Zucchini Goat Cheese Quesadillas with Caramelized Onions

I have a problem.

It's pretty bad...

I'm 99.99% positive that I'm addicted to Pinterest food.
I could look at that stuff all day!
I love looking at all the amazing recipes out there and dreaming
about having them in my kitchen (or my belly) right this moment.

Now, I just need to figure out how to make my food look that good!

Anyways, during one of my Pinterest perusals, I found this recipe
for Zucchini Goat Cheese Pizza by Diethood.

It looked SO good.
But I didn't have the energy or will-power to make pizza dough.
(It's a rare occurrence that I do!)

So...I decided to take this pizza and turn it into...

A quesadilla!

And this was one dang good quesadilla.

First, you can't go wrong with caramelized onions.
They are so sweet and full of flavor!

And

Second, the goat cheese gets all melty and gooey inside the quesadilla
and simply melts in your mouth with every bite.

Both complement the tender, sauteed zucchini perfectly.

Yum!

Now for a funny/horrifying story...

While I was making said quesadillas, sweet little Kaiya climbed onto a chair
in the kitchen and knocked a cup of water all over the kitchen table...
and onto everything else on the table!

Luckily, my husband's laptop was spared, but tons of papers and other books got wet.
You think I would know by now not to leave cups of water on a table for
a toddler to spill over lots of important things, right?

Apparently I haven't learned that lesson yet. :)

Luckily, this little incident did not result in burnt quesadillas!

And now, for your eating pleasure....

Zucchini Goat Cheese Quesadillas
               with Caramelized Onions

Total Time: 15-20 minutes
Servings: 2 quesadillas
Nutrition (per quesadilla):
Calories (331), Fat (19.5g), Carbs (23.5g), Protein (17.4g), Fiber (2.6g), Sugars (2.8g)
Low sugar, high protein, high calcium, and very high in vitamin B6

Ingredients:

• 1/2 Tbsp. olive oil
• 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
• 1/2 medium zucchini, chopped
• salt and pepper, to taste
• 1 tsp. minced garlic
• 1/2 c. - 2/3 c. shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/4 c. crumbled goat cheese
• 2 whole wheat tortillas

Directions:

1. Heat oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Add sliced red onion and sauté until onion begins to appear translucent, about 2 minutes. 
2. Add the chopped zucchini, salt, pepper, and garlic to the skillet and continue to sauté until the zucchini is tender. Remove from heat. Be sure to stir the red onion and zucchini occasionally while they are sautéing so they cook evenly. 
3. Lightly spray a large skillet with non-stick cooking spray and heat over medium heat. Place your tortilla in the skillet and cover one half of the tortilla with half the mozzarella cheese, half the zucchini/onion mixture, and half the crumbled goat cheese. 
4. Fold the tortilla in half and cook until the bottom is golden brown. Flip the quesadilla and cook until the other side is golden brown.
5. Transfer quesadilla to a serving plate.
6. Repeat steps 3-5 with the remaining ingredients to make your second quesadilla.

Enjoy! 

What's your favorite kind of quesadilla? :)

A Chinese Valentine's Day! {Sushi Included!}

Hope you had a fabulous Valentine's Day! <3

Whether you were able to spend it with a special significant other
or celebrate with close family and friends, I hope you were
able to enjoy a holiday devoted to expressing love for those
who mean the most to us in life! :)

For Valentine's Day, Joshua and I decided to go with a Chinese theme!
I guess I have kind of been in a Chinese food mood.
First with the Baked Sweet and Sour Chicken, and now with sushi
(thanks to my pregnancy cravings)!

Joshua and I have been wanting to try making our own sushi for a while now
but I am going to admit, it seemed like such a daunting task!
For some reason, I thought making sushi would be really hard.

All our yummy sushi fillings!

Well, I feel silly...because it is probably one of the easiest things I have ever made!
And it is so rewarding to make a dish that looks so pretty and tastes just like you
got it from your local sushi joint!

I found this great tutorial and recipe for sushi from Minimalist Baker.
I LOVE her recipes. They are all super healthy and very simple.
As the name states, she uses the minimal and most natural ingredients for her recipes.

We filled our sushi with:

Cucumber
Red Peppers
Carrots
Avocados
Shrimp

They were super good. And made even better with chopsticks!
All Chinese food tastes better when eaten with chopsticks. ;)

The sushi making process...

Ready to be cut!

The finished product! Delish!

