Morning Quinoa

If you're a regular reader, you know that I am always trying to get fit. I'll do good for a little while, lose a couple pounds, and then something will happen and I'll get out of my routine and gain those pounds right back. Something happened in the past couple days that has inspired me to get fit (once again) and this time, I'm determined to stick to a plan. Part of my plan is to be vegan before dinner. (This was also one of my 25 before 26 goals that I have failed to keep up with.) This morning I made breakfast quinoa, which is a fantastic vegan breakfast option.

Ingredients
1 part uncooked quinoa, rinsed
2 parts non-dairy milk alternative (I like unsweetened almond milk)

Optional Add-ins
1 Tbsp chia seeds (if you use these add an extra liquid, as chia seeds absorb liquids)
Dried fruit
Nuts
Blueberries
1/2 banana, mashed
Cinnamon
Nutmeg
Honey, agave nectar, or other sweetener

Method
Combine quinoa and "milk" in small saucepan (and other optional ingredients). Bring to a boil, turn heat down and simmer for 10-15 minutes, or until all liquid is absorbed.

If you're using fresh blueberries, add in when almost all of the liquid has been absorbed. I like to add the nuts at the very end. All other ingredients can be thrown in at the beginning.

Simple Summer Goals

Lately, I've been feeling a little lost and lonely. In the absence of a specific life or career goal to work towards, I decided I need to focus on bettering myself in little ways. I was inspired by Elsie over at A Beautiful Mess, to come up with four simple goals to create small but effective changes to encourage a richer and happier life.

1. Find new ways to be active. To start, I'm going to my first yoga class tomorrow, and I plan on trying rock climbing soon! If these activities can take place outdoors - even better!

2. Utilize my creativity. This includes using my poor neglected sewing machine, and calling the lady I met at the wine festival who said she would teach me how to make jewelry.

3. Learn to grill and cook a live lobster. Ok, this is really two separate goals, but they're both cooking oriented. We have a nice grill and a really great patio for hosting bbqs, and I need to take advantage of that during these summer months. 

4. Eat less meat and dairy. A friend of mine went vegan for about three weeks, and she said she really noticed a different in her mood and body. Now she's vegetarian (who can live without cheese?!), but she wants to go back to vegan eventually, or alternate vegan and vegetarian months. 

Do you have any summertime goals?