March/ April Randoms

As our time in Champaign-Urbana draws closer to the end, I've been reflecting on some things. What will I miss bout this little town? What will we not have in St Louis that was so accessible here? What are some of the things I should do before I leave? Is there anything I left undone?

We've had so many wonderful memories here, but it's been almost 7 years, and although this town has treated us well, it's time for the next stage in our lives. In just a few short months, we'll be packing up and moving to a different state and a bigger city. Many great things on our horizon and the best is yet to come. 

Here are some little memories from March and April 2016.

Steak and kale salad with blue cheese

Lucky Charms cupcakes for St Patty's

BLT salad

Finally warm enough to drink outside

Birthday brunch at Rooster in St Louis

Birthday ice cream at Jeni's

My coworkers are so cute

Rick's Bakery Alfajores: Shortbread with dulce de leche and coconut

Mini tacos

Art Party Studio painting time

Swordfish with tomato and squash salad

Purple donuts, cuz FedEx

Roasted veggies

Goofing off for employee appreciation

Fly my prettys

Always with the treats

Coconut melon mojito

We play board games on the floor. Gose and Dead of Winter

Finally eating Papa Del's Pizza

Art Party Studio, part 2

No, thank you!

Many things will be changing the next time I post a bi-monthly wrap-up. But good things do not happen without change. As Spring turns into Summer, we will turn into Missourans. Ekk.

Akemi-chan

November December Randoms

These past few months have been difficult in our family. But family gets through things together. 2015 has gone by and a brand new year is upon us. Here are a few last moments of 2015.

Chamoyada 

Tights and tweet

Pure new garden

Inspired by Mad Men 

Packed lunch

Stop by the food truck for some morning energy

Pumpkin croissants

Pumpkin bread

Beautiful pastries from Mirabelle's

Tomato, basil, goat cheese salad with balsamic dressing

Yellow cauliflower

Newf babies

Chicken thigh, green beans and Swiss chard

Date night at Wedge. 10 tacos for two

Butternut squash soup

Office time

Winter outfit

Summer Quinoa Salad

I'm kind of getting tired of eating out of the pantry. It can be so uninspiring. Salads are where it's at in the Summer. Step one: make dressing. Step two: add a multitude of ingredients. Step three: eat. My kind of meal prep.

Summer Quinoa Salad

1/2 cup quinoa

1 cup water

1/2 inch ginger root

4 cloves of garlic, plus 1 clove

Red pepper flake

1/2 cup cucumber, peeled and chopped

1 large radish, sliced

4 cherry tomatoes, sliced

1/2 cup arugula

1 tbsp fennel fronds

1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1/2 tbsp red wine vinegar
1 tsp mustard

Salt and pepper

Cook quinoa according to directions on packaging. Add ginger root, 4 cloves of garlic and red papper flake to water to cook quinoa. While the quinoa cooks, prepare the rest of the salad.

In a medium bowl, mix extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, mustard, remaining garlic (chopped), salt and pepper. Add cucumber, radish, tomatoes, arugula and fennel to the dressing. Add cooked quinoa to salad and mix to evenly distribute dressing over salad. Enjoy!

I've hopped onto the tomato and cucumber train. Yum yum! All aboard!

-Akemi-chan

June Randoms

4th of July is tomorrow and the sun is coming out more. Gladly, I'm taking advantage of the sunshine and warmer weather. Summer is a precious thing.

Crispy skin salmon, with snap peas and radishes

Veggie somlette with green smoothie

Banh mi

Spam musubi with edamame

Tiramisu gelato from Eataly

About to nom on some Chicago pizza

Baileys and Kahlua cupcake

My version of steak and eggs

Lunch to go

About to make sweet potato chips

Maltese Falcon at the Virginia theater

More steak

Blues, Bews and BBQ fest

Beer garden

Deep fried sweet corn and rib tips

Exploring a Lavender Farm

Happy 4th and happy Summer!

-Akemi-chan