Kaiya LOVED the sushi! We were pleasantly surprised.
She knows good food, that's for sure. ;)
It always baffles me, though, that it doesn't seem like she chews her food at all.
She just shoves it down! Haha.

Joshua and I enjoyed our sushi, ate some amazing ice cream, and watched Mulan.
It was wonderful and I cherish the fun memories we made!

How did you celebrate your Valentine's Day? 

Sunday Fun and Pigtails

This past Sunday, my Grandma and Grandpa
came to visit us, which was way exciting because
they hadn't seen Kaiya for about a year!

The last time they saw her, she was only 7 months old!
It is truly amazing how time flies!

Kaiya immediately opened up to them,
especially since they walked in with an
adorable pink, stuffed monkey just for her!

If you give Kaiya a toy (or food), she's immediately your best friend.

Also, she's immediately your best friend if you have a cool phone.
Like Grandpa's. His phone is about as big as her forearm. Haha!

Side note: doesn't she look just like Joshua?! I think so.
Plus, aren't her pigtails a.dor.able?! She finally has enough hair!
They make her look like such a big girl...

I miss my baby, sometimes.

Anyways, Kaiya does enjoy her phones, but she
does also like to read books, believe it or not!

And I have the pictures to prove it...

I am in love with these pictures!
And I am oh so glad we caught these memories of Kaiya
with her great-grandparents.
They will be cherished forever. :)

My favorite!!!
Grandpa "eating" Kaiya's toes.
She loved it.
And even requested it. Haha. Silly girl.

I love my family.
There is truly something special about families coming
together to enjoy each other's company.

There's something especially special about having your daughter
play with and make memories with her great-grandparents
because that is exactly what I did with them when I was a little girl
running around in pigtails. :)

Pregnancy Numero Dos!

If you hadn't heard already, I am expecting a BABY!
Yes, baby #2...in July...due one day before Kaiya's birthday!

Hopefully I'm not in the hospital for Kaiya's 2nd birthday...
We may have to celebrate a little earlier...or later :D

Anyways, I just wanted to share a bit about how this pregnancy has been.

Pregnancy #2 = Pregnancy #1 = Wonderful!

I know there are hundreds and thousands of women who have very difficult
pregnancies, and I have no idea how they get through it all! That would be so difficult!
Especially for those pregnant mommas who already have one or two (or three) little ones.

For me, however, the first trimester of pregnancy is a little rough,
filled with nausea and exhaustion,
but starting the second trimester is heaven!
I have much more energy and I just feel good--like my body enjoys 
housing and nourishing a little baby. 

And I truly feel blessed to experience pregnancy like that!
because pregnancy for a lot of women is really difficult.
And I have so much respect for those whose bodies have a
difficult time with pregnancy (my mom had terrible, hospitalizing pregnancies!)

Anyways, despite the very similar pregnancy experience with Kaiya and Baby McG #2,
this pregnancy is also very different in some ways.

Why is this pregnancy different?

Reason #1: I already have one little munchkin to take care of (plus a big, handsome one ;) )
As my belly grows, it gets a little more difficult (and exhasuting!) to carry Kaiya around with me all the time! And I do tend to need at least one nap a day, but that often doesn't happen because Kaiya can't be up and about while I snooze. :D That would lead to disastrous consequences...

Reason #2: I am doing pregnancy yoga and working out daily
When I was pregnant with Kaiya, I was taking like 17 or 18 credits of classes and working, so I didn't have much time, or energy, for physical activity outside of walking to and from campus. This pregnancy is much different. Every day I do some sort of physical activity, whether Joshua
does some personal training with me or I YouTube some pregnancy pilates or yoga. I find
that as I stay fit and active during my pregnancy, I have a lot more energy and I feel much stronger
and confident about what my body is capable of during pregnancy. It is also extremely beneficial for labor and birth!

Reason #3: I am prepping for a natural delivery
This is also why I am working out a lot more during this pregnancy that I did with Kaiya. I want to have a strong, capable mind and body for a natural delivery. That's right. Completely natural. No pain meds. With Kaiya, I went into the whole labor thing with the thought, "I'd like to have a natural birth but I might have the epidural. I don't know. I guess I'll decide when it comes to the big day." BAD IDEA!!! That is the wrong thought process to have going into labor, because you DO want the pain meds if you haven't prepped for a natural birth. So, I ended up having the epidural with Kaiya (which I do not regret!).

