Quinoa with Kale

At last year's Thanksgiving, when my mom asked if I would make a quinoa dish, I just stared at her blankly.  One, I had no idea what she said.  Two, whatever it was, it didn't sound like it belonged at Thanksgiving.  She explained that it's a grain that's really healthy for you.  My disinterest continued.  Thanksgiving is supposed to be about consuming as many calories as possible, not making sure your digestive track is in order.   But in the last few months, my boyfriend and I decided we needed to start a healthier routine.  I finally decided to try quinoa, whatever it is.  Surprisingly, it's pretty amazingly delicious when done well.  This recipe has become a staple in my kitchen, and I've been making it about once a week.

Figs with Goat Cheese

Growing up, my mom always packed is fig newtons in our lunches. For a while I thought they were fancy adult food. But then I got bored with them and realized how uninteresting the flavors were. So for most of my life I just avoided figs. Not like they're that easy to find anyway. Now, as a working adult that can afford fresh produce, I have come to realize that fresh figs are actually pretty awesome, and I wish I had rediscovered them earlier.