Quinoa!

The Real Estate world has been keeping me on my toes, which is great.  I have also been trying to spend as much time as I can with Ashley and Kaleigh, which often means going to there house for dinners.  In attempt to eat some healthier foods we recently made a quinoa fruit and veggie dish.

The dish had fresh lime, lemon, mango, avocado, cucumbers, etc.  It was a very refreshing plate of food for hot Atlanta summer days.  It was originally Ashley's idea but I kind of ran away with it once we got into the kitchen.

Typically, summer foods are not my favorites.  I prefer oven roasted heavy flavors but occasionally, a light fresh summer dish just hits the spot.

Big things are changing in my life right now and fresh healthy food is just what I need.

Scones!

I have never been a fan of scones.  They always seem really dry and unflavored, like a bad biscuit.  However, Kaleigh helped make scones at her daycare last week and wanted to show Ashley and I what she learned.

The three of us came up with some great ideas for flavors.  We made pistachio, cinnamon currant, cranberry, maple with brown sugar, and even one with some loose leaf tea!  They were all quite good, Kaleigh may have convinced me to change my mind on scones!  I am looking forward to making them again soon.

That afternoon we took a scavenger hunt trip to some thrift stores.  Kaleigh saw a suit and tie she wanted.  She said that boys can wear girls clothes and girls can wear boys clothes and it is ok to be different.  Kaleigh rules!

Wordless Wednesday (all bands)

Bloodkrow Butcher

Centuries

Cheap Art

Coke Bust

Dead in the Dirt

Fever Dreams

Torch Runner

Vaginors

Stitches?!?!

The end of last week was rough.  Ashley and I were looking for a new lens for my new camera, one that will shoot better in low light.  While we were out, we stopped at some thrift stores.  All the while, Kaleigh was at daycare on a field trip to a park with fountains for the kids to play in.  Then Ashley got the call...

Kaleigh had been injured and we needed to pick her up and take her to get stitches.  Long story short, she bumped into another child and needed 7 stitches over her left eye.  It was not a pleasant time.

The next day Ashley decided to keep her home and they invited me over.  Immediately, Kaleigh wanted to go on a hike.  I found a very easy hike at a nature center that we went too.  There were some fish and turtles in the pond, snakes in the center (which Kaleigh got to hold), and a waterfall to hike to.

It turned out to be a good day, despite Ashley and I being concerned that Kaleigh might over exert herself.  Kaleigh and I even climbed to the top of the waterfall and enjoyed the view.

Going Going Going

May was quite a busy month, several graduations and trips.  June has been much of the same.  I have been going non-stop for awhile now.  It has been nice in some respects and exhausting in others.  Other than the jobby job, I am doing things I enjoy so that makes it easier.

My kitchen has suffered a little as I have been needing to eat more quick foods.  Recently, I did however make some really nice baked shells and roasted eggplant and summer squash to go with them.  I do not eat eggplant often but I really enjoy it.

I need a vacation.

Veganniversary Potluck!

For about a month I have been organizing a celebration for my 15 year Veganniversary.  With Ashley's help, we decided to host a potluck.  I have always enjoyed potlucks as it gives people a chance to share some food and be creative with little pressure to actually be good.  Fortunately, at my potluck celebration, all of the food was fantastic.

Ashley and I made her amazing sugar coated pecans, in the slow cooker we made candied sweet potato with apples, lemon cheezecake bars, and I made pepperoni deli slices that we combined with crackers for lunchable like snacks.  Kaleigh came over with Ashley's mom and brought a cantaloupe and Kaleigh made some fresh squeezed watermelon lemonade!

Some of the other great dishes included a nacho and mock meat sauce, chilli, and veggie lasagna!  With about 10 people, we destroyed most of the food pretty quickly.  Some folks ended up playing outside with Kaleigh while others talked inside.  It turned out to be a fun afternoon and I am glad we put it together.  Sadly, I did not take pictures, instead, I spent my time just enjoying the afternoon.

Cooking with Kaleigh! Episode 7; Mango Lemonade!

The Cooking with Kaleigh program is getting another super cute, adorably smart, deliciously funny episode!  This time, Kaleigh is making some mango lemonade.  She and I have made lemonade a few times before so she was pretty used to the process.  She made nearly the entire thing herself.  Ashley and I helped her juice some of the lemons to avoid her getting burnout with so many.  She did great!

Sadly, I am still getting used to my new camera and the first section of the video is out of focus a bit.  I corrected it in the subsequent sections though.  Promise, it is only unbearable for a short period of time.  I have a feeling Kaleigh is going to be a confident, creative cook when she is older!  I really enjoy these videos.

Is this still a food blog?

I know I have been neglectful of the foodie readers out there.  However, I have been eating some great foods lately.  Real Estate has been picking up again and I have been trying to get to some more of the good shows in Atlanta as well as plan my vegan potluck.  It has been a busy time but a boy has to eat!

After a day of hiking recently, we made some of my BarBQ chicpeas.  When I was younger, this was a staple in my diet.  I was broke, I was busy, and I wanted something hearty.  I must have eaten these several times a week when I lived in Santa Fe.  They kept me alive.  Over the years I have taken a more simple dish and livened it up a bit, but it is still a comfort food for me.

I also made a nice udon noodle and teriyaki sauce dish.  I made quite a bit to get me through some long days at the jobby job and it really hit the spot.  So many great veggies always bring it home.

A recent pick up at a local thrift store was this awesome coup bowl/cup.  Needing to use it right away, I made gazpacho!  Truly, I need to post this recipe as it is fantastic.  I shared with co-workers at the jobby job and they could not believed they liked something that did not have animals in it!  Really, keep after me for this recipe so I actually post it!

Of course, no day is complete at my house without a bedtime snack!  Since Ashley recently got a waffle maker, she made us maple waffles!  We even put on some (store bought) maple ice cream to really throw the flavors over the top!

Memorial Day Hoax?

For weeks I have been excited about the band The Hoax coming to Atlanta.  I fought to get the night off from the jobby job just to go.  As usual, I was incredibly early and it was just me and the bands in the parking lot.  Apparently The Hoax tour in a pickup truck with a camper on the back.  Punk rock.

The first band, Aisle, was from Canada.  They were pretty decent but not my style really.  They seemed a bit perturbed about playing first as well.

Next was one of my local favorites, Mercenary!  I even filmed a video with my new camera.  This may have been the best performance I have seen from them.  They get tighter each time I see them.

Third was Nerv.  Nerv was from Iowa and the singer was a really nice guy.  Growing up in Maine I can sympathize with being from a small scene.  They were impressively good, loads of fun to watch.  I wish they had played a little longer but I think time was a little constrained due to a late start.

Last, The Hoax!  They were incredible.  I really like the anger and nihilism that they manifest.  It is a nice release for me.  Hoax is known to be a little dangerous live but this set was pretty tame.  All in all, it was a great show.