Orange Beet Quinoa Salad


Disclosure: I received Organic Baby Beets to try out from Melissa’s Produce.  Recipe is my own creation. 

When I first received my organic baby beets which are already peeled, steamed and ready to eat, I wasn’t entirely sure what to make with them.  In fact, to be honest, I didn’t have too much experience with beets in my life.

orange beet quinoa salad

After reading about beets and realizing they do have a bit of sweetness to them I knew putting them in a salad was a good bet, but it needed the perfect component.  So, I instantly thought of citrus.  Adding in a tangelo to the mix.

beetsIngredients needed:

1 Box Near East Quinoa Blend: Rosemary and Olive Oil

1 Package Organic Baby Beets from Melissa’s Produce

1 Tangelo

Water

1 Teaspoon Olive Oil

Directions:

In a medium saucepan combine water, olive oil and rice.  Bring to a boil.  Mix in spice packet, reduce to medium heat and let boil for 14 to 17 minutes.  Rice will evaporate water.  With 5 minutes left to boil slice up 2 beets from your organic baby beets package and throw into rice mixture.  Cook another 5 minutes.

Take from reduce, cover and let stand for 5 minutes.  Right before serving slice up the tangelo and throw in slices into the rice mixture.

Serves: 2 to 4.

 

 

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The 17th Annual Sonoma International Film Festival!


Disclosure: I am covering this film festival throughout the week.  Sonoma international film festival

The Sonoma International Film Festival kicks off this Wednesday, April 2nd through Sunday, April 6th.  Over 90 films will be showcased in intimate venues around the well known Sonoma Plaza.  This film festival focuses on filmmakers from around the world, and what better place for a film festival than within beautiful wine country.  This festival films have been selected for the integrity of the storytelling, dedication to the filmmaking craft and always keeping the audience in mind.

Some of the Films being featured at this year’s festival include:

Dom HemingwayDom Hemingway: After spending 12 years in prison for keeping his mouth shut, notorious safe-cracker Dom Hemingway is back on the streets of London looking to collect what he’s owed.

This film is being showcased during the film festival’s opening night.

Tasting MenuTasting Menu: A couple makes a reservation for the best restaurant in the world for a year later. When the day arrives, they’re separated and it is the last night the restaurant will be open. None of them will miss the culinary event. Fionnula Flanagan and Steven Rea.

Going AttractionsGoing Attractions: Once a vibrant part of American culture, nearly 5000 drive-ins once dotted the nation from big cities to small towns, but today less than 400 remain. In a nation that loves cars and movies, why haven’t they survived? By looking at the drive-in, we see the story of changing American culture and family over the last 60 years.

Rio 2Rio 2: Sunday Morning:

It’s a jungle out there for Blu, Jewel and their three kids after they’re hurtled Rio de Janeiro to the wilds of the Amazon. As Blu tries to fit in, he goes beak-to-beak with the vengeful Nigel, and meets the most fearsome adversary of all: his father-in-law.

NeonSkyPosterNeon Sky: The story of a small traveling carnival struggling to keep their way of life alive as they make their way across the highways and back roads of Northern California. Faced with what lies ahead, Everett, the owner, is determined to keep his caravan of drifters together even though it may be the end of their road.

And many many more to be featured.  Coverage will take place throughout the week.  Be sure to follow our adventures on Instagram and Twitter.

But with any festival part of the fun are also the parties that go with them. And the Sonoma International Film Festival has great events happening throughout the week:

Wednesday:

Opening Reception: 5:30 to 7:30pm

After Party: Burgers & Vine: 10pm to 12am

Thursday:

9:30 to 12pm: SVHS Media Arts Program

6pm: Vintners, Growers and Groovers

10pm to 12am: After Party: Hopmonk Tavern

Friday:

5:30 to 7:30pm: Latin Fiesta

7 to 10pm: Born in Chicago

In the 1960s icons of urban blues, including Muddy Waters and
Howlin’ Wolf, passed the musical torch to a coterie of unlikely next
generation admirers, among whom were Paul Butterfield, Michael
Bloomfield, Barry Goldberg, Nick Gravenites, Harvey Mandel and
Corky Siegel.
Following the film some of the musicians in the film will perform live.

Saturday:

12 to 5pm: UFO Symposium

Community Center Rm. 110, 276 E. Napa St., Sonoma, CA 95476
Screening of the film The Hidden Hand – UFO (1:00pm), followed by a
panel discussion at 2:45 with fellow abductees moderated by Dr.
Charles E. Young, Chancellor Emeritus of Political Science and Public
Policy at UCLA, after which will be a screening of Truth Embargo: The
Anonymous Interview (4:15pm)

7 to 10pm:

Queens & Cowboys LGBT Party – Celebration of namesake film
focusing on being gay in the world of rodeo. Wade Earp (descendant
of Wyatt Earp) will be part of the celebration. This evening is
supported by Out in the Vineyard (promoting positive LGBT lifestyles)
and dot429 (gay/lesbian professional network) of San Francisco.
Festival ambiance with spirited music, wines by Stein Family
Vineyard, the makers of same Sex Marriage wines…get ready to get
down at our hoe down.

Sunday: 

 

8:30 to 10pm: Rewards Ceremony

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Categories: Fun Stuff, Movie Reviews, Sonoma County, Travel | Tags: , , , , | Leave a comment

Making Cocktails with Peeps!


Disclosure: I received product for this story.  All opinions and photos are my own. 

Bevmo! made my day this week when I received a fun package from them for Easter to create some inspiring cocktails.

Easter CocktailsThe package included a bottle of Pinnacle Peach Vodka along with two smaller Pinnacle Vodkas of Whipped and Cake.  A shaker was enclosed along with a package of Easter peeps along with a few fun cocktail recipes.

I decided I wanted to try one of these recipes out and then create a few of my own.

Peeps ParadiseI started by recreating the Peeps Paradise with Bevmo’s recipe:

1.5 ounces Pinnacle Whipped Vodka

2 ounces Pineapple Juice

1 ounce Orange Juice

1/2 Ounce Banana liqueur

Yellow Peeps marshmallow for garnish. 

Add all the drinks together in a shaker filled with ice, shake together then pour into your glass and garnish with a yellow marshmallow peep.

Loved how this one tasted so then I decided to create a few of my own recipes:

Peep Cocktails

The Strawberry Peach Peep:

1 ounce Pinnacle Cake Vodka

2 ounces Raspberry Lemonade

1 ounce Ginger Ale

Shake it all together then garnish with a Marshmallow Peep. 

easter cocktails

 

Peachy Pie:

1 ounce Pinnacle Peach Vodka

2 ounces Orange Juice

Shake it together then garnish with Marshmallow Peeps.

Needless to say BevMo! made my Easter by making me think outside the box with my cocktails, and I had a blast doing it.  BevMo! has all of your needs from Beer to Wine to Hard Liquor to make fun, creative cocktails.

If you were to create a Peeps Cocktail, what ingredients would you put together?

 

 

 

 

Categories: Cocktails, Cooking, Food Products | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments