clean: day 3, in which i finally learn how to cook quinoa

we started the day off with a “cashew cream” smoothie that included cashews, frozen blueberries and raspberries, and a fresh mango.  i’m intrigued by the variety in volume these recipes make.  although they’re all supposed to be portioned for two people, they can make drastically different amounts.  mr. happy stuff finally realized that he really doesn’t care for nuts in his smoothies–we’re learning more each day about what it is we do and don’t like on this cleanse.  that’s a good thing!

for lunch today, we decided to try a recipe for tabbouleh from one of our own cookbooks.  we chose the quinoa option and left out the tomato.  i got a little frustrated with the rinsing part of prepping quinoa, but i didn’t want to shortchange that process since the last time i’d tried to make quinoa it turned out soooo bitter and i read later that it was because of insufficient rinsing.  but i swear i spent half an hour rinsing my quinoa to try to get the run-off water “crystal clear” like i’d read to do.  hopefully it doesn’t take that long every time.  anyone have a suggested shortcut method?  anyway, we topped the quinoa with some roasted chicken and i sprinkled some za’atar spice on top and it was quite tasty!  i’m curious now to see how different the red quinoa tastes.

although mr. happy stuff had suggested this particular recipe, when it was made, he was disappointed to realize that it wasn’t the salad he’d been thinking of.  the one he remembered had red beans (maybe three kinds?) and some quinoa, maybe in approximately equal proportions.  anyone know of common bean/quinoa salad that might be the one he’s thinking of?

i feel like i’ve spent all of my spare time (and some of my not-so-spare time) this weekend in the kitchen.  either prepping the current meal or doing pre-prep for meals this week.  today, i made hummus and left half of it plain, and added spinach and pea sprouts to the other half.  it’s pretty! (good flavor, but a wee bit fibrous.  i don’t think it will be noticeable.)
i also roasted a whole chicken and yesterday i roasted two butternut squashes.  tonight, i made another batch of homemade coconut “milk” (soaking shredded coconut in water for 15 minutes, then straining it–that’s the base for many of their smoothie recipes).  i also spent more time shopping for groceries.  i finally found the elusive passion fruit puree!  it’s goya brand and i found it at my favorite local international food store.  now if i can only find that smoothie recipe that called for it….

late supper and we wanted to be careful of the “don’t eat for 12 hours” rule, so i just threw together some ingredients in the blender.  mr. happy stuff got a fruity pink smoothie and i added spinach, pecans and almond milk to that same base for a weird, lumpy brown smoothie. (although i didn’t blend the nuts long enough, the flavor of this was lovely.)

worry stuff:  not sure how this whole “big meal at lunch” thing will play out during a work week.  i’m also a bit concerned that our son has shown zero interest in trying any new foods…. will he subsist on mac and cheese for three weeks?  yikes!

happy stuff:  i haven’t felt that “heavy belly” feeling in a few days and that’s kind of nice.  i may have lost 3 pounds?  but then again, who wouldn’t drop a few pounds by basically removing one meal a day?  all that “gunk” in my throat every morning during the winter?  the kind that makes me hack and cough?  90% gone.  after just two milk-free days!  hmmm….

goals n’ stuff:  drink more water.  find more “familiar” recipes that fit the plan.  i think some curry is definitely in our near future.