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Heather's Dish

Heather's Dish Snacks, Soups, Sides

Tangerine-Scented Quinoa Pilaf

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First of all I have to show you guys this first photo because I bought a new citrus-juicer and I’m such a proud new mama.  Look how pretty and rustic it looks with the tangerines!  Plus it can kind of annihilate any citrus in a matter of shear seconds.

 

Yes, I’m proud.  So what?

So last week I bought a huge bag of tangerines with the best intentions of eating every.single.one.  They’re so juicy and sweet – and then I realized that (GASP!) they have seeds in them.  What the what?!  Immediately my thoughts turned to juiced because, well, if I’m being honest picking the seeds out of my food before eating just doesn’t sound that great.  If you have the time and patience though, now is the time to go out and purchase your very own massive bag of tangerines.  I promise you won’t be sorry!

 

But me?  I’d rather let my colander do the seeding for me.  So the eating plans changed and I made a side dish that’s sure to please and actually is pretty healthy.  It’s got that little something different with the tangerine juice in lieu of water in the quinoa and the orange color is just so pretty!

But as if that’s not enough I went out and did this:  I put pomegranate arils in there.

 

Yep, it’s true.  I did it, and I’m not sorry!

 

Quick side story though:  I never had a pomegranate until Nate and I got married.  I don’t know why, but the first time I tried one I thought you could just bite into it.  When that obviously didn’t work I cut it in half to see what I was really dealing with and HO-LY-CRAP I was shocked!  And let me tell you, back in those days one didn’t just Google how to do something (well, we did but I was determined to figure it out).  I wrestled with that sucker for at least an hour and then I realized why we never had them growing up.  (By the way, here’s a great site about pomegranates and they have a link to how to properly remove the arils.  Just in case you’re like me and didn’t know!)

 

They take for-freaking-ever to de-aril.  But if you have the time then you need to do this.  The texture, the color, and the pop of pomegranate flavor is 100% worth it.

TANGERINE-SCENTED QUINOA PILAF

  • 1 Tbsp butter or olive oil
  • 1/3 cup orzo pasta (or broken spaghetti)
  • 1 cup quinoa, rinsed
  • 1 cup fresh-squeezed tangerine juice + zest from one tangerine
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp pepper
  • arils from one pomegranate (optional)

In a small saucepan melt the butter/heat the oil over medium heat.  Add the orzo and cook until just slightly browned.  Add the quinoa and cook for another 30 seconds.  Pour in the juice, zest,  and water.  Add the salt, pepper and cinnamon.  Bring to a boil and then reduce heat and cover and simmer for 18-20 minutes until all liquid is absorbed and the quinoa is tender.  Serve hot with cold pomegranate arils if desired!

 

**Note: if you do use the pom arils I would highly recommend not mixing them in with the pilaf.  The main reason is because if you have leftovers you’ll want to reheat the quinoa but not the pom arils, so keeping them separate will ensure you can enjoy this again the next day!**

Now that I look at the photos is it wrong for me to want an entire outfit made with these colors?

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Comments

  1. Sylvie @ Gourmande in the Kitchen says

    December 1, 2011 at 5:38 pm

    Pretty and light dish, love the pop of color from the pomegranates too. They are a pain to deal with but taste oh so good!

    Reply
  2. Jeanette says

    November 30, 2011 at 7:19 pm

    Love how light and healthy this recipe is – I just love pomegranate arils, they brighten up any dish and add a pop of sweetness and tartness at the same time.

    Reply
  3. Clare @ SweetnSimple says

    November 30, 2011 at 6:11 pm

    Sounds beautiful 🙂 The colours are gorgeous!

    Reply
  4. Delishhh says

    November 30, 2011 at 5:46 pm

    Love the juicer – i need to get one !

    Reply
  5. Regina says

    November 30, 2011 at 3:20 pm

    I love the look. It presents it’s self so well. Yum….

    Reply
  6. Jessica @ How Sweet says

    November 30, 2011 at 2:22 pm

    I’m all over this with the arils. Love them.

