Crab Cakes!

These Crab Cakes are easier than I'd imagined. They're make-after-work-easy! I adapted the recipe from my current favorite cookbook: Colorado Classique by the Junior League of Denver. Everything in this book is uniquely classic.

Mountainside Crab Cakes
- Adapted from Colorado Classique

Printable version here.

Ingredients:

• 1 egg
• 1/2 T. dill
• 1 t. Worcestershire Sauce
• 1/4 t. Dry Mustard
• 1 C cooked crab (or 1/2 C. crab 1/2 C. chopped baby shrimp)
• 1/3 C. fine dried bread crumbs
• 1/2 C. diced bell pepper
• 2 T. light mayonnaise
• 1/4 t. Old Bay seasoning 
• 1 T. sliced green onions
• 1/2 T. butter

Directions:
In a large bowl beat egg. Add dill, Worcestershire, mustard, crab (and shrimp), bread crumbs, bell peppers,mayonnaise, Old Bay seasoning, and green onions. Shape mixture into 6 equal flat rounds, about 1/2 inch thick. In a skillet, heat 1/2 T. butter over medium heat. Place 3 crab cakes in pan and cook for 3 to 5 minutes per side or until golden brown, turning halfway through cooking. Keep warm in a 200 degree oven while cooking remaining three.

Air Fresheners - the natural way...

My cousin Becky always has a tasty smelling house. It may be because she's a great cook or she has a simmer pot going! Think modern day potpourri. Or maybe I'm just showing my age here and it is potpourri! Regardless, these natural air fresheners are a fantastic way to spread some scrumptious smells through your house. They are very affordable and a great natural alternative to those strange scented air fresheners that look like they have cigarette buts on top of them...yea, gross... 

Here is a  recipe that I'm currently using:

• Peel of one orange
• two cinnamon sticks
• handful of whole cloves

Fill the pot about half way with water and add ingredients. Bring to a boil and then reduce to simmer. Refill with water as needed. The last batch I reused for about a week and a half. You'll know when it's time to change it out when it starts having a slight fermenting smell to it.

These really are great and I love that there a naturally great smelling. They also last a long time and can be stronger than candles!

I threw together a few kits on my Etsy if you're interested in trying out one of my homemade kits. Click here to go to my Etsy page.

Enjoy!

Watercolor Valentines Day Cards

Just a quick post for some Watercolor Valentines Day Cards I just posted on my Etsy page. Come over to my page if you're interested!

 

Quinoa Tabbouleh Salad

I'm starting to explore with Quinoa. Wow, it's delicious and a fabulous alternative to rice or pasta. I found a recipe on Pinterst from With Style & Grave that looked great and was very similar to a recipe that I adore from the Noble Pig. Thus I tweaked it a bit for my own liking and added a few things.

Quinoa Tabbouleh Salad

Printable Version click here.

• 1 cup Quinoa
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 2 t. salt 
• 1 t. pepper
• 1/2 cup lemon juice 
• 1/2 t. ground cumin
• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1/4 cup cilantro, finely chopped
• 1/4 cup mint, finely chopped
• 6-8 scallions, white and light green parts, chopped
• 1 red bell pepper
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1 cup cucumber,diced
• 1 cup zucchini, diced 
• 1/2 cup sliced black olives (optional)
• 1/2 cup crumbled feta (optional) 

Rinse Quinoa - Put 1 cup Quinoa in a medium sauce pan and fill with water, swish around and strain with the lid as much water as you can. Repeat 2-3 times. I've read that if you do not rinse the Quinoa that it will have a slight bitter taste to it. It's not essential to get every drip-drop of water when rinsing because it's cooked in water anyways. I wouldn't bother with a fine strainer, seems more of a pain than anything. The lid to the pot worked great for me.

After you rinse your Quinoa, add 1 1/2 cups water and 1 t. salt, bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat and simmer for 15-20 minutes. There should be no excess water in the pot.

Meanwhile mix olive oil, lemon juice, other 1 t. salt, cumin, and black pepper

When Quinoa is done cooking, transfer to a bowl and drizzle olive oil mixture on top. Mix thoroughly then add the rest of the ingredients.

Enjoy!