However, with this baby, I want to try a natural birth AND I am going to prepare for it. Have you heard of Hypnobirthing? It's a natural birthing technique that emphasizes relaxation, meditation, and breathing throughout labor and understanding your body's strength and capability. I've done some research on Hypnobirthing and really want to try it out! So, I am going to buy this book and CD to prepare for my natural delivery. (I will have to do another post after the delivery to let you all know
if hypnobirthing worked for me!)

Reason #4: I won't be in school after the birth!!!! (my favorite reason this pregnancy is different)
Self-explanatory. I couldn't be more excited to be a mommy at home with my favorite people and not have to run off to school or work every day.

By the way...I'm 15 weeks along now! Almost 4 months. 5 more to go!

Family: Can't live with 'em, can't live without 'em

Family is super duper important to me and always has been.

Being raised in the LDS faith and having such an awesome family

has given me a love for family that is unconditional and eternal.

Yes, families can sometimes be crazy, overwhelming, and hard work,

but they are so worth it!

When my family was able to be together for Christmas, we had family 

pictures taken all together for the first time in 2 years!

What a great bunch of people! I love them. :)

My older brother and his gorgeous wife and daughter

were able to join us as well! Oh how I love my little niece!

My parents kind of enjoy being grandparents...if you can't tell. Haha!

Seriously, they look SO happy!

Our sweet Chinese sister was able to take pictures with us too!

Oh and how could all us siblings get together without being silly

and sitting on Tessa? (apparently it's tradition?)

Finally, our little McGlothin family got some pictures together.

Can I just say it is really, really difficult to get an 18-month-old 

to cooperate for pictures?

The entire time we were taking pictures, all she wanted to do

was press "muttons" (buttons) on the elevator!

Anyways...here are some pictures of my adorable little family!

I love this :)

Oh, and did I mention our little family is growing? ;)

Here comes baby #2!!!

We love that little peanut already. <3

By the way, all of these pictures were taken by this dear friend of mine...

I've known her forever it seems and it had been so long since we

had seen each other! So, I was so happy to have her take our pictures.

How to Speak "Kaiya"

So, I have kept forgetting to write this down (type this up?)
for a while and I just need to do it while I have a spare moment
and Kaiya is sleeping!

Kaiya is almost 18 months old!!! Which means that she is
starting to talk...a lot! Super exciting, right?!
And the best part is that she pronounces everything in the cutest way possible.

Oh, I can't get enough of her cute baby talk!
She says a lot of other things too, but these are my favorite!

What cute things do your kids, nieces, nephews, grandkids, etc. say?

Life Lately: McGlothin Family Updates

Life can be a little crazy sometimes.

I'm sure you know exactly what I mean.

Between a 20-hour work week, 15 school credits, and family responsibilities,
I sometimes barely rememeber what I did 20 minutes ago, let alone one day ago.

When people ask me how my weekend was, I usually say something like,
"That's a really good question..." or "What did I do?!"

I guess what I am saying is that I am exhausted!
But it is SO worth it because I graduate in April. Yay!

Recently, Joshua and I have been pretty busy with school and work.
Most of the time we get to spend together is in the evenings
after Joshua gets home from school.

Dishes pile up in the sink for a couple days because we are so busy
and Kaiya's toys end up everywhere...
the shower, trashcan, bookshelf, drawers, dryer, and other random places
throughout the house.

Joshua and I celebrated my birthday at the beginning of the month with some dinner
at a Thai restaurant in Provo that was delicious! We love Thai food and have
set a goal to visit every Thai restaurant in Provo before we leave next year!
(We'll see how that goes...) :)
We also got some ice cream from Coldstone!
Seriously, every time I go there, I tell myself I will try a new Creation flavor...
but I always end up getting the Founder's Favorite ice cream.
It's filled with addicting sweet cream ice cream, brownie chunks,
pecans, chocolate syrup and caramel syrup.
Is your mouth watering yet? Mine is...

 Now is your mouth watering?!

For date night last Friday, Joshua and I went to the Provo temple
and just enjoyed sitting outside of it, reading together,
and enjoying the peaceful evening.
We even got to cuddle a bit because it was chilly. ;)

Anyways, Kaiya is showing interest in helping me "clean,"
meaning she will hold on to the broom as I try to sweep the floor
and pushes the vacuum with me. She's such a great little helper!

Not too long ago, Kaiya reached into the refrigerator and pulled down a bowl
of beans that spilled all over the floor.
She immediately looked over at me to see what I would do.
I just smiled at her and said, "Whoops! Let's clean it up!"
She smiled and picked up each bean, individually, and placed it
on the bottom shelf of the fridge. 

