Gramps and Grummy

Please meet Gramps and Grummy.  They are my great-grandparents. For those of you who know my family, Gramps and Grummy were Nana's parents.

Over Easter, my family got to talking about Gramps and Grummy, so I thought I share some of their story!

Having lived well into their nineties, I can only imagine all the things they saw in their lifetime.  Wars, the invention of tv and internet, the Great Depression, their great-grandchildren - just to name a few.   Gramps and Grummy passed away several years ago at 98 and 96 years old, respectively.

We learned later in their life that they were kind of rebels when they were young. Gramps drove a motocycle and had a huge clown tatoo on his arm. Grummy wore a short flapper dress on her wedding day. 

Gramps and Grummy were married 78 years. 78 years. (Think abot that for a second!) They tied the knot at the ripe old ages of 20 and 17.  Before they passed away, they made it clear they wanted their headstone to say how long they were married.  Growing up, I didn't really understand what an accomplishment it was to be married for 78 years.  Most people don't live that long, let alone have a marriage that spans almost eight decades.

Being a newlywed, I have a whole new appreciation for them. I think about everything that has happened in the three years Reagan and I have been together, and I wonder what kind of stories we'll have after a lifetime.

So, this post is dedicated to all the couples who have seen many decades of life together; and especially to Gramps Grammy. Lovers of their families, the Texas Rangers, the Lord, and each other.

Happy Monday! Pin It

Try Something New

Reagan was in Chicago this past week and weekend, so that means I tried out some new recipes.  Kind of like the soup I made last time he went out of town, these weren't exactly man-friendly recipes.

First up, we have Black Bean Quinoa Burgers from Clean Eating Chelsey.  The burgers were actually a lot more involved than I anticipated, but I have to say they turned out great. 

Black Bean Quinoa Burgers (makes 6-7 large burgers)
from Clean Eating Chelsey

• 3 cups (or 2-15 oz cans) of prepared black beans
• 2/3 cup quinoa, dry
• 2/3 cup water
• 2/3 cup vegetable broth
• 1/4 white onion
• 3 baby carrots (I think about the equivalent of 1/2 of a regular carrot?)
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 tsp. chili powder
• 2 tsp. ground cumin
• 1/2 tsp. granulated garlic
• 1/2 tsp. black pepper
• 1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper
• sprinkle of sea salt

Directions:

1. In a small saucepan, bring 2/3 cup quinoa, 2/3 cup water, and 2/3 cup vegetable broth to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat and cover for 15-20 minutes until all liquid has been absorbed. Remove from the heat and let the quinoa cool 5-10 minutes
2. Place quinoa and remaining ingredients in a food processor. Pulse the food processor until the ingredients are combined, but not smooth or pureed. The burger should hold together nicely in your hands if you want to check to see if your consistency is okay.
3. Using your hands, shape 6-7 equal sized burgers. Heat a greased skillet to medium high heat and cook for 6-8 minutes on each side, flipping once.

**At this point, I put my burgers on the grill to “bake” the insides a little more so they would stay together a bit better. If you aren’t grilling, I would say to cook them in a 375 degree oven for 5-10 minutes to cook the centers of the burgers a bit more. It’s not 100% necessary, but my burgers did stay together a bit better!
Store in an airtight container in the fridge for 4-5 days or freeze leftovers. Enjoy!

My parents came to visit this weekend! (Number one reason why Lubbock is great!) Since I had houseguests, I cooked our favorite Maple Ginger Pork Chops. 

Maple Ginger Pork Chops

The recipe was not new to me, but it was new to my parents and grandma.

Last, but not least, my mom and I decided to try out a Glowing Green Smoothie.  I've read a lot about Kimberly Snyder and her eating philosophy.  Since I have so many eating restrictions now, I'm interested in what people eat that have similar restrictions or lifestyles. 

Glowing Green Smoothie

I sent Reagan the above picture and he asked if it was chimichurri sauce. I wish.

The verdict on the smoothie: not for me. It has celery in it, and I hate celery. I thought the other ingredients may camouflage the celery (umm.... 8 CUPS of spinach?!) but no such luck.

I immediately made brownies. Much better! Pin It

Confessions

Pinterest stresses me out. Is it just me, or does Pinterest make every girl/woman feel like they need to dress in an amazing outfit while crafting, cooking an amazing dinner, and decorating a nursery all at the same time??

I watch A LOT of TV... Lord help me when Reagan moves to Austin for the summer and I live alone. That leads me to my next point. I need a TV show to start watching from the beginning this summer. So far some suggestions have been Revenge, Gossip Girl, and One Tree Hill. Thoughts?

I went to a TRX class with my mom on Monday, and I. Still. Can't. Move. I guess there is nothing like a good butt kicking.

My newest blog obsessions are:

Modern Eve

elle bow room

Camille Styles

Forgiving Martha

You should definitely check them out. Lots of pretty pictures and happiness!

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