AMA Recipe: Quinoa Black Bean Veggie Chili

Quinoa Black Bean Veggie Chili

Checklist:

•       1 cup uncooked quinoa, rinsed
•       2 cups water
•       2 tablespoons olive oil
•       1 red onion, chopped  - Use half if you prefer
•       3 cloves garlic, chopped
•       3/4 tablespoon chili powder
•       1 tablespoon ground cumin
•        1 - 2 (28 ounce) can(s) diced tomatoes (how much do you like tomatoes?) 
•        1 (ounce) can tomato sauce
•        2 (19 ounce) cans black beans - drained
•        1 green bell pepper, chopped
•        1 lime
•        1 red bell pepper, chopped
•        1 zucchini, chopped
•        1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced
•        1 tablespoon minced chipotle peppers
•        1 teaspoon dried oregano
•        salt and ground black pepper to taste
•        1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
•        Shredded cheese of your choice

Combine quinoa and water and bring to a boil in a saucepan over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the quinoa is tender, and the water has been absorbed, about 15 to 20 minutes; set aside.

Heat 1 tbsp. olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Stir in chopped onion, and cook until the onion softens and turns translucent, about 5 minutes. Add in remaining tbsp. of olive oil and the garlic, chili powder, and cumin; cook and stir 1 minute to release the flavors. Stir in diced tomatoes, black beans, tomato sauce, green bell pepper, red bell pepper, zucchini, jalapeno pepper, chipotle pepper, and oregano. 

Season to taste with salt and pepper. 

Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer 20 minutes.

After 20 minutes, stir in the reserved quinoa and cut lime into halves and squeeze into chili. Remove from the heat, and garnish with cheese and cilantro to serve.

And that my friends is my spin on Quinoa black bean veggie chilli. 

Enjoy!

Worth it...

When life curves to the left unexpectedly, it can be hard to turn left and embrace the new direction. But at every angle, life offers opportunity. Good or bad, heartbreak, challenge or a time of bliss, I am thankful for the good that comes with every experience; the people I meet, every smile that is shared – no matter how few, and even the sweat and tears that continue for a time after. Because they condition me to be a better me. And I am better prepared when the curve finally veers right.

Something Good

In daylight I smile with a veiled frown
People pass by the heart in the puddle because I hide it so well

In moonlight I fall asleep with tears and wake up alone
Because loneliness creeps into my room and blankets my queen-size bed

They say things like, “life is what you make it” or "everything works out in time"

But sometimes it all feels like an endless maze

When one thing settles, something else is disturbed
The sun stops shining and the rain comes down
And even if the rain stops and the sun shines
The ground will crack with a returning thirst
They say that love goes anywhere...
But it seems like you gave in to what you can't see

The summer air on my skin feels like the warmth of hope and reminds me of your smile

They say “something good is never easy"

And all we can do is embrace the good and venture out on the winding road

Because worry and fear never gets us anywhere

It puts you at a fork in the road before what was just a curve ahead;
An opportunity to take a wrong turn
Where this is broken is on you - it is not where you will find me
The more you pull constricts the fall
The more you think the less you're taught

Heaven help those who don't change

With faith in this heavy heart I embrace the frightening uncertainty to grow and learn

“With you, but not without me,” she says.


...help us all to keep the faith

The Man in Black, The Duke, and Loyal Case.

Over the last couple of years as I've gotten older, I'm really starting to think more and more about the people in my life; what they mean to me, and whether or not they know. This was the foundation of me kicking off the letter project which has grown into something more where virtual strangers are involved, which is amazing.

When I think back on my childhood and youth, my family was (and is) my core. My experiences as a child really influenced the person I am today, the values I have, and the family I hope to someday raise. There are some memories that stick out more than others, and my grandpa Case is one of them.

My mom and aunt will tell you that my grandpa looked like, walked like, and talked like John Wayne. And he did. But what seems to do it for me is a little Johnny Cash. His voice reminds me so much of him sometimes, and he was just as handsome. My grandpa was also a military man; a veteran of the US Navy and tough as nails.

The end of 2011 marked 15 years without him. And as unbelievable as that is for me to calculate and realize, I can still remember that man's voice as clear as day. I was 13 years old when he passed away; young - but old enough and fortunate enough to have a basket full of memories to cling onto. One of my favorite things to do is sit down and have my mom tell me stories about growing up with him. I've heard all kinds of stories about the hard-working, dedicated, stern, intimidating man and father whose name to others was Loyal. As fun it is to hear those stories, that was not the man I knew. Intimidating, sure. To a small girl he stood 12 feet tall and had a baritone voice bigger to me than anything I had ever heard.

My grandparents use to have a yellow camper that might as well have been the Barbie Glamour Camper that to me was the coolest thing, ever. The first time I touched a fishing pole was with my grandpa. I caught two fish, and almost fell in the lake like a true girl, but if I was ever able to go with them to the campground, well...my entire month was probably made.

Visiting my grandparents house as little kid, one of the first things I wanted to do was go in the back room and see him. I'd find him watching a Cubs game or listening to his police scanner and reading the paper. Other times I could find him in the garage building something out of wood where I wasn't allowed to touch or sit near anything sharp. Sometimes you could find him sitting on the back stairs overlooking the backyard, probably talking about a squirrel and eating a braunschweiger sandwich. I'd just sit there with him. At some point within the first 30 minutes of being at their house, I would sneak into my grandma's cupboard where the goodies were and try to open it as quietly as I could. It never worked. He heard me every time, just sitting in his chair and would ever so lovingly say "GET OUT OF THERE YUM-YUM..."

...I walked away empty handed almost every time.

Why am I telling you all of these memories that hold no value to you? I don't know. I guess this is more of a reflection for me. I don't really know why he has such a strong mark in my life when I was just 13. I think about him often. I close my eyes a lot and try to put my Keds back on and place myself in his garage, or on the back porch with him. I try to remember the things he'd say and hear his strong voice. When my grandpa got sick and finally passed away, even at 13 I think I was in denial. I went through a period of days where it felt unreal. I played like normal. It wasn't true. Once it finally made sense, after watching my mother suffer the loss of her father, it made me realize that I never wanted to be her in a moment like that. To this day, it is hard for me to walk into my grandparent's garage. The last time I was in there, I could still smell the sawdust from things he had made. His pencil was still sitting out. I'd like to keep it that way.

My grandma is still walking around town (literally, like a boss) and has to be one of the most influential people in my life, aside from my own mother. She's 80 years old, witty, hilarious, and dresses like a modern day golden girl. If I could be half of the woman that she or my mom is, I'd feel pretty damn good.

I often reflect on the choices I have made and my mind immediately goes to my grandpa. Would he be proud to know the woman that I am approaching 30? I hope so. I think it's safe to say that his memory pushes me to be a better person, and be true to myself. And maybe it's even a little bit that though he's up there kicking it with Jesus, I'm still a little afraid I'm going to hear his voice telling me to get out of the cupboard...

I'm lucky to say that at 28, I have a wonderful family and friends (old and new) who are healthy, happy, thriving human beings that inspire me every day. In 2012 my goal is to make sure they know it. Life is too short and smiles should happen more often.