Lunch Break and Dash

on June 15, 2011

Happy birthday to my sister-in-law, Sophie. We Skyped this morning while she opened her present. We got her a fancy sewing machine!

Isnâ€™t technology fun?

Mid-morning snack of some dried bananas:

And lunch was a quinoa mess. Iâ€™m really loving these veggies-and-grain mixtures lately, especially since Iâ€™m trying to cut back on gluten. Plus, this meal was so fast and easy to make. Literally, from pantry and fridge to my plate in 10 minutes.

In the mix:

Quinoa
Sliced raw carrots
Corn
Sweet peas
Chickpeas
Cashews
Creamy balsamic dressing

I have been working on a post entitled, â€œHow To Select Your Next Raceâ€ for about three days. Eventually, it will go up, I promise! I was going to finish it and post it right now, but weâ€™ve got to jet off to our house inspection. Keep your fingers crossed that it all goes smoothly! Iâ€™d love to get to July 22 closing without any bumps in the road.

{ 55 comments }

Cara June 15, 2011, 12:31 pm
That quinoa mess looks great! I need to start making more of those! Good luck on the house inspection! 🙂
jen @ taste life June 15, 2011, 12:37 pm
Good luck! Home inspections are major scary. I hope it’s all good news!
Gina @ Running to the Kitchen June 15, 2011, 12:45 pm
Oh good luck with the inspection. I hope you get good news 🙂
Baking 'n' Books June 15, 2011, 12:51 pm
Is your quinoa pre-cooked? Or how do you cook it so quickly?
- Samantha Angela @ Bikini Birthday June 15, 2011, 12:58 pm
  I was going to ask that as well
- Caitlin June 15, 2011, 9:18 pm
  Just bring water to boil and cook it for about 5 minutes, drain and serve!
Samantha @ Health, Happiness & Skinny Jeans June 15, 2011, 1:02 pm
I love that people can “be together” on special occasions now thanks to Skype. So fun! 🙂
Jen June 15, 2011, 1:03 pm
Just a heads up: a lot of pre-made salad dressings have gluten in them. If you decide to get that picky about it, you might want to look for dressings that are labeled GF! Good thing quinoa doesn’t have gluten…it’s one of my favorite grains!
Freya June 15, 2011, 1:05 pm
Wowza the house stuff has happened so fast! I’m excited for you 😀
Monika @ Powered by Paprika June 15, 2011, 1:05 pm
What are the symptoms you were having that prompted you to cut back on gluten?

That quinoa + veggie dish looks much tastier than the salad I’m currently chomping down!
Ashley O. @ The Vegetable Life June 15, 2011, 1:08 pm
Good luck with the inspection I was soooo nervous they were going to find a HUGE problem when we bought out house but all was good! 🙂
Angela @ Eat Spin Run Repeat June 15, 2011, 1:10 pm
Your mix sounds awesome! I love veggie and grain salads too, and I just posted a recipe for one yesterday (http://eatspinrunrepeat.wordpress.com/2011/06/14/thrive-in-30-learnings-part-1/) I’m eating it now!!
Sarah for Real June 15, 2011, 1:13 pm
Good luck inspecting! I bet you’ll learn a TON.
Ash @ Good Taste Healthy Me June 15, 2011, 1:20 pm
Good luck! Home inspections can be quite scary but also super informative and fun. 😀
Leanne (Bride to Mrs,) June 15, 2011, 1:23 pm
Good luck on your inspection. Really take time to look around and investigate! 🙂 what an exciting time in you guys’ life! Being a home owner is so rewarding!!
chelsey @ clean eating chelsey June 15, 2011, 1:30 pm
I love quinoa bowls -they seriously save me when I”m in a pinch!
Jessica @ Dairy Free Betty June 15, 2011, 1:32 pm
Good luck on the inspection!!

I’ve always wondered, are those banana chips deep fried?
Courtney @ The Granola Chronicles June 15, 2011, 1:34 pm
I’ve been loving quinoa as of late also! I made a big batch on Sunday night (in low-sodium veggie broth). Then during the week, I like adding it to lettuce salads and topping with chickpeas, avocado, black olives – you name it! So filling and easy.
Jessica June 15, 2011, 1:34 pm
That looks so good. I want to start cooking things with quinoa like this but have never done it. For some reason it intimidates me! Any tips on what kind to get or how to make it?
- Caitlin June 15, 2011, 9:18 pm
  I will try to do a quinoa cooking post soon! I think a lot of people had this question.
Sam June 15, 2011, 1:41 pm
Quinoa is so yummy, that looks like a great way to use it!
Sana June 15, 2011, 2:10 pm
I love skype, except when my mom’s uncle wants to skype EVERYDAY!
Natalia - a side of simple June 15, 2011, 2:12 pm
Grain and veggie bowls have always been a favorite of mine, especially since I’m GF. I’ve never been able to get a real taste for salads, so these are great replacements!
Brittany (A Healthy Slice of Life) June 15, 2011, 2:15 pm
Good luck on the house inspection! They always seem to be a little disheartening, but just try to focus on if there are any BIG issues.

