My latest cooking experiments ... most found on Pinterest

Made Honey Baked Nectarines served with yogurt

Makes 6 servings

You will need

3 Nectarines (ripe and cut in half, one nectarine for two)

sheet of baking paper

1 tsp real vanilla extract or scrape out a vanilla pod

3 Tbsp honey

2 Tbsp walnut (chopped)

6 Tbsp yogurt (I used Greek)

How to make

Set oven temp to 350 degrees. remove stones and place cut nectarines on baking paper in an oven proof dish face up. Drizzle 1/2 the honey, vanilla and all the chopped walnuts on top. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. Then drizzle a little more of the honey over the and bake for an additional 15 minutes or until golden & sticky (see picture). Serve on top of yogurt, drizzled with the golden sticky juices in the dish.

Found this yummy recipe through Pinterest from this great food blog: 

2 Sisters Fight it out in the Kitchen ~ Foodopera

What to do with two wild basil plants?

Make Pesto 
Found recipe on Pinterest: The Garden of Eden

Made enough to fill a 125 ml  mason jar.

Ingredients
3 cups basil leaves, rinsed
1/4 cup pine nuts, roasted
2 cloves garlic
1 tsp lemon juice
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp ground pepper
1/2 cup olive oil
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

Preparation
Add basil, nuts, garlic, lemon juice, salt and pepper food processor (or blender) blend until almost smooth.  Slowly add in the olive oil.  Stir in parmesan cheese.  Season to personal taste with salt & pepper.

The Garden of Eden's Darcy (link above) recommends putting a thin layer of olive oil over the pesto and then cover it to prevent discoloration when storing pesto.

Then make a pot of your favorite pasta and mix in the pesto ... Yummy!!!! 

Chocolate & PB Breakfast Quinoa

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
It makes 2 x 125ml (1/2cup) or 1 250ml (1 cup) servings 

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup quinoa, rinsed
• 1 cup chocolate almond milk
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 dash cinnamon
• 1/2 tablespoon maple syrup or agave syrup
• 1 tablespoon of natural organic peanut butter
• 1 teaspoon of cocoa powder 

Optional

• 1 tablespoon chopped nuts of choice

Directions

1. Bring the quinoa, milk, vanilla, cinnamon and syrup to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer until tender, about 15 minutes.
2. Mix in the peanut butter and cocoa powder until all mixed together and warmed up again.
3. Remove from heat and add nuts if you wish. I put into 2 x 125ml mason jars to store or eat at work.

I modified the Closet Cooking's Quinoa Porridge , I love his version too but I was craving chocolate for breakfast and this makes it OK ;)

Nutritional Info

• Servings Per Recipe: 2
• Amount Per Serving
• Calories: 301.9

• Total Fat: 8.4 g
• Cholesterol: 0.0 mg
• Sodium: 76.8 mg
• Total Carbs: 47.6 g
• Dietary Fiber: 4.5 g
• Protein: 8.9 g 

Healthy French Toast ... Yummy

1 egg
2 egg whites
1/4 cup of non sweet almond milk
1/2 tsp of vanilla extract
to taste nutmeg, cinnamon
4 tbsp nonfat Greek yogurt
4 slices of multigrain bread
1 tbsp Coconut oil 

3 tbsp of maple syrup
1/4 cup of frozen berries

In a small microwavable bowl put syrup and frozen berries, microwave for 30 secs (for my small microwave x 3) until syrup is warm and berries are completely thawed. It gives you about 6 tbsp of syrup.

In a flat bottomed container add the eggs, milk, vanilla and spices mix with a fork. Soak 1 slice of bread in the mixture, both sides. Make sure that you give it time to soak up the mixture. Then add to a hot frying pan greased with the coconut oil (I cook 2 slices at a time, so split the coconut oil)

Cook till golden brown.

Serve 2 slices, each with a dollop of yogurt and 3 tbsp of syrup/fruit on top.  Enjoy!

Nutritional Info

• Servings Per Recipe: 2
• Amount Per Serving
• Calories: 290.9
  

• Total Fat: 10.8 g
   Cholesterol: 92.5 mg
   Sodium: 198.9 mg
   Total Carbs: 37.5 g
  Dietary Fiber: 4.4 g
  Protein: 12.9 g
  

My NEW bike ... only took me 25 years

I haven't owned a bike in 25 years, I've been thinking about getting one for a few years now. The last bike I owned I bought with my own money when I was 14 yrs old; my first real big purchase with my own money. I was so very proud of her, she was a silver 10 speed with a black suede seat. My best friend Leah and I bought the same bike.  Then at 15 we moved East and I had to leave it behind, I was devastated ... since then I've borrowed a bike once or twice but never really rode again.

Now at 40, I finally gave in and bought myself a new bike. It's true once you know how to ride a bike you never forget. A little wobbly at first but we are getting to know each other now.

The day I bought the bike I also bought a helmet, a heavy duty lock and a bell. However, a few rides in I realize I need lights, a mirror and a pant leg strap ... a tire pump might be good too.

Few things Ive learned: 

• I'm completely out of shape
• a low seat makes you work way to hard
• its good to play with the gears until you know which work best for the terrain 
• I'm COMPLETELY out of shape 8-S

Avocado ... I LOVE them

I love avocados keep forgetting how much I like them until they come back in season. Last two days its been avocado on toast with other yummy veggies ... I think a guacamole is in order tomorrow

2 avocados
2 small tomatoes
2 cloves of garlic
2 - 3 tbsp lemon juice
handful of parsley

Rough dice all the veggies and garlic toss in the food processor and mix with a few short bursts.  YUMMY on burgers, nachos,  crackers, veggies ...

Article 10 Reasons You Should Eat Avocados: http://dailyfitnessmagz.com/2011/08/10-reason-eat-avocados/

Avocado on Toast

Made a yummy breakfast today, I haven't had this in ages

1 small avocado
2 small tomatoes
1 green onion
3 / 4 leaves fresh Basil 
1 - 2 tbsp of lime juice
ground pepper
4 slices of multigrain bread or English muffins (2)

Cut the the avocado in 1/2 and scoop meaty part into a bowl or a mixer, rough chop the tomatoes, basil and green onion, toss them into same bowl. Squeeze approx 1 tbsp of lime juice and mix together lightly ... don't make too smooth. Toast bread and spread mixture on toast (not butter needed).

Add ground pepper to taste ... YUMMY
serves 2

Book Read in 2012

14 books read so far

January (3)

Savage Nature by Christina Dodd 03/01

Something About You by Julie James 04/01

Tempting the Beast by Lora Leigh 17/01

Harvest Moon by Robyn Carr 21/01

February (6)

Elizabeth’s Wolf by Lora Leigh 11/02

Darker After Midnight by Lara Adrian 21/02

Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins 26/02

The Ideal Man by Julie Garwood 322pp 27/02

A lot Like Love by Julie James 28/02

Morgan by Lori Foster 28/02

March (3)

Practice Makes Perfect by Julie James 11/03

Until There Was You by Kristen Higgins 11/03

To the Edge (Bodyguard, #1) by Cindy Gerard 12/03

April (1)

Timeless (Parasol Protectorate, #5) by Gail Carriger 01/04