Easter Brunch

For Easter brunch, I tried to make a few Easter/spring themed foods. Most of them didn't turn out like I had planned (I made bunny cinnamon rolls that looked like mice and a bunny made out of fruit that just looked evil), but this one did. Here are my hash brown bird nests. I saw the idea on pinterest and customized it to make it my own.

1. Let frozen hash browns thaw out until they are soft.
2. Melt 1-2 tablespoons of butter.
3. Pour hash browns into bowl and mix in desired amount of butter.
4. Put the mixture into several muffin tin cups, making sure to cover the bottom and push the mixtures up all sides.
5. Bake at 350 F for 20-30 minutes, until it starts to brown. The center may not brown, but the sides will.
6. Remove from tins and fill with a variety of foods. We filled ours with scrambled eggs, bacon, and grilled vegetables.
7. Enjoy!

Bedroom Redecorating Project

I have been in the process of redecorating my bedroom. I have decided to go with a cool color scheme, consisting of mostly blues, greens, and silvers, and a theme of birds and nature. However, I have a very limited budget so I have had to be very creative in my approaches. It's been fun to figure out cheap and easy ways to spruce up my space and make it more relaxing.

One of my most recent projects was creating a painting to hang above my bed. I had been inspired by some ideas I had seen on pinterest, and decided to try to make one myself and add my own flair.

Bird Canvas Painting

I found two canvases, size 18" x 24" at Michael's Craft Store. I bought them on sale for only $1 a piece so it was not a deal that I could pass up!

I measured out the exact size of the canvases on two large sheets of paper. On these pieces I drew my design, a large tree spread over the two sheets. it was actually a lot easier than I thought it would be to freehand the design, especially since I knew it didn't have to be perfect.

Next, I cut out my design. I laid the cut out tree pattern on top of the canvas and taped it down. Then I traced the pattern and removed the paper. The next part was the most difficult because it was a tedious process. I painted the background a metallic teal color that I created myself by mixing different paints. Then, I painted each tree branch in black.

I wasn't going to put any birds on the tree branches, until I found the ones pictured. They are little birds made out of mirrors that I found on sale at Joann's for only a few dollars. Even better, they are self-adhesive so I didn't need any glue to attach them to the canvases. I hung the paintings below so Christmas lights and the birds look beautiful sparkling in the light.

Overall, I'm pretty pleased with how it came out. It made my room look more comfortable, and a little more like me!

Favorite Recipe #1

On of my favorite dinners to make (and eat) is quinoa. Quinoa is considered to be a superfood. It has tons of fiber and protein in it, and pretty versatile. I usually add vegetables to my quinoa to add more vitamins and flavor.

First, add the desired amount of uncooked quinoa to a bowl. Remember, it expands, so you don't need a lot. I usually measure out about two small handfuls per person if its a main course of less if its a side.

Second, add enough water to the bowl to cover the quinoa. Let sit for at least 10 minutes. Meanwhile, fill a pot with water and let it boil.

Next, use a mesh strainer to remove the water. Run more water over the quinoa and drain again. Your quinoa has now been rinsed, which will make it taste less bitter.

Add the quinoa to the boiling water. Let it boil and then reduce heat. Cover, and let simmer for 20-30 minutes, or until most water is gone and the quinoa has expanded and become tender.

While quinoa simmers, cook your vegetables. In the picture, I cut up one tomato, a few green onions, and added some minced garlic. I have also cooked it with red bell peppers, red onion, and broccoli.

Cook the vegetables in olive oil in a small sauce pan until they become soft.

Add the cooked quinoa to the saucepan and fold into the vegetables to combine. Cook for about a minute and then remove from heat.

Serve and enjoy immediately!