Monday, July 23, 2012

Cheesy Zucchini Quinoa Cakes


1.5 cups quinoa
1.5 cups chicken broth
1.5 cups water
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon tamari
salt and pepper to taste

2 zucchini, grated
3 green onions, finely chopped
1 egg
2-3 cloves of garlic
1 cup parmesan cheese


  • Bring the water, chicken broth, and oil and seasonings to boil.  Add quinoa. 
  • Simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • Mix vegetables, egg, and cheese together.
  • Let quinoa cool and add to vegetable mixture.
  • Mold mix into round flat cakes and fry in a pan with a little butter.


Nutritional facts:
An ancient grain, quinoa is a nutrient rich grain with a higher fat and protein content than most cereal grains.  Quinoa is full of fiber and gluten free, therefore a good source of protein and grains for those with gluten allergies.  The proteins lysine and isoleucine are found in quinoa in high amounts allowing this grain to be a significant source of protein.

Quinoa is also great for diabetics as the high content of protein, fiber, and fat do not spike the blood sugar, but the low glycemic index allows the nutrients to be slowly released into the body.


Serve with:
Chicken or steak
Grilled vegetables (eggplant, portabella mushrooms)
Roasted green beans
Sautéed garlic spinach




Saturday, February 11, 2012

Packaging

Packaging used to just be a means to an end - a way to deliver a product.  Yet, today packaging is an art, and one of the most central aspects of a brand image.

With so many brands and products on the market, advertisers and graphic designers keep becoming more and more creative.  Gone are 4-cornered cardboard boxes with crazy colored print and type covering the entire package.  Packages now involve typography, embossing, ribbons and twine, and simple graphics taking advantage of white space.

Companies are developing creative logos and highlighting this brand image throughout their packaging.  Simplistic, vintage, and variations of color tone are the trends of the day.

Here are a few of my favorite creative packages:

Aqua Monaco-mineral water


Beachy Cream-ice cream sandwiches


Buddy Mulled Wine


Copperpot Originals-British confectioner


Crave Canyon Popcorn


Dutch Boy-paint

Garlic Jim's-frozen pizza

Librito de mi-personalized children's books

Lifeboats-confectionary

Lulu's-urban cupcakery

Swoon Cookie Crafters

The Kingdom Animalia-children's wooden blocks