Here Goes Quinoa Corncakes…

I love corn. I put it in chile and soups, in stir fry and salads. I eat it hot off the cob, drenched in butter and salt. I eat it popped. Does popcorn count as eating corn? I say it does.

Lately, I have also taken to quinoa. I have been searching for other ways to eat it beyond the Like Rice category. Usually, when I think of other ways to eat things one of two things are involved. The first is chocolate, and while the Internet is full of crazy, I’m not putting quinoa and chocolate together. Ahem. Yet. The second thing is cheese! Most things can be eaten with cheese. Quinoa, friends, is no exception.

These Quinoa Corn Cakes are a good mix of savoury with just the right sweet corn crunch. Also, now with cheese! You could eat these on a bun, or use them as a bun, or just forget about the bun and go to town with a fork. That’s what I did.

Quinoa Corn Cakes

1 cup uncooked quinoa

1/2 cup (or more if you’re crazy) shredded sharp cheddar

2 cobs corn

3 eggs

3 tbs flour

1/4 tsp cayenne

1/4 tsp black pepper

1/4 teaspoon cumin

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

2 scallions (green onions, you know!)

1 carrot, grated

1. Cook your quinoa. To do this, bring 2 cups of water to a boil. Toss in your quinoa and reduce the heat to low. Cook covered for 15 to 18 minutes or until the grains are tender. Fluff it up. Set it aside to cool while you get the rest of your life together.

2. Remove the niblets from the cob. Use a sharp knife. No messing around. If you fear slippage and possible finger amputation, put the cob end on a dish towel for non-slip support.

3. In a large bowl, combine the cooled quinoa and corn niblets with the rest of the ingredients. You are killing this!

4. Heat canola oil in a large non-stick frying pan. I used enough oil to barely cover the bottom of the pan.

5. Gently scoop mixture into hot pan using a 1/4 cup measure or scoop. You might find that you need to flatten the mixture a bit to ensure even cooking. Do this! Cook until golden brown, about 5 minutes per side.

I ate my Quinoa Corncakes with fresh salsa, but they would be equally delicious with the hot sauce of your choosing or a healthy dollop of sour cream.

Bucket

I have been bonkers obsessed with The Joy the Baker Podcast. You can tell this because I just used the word ‘bonkers’.

One of the ideas that came about was a Summer Bucket List. I am a fierce participator in other bucket list-esque activities (see: My full Life List and my Thirtieth Birthday Year list). While I can recognize that there is much left to do on a grand scale, the idea of making a smaller list of things I’d like to get around to in the next months gives the upcoming season a bit of a glossy sheen.

I’m teaching English online for the month of July. Megavacations (such as Iceland 2010) require a great deal of time and a great deal of cheese. And not the cheddar kind either. Infusing the time I DO have with a bit of awesome seems brilliant and will help me to feel less like I squandered the days alternating between student essays and Shades of Grey and more like I made steps in the direction of Being a Person Who Gets Stuff Done.

1. Supervolcano! I have romantic ideas about road trips. I also loves me some volcanic activity. When I’m done teaching, I’d like to point some wheels in the direction of Yellowstone. GEYSER! I visited Geysir in Iceland – the one that gave it’s name to all other geysers. To gush, indeed.

2. Ladies Agree Books Is Awesome (LABIA). We also agree that it’s okay to sacrifice proper grammar for the sake of a great acronym.

3. Podcast start-up. This one makes me both nervous and excited. Also, feeling like I am exposing my soft white fish belly to the whole Intarwebs. #scotch

4.  Camp Loopy and Crocheted Afghan. I have taken on an ambitious knitting project through The Loopy Ewe. I have also finally learned to crochet a granny square and have designs on a brilliantly coloured afghan. Oh boy.

5.  Gourmet Popsicles both with and without booze. This one is underway as I type. I purchased some sweet molds and began my first experiment last night in the world of fruit and yogurt popsicle combos. I also found this. One hundred! Boom diggity!

6.  Cold River Swimming. Robyn and I? We have a swimming hole. It’s in Wakefield, Quebec. And the best thing to do is float in the dark, cold river water then hit up The Black Sheep Inn for some refreshments. Then more swimming. Then ice cream. We’re grown-ups. we do what we want.

7.   Ballet/Pilates. This place I found has adult ballet. It’s a been a number of years on that front, but I want to give it a shot again. not because I’m going to play Clara in The Nutcracker, but because I like the way it feels to stand at a barre and do something prescribed.

8.   Rollerskate. I have access to rollerskates. They’re black and they’re old school and they belonged to my stepfather. I want to get some time in on them. I have roller derby ambitions. Maid of the Fist, anyone?

9.   Blog it out. And done. Kind of.

10. Cookbook Cooking. I love how a cookbook looks and feels. It contains endless potential. I need to work hearder this summer at turning that potential into something more tangible. So I’ve picked Bills Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner and old issues of Delicious magazine from when I lived in Australia. I miss the Australian food aesthetic. I want to eat that way again. And I may or may not have a huge super-secret celebrity chef crush on Bill Granger.

