I’ve been thinking. Yes, sometimes I do get a moment of mental clarity to actually sort our my thoughts. Usually is occurs around the time I am closing my eyes to go to sleep, mind still racing, small chubby cheek pressed up against my breast, a tangle of arms and legs below the blanket and not a pen or pad of paper anywhere in reach. These are the times I treasure though, when I can just think.
Sometimes it’s about the past and things I’ve done, and thinking of ways I might have been able to do them differently and wondering what the outcome would have been. But mostly I think about the future and what I’m going to do. About the dream we have to buy a boat, and travel down the west cost with our growing family until we hit the Panama Canal, eating our way through different cultures and writing about it. Then turning tail and heading up the East Coast to do the same thing there, stopping in the Caribbean for awhile and seeing where the tide takes us. Since our plan is to homeschool our children, the learning potentials are awesome and I can’t imagine what the experience would be like for them.
I think about this dream a lot. I try to keep it in the forefront of my mind, because if I’m always remembering that I have this dream, then I am always going to be working towards it in everything I do. Dreams are important for our wellbeing as healthy minded adults. Without goals where would we be?
I have another goal I want to tell you about. I want another tattoo.
That wasn’t what you were expecting was it?
I already have a tattoo, but it has less meaning to me now than it used to when I designed it. What I want now is a symbol of my life as it stands this minute. Something to remind me of my creativity and to not forget my passions. I want something like this:
From Google images
and this:
Photo by cheddarfish
Just some ideas for right now…I like to mull tattoos over for a long time before I go through with it. They are very permanent and it does hurt to get one done. I’m no wussy when it comes to needles, but after an hour or so of bone jarring vibrations on your body, you start to take notice.
What I really wanted you to take away from this post is that all of your dreams and goals are possible, as long as you don’t let them go. Keeping things in the forefront of your mind not only reminds you to continue working towards it but it creates a feeling of being only an arm’s length away. Write them down, look at them everyday and you’ll always remember what it is you really want in life. Even simple things, like “I will go camping every year in June” can be a goal. Whatever your dreams are, never let them go.
What does that have to do with quinoa salad? Not much really. I just really like quinoa, and limes, and avocado. So there ya go…
Quick Quinoa Salad
Yield: 6 Side dish sized servings
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 15 minutes1 cup quinoa
1 1/2 cups water
large pinch of salt
1 tsp butter or vegeatable oil (as a vegan option)
1/2 tsp cumin2 tomatoes, diced
100g feta cheese, crumbled
1/2 cup cilantro, minced
1/4 vildalia onion, minced
4 green onions, chopped
1 avocado, diced
1/8 cup olive oil
salt and pepper
juice of 3 key limes or one regular lime
1/2 tsp cumin1. Rinse and drain quinoa three times before beginning to remove the saponins that can make quinoa a bit bitter.
2. In a medium saucepan, bring quinoa, water, salt, butter and cumin to a boil. Lower to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes.
3. Remove from heat and allow to stand covered for five minutes.
4. Uncover, fluff with a fork and place in refrigerator, stirring every 10 or 15 minutes until cool.
5. Mix remaining ingredients into cold quinoa and serve.
Similarly delicious recipes on other blogs:
Lemon-Scented Quinoa Salad on 101 Cookbooks
International Quinoa Salad on Fat Free Vegan Kitchen
Curried Quinoa Salad on Wasabimon
Jaune Flammé Tomatoes and Quinoa Salad on White on Rice Couple
Quinoa Salad with Arugula, Asparagus & Avocado on Cooking with Amy
A tattoo. Interesting.
We had a dream of a boat. And finally got one. Love sailing. Lucky to be able to do it with your whole family.
Margaret recently posted..The Kitchen Reader – Pollan’s In Defense of Food
The dream lives…
I used to sail with my grandfather as a child and I miss that feeling of being on the open ocean, wind in your hair. I want that…
I’m too big of a wimp for a tattoo. Ouch!
I love the salad though, but I cannot find quinoa anywhere around here. Is there anything I could use instead?
Michelle recently posted..Buttermilk waffles
Yum! I love quinoa.
