Tuesday, May 17, 2011

A Lovely Week (and a Lovely Recipe)

Hi guys, how are you? I hope you’re enjoying some nice weather where you are. It’s finally sunny here again and a little warmer, like in the low 70s! I’m just glad it’s not raining, or even worse, snowing. Yes, we actually got a dusting of snow on Sunday morning and it was not cool :/
Anyways, I recently received the Lovely Blog Award by the very lovely Bryana! Thank you so much, girl, for tagging me!
The Rules:
1.) Post this award with the picture and link back to the person who tagged you.
2.) Share 7 random things about yourself.
3.) Award 15 bloggers and let them know you tagged them.

So since I have done a lot of these random facts posts, I decided to do a little twist on the award and instead tell you 7 exciting or interesting things that have happened to me in the past week. Here goes!
1) I got a volunteer job at the library as a summer reading volunteer. I don't know what I'm actually going to be doing (hopefully reading to the kids or something cool like that) but I'm pretty much committed on Saturdays from noon to 2 from the beginning of June until the end of July. Unfortunately, it's unpaid (and my parents are still making me look for a job :/) but at least it's something that can go on my resume and should be kind of fun.
2) I drove for the first time in months on Saturday! I don't have a car when I'm at college, so I haven't driven since December I think! Sad, because I like driving so it was good to get behind the wheel. I drove to Whole Foods, too, which was a bonus :)
3) I got good grades in all my classes. I was a little freaked out that I'd get a C or 2 but luckily, 4 B's and 2 A's. It was a hard semester, so I should be proud of myself!
4) I have an eyelash problem. No, seriously! Occasionally, I get this weird pain in my eyelid where the eyelashes grow from, and I think it's because they grow in the wrong way or something. Usually, I can find the problem eyelash easily and pluck it so the pain goes away but I haven't been so lucky this time...
5) I've only worn shorts once in the past week! I thought by mid May the weather would be so nice, but most of these past 7 days have been cloudy, cool and sometimes rainy. Today I finally got to wear shorts...but my house feels freezing cold (even though the thermostat says 73 degrees) and I should probably be wearing capris. I never understood how 73 degrees outside feels so much warmer than 73 degrees inside!
6) I have made most of my own meals since I got home and I'm loving it! I love being able to use the grill, the stove and the oven to whip up amazing things. And of course, having tons more ingredients on hand so I can get creative.
Brekkie the other day--a cinnamon raisin Ezekiel English muffin with a dark chocolate orange fudgie spread on, chocolate Oikos, fresh pineapple and a spicy veggie sausage

7) Finally, I came up with my very own veggie burger recipe! I like veggie burgers a lot, but I've never had one that I was wowed by...except my own! And because I'm so generous (haha) I'm gonna share it with you guys!
Southwestern Black Bean Quinoa Burgers
(Makes 3 palm-sized burgers, increase everything to make more/bigger ones)
1/2 cup black beans, drained and rinsed
1/4 cup uncooked quinoa (makes 1/2 cup cooked, make sure to rinse!)
2 tsp chili powder
1 1/2 tsp crunchy almond butter (adds some crunch)
1 tsp turmeric
1 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp ginger
Cook quinoa until all water is boiled off and quinoa is fluffy. Mix all ingredients in a food processor or high-powered blender until mixture sticks together. Stick in the fridge for 15-30 minutes to chill. Heat saucepan or skillet on the stove over medium heat and spray pan with nonstick cooking spray. Take veggie burger mixture out of the fridge and form into 3 patties. Place burgers in pan and cook until outside is crunchy and browned, about 5-7 minutes per side.
I served mine on an Ezekiel tortilla with spicy pepper mustard (love!), a mix of grapes and golden raspberries (yes, golden raspberries!), carrots and some Bear Naked Fit granola. Such a yummy lunch!
I loved this lunch!

So that's what I've been up to this week! Oh, and yesterday I braided my hair for the first time in a while and I liked how it turned out!
I love my hair, too :)
Q's: What's one thing interesting that you did this week? Have you ever made your own veggie burgers? 
 

5 comments:

  1. Congratulations on your grades Ashley. You do deserve to be proud, you did an amazing job!

    I've had golden raspeberries before, and I thought they were super yummy. Speaking of super yummy, that black bean burger recipe sounds delicious. I'll have to try that sometime.
    I have actually made my own veggie burgers. (And coincidentally, they were black bean burgers!) They didn't stay together too well when I tried to flip them, but taste-wise I thought they were amazing! :-)

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  2. congrats on the grades!!!!!!!!! xoxo
    -Lisa

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  3. Yay for driving with the windows down, radio loud, in shorts. On your way to Whole Foods!

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  4. Congratulations on your grades, that's really awesome :). And for driving to Whole Foods- if we had one where I lived that would definitely be the first place I would drive after coming home from college too.

    I might try your burger recipe. I've made them before, but it was a super simple recipe of black bean and spinach burgers, it was okay but not exceptionally good. So, I'm sure yours will be better!

    A.L.

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  5. Look at you go!! I actually get that eyelash thing too- I didn't think anyone else did!!
    I'm loving on the veggie burger idea. Gonna have to try it!

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