Impress with this warm quinoa, spinach and shiitake salad

(NC)—Delicious seasoned quinoa forms the base of this warm greens-and-veggie side salad. Leftovers make a great packed lunch.

Quinoa Spinach & Shiitake Salad

Prep time: 20 minutes

Cook time: 35 minutes

Makes 6 servings

Ingredients:

2 cups (500 mL) Chicken Broth

1 pkg (225 g) PC Organics Roasted Garlic and Fine Herbs Quinoa

2 tbsp (25 mL) olive oil

½ cup (125 mL) thinly sliced shallots

½ cup (125 mL) finely chopped sweet red pepper

6 oz (180 g) shiitake mushrooms, stems discarded and caps thinly sliced

3 tbsp (45 mL) red wine vinegar

1 pkg (142 g) baby spinach

½ tsp (2 mL) salt

¼ tsp (1 mL) freshly ground black pepper

¼ cup (50 mL) crumbled feta cheese

Directions:

In saucepan, bring chicken broth to a boil. Stir in quinoa and contents of seasoning pouch. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 12 to 15 minutes or until tender. Remove from heat; let stand, covered, for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork.

In large nonstick frying pan, heat oil over medium heat; cook shallots and red pepper for 4 to 6 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until lightly golden and softened. Stir in mushrooms; cook, stirring occasionally, for 6 to 8 minutes or until mushrooms have released their juices and are starting to turn golden. Add vinegar; cook, stirring to bring up browned bits, for 1 minute. Stir in spinach; cook, stirring, for 2 minutes or just until wilted. Stir in salt and pepper. Remove from heat.

In large bowl, toss quinoa with warm spinach mixture. Serve sprinkled with feta.

More recipe ideas are available online at pc.ca.

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Healthy Sloppy Joe Casserole

HEALTHY SLOPPY JOE CASSEROLE

Ingredients:

* 1 yellow onion, chopped

* 1 organic yellow, orange or red pepper, chopped

* 3 tablespoons no-salt-added tomato paste

* 1 cup grated organic carrots (from 1 large carrot)

* 3/4 pound naturally raised ground turkey breast

* 1 (15 ounce) can no-salt-added organic tomato sauce

* 1/2 cup chopped pitted dates (about 5 dates)

* 4 teaspoons balsamic vinegar

*5 teaspoons organic dijon mustard

*1 package gluten free pasta of your choice.

Directions:

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and pepper and cook until starting to stick and lightly brown, stirring frequently, 4 to 5 minutes. Stir in tomato paste, carrots and 2 tablespoons water and cook 2 minutes longer or until carrots are tender, stirring occasionally and scraping any browned bits from the surface of the pan. Add turkey and cook 3 minutes or until turkey is no longer pink, stirring to break it up as it cooks. Stir in tomato sauce, dates, vinegar, mustard and 1/2 cup water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer 15 minutes to blend flavors.

While simmering put on pot of water to cook brown rice, quinoa, or kamat pasta. Cook and drain pasta. 

Preheat oven to 350.

Put pasta in casserole dish and pour sloppy joe mix on top. Bake for 10 min.

Serve with a fresh salad.

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Susan

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Meetup With Me May 28.13 Sault Ste. Marie

Meetup! I have started a Meetup: This group is for anyone who is on the path or interested in getting on the path to living a healthier lifestyle. We live in a world where food manufacturers are using so many additives and chemicals in our foods, that our bodies are being made to pay a serious toll. Let's learn together how to 'eat clean', 'live clean' - fun and enjoy our lives to the max. Let's stay on this wonderful planet longer and healthier by taking charge of what goes in our bodies, on our bodies and around our bodies. 

Details here:
http://www.meetup.com/Sault-Ste-Marie-getting-healthier-and-happier-together-group/events/119704322/

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Susan

Please check out my current listings and together we'll discover your real estate needs. If you know anyone buying or selling I'd love to help them!

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Essential insurance tips for first time home buyers

(NC)—From mortgage approval, to making an offer, to paying closing costs, buying your first home is both exciting and scary. At the top of this list, for example, is home insurance. Not only will insurance protect you should anything happen to your home or its contents, but it is also necessary to secure a mortgage.

“First time home buyers can become overwhelmed with all the steps required to purchase a home and often need to make a quick decision about home insurance,” says John Jenner, vice-president of marketing and communications at Western Financial Group. “But a quick decision might not be the right decision and first time buyers should be aware of the important choices they need to make.”

As a starting point, here are three concepts that first-time home buyers should understand:

All Perils vs. Named Perils. A named perils policy provides protection against hazards or events, such as fire or vandalism, which are specifically listed on your policy. Named perils policies are usually less expensive, but you run the risk of being struck by a calamity that isn't on your list. An all perils policy will cover you against everything expect perils that are specifically excluded in your policy. Check over your insurance policy to ensure that you have adequate coverage, and consider taking safeguards, such as installing a sump pump, to prevent disasters that aren't included in your policy.