    Reply
  7. Kim in MD says

    November 30, 2011 at 1:09 pm

    Your photos are stunning, Heather! The colors in this dish are amazing!

    Reply
  8. Kellie @ Blackboard Kitchen says

    November 30, 2011 at 11:13 am

    Gorgeous photos! I am in love with the vibrant colors…you make me feel like it’s spring outside, rather than our crumbly descent into winter.

    Reply
  9. Anna @ On Anna's Plate says

    November 30, 2011 at 10:02 am

    Ooooh, pretty! And I just bought tangerines yesterday– perfect timing!!

    Reply
  10. Kelly @ Laughter, Strength, and Food says

    November 30, 2011 at 9:26 am

    I LOVE this! So creative! 🙂

    Reply
  11. Gina @ Running to the Kitchen says

    November 30, 2011 at 9:17 am

    Ah pom arils…so much damn work, but so delicious. Even the water trick barely helps. I have to be having a very patient day (which hardly ever happens) to want to tackle those suckers. Love that you cooked this with tangerine juice. I use OJ a lot to cook grains in. Gives it so much flavor!

    Reply
  12. Kelli H (Made in Sonoma) says

    November 30, 2011 at 8:56 am

    That first picture is absolutely perfect! I love it!

    Reply
  13. Lindsay @ Lindsay's List says

    November 30, 2011 at 7:34 am

    Awesome pictures, Heather!! Submit them somewhere!

    Reply

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Just a couple quick reminders: ⭐️ healthy doe Just a couple quick reminders:

⭐️ healthy doesn’t have to be hard
⭐️ you’re allowed to “mess up”
⭐️ you’re allowed to be multidimensional
⭐️ don’t overcomplicate it 
⭐️ YOU ARE CAPABLE 

I have so many thoughts swirling around in my head these days, and half the time I don’t know which way is up. But I do know this: focusing on simplicity is the name of the game this year for me. It starts with the things I can control: my food intake, moving my body, my thoughts, my actions. The rest will stem from there!

Does anyone even do a word of the year anymore after 2020? If you do I’d love to see you share it below!
“I’m angry with God.” With those 4 words my “I’m angry with God.”

With those 4 words my Daddy forever changed the way I saw God. A pillar of fire didn’t come from the sky, the ground didn’t open up and swallow him whole, we didn’t get in a car wreck on the way home from piano lessons. And my Daddy never turned his heart from God; a short 20 minutes later we sat down at the dinner table and he praised him through prayer before we ate dinner. 

He taught me that when we are sad or frustrated or anxious or angry or feel that surely the weight of life will kill us - God is big enough to handle those feelings. Not just handle them, but walk closer than our breath through them. He cares, he’s there, and he even wants us to tell him. The more I think about it the more I see that my dad sharing his anger with God was the most honest display of faith I had seen up to that point.

The other day I uttered those same words in front of my boys, “I’m angry with God.” Just like me, they looked around to see where my smiting would come from, likely shocked (as I was) when it didn’t come. And just like me, they will see their parent praise God even in the midst of a firestorm of emotion. 

Why? Because God is good no matter what. My life feels like it’s crumbling before my eyes and I have no way of stopping it...but He is still on his throne. I will praise him no matter the circumstances because he has been good to me. I will write his word on my windows as a constant reminder that this life of mine is dedicated to his glory.
For someone who loves words so much, I really don' For someone who loves words so much, I really don't have many of them right now. 
.
On December 26, 2020 - after over a decade of fighting Corticobasal Degeneration, a rare progressive neurological disorder - my incredible, near-perfect Daddy left this world and has made his home with Jesus. Ever since then I've been struggling to find the words to pay homage to the most amazing man in the world. How do you sum up the life of someone who has impacted so many for good? How do I ever share how the little day-to-day expressions, smiles, words, wit, strength, grit, grace, humility, hard work and love have been woven into my very being? One of the last things I told him before he left was that there truly are no words yet for the kind of love he shared with me, my sister, and our beautiful mother. He was truly one-of-a-kind in every way, and we are so blessed because of the way he poured himself out for us. 
.
Daddy, I love you so much. The only thing that's softening the pain of your absence is knowing that those very last words I said to you - "I'll see you soon" - will come true because I know you'll be waiting for me in Heaven. My very own Daddy - you are always with me. I love you beyond words.
Just two gals who crushed a 50 minute run today! Just two gals who crushed a 50 minute run today! 

