A cute little boy and a recipe

First...the cute boy. He feels like such a big guy sitting up on the stool at the kitchen counter. This is where I've been putting him while I cook dinner. For some reason he loves it and eats his "nack" (Snack)  up there so I can cook without worrying about him pulling a pan off the stovetop (which these days is a legitimate worry with the way  he gets into everything constantly!)

And now for a yummy recipe...veggie Parmesan Quinoa! It is sort of a go-to for me as far as a side item goes. Nate and I grilled out the other night so burgers and sweet potato fries went great with it but I usually just make it for a side to go with pretty much any main dish. As a bonus, Andrew eats it too!

First, let me introduce you to quinoa if you haven't met already. It's healthier than rice or pasta and tastes just as great, I promise! Here's the recipe:

Veggie Parmesan Quinoa

Ingredients:

• 1 cup dry quinoa
• 1 cup water
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1-2 cups diced veggies (zuccini, squash, peas, carrots, green beans, etc.)
• 1 T minced garlic
• 1/3 block of cream cheese
• 1/2 cup (more or less to taste) of Parmesan cheese
• a sprinkle of salt and fresh ground pepper
• a sprinkle of basil
• a sprinkle of garlic powder
• a splash of milk if needed 

Directions: 

--Cook your quinoa like you would rice, in a saucepan. Bring the quinoa, water and chicken broth to a boil, reduce to simmer, and cover with a lid for about 10-15 minutes. Stir now and again to check on it.

--Meanwhile, dice up your veggies and sauté them in olive oil and minced garlic until cooked (10 min or so)

I use whatever veggies we have in the freezer, mostly what I chopped and froze from last summer.  A little piece of summer in our meal!

--When the quinoa and veggies are done, pour the veggies (and any remaining juice from the olive oil) into the quinoa pan.

--Put in cheeses and spices

--Mix well, on a very low setting to let the cheeses melt into it.

--I usually add a splash of milk to it as well, to make it blend better. So good!

And one more...eating a snack is serious business!