That didn't last long...because then she started grabbing handfuls of the
beans she had already put away and threw them back on the ground!
Close Kaiya...but not quite. :)

And for those not keeping track, Kaiya is now 14 months old!
Unbelievable, right?

Kaiya 14-month update:

• Favorite foods: everything...except cranberry sauce (can't blame her, right?)
• Favorite words: baby (most things are "baby"), bye-bye, duck, dad
• Favorite activities: looking at things upside down (with her head between her legs), playing tag, making friends, playing in dirt and rocks, playing with daddy, going to the duck pond
• Favorite person/people: Mommy and Daddy of course! ;) And anyone else who plays with her...
• Favorite book: Back in My Arms

Playing with rocks...one of her favorite things!

Well, I hope you have a wonderful day! :)

A Day with the Ducks

The other day, Kaiya was SUPER grouchy.

Not just a little bit.

She was the kind of grouchy where if I wasn't holding her 

every second

of every minute

of every hour,

she was screaming!

I don't know if this is just a phase where she is super clingy,

but it was very clear that I needed to spend some quality time with her.

Just Kaiya and mommy time.

No homework,

no cleaning,

no bathroom breaks (haha, seriously).

Just some one-on-one time where Kaiya was the center of attention.

So, we went on a little walk.

As soon as we were outside, Kaiya was as happy as can be!

Thank goodness...

It's amazing what some fresh air and sunshine will do for the nerves.

Haha, caught a sneeze!

She has the cutest sneezes.

(I wonder if my face would look that adorable during a sneeze

if it was captured in a photo...probably not.)

Feed the ducks mommy!

The ducks were surrounding us!

And I couldn't tell if they were more interested in 

the Cheerios we were feeding them, or Kaiya's little piggy toes.

I was about ready to chase them off if they nipped at her toes!

But they didn't. 

This is what happens when I let Kaiya out of the stroller...

                                     

She runs after the ducks saying, "Duh...duh!" (Translation: Duck...duck!)

The duck pond.

Sigh. I love this place.

So relaxing.

And I love this little ducky the most.

(Can you tell I'm exhausted?!)

At least Kaiya is happy. That's really all that matters. :)

A Smiley Baby and some Tasty Spaghetti

So, everyone likes to brag about their baby(ies), right?

It's true!

And that is exactly what I am going to do right now,

because I can't help but brag about Kaiya's sweet smile!

And the fact that she seems to know that I'm taking pictures of her!

Really! As soon as she sees me pointing a camera at her, 

she stops whatever she's doing and smiles at the camera. 

Where did she learn how to do that?! :D

I don't know where she learned to smile at cameras, but I'm sure glad she does it!

Here's little Miss Kaiya enjoying some of the spaghetti I am about to share the recipe for!

I love pasta.

It is so versatile that you can add all sorts of different

sauces, veggies, and toppings!

Plus, it only takes a few minutes to cook, which is a lifesaver on days when I 

am too busy to cook an elaborate meal (which is like every day).

So, this recipe for Whole Wheat Pasta with Spinach and Sun-Dried Tomatoes was perfect!

I found the original recipe on Two Peas and their Pod and I

decided to try it!

I only made a few very minor modifications.

Here's the recipe:

Whole Wheat Pasta with Spinach & Sun-Dried Tomatoes

Time: 20 minutes       Servings: 4

You'll Need:

• 1/2 13.25oz. pkg. whole wheat spaghetti noodles
• 1 Tbsp. oil (from sun-dried tomato jar)
• 2 cups fresh spinach
• 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes (the kind packed in oil), chopped
• 1 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• salt and pepper, to taste
• feta or parmesan cheese, for topping (optional, but not really)

Directions:

1. Bring water to a boil in a large pot and cook the spaghetti noodles according to package instructions.
2. While the spaghetti is cooking, heat the sun-dried tomato oil in large saucepan over medium heat.
3. Add the spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, and balsamic vinegar. Cook until spinach is slightly wilted, about 2 minutes. 
4. Add garlic and mix throughout spinach-tomato mixture. Remove from heat.
5. Season with salt and pepper.
6. Spoon spinach-tomato mixture over spaghetti and sprinkle feta or parmesan cheese over the top.
7. Serve warm and enjoy! 

**Note: The flavors in this dish are strong (but delicious) so if you prefer a less strong flavor, use fewer sun-dried tomatoes and/or less balsamic vinegar.