Bring it on, summer.

Insert Trumpet Herald Here

It’s been rattling around now in my head, thanks to JTB and Shutterbean.

The Summer Bucket List. What do you want to do to make the coming months awesome? I totally made a list and coming back here to do a bit of writing and poking about was definitely on it.

Then I got caught up in the asthetics and how I wanted it to look before I posted my Triumphant Return and then several days passed. And so too shall summer, if I don’t just get on with it. 

So screw you (for now) good looks and sexy layouts. You’ll come with time.

Through the Roof

Well hello.

If you’re stopping here by way of Ye Olde Yarn Harlot, welcome. And since I have your attention (momentarily anyhow -I realize you’re probably here to see this), I want to take the time to gently remind you about Tricoteuses Sans Frontières or Knitters Without Borders. I know it’s the holiday season and I know that things are tight -  this year especially.   Throughout the world, you will find MSF helping people when it seems that all hope has been lost. It is important work. Médecins Sans Frontières / Doctors Without Borders can always use your help.

If you’d like to make a donation, you can do so at the following sites:

MSF Canada

MSF USA

MSF International

More information about Knitters Without Borders can be found here.

Maybe some finished Christmas knitting will inspire you? Okay, so it’s still wet but it’s off the needles. That’s finished in my world.

I’ll Admit It

I failed at NaBloPoMo. A number of events conspired against me and by Saturday, I just had nothing. Nothing in terms of writing that is. I did have a wicked hanger-on-of-a-cold, a messy house, a visit from in-law-ishes, a staff holiday dinner and planning to be done for the week I am now halfway through. I know, poor bibsy, right? Never fear. As they say, we’re all winners. I was a (self-declared) winner at NaBloPoLess. It’s all in the framing.

Today, I think you need to do some reading. I think you need to know what the hells bells is going on in the political machine of Canada. So go here and then go here.

The first explains the Canadian political system and demonstrates how we got ourselves in this hot mess in the first place.  It has a bit of a left slant, but it’s also funny. And she knits too!

The second is DMs rant to which I give a hearty “what-what”! The email he references came from me. It was sent to me by someone with whom I went to school. Have no fear, this person (whose gender and identity shall remain secret to protect the ignorant) is busy shaping the minds of our youth. Shudder.

Also, DM and I thought that for the last day of NaBloPoMo, we could write a letter to each other. DM is still waiting for his letter. I received a lovely one. I dare you not to choke up.

An Open Letter to Throat Singing

Dear Throat Singing,

I’m not a fan. Downtown Laurie Brown appears to be though as she seems to play some every night on The Signal.

She’s all yours, Throat Singing. I hope you have a nice life together.

Kim

Guest Post! An Open Letter to Martha

Dear Martha Stewart,

Let me just start by saying I think we both know that I am not the only adoring fan that you have. There are many a young (and not so young) women who long to be just as creatively intelligent as you (minus that year or two you were kind of in the black books…we won’t discuss that here). Hell, my sister moved to PEI for a year to become “Martha”. It worked too- we all reap the benefits of her year becoming a Pastry Chef!

Anyway, my point here is Martha, that I represent all the creative people that cannot always afford the fancy-dancy items in your crafts….let alone drop the cash for “Martha” name brand stuff. Don’t get me wrong. It’s all great. I just can’t afford it at the moment, what with having to pay a mortgage and bills every month and, from time to time, I do need to eat. As I am not one to point out problems without trying to at least attempt to find a solution, I have an idea for you. Dedicate one issue, that’s all I’m asking for, one issue, of Martha Stewart Living to “On a Budget Projects”! You know, stuff that young creative women like myself may have around the house already. Scrap paper, empty 2 litre bottles of pop and Kraft Dinner boxes and crayons. I bet you could think of some pretty sweet stuff to make with all of those things… maybe not all for the same project though.

In the November edition you make a lot of cute ornaments and decorations out of doilies. Come on Martha, doilies? Not something a 25 year old is going to have around the house, nor do I have time to run out and get them. Although, I did just receive my weekly 50% off coupon from Michael’s. I know this sounds like a whole bunch of complaints and negativity, but the point I am trying to get across is this- I love you Martha. I want to feel like I am in your league. I’m sure that you didn’t use ALL expensive craft items before you built the awesome empire that is “Martha”. Don’t forget your roots. Don’t Peace me out…

Your Loving, Albeit Cheap, Fan,

Lindsey

Editor’s Note: Thank you Lindsey! Only a few days remaining in Blo Po-ing and I’m farming it out. Maybe it’s because I am sick. Maybe it’s because I had some marking to do tonight. Or maybe (and far more likely) I am just lazy. If you too are interested in having your letter openly posted on my blog this week, you know where to find me.