I love lunch. I know, it's kind of the weirdest meal to love... People are usually dinner people or breakfast people, who don't mind skipping lunch if it means they can have a nice big [insert meal-that-isn't-lunch-here]. I'm in the very small number of humans who loves sitting down to a good afternoon meal. Think about it for a second... When you ask a friend to grab a meal with you, which meal is it normally? Lunch! It's the casual, social, authentic, community-fostering (okay maybe I'm going a little too far... but you know what I'm getting at) underrated meal!

Rant aside, I love lunch, and I love cooking lunch for both myself and others. Hence, this recipe for one of my favorite yummy power-foods! This is a delicious concoction that I threw together a couple days ago, and have whipped up a few times since then (okay, maybe every day since I first created it. Addictive personalities: high five!). It's quick, super filling, and DANG good. I hope you all will put your own spins on it, and just maaaybe grow to love lunch as much as I do!

Start by making a lil' bit of quinoa! This is customizable (along with most of the elements of this recipe) in that you can choose any type of quinoa your lil' heart desires! I'm really enjoying this Tricolor Quinoa from Trader Joe's, but you can use pre-cooked quinoa if you want to cut even more time! Follow the cooking directions on the package, adding two parts water to one part quinoa, and either stove-cook it or microwave it! I'm usually a microwave girl because it saves time, but I do admit that I like the texture better when I cook it on the stove. For this lunch, I used about 1/2 a cup! You can let your tummy lead when deciding how much you'd like to use, though!

Here's where the substance kicks in. Add some cooked & seasoned ground turkey in about a 1:1 ratio to the quinoa. If you don't have ground turkey cooked and ready, like I usually do, then this part will take a little more time. You'll want to cook the ground turkey in some olive oil with a good amount of sea salt, pepper and whatever seasoning you find yourself gravitating towards. I really like thyme with turkey! Now, don't be shy with those seasonings. I think that's the #1 mistake new chef's commonly make: failing to season their meats well. Seasonings cook out a little bit, so feel free to slather those seasonings on!

After adding the turkey, crumble some goat cheese in! Grocery tip: it saves money to buy the regular hunk of cheese instead of the crumbles! It's way more cheese for way less money! It's also way more moist that way. 

Now, here's another customizable part! I like to chop up and throw in about 3/4 of a persian cucumber. Other choices could be avocados, cherry tomatoes, arugula, bell peppers, or any combination of those! If you're feelin' crazy, use 'em all!

Mix it all up, drizzle some olive oil on top with some sea salt and fresh pepper, and PRESTO. You've got yourself a yummy, power-packed meal. Add your lunchtime drink-of-choice, and you're set (mine bounces between iced green tea and Pellegrino, for now).

Enjoy! Then watch for that extra lunch-eatin' bounce in your step. I promise, a good lunch will brighten your day and put a smile on your face. Happy Wednesday!

(Tell me what you did if you customize it!! I LOVE lunch ideas!)

I love my new house. It's tiny, old as dirt, has creaky wood floors and cabinet-knobs that break off in your hand, but there's just a certain charm to this place. I can't wait to spend a year learning, growing, and loving with my six sweet roommates. Here's a little glimpse into our communal decorating style! I'm sure it will be ever-evolving, but I think its pretty darn cute for now.

My favorite part about the house is hands-down its light. It's breathtaking. I've always been a sucker for natural light, and this house did not disappoint. I'm praying that this season is one marked by living in the light, as God is in the light. I'm thinkin' that this house is a pretty good place to begin.

Guys. I hope you know that my willingness to share this post is an extremely humble act on my part (As seen by the blatant bragging about my humility. Obviously.). Though it has taken me about an hour of staring at the publish button, almost backing out a thousand times, I am sharing with you a secret that I have held for years: ...this famous recipe that isn't even mine.

Butter Bars. I'll give you one guess as to who's original recipe this is (cough..PaulaDeen..cough). If you ever have to impress someone: a boyfriend's mom, a teacher, really any creature that possesses tastebuds: Butter Bars are your best friend. They are SERIOUS crowd-pleasers. I found the recipe in sixth grade, and have since made these deep-south squares of heaven for almost everyone I've ever known. I've been known for "my" famous Butter Bars. Little did most people know... They weren't mine. And they're the easiest recipe ever.

Super-Magic-Dream-Time Butter Bars

Crust:

1 18 1/4-ounce package yellow cake mix (I used vanilla for this go-around, but yellow is usually best)

1 egg
8 tablespoons butter, melted

Filling:
1 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened 

2 eggs 

1 teaspoon vanilla 

8 tablespoons butter, melted 

1 16-ounce box powdered sugar

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Combine the cake mix, egg, and butter and mix well with an electric mixer (or a whisk if you're looking for a workout... It doesn't make a difference in the final turnout!)

Next, pat the mixture into the bottom of a lightly greased 13 by 9-inch baking pan.

In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese until smooth.  Add the eggs, vanilla, and butter and beat together. 

Next, add the powdered sugar and mix well.  Spread over cake batter and bake for 40 to 50 minutes.  Make sure not to over bake as the center should be a little gooey.

Presto! Take em out of the oven, let them cool for about 10-15 minutes (this is important because it causes the filling to set), and cut them into whatever-size squares your little heart fancies!

PLEASE do yourself a favor and make a batch. Then eat one. Or two... Or three... Then do yourself another favor and take a nap.