Contents Insurance. Your insurance policy will likely cover more than just your home, it will cover your possessions as well. There are two typical types of coverage that apply to the contents of your home: actual cash value or replacement cost. The actual cash value coverage will reimburse you for how much your possessions were worth when they were lost or damaged. For quickly depreciating items such as TVs or computers, you may not receive enough money from your insurance claim to actually replace the item that was lost. If you have many items that have depreciated quickly, but you would be forced to replace if disaster struck, you should consider a policy that covers the actual replacement cost of your possessions.

Loss of Use. Make sure you understand the loss of use section of your insurance policy. It outlines the living expenses you'll receive should you be forced to leave your home because of a disaster. It often will cover your increase in cost of living while you are displaced from your home.

“Every first time home buyer needs to understand their insurance policy to make sure it is right for them,” Jenner continued. “And they should also understand the changes they can make to their home, such as installing an alarm system to lower their insurance premiums. Spending some time now to know how your policy protects you can save you headaches and confusion later should a disaster strike.”

More information is available online at www.westernfinancialgroup.ca.

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Susan 

Please check out my current listings and together we'll discover your real estate needs. If you know anyone buying or selling I'd love to help them! 

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Ginger Lemon Salad Dressing

GINGER LEMON SALAD DRESSING

It is time to stop using bottled salad dressings that are filled with bad fats, and ingredients you can’t pronounce. It takes minutes to make dressings that are made with healthy fats, and whole ingredients.

Ingredients

1 Tbsp Udo's oil or flax oil

1 Tbsp olive oil

Juice of 1 organic lemon

1 tsp minced ginger

Pinch of sea salt

Optional: 2 T minced green onion or shallots

Directions

Combine ingredients in a small bowl or coffee cup. Stir. I mix them and then prepare the greens for my salad so the flavors can combine for a little while. Pour dressing over your salad and enjoy!

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Like A Hawke, Susan Please check out my current listings and together we'll discover your real estate needs. If you know anyone buying or selling I'd love to help them! You can follow me on Twitter: @susanhawkesells Instagram: @susanhawke Pinterest: @SusanHawke Facebook Page: Susan Hawke Remax Sales Representative Sault Ste. Marie Ontario Canada

Photo Source: Google Images

Add some gold glamour to your home

(NC)—With a major resurgence on runways and in design, gold accents have made a grand return to home interiors. Gold can add a sense of warmth and style to your space regardless of your overall decorating style. With some simple updates, you can add the perfect Midas touch to brighten your space.

• Throw Pillows – Add some flair to your living room by adding throw pillows with gold accents. This inexpensive option provides comfort and style. It can also breathe new life into a seemingly dull sofa. If you're DIY savvy, consider embellishing existing pillows with gold fringe around the edges.

• Wall Decals – Modern wall decals are cost-efficient and easy to apply and can be changed with the season. Why not try a fun pin stripe or a quatrefoil print in a small space such as the powder room for an extra touch of pizazz?

• Door Knobs – Bronze-toned pulls on kitchen or sideboard cabinets can refresh and add life to previously dull cabinets whether they are dark or light, and can be the perfect accent for your décor theme.

• Kitchen Utensils – Looking to spruce up the table décor at your next dinner party? Consider gold-toned dining utensils, which will pair beautifully with your china regardless of its shape and pattern and the reflection from a candlelit table will be magical.

• Metallic Paint – A dramatic new trend in paints, feel free to 'bronze' your home with this finish. It doesn't take much to make a statement and the look will remain timeless. Consider painting dishes, legs of accent tables, picture frames or accent objects.

• Kitchen Faucet – Looking to refresh your kitchen space on a budget? Consider swapping out your kitchen faucet. This pinnacle item within the kitchen truly sets the tone for the space, so why not consider a faucet with a gold-toned hue? Delta Faucet's lineup features stylish models in a Champagne Bronze finish that add flair and function to the kitchen space. Incorporating just a few of these suggestions can add warmth and instant glamour to your space.

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Susan

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Coconut Pancakes: Gluten Free Dairy Free

Coconut Pancakes – Gluten Free, Dairy Free

4 eggs
1/4 cup coconut flour
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
1 pinch nutmeg
1 pinch cinnamon
1 pinch allspice
1 tbsp honey (raw, unpasteurized)
1/4 cup full fat coconut milk
(If you find batter thick, add a little coconut water)

Directions
Mix all ingredients and let them sit for 10 minutes.
Oil pan with coconut oil (or butter). Heat to medium heat.
Pour about 1.4 cup batter for each pancake. When brown on one wide flip to the other. Watch carefully to avoid burning.

I serve with Maple Syrup and fresh berries. Enjoy!
2 Servings

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Susan

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