Hi, friends! I’m stopping by today to share a favorite recipe of mine that I like to make on busy evenings when dinner’s the last thing I have time to make. Say hello to my dear old friend, the quinoa bowl!
Quinoa bowls are so versatile & taste even better the next day. I like to double my recipe so I can bring a delicious green salad & side of leftover quinoa to lunch!
Instead of mixing up my own homemade dressing, I like to save time & simply use Bolthouse Farm’s organic dressings. There are no preservatives & it’s low in calories. Plus, it’s convenient & tastes amazing, y’all! I love the Three Herb & Lemon Basil atop my quinoa bowls as a fresh & flavorful addition.
Add as many chopped vegetables as you can & you have the makings of a yummy & light dinner the whole family will enjoy. Find my go-to recipe below…
Lemon Basil Quinoa Bowl
Serving Size: 1 cup
1 1/2 cups uncooked quinoa
3 cups vegetable broth
1/2 cup Bolthouse Farms Lemon Basil Dressing
4 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper
1/4 cup Kalamata olives, halved
Combine quinoa & vegetable broth in a medium-sized saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Cover, reduce heat & simmer for 15 minutes until the broth is absorbed & the quinoa is tender. Remove from heat & allow to cool. Once cool, place the quinoa in a large mixing bowl. Add all remaining ingredients & stir until well combined. Add salt to taste & enjoy!
What are your favorite ingredients paired with quinoa? Let me know if you try this recipe!
love,
natalie
I run out of fingers & toes counting the bounty of blessings poured out when I reflect on this wild & precious life. Thankful doesn’t even cut it, y’all.
Today is my birthday. As I thought about how I wanted to celebrate this day & upcoming year, I was pulled to the art of list-making. The past 28 years have been full & wonderful, brimming with the good stuff & lots of learning. I want to make sure that as I enter into another decade, I’ve soaked up every last ounce of my 20s.
So I introduce you to 30 BEFORE 30 – a list of 30 things I want to see, do, eat, experience & more before turning 30 years old. Some items on my list are simple & small while others are big & will require continued work. Some of the items on my list I’ve experienced before & want to make sure I experience more of while others are firsts. It’s a list I’ve been working on for many weeks & I cannot wait to start tackling it… NOW!
30 BEFORE 30
1. Breakfast out with Luke during the middle of the week just because
2. Get a facial
3. Play bingo!
4. Sit on a beach with a fruity drink in hand
5. Reach Lifetime at Weight Watchers
6. Take a pottery class
7. Get my first tattoo
8. Visit the desert
9. Go out to coffee with my parents
10. Watch a sunset
11. Cruise country roads with the Jeep top down
12. Unplug for a day
13. Bonfire in the backyard
14. Spend a weekend at the lake house
15. Watch a movie at the Drive-In
16. Hike a mountain
17. Create a backyard oasis
18. Spend the afternoon in a hammock with a good book
19. Bicycle on the trails
20. Go Berry Picking
21. Surprise a friend with a bouquet of flowers
22. Picnic dinner in the park
23. Eat tacos at our favorite taqueria
24. Make homemade face masks
25. Spend a morning at yard sales
26. Go to New York City with Luke
27. Host Aunt Camp
29. Bake a pie
30. Go swimming at the river
What’s on YOUR list? Have you ever accomplished something like this? Share below!
love,
natalie
About a month ago I eliminated grains & sugar from my diet due to some significant digestion issues that I had been stubbournly ignoring. I’ve had some hiccups & special events along the way, but the changes in the way my body has felt overall throughout the last handful of weeks have been amazing! I feel lighter, brighter, less foggy & more energetic!
In making the switch, I decided to replace grains & sugar with more vibrant, nutrient-rich foods. Instead of a traditional bun for my veggie burger, I’ve been cooking up delicious sweet potato buns! I’ve been eating lots of beet kraut + pickled treats for a boost of flavor on salads & making a delicious yogurt bowl every morning for breakfast.
I’ve shared my yogurt & granola bowl many times on Instagram, but I’ve yet to share the full recipe. There are so many ways to mix it up, but here are the basics:
Natalie’s Go-To Yogurt Bowl
1/2 – 1 cup plain greek yogurt
1/2 chopped banana
1/2 cup fresh fruit of your choice
2 teaspoons raw, creamy almond butter
2 teaspoons grain-free, sugar-free granola (My go-to is Wildway granola from Whole Foods Market)
Sprinkle unsweetened coconut flakes
Spoon plain greek yogurt into bowl. Layer bananas & fruit of choice on top of yogurt. I love adding blueberries, pomegranate seeds, raspberries & strawberries (April 4th – 10th, you can grab two cartons of organic, seasonal strawberries grown without toxic or persistent pesticides for just $7 from Whole Foods Market! Yes!) Next, drizzle creamy almond butter on top. Finally, add granola & a sprinkle of coconut flakes!
One simple addition to my yogurt bowl that I’ve been loving lately is my homemade, sugar-free strawberry sauce! It’s so wonderful to have this sauce on hand when the berries are plentiful & on sale – pour a little on top of your yogurt bowl or mix in balsamic vinegar as a tasty dressing for my favorite spring dinner – strawberry & chicken salads!
Simple Strawberry Sauce
1 quart organic strawberries, tops cut off & chopped
teaspoon local honey (optional)
1 teaspoon water
Add all ingredients to a small saucepan on the stovetop. Heat over medium high heat until sauce begins to bubble. Using a potato masher or the back of a wooden spoon, mash your strawberries as they bubble. Once the consistency is thick & to your liking, remove from stovetop & allow to cool. Place in a small jar & refrigerate. Add to your favorite spring dishes for a boost of flavor! Lasts about 3 weeks.
What recipes are you enjoying this spring? Have you been making any switches in your food journey? Please do let me know if you make my yogurt bowl & strawberry sauce!
love,
natalie