In case you were wondering, I am still here! Sorry for the radio silence, but I took some time off because my hubby and I were in Hawaii celebrating our ten year anniversary! I decided to put work to the side and just focus on the two of us, and it was so nice! And now that we are back, I cannot believe that it is already June! (The year is passing so quickly already, right?) That means summer is just around the corner and backyard BBQ's are in full effect! My avocado crema slaw is the perfect side dish to make all summer long!
I have been a little pre-occupied with Parks' birthday and family being in town, therefore I have been a little MIA...oops. I feel like the past eighteen days of October have disappeared right before my very eyes. How is it possible that it's almost Halloween? On top of that, two of my burners on the stove went out last week due to a possible wine spillage (possibly from my mom...we won't tell her though) and I have had to be super creative with our meals due to my limited cooktop. Easy side dishes that can be done quickly to make room for the next pot are a requirement these days! My 10-minute shaved Asian brussel sprouts are going to be your new favorite healthy side dish for any day of the week!
When you marry a man from Louisiana you learn to cook rice...a lot. Growing up Cajun, my husband ate rice with most meals and still to this day it is one of his favorite side dishes. While traditionally white rice was always served, I have over the years, swapped some of that white rice for brown rice as a healthier alternative! On top of that, adding in different flavor components to a rather plain side, keeps things interesting for the both of us! My cilantro and lime brown rice is one of our favorite ways to prepare brown rice and is delicious served alongside your favorite tacos, or with a grilled piece of fish.
It's still raining. Yeah, we are on week two of dreary weather and this gal is overrr it. The backyard is muddy, I have to force myself to be productive, and the only thing that sounds good is a nap and foods that I shouldn't be eating. So in an effort to brighten up this Tuesday I made a colorful and healthy salad that will hopefully turn my rainy day blues around and will keep me full of energy all week long! My apricot, arugula, and quinoa salad with a cumin vinaigrette is just the salad to do the trick! It's gorgeous, full of flavor, and so good for you too!
Quinoa has been around for a while now, and if you aren't using it yet, today is the day to start. It's packed with protein, minerals, and vitamins and is definitely a grain that should be added into your diet! Perfect as a side, or mixed into a salad, I love it just about any way I can get it!