yummeeness: planning, planning fooooood

{ -- a new staple, tofu w/seasoning for tofu/bean tacos -- }

A huge challenge I face is knowing what I'm going to have for dinner. Lunch, for me, is super easy. I either throw a Lean Cuisine in the microwave (obviously not ideal but being single, not a lot of time...it's nice to have just in case and I'm still NOT eating out) or if I go home, I make some eggs and toast. My lunch when I go home has to be quick— like, 20 minutes-cook-eat-clean quick. I'm lucky to work at a company where I don't have to 'clock in' so it's somewhat flexible when it comes to timing, however, I'm usually busy and it's not always good to take 2 hour lunches...even tho I could, and have.

This morning, I came across this blog post from a favorite blogger and my jaw dropped! I LOVE this organizing stuff and typically will get half-way there with my own things before I give up or realize how crazy I must look. This though, this...I'm super impressed and hope to get close to that organized, especially when I get my house (oh! Did I just say that?? ...)

I think the closest I've came to organizing meals is just in front of one week. It changed mid-week and I moved a couple things around because I would end up having more leftovers and would need to eat those before I moved on to new food or a new recipe but overall it was super helpful. Anymore when my grocery shopping happens, I sit down and (try) pick out one new recipe and one old, familiar recipe. I always have eggs and toast on hand when I want something quick (it also serves as budget conscience because eggs/bread are so cheap). I also always have cereal on hand for a quick meal or snack as well. I know it'll be better than chips or cookies :)

How do you plan your meals? Do you even plan them? I'd say 50% of the time I don't and it always hurts me in the end; I can't decide what to eat, I don't have this or that...oh, fine, I'll just go out or I end up waiting until it's super late. Now, that does not bode well with my waist.

Lots of <3

yummee-ness: tofu & quinoa

{ -- yummee-ness -- }

Part of my 'happy' is making really good, healthy food. I love to cook, I hate to clean up but I still do it anyway...even tho it may happen a day later ;)

To the point, I want to start featuring some recipes that I find; where I get them from, how it went and any tips I can offer to help make them better or healthier. I tend to take recipes and make them my own or I'll make them straight up and not miss a step or ingredient in the process but that's mostly when I'm being lazy and just want to get the job done.

This is probably the simplest dish I have EVER made and it was delicious and made a ton of leftovers...well, for one at least. I have basically been working to make up for my loss over the last year when I was supporting someone else...sooo, I scrape together meals. Don't get me wrong, I went and ate out with friends last weekend, however, when I eat alone or at home I don't get take-out or make elaborate meals. I've more than made up for the loss but I'd like to keep it there AND make more on top of it. Plus, I like the challenge. Most of the time, I'll typically come up with new combinations because I'm pulling different ingredients together to make up something from nothing, really. Most of the ingredients from this recipe were leftover pieces from another meal. I really only bought the box of quinoa and rice and added the left over stuff I had in the fridge.

This could almost be served as a side dish as well. Be creative! You don't have to use what I used, make substitutions wherever you'd like. When it comes to piecing together a meal, I never follow any rules...except for using "yummee" ingredients.

The Tofu & Quinoa Experiment of Yummee-ness

• 1/2 very small red onion, chopped

• 2 sprigs (?) of green onion, chopped

• 1 tbs. garlic, minced (I like garlic.)

• 1/2 cup frozen peas

• 1 box of Near East Quinoa Blend - Roasted Red Pepper & Basil

• 1/2 block very firm tofu, cut into small squares and seared on each side (sub w/whatever kind of protein you like!)

Directions:
Begin searing the tofu on a stovetop with a bit of olive oil...while that's going, pull together and chop all ingredients. Follow up with fixing the quinoa and rice mix (I just followed the directions on the box). When the tofu is flipped and have been searing for a few minutes, add in the red onion, green onion and garlic. I then took the peas and got those ready in the microwave (I'm sure I could have done in the quinoa and rice while it was boiling but...I didn't). Once the tofu is ready, quickly add the squares and the peas to the softly boiling quinoa and rice and let it finish up! That's it! Love it.

Let me know if you make it, what you substituted...what you liked/didn't like about it. I would love to hear.

<3