Quinoa and Ground Turkey Skillet Meal

Ever heard of quinoa? Maybe you have heard of this rice-like whole grain, but never tried it. Quinoa is an excellent food of choice for vegetarians or anyone who desires to eat healthy. Quinoa is packed with the typical whole grain nutrients, but my favorite is protein! For approximately one serving of cooked quinoa you get about 10 grams of protein. Now, this seedy grain is not the cheapest, but by far the easiest and most versatile grain to cook with. Here is a recipe we love courtesy of this blog below (I added some of my own variations to the original recipe):

http://debbidoesdinnerhealthy.blogspot.com/2011/03/mexican-ground-turkey-quinoa-skillet.html

1 lb of ground turkey
olive oil (to help brown turkey)
1 can of diced tomatoes
1 can of black beans (drained, then rinsed)
1 can of corn
1 1/2 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp ground cumin
1 small onion
2 cloves garlic
1 can green chilies
1 cup quinoa
1 1/2 c water
Salt to taste

Brown turkey in a little olive oil (I like to add salt during this process), add onion and garlic to sauté. Add all spices, stir, then add quinoa and I let the seeds brown just a little, then add all cans of veggies (you can also use frozen corn) and water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to simmer, covered for 20 minutes.

This is such an easy skillet meal! We have also used chopped chipotle peppers for a nice spicy/smoky flavor and added mushrooms. I've even used ranch seasoning (dry package). You could experiment with this and use different variations of spices. Here is a quick tip, omit all spices listed above and use a pack of taco seasoning mix instead! Let me know what you think about this recipe.

Moms out there who are interested in eco-friendly products for their baby I've got some great reviews to share with you! I ordered these diapers before Wyatt was born and just now get to try them out. These diapers are eco-friendly and made without chemicals and bleaching agents which mean better for baby. These diapers are better absorbent than other eco-friendly and all-natural diapers I've tried. They seem a bit softer too, unlike the Seventh Generation diapers.

Currently, you can purchase these at diapers.com for $37.43 (160 count package). This averages to only $.23 a diaper! That's a better price than even Pampers. Let me also add that I love ordering products from diapers.com, because the shipment arrives at my door within two days and does not charge tax or shipping! Check it out and you may even fall in love with the other websites that sell various products ranging from household items, personal care, go-green, pet supplies, and more!

17 Week Check-Up

Yesterday we visited the doctor for our 17 week check-up. No ultrasound this time, but the heartbeat of the baby was in the 140 range....could it be a girl or a boy?? We will find out March 21st. I find it funny that everything I experience in my pregnancy is opposite of what the books say I should be experiencing! Haven't gained any weight and people still cannot tell I am pregnant, but the doc says I am doing great and me and baby are both healthy.....she also says not to pay attention to what the books say!

I can't believe in 3 weeks I will be half way there! Time is already flying by to quickly and our little peanut isn't even here yet. I've decided to keep a hand written journal that includes more personal thoughts that I will give to our little baby one day when he/she is all grown up. I think it will be special for him/her to read about my thoughts and feelings of pregnancy and how I already love this little baby beyond belief. When I think about my precious little baby being curled up inside my belly I can only smile with excitement, joy, and love. It's an experience I cannot describe. I'm sure it only gets better as time passes.

Pregnancy 14 Weeks

I'm 14 weeks along now and finally starting to feel a little better. I have had the worst nausea feeling since about week 6. So bad I have swore to Todd this will be our only child! I'm sure once I hold this little peanut in my arms I will forget all the terrible sickness and want more babies.

Two weeks ago we got to hear the heart beat for the first time. This made everything seem so real for us. It was a very exciting moment and in about 5 more weeks we find out if it's a boy or a girl. So far, I have had a couple of dreams it is a boy, but have this strong feeling it's a girl. Every time I day dream about what our life will be with our precious baby I imagine a baby girl. We will soon find out and if I am wrong I will be overjoyed with whatever the Lord blesses us with.

So far I haven't really started to show, but I am finding it challenging to button my pants. I have decided to put off the maternity wear and start with a belly band which fits over my pants like a long camisole which allows me to leave my pants unbuttoned or unzipped for more comfort. Once I start to get a pregnancy belly I will graduate myself to the real deal.

I started back to school in January and my proposed graduation date is June 5th 2012! Just in time for our Disney trip with the in-laws! This mama is going to have her ducks in a row before this baby comes.

New Music

Todd has introduced me to a new artist and I have fallen in love with the tune of his music! His name is Ray LaMontagne. If you haven't heard of him, go to YouTube and search for his songs. Let It Be Me is probably one of my favorites, You Are The Best Thing is another one I love. His music has a bit of a jazzy beat with a touch of soul and sweet lyrics you'd want to say to your love. I'm sure you would all recognize his song Trouble, which was featured on a commercial recently, I think AT&T? He kind of looks like a guy you'd run into at Rock Creek, but he makes great music. Check it out for sure, if you're a fan of John Mayer you'll love Ray LaMontagne. Just thought I'd share my newest find!

New Blog Title

Ok, so I changed the title of my blog since Todd and I are now married. Well, that was a short engagement, huh? Knowing me, there will probably be more title changes in the future! Taking the next step in life is always to exciting and new to me, but there is always a small part of me that is sad, bittersweet really, to close a chapter in life to move on to the long, anticipated moment! Although new stages brings new happiness, experiences, and memories, there is always something sad about closing the doors to what we once were. Think about it, kind of like when you graduated high school. It was so exciting to be going to college and starting a new chapter in life, but bittersweet to be leaving such great times behind! Or, the moment your baby finally arrives and is not growing in your belly anymore. There is always something to miss, but joys to look forward to with each chapter of life. Hopefully, this blog will give me more memories to mark my steps along the way. Makes me learn to enjoy every stage of life, because I will never be there again except in memory. After all, if it weren't for all the chapters in my life I wouldn't have sweet memories to cherish forever! Beginning my life with Todd is what I have been dreaming of for many years and the time is finally here to begin a new chapter in life!

Just Married!!

I'm thinking there is not much of a need anymore for my wedding blog, because Todd and I are married!! We eloped while on vacation in San Diego. Our ceremony was at the La Jolla Coves on a small beach with seagulls and seals as our witnesses! Who needs music when you have the sound of waves crashing over your feet! It was so beautiful and romantic. I cried so hard I could barely speak my vows. Tears of joy, not sadness, that I get to spend the rest of my life with Todd. I believe I will forever have a special connection to San Diego, because that is where we began our lives together. I can't wait to share the video and pictures from the ceremony. After the ceremony, Todd and I visited the San Diego Zoo. Kind of a different way to spend the rest of our wedding day, but after all, it was initially a vacation.

We got our very first piece of mail the other day addressed to us as Mr. and Mrs. Todd Halterman! You can only imagine how excited I was to see those words together for the first time. It was a sweet card from my mother and father-in-law, wishing us many years of happiness together.

Today, Todd and I are celebrating one of the most special Valentine's Day of all. It is our first one together as husband and wife. I hope Todd never tires of me calling him "husband" everytime I address him :) And the fact I refer to myself as his wife. He is just so precious I wish everyone in the world could know how sweet he is to me. He is taking me to one of my favorite restaurants for dinner today, can't wait! Happy Valentine's Day everybody!