Tattoo…hmmm. What about a picture of a stick of butter or duck legs. That would be inspiring :–)
Janis recently posted..Did you miss me
Well I do love my butter, so I am going to add that to the idea list!
What a refreshing dish. Love love love!
Great salad…think twice, no three times before you get a tattoo….: }
norma recently posted..MERLUZA NEGRA CON MANTEQUILLA DE ALCAPARRAS – ENSALADA DE LANGOSTA branzino and caper butter – lobster salad
I already have one…:) Two would be nothing!
lovely salad.
and…homeschooling: yes, yes. In the hands of a loving, intelligent, responsible parent (or two), it’s awesome. I can’t imagine school any other way. I’m in graduate school now, and it still surprises professors when they realize I started my education at home.
ah, tatoos! I think about them often. They’re, most often, beautiful. I wish I knew I could keep my mind made up, though. That’s another thing…homeschooling is great for kids with ADD enthusiasms, like me. 🙂
just a great post!
Hannah recently posted..Summer Fare 7- Summery Meat Balls and The Pretty Cook Giveaway
I really like quinoa and limes and avocado too. 😉 This looks like a great summery salad, can’t wait to try it!
LyB recently posted..Maple Semifreddo
Gorgeous pictures! And what a lovely salad.
Stephanie recently posted..Week 31- Juniper Berries
Nice one! Enjoyed your meandering thought provoking blog and great reminder of setting ones goals, I was a homeschooled kid many moons ago and have fabulous memories of that times (the things we saw and did) – I really believe having a ‘schooling’ like mine sets you up to believe anything is possible – all you have to do is name it. Cheers Anna
I’ve had Quinoa in a soup (sausage quinoa soup) but I’ve never cooked with it. Your recipe looks great!
Steph@PlainChicken recently posted..Butter Crunch Greek Yogurt Ice Cream
Great post Mrs. Guilty. Goals are so important that while at a conference a couple of weeks ago I got fired up about our life and came home with this crazy idea for Mrs. Guilty to specifically target our goals both together and separately. I am so glad to have them down on paper now and checking on them every day. We will sail/pilot that boat through the Panama Canal.. and the 12′ aluminium boat we have now just wont do.
What a beautiful dream to have. Keep reaching for it and make it a reality. I love quinoa and this is just how I like to eat it. Fabulous recipe. xx
Colleen recently posted..THAIT TIMING BUT I MADE IT WITH SPICY PEANUT CHICKEN
Not only am I hopelessly un-trendy in the tattoo department (don’t have one, don’t want one, and can’t understand the allure…), but even more embarrassing is the fact that I have never eaten quinoa. Probably because I don’t know how to pronounce it. Is there any hope for me?? GREG
Keen-wah. Not so hard once you know how to say it greg! And don’t worry, my husband feels the same way about tattoos…;)
My dream involves all the friends I’ve made in my life, all in one place at the same time for a large party involving food I cooked, dancing and a beach. With them spread out all over the world, this is a near impossible dream, but still I hope. Here I sit, raising my glass of breakfast OJ to your dream and mine and wishing hard that they come true.
Cheers to that Sharmila!
Buy that boat. What a fabulous dream! I love it. Love the blog too. Great name! Great recipe. I love quinoa. Lots of protein!
Looks like such a good salad. I have to tell you that I miss Vancouver Island a lot. We live in Ottawa now. Hope to go back some day.
Helene recently posted..Cherries- Blueberries- Raspberries Crumble
Great collection of quinoa recipes, thanks! I’ve been making lots of salads with the grain lately too… my favorite right now isn’t a salad at all but breakfast quinoa with blueberries.
A perfect way to start the day: http://ow.ly/2mhm5
This looks really good. I love quinoa. I just bought a box of red quinoa at Trader Joe’s and I think I will make this with it. Mmmm…
I love that you added avocado to this, just delicious!
I’m head over heals in love with Quinoa. Thanks for posting such a lovely recipe.
🙂
ButterYum
ButterYum recently posted..Oven Roasted Tomato Dip-Sauce-Spread-Stuff
I am trying this recipe tonight…. seriously, my mouth is watering just looking at your photo and reading the ingredients!!! Thank you for sharing 🙂
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