One Third Nerd

Deb & Doug - Thanks for the Plate !!!!

This is so cute - I can’t wait to bake a pie and then show off my cool pi plate to my friends. This post would be incomplete if I didn’t note that pi = the ratio of the circumference to the diameter of a circle; approximately equal to 3.14159265358979323846… Yeah I went there!

For the last couple of months, Robby and I have noticed a new structure being built at Great Falls Plaza right by our house. We keep saying to each other, “I hope it is something cool”. We really like the grocery store, Bloom, and our local dry cleaners, and Fox Chase Tavern, but other than those, there isn’t any place we like to eat in the shopping center by our house. Over the weekend, I read the Cascades Newsletter and learned that a take-out/delivery seafood place is moving in next to Bloom: Hooked on Seafood. Sounds like a new concept and I’m excited to try it!

Quinoa Vegetable Paella (Vegan) from Fat Free Vegan Kitchen
I made this last week but we didn’t have our blog then so I couldn’t tell you about it. I found this recipe on Fat Free Vegan Kitchen which has some awesome recipes. I was intrigued by Quinoa since I’ve never used it as an ingredient before. Apparently it is ponounced “keen-wa”, which Robby told me after he read the box. I loved it and the serving sizes are huge — it said it made 6 servings and I measured the output, that means that each serving size is over 1 cup. So if your really hungry but want to “eat healthy”, this is a good choice since you get a lot of food for only 288 calories and a ton of protein. Robby didn’t LOVE this one - he read the box and learned the history of “keen-wa” which was interesting to him…but this one I’m afraid is not allowed into regular weeknight rotation. In our house we don’t use a “thumbs up or thumbs down” rating scale, we use the “repeater or not repeater” scale, and this one, unfortunately for us, is not a repeater. This is something I will make for myself again, maybe when Robby is out of town.

Thai Chicken Saute from Cooking Light
So Yummy! This was one of the “20 minute meals” in this month’s Cooking Light. I picked it because; it takes less than 20 minutes, it is “Thai” (Robby and I looove Thai), and it had coconut milk (I love coconut milk). I highly recommend this recipe, it was quick and easy and delicious, and had a “normal” person portion size. The picture shows the exact portion size in the recipe (I measured). Steph, I bet if you had a tablespoon of peanut butter to this, Ryan would love it.

Simple Clear Vases inspired by Real Simple Magazine
I subscribe to Real Simple magazine, mostly because Kerry loves the magazine and I love her decorating style. I read an article in the March 2007 issue, The Only Glass Vases You’ll Ever Need. After reading the article, I realized that I too have a bunch of vases I never use cluttering up my cabinet. I put all of my old colored glass and weird-shaped vases into the charity pile. Robby and I popped by Crate & Barrell to use our gift certificates from our engagement party and bought some simple clear vases like the article suggested. I didn’t think I would have a chance to use my new vase anytime soon, but Robby bought me flowers last week. They looked so good in the new simple vase that I had to take a picture. The best part about this short vase is that you can put it on a coffee or kitchen table and not block TV or people.