine

5. Rebecca at Beautie and the Belle

Five random facts about me:

1. I am in a long-distance relationship. In fact, my boyfriend and I have never lived in the same zip code, area code, or even state. We met a million years ago when I was a junior in high school and he was a freshman in college. My childhood friend, Misha, was dating her high school sweetheart still when he moved to Indiana to attend Notre Dame. Misha's boyfriend, Emilio, met his very first friend at ND, a guy who lived down the hall in his dorm, Seth. Seth (my boyfriend) came down to FL to visit his grandparents in December 2006 in a town about an hour south of my hometown. He decided to drive up to Tampa to hang out with Emilio. Apparently, Emilio and Misha were scheming for us to meet because they thought we would really hit it off. Well. They were right. I was smitten with Seth from day one, but we didn't end up dating because of the distance. I had a huge crush on him. Well. We eventually lost touch for a few years. Fast forward to my junior year of college. We started to catch up through FB chat which eventually led to texting. Misha and I went to NYC for the first time together in December 2010. We met up with Seth & hung out with him and his friends for most of our trip. We hit it off again and decided to give it a chance. It is now a year and five months later and we are still smitten with each other. We only get to see each other every couple of months because flights from Chicago to Tallahassee are NOT cheap, but I have hope for a future that does not involve flying on an airplane to hang out. :)

The first night we met - check out that A&F & HCo!

Before the Corey Smith concert last month.

2. I am 1/2 Chinese, a 1/4 Italian, and a 1/4 Scotch-Irish. This makes it very difficult to choose which race I am for government surveys and information. You have no idea how often I have to choose whether I am Asian or White for those things. Can get I a "multiracial" option please?!

My wonderful parents & I at dinner before my college graduation ceremony.

3. I love, love, love working with kids. I found my calling to work in education this year through my job as an after-school care teacher with kindergartners and a psychology internship testing preschoolers. Currently working on getting certification to teach through alternative programs. I am planning on getting a master's in teaching degree within the next few years too!

4. My boyfriend got me a Kindle for my birthday and I am obsessed with it. I am always looking for new books to check out. Any suggestions?!

5. I despise working out but I just got a gym membership. It is time to get this body back to its toned shape again. I will love you forever if you leave good workout songs in a comment. :)

I can't wait to read my tagged friends' posts soon!

Have a great Wednesday!

xo, Jen

{blog love} giveaway winner

My winner for the CampusBookRentals.com $50 credit is Brittany!

Please email me at cookingloveandlife@gmail.com

CONGRATS!