Also, looking forward to hearing your suggestions on picking your next race. I can’t wait to give it another go in a few months.
Carolina June 15, 2011, 2:16 pm
Whoever invited Skype should be given a prize cause it’s so amazing! I love being able to connect w/ friends that are far away & actually see each other. So great!
Jessica @ The Process of Healing June 15, 2011, 2:16 pm
YUM! You make veggies look SO good!
Jenny @ Fitness Health and Food June 15, 2011, 2:19 pm
Yey for the house inspection! Hope all goes well and happy bithday to Sophie! 🙂
Maryea {Happy Healthy Mama} June 15, 2011, 2:21 pm
What a great gift! You are an awesome sister-in-law. 🙂
Katherine June 15, 2011, 2:24 pm
Hi Caitlin,

Just wanted to share that Namaste Foods makes an awesome gluten free pancake mix! I haven’t eaten gluten in a few years so I’m not really able to tell anymore if they taste similar to ‘regular’ pancakes, but when I have made them for friends, they usually forget that they are gluten free while they are eating them…so that is a good sign!

I also have lots of gluten free recipes that I would be happy to share with you if you need some more inspiration! I’m definitely inspired by your new creations 🙂

Katherine
- Caitlin June 15, 2011, 9:18 pm
  Everyone has suggested Namaste – I will search for it!!!!
Steph @ A Life Without Ice Cream June 15, 2011, 2:30 pm
I do the same! There’s nothing cheaper than buying a big bunch of bananas and freezing them. Plus then I can play with the mix and use 1/2 or 1/3 of one depending on the flavour I want. I always feel that if I peel a fresh one I need to use it all.

Mango is also something I freeze on my own a lot because they all seem to ripen at the same time and I need to slice and freeze before they go bad!

Your smoothie made me hungry! Yum!
Kate (What Kate is Cooking) June 15, 2011, 2:37 pm
Yum, I love quinoa! I also love Skype. We taught my grandmother how to use it!
Andrea @ Onion in My Hair June 15, 2011, 2:40 pm
I keep trying different brands of creamy balsamic and I haven’t found one I love yet. What brand is your fave?
- Caitlin June 15, 2011, 9:19 pm
  Simply Dressed – so good!
  - Andrea @ Onion in My Hair June 16, 2011, 2:31 pm
    I’m on it. Thanks!
Andrea @ Onion in My Hair June 15, 2011, 2:41 pm
Oh, and don’t forget to pay extra for mold and radon inspection! Very important!
Ellie@fitforthesoul June 15, 2011, 2:57 pm
your food messes always look so good Caitlin! in fact, you’re the one who inspired to eat the way I do more and more! 🙂
Jen June 15, 2011, 3:02 pm
You rock Caitlin! I want to give you a shoutout today because you have such a generous and caring spirit! 🙂 love ya girl!
- Caitlin June 15, 2011, 9:19 pm
  You are so sweet 😉
Holly @ The Runny Egg June 15, 2011, 3:04 pm
Good luck with the house stuff! So exciting.

I love skype — it is so much more fun than talking on the phone!
Annette @ EnjoyYourHealthyLife June 15, 2011, 3:29 pm
I love quinoa and veggie messes too! And Ichat is how we roll around here 🙂

Have a great time with the house stuff!
Alexa @ Simple Eats June 15, 2011, 3:32 pm
I love quinoa messes, I just made one last night!
Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga June 15, 2011, 3:47 pm
Ok that salad is possibly the best looking thing I’ve seen you post in ages….to me at least. It just looks SO PERFECT! That is totally my kinda food! 🙂
Rachel June 15, 2011, 4:01 pm
quinoa messes make the best lunches! i love roasted carrots, kale & onions (tossed w/ kosher salt & olive oil) w/ my quinoa. absolutely the best & super filling. YOU inspired that mash up & it’s been a favorite ever since 🙂 good luck at the house inspection & happy hump day!
Sarena (The Non Dairy Queen) June 15, 2011, 4:28 pm
Happy birthday to your sister in law! Quinoa is really one of the best foods ever! Especially for gluten free eating. It looks delicious Caitlin!
Allie June 15, 2011, 5:49 pm
The quinoa looks so yummy! I just found out I have Celiac Disease so I’ve had to cut out gluten entirely. Being a vegan, this has made things… interesting. I feel like I’m almost like an addict weaning myself off! I have these irrational urges to throw my phone at someone eating pasta or a sandwich. Haha. Doh.

Speaking of, I had no idea gluten was in other things like my chaptick, blush, and conditioner. From now on I’m sticking to chemical free stuff :).
- Caitlin June 15, 2011, 9:20 pm
  hahah this is such a great comment.
  
  chemical free rules!
Carey @ Positively Blonde June 15, 2011, 6:26 pm
Good luck with the house inspections! Fingers crossed it goes well!!
Sarah Stephen June 15, 2011, 6:57 pm
ironic. I promise I was just sitting here thinking, “how am I gonna choose my next race?” lol I would like to find an easy tri in my area of central arkansas.
Annie@stronghealthyfit June 15, 2011, 7:15 pm
I had a similar meal for dinner- 2 mashed-up quinoa burgers cooked w/some organic broccoli! topped w/nutritional yeast and ketchup- YUM. 🙂
Parita June 15, 2011, 7:34 pm
Quinoa messes are the best! Mexican themed quinoa bowls are amazing!
Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin June 15, 2011, 8:38 pm
Yum banana chips! I used to be obsessed with those, but I haven’t had them in ages!

I hope the house inspection went well!
kristen June 15, 2011, 11:17 pm
good luck on the inspection! Dont be worried if they come back w/ a laundry list of stuff. Thats their job. Just because they see it doesnt mean its a No Go. Just watch for the big stuff (AC furnace, roof, etc)
Khushboo June 16, 2011, 4:31 am
Food messes are the best- the more random the better!
Amber K June 16, 2011, 11:35 am
As long as it’s tasty, a mess is just perfect for me 🙂

Hope everything went well with your house inspection!

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