Leotagail's Rice Salad with Balsamic Dressing

1/2 cup diced peeled avocado

2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

3 cups cooked white rice

1 cup chopped seeded plum tomato

1 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained

2 tablespoons minced fresh cilantro

 

1. Add the first 6 ingredients to a bowl; toss gently to combine.
2. Add in remaining ingredients; toss well.
3. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

Quinoa and cheese

We tried this last night and really enjoyed it.  This was a super basic version, and I'm excited to mix up the cheeses or add-ins for other recipes.  I'm thinking of a blue cheese and bacon and sundried tomato version, or with green chilies and corn for a mexican side dish.

Here is the basic cheddar recipe (which we enjoyed with hot sauce on top):

Ingredients:
2 tsp olive oil
1 onion, diced
1 1/2 cups dry quinoa
2 cloves minced garlic
3 cups chicken broth
salt
seasoning salt
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar, plus a little more for the top


Directions:

• In a skillet heat olive oil, and then saute onions until soft.
• Stir in quinoa and garlic and cook 3 or 4 minutes.
• Add chicken broth, and season with salt and seasoning salt.  Bring to a boil.
• Cover, reduce heat to low, and cook 15 minutes, (or length according to your quinoa directions.)
• Remove from heat and let stand 5 minutes.
• Whisk together eggs and milk in a large bowl.  Stir in quinoa and cheese.  Pour into a greased 9x13.
• Bake at 350 until it starts browning around the edges, 30-45 minutes.

Hummingbird nectar recipe

My mom gave us a hummingbird feeder, and I stopped at the store to buy the nectar and was shocked by the price.  I did a little google search and found that it is simply sugar water.  (All the bird sites say to not use any coloring, as it may harm birds, and isn't needed to attract them.)

So to fill your feeder, boil 2 cups water and then whisk in 1/2 cup sugar until dissolved.  Let cool, and then fill up your feeder.  We have had a huge gathering of hummingbirds since we did this last week.  (Unfortunately, the quickest way to make them disappear is to grab a camera.)