As we move into goal setting for the new year, may I suggest starting with your physical health? Not to fit the bikini body mold that society normalizes, but to actually BE as healthy as possible. When everything hit the fan for me this year I dug into two things that have been integral to creating positive growth and a healthier mindset: 

1️⃣ my relationship with God
2️⃣ my physical health

What that’s looked like for me on the health front: holding fast to my commitment to whole food nutrition, grace for the days when I choose otherwise, pushing myself to lift heavier in workouts, and taking up running again. 

What’s happened as a result? When I push myself physically, when I choose to practice discipline to do what I know is best for my body, it makes it infinitely easier to choose that same healthy discipline in every other area of life. You want to dominate your goals? Start with your health!
Remember when I blogged about food? 😂 Gosh the Remember when I blogged about  food? 😂 Gosh the past few months have been nuts. I’m still over here figuring out how to eat well without sacrificing my life in the kitchen, and this is a bowl I couldn’t NOT share with y’all. The best thing is that everything is almost always on hand in my fridge, it’s packed with nutrition, and tastes AMAZING!

In the bowl:
-rice mixed with Trader Joe’s Zhoug sauce
-broiled shredded Brussels sprouts
-chickpeas
-baby  arugula
-grilled chicken breast
-Romesco sauce (from Trader  Joe’s but I usually make my own)
-a little  tzaziki sauce

This meal has been on repeat all week, only changing the rice for riced cauliflower and omitting the chickpeas on low carb days. YUM! I find that if I have a variety of roasted veggies, grilled chicken, and a few different sauces on hand I can almost always come up with a great bowl for almost any meal!
It’s a beautiful day for Small Business Saturday It’s a beautiful day for Small Business Saturday y’all! Almost 4 years ago I took a leap of faith and said yes to this job in an effort to create another stream of revenue. I had NO CLUE that it would change my life for the better in almost every way, that it would reignite my passion for health and community, that it would provide in so many beautiful ways. But it has, and I am so thankful to all of you who have trusted me and supported me along the way. 

When you shop with a small business you are literally a hero in their eyes, validating and supporting and protecting them. You guys are my heroes, and I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart ❤️ 

#smallbusinesssaturday #happydance
Affirmations for YOU today. Even when you don’t Affirmations for YOU today. Even when you don’t feel it, these are truths that I’m holding for you. ❤️
3 things you can do RIGHT NOW to improve your day: 3 things you can do RIGHT NOW to improve your day:

1️⃣ SMILE! Even if you don’t feel like it, smiling (even forcing it to the point of feeling weird) has actually been scientifically proven to improve mood, lower stress, and boost your immune system. I actually recommend doing it awkwardly around other people because it’ll make them smile too 😉

2️⃣ GRATITUDE! Right now, before you talk yourself out of it, say or write 3 things you’re thankful for. Big, small, or in between. In this moment I’m going to say sticky notes, my Le Creuset Dutch Oven, and the Hamilton soundtrack. BOOM!

3️⃣MOVE! Get up off your tush, right now, and move your body. Walk around your house, do some jumping jacks, lock yourself in the bathroom and do a little dance, whatever. This isn’t about looking cool, it’s about giving yourself a better day. 

Things are hard, ambiguity and uncertainty isn’t fun, but we can control ONE THING: ourselves. Praying that you choose to gift yourself a little bit of happiness today! 

Now, tell me below, what’s one thing you’re thankful for RIGHT NOW?
HASHTAG MOOD. Y’all, I’m so jealous of my dog HASHTAG MOOD. Y’all, I’m so jealous of my dog 😂 Who else feels me here? 🙋🏼‍♀️ #dogdays #2020mood
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