3 months *correction* YEARS! Blogiversary

How could i almost miss out on my Bettysbites blogiversary...!

It's been THREE years since my first ever post and although i don't update as much as i used to (or even want to) i still love doing it - just lately life has been getting the better of me - the days are getting shorter and time is not as available as it once used to be.

My spare time is juggled between family, staying fit & healthy (includes gym time, sports comps, planning meals), Bigbear, friends, and sometimes when i feel like it is all too much for me, i try to remember to be thankful for the life that i have, and the people that are a part of it.

My blog always cheers me up though, and also browsing food blogs has become part of my daily rituals, food makes me happy and to see it make other people happy makes me happy too :D

A big thank you to my readers i dont know exactly how many there are of you but i do truly appreciate the time you spend reading my foodblog!

I'll leave you with some pictures of the things i've been up to lately - nothing too exciting but i couldnt sign off my post with zero pictures..!

bringing out my inner kid - making waterballoons on a hot day

baking (with Natalie!) for friends birthdays: red velvet and cream cheese babycakes

check out her awesome fashion blog lucyandtherunaways i am a dedicated reader :):)

more baking for friends: cheese cake brownies

helping my cousin bake a 4 color layered cake for her best friends birthday

a simple yet beautiful quinoa salad

I quickly whipped this up this morning, with ingredients that were already in the fridge and pantry. I'm lucky in a sense that my parents very much always have fresh produce in the fridge so we are never without healthy ingredients. The cherry tomatoes are from our garden, which are ever so sweet once you try them you won't want to buy it from the supermarket again!

Quinoa is my preferred carb intake at the moment, and has been for the past few months. It's healthy, good for you, very filling with a low GI number, and its SO easy to make. Its similar to cous cous, but i dont think it is a grain, it is a superfood seed, gluten free and is busting with nutrients.

How to cook quinoa:

- measure out a 1:2 quinoa: water ratio (e.g 1 cup quinoa with 2 cupcs water)

- bring to the boil in a saucepan over high heat until boiling

- simmerfor 10-15 minutes (or until water has evaporated)

- be careful not to let it scorch on the bottom, keep a watch on it after 7 minutes as you want to take it off the heat as soon as there's no more liquid

- let it cool in the saucepan until completely cool.

- then, dress with veggies, protein (chicken/fish), and make a delicious dressing like the one i have given below :)

2 tbs rice vinegar

1 tbs soy sauce

2 tsp sugar

dash of sesame oil

mix together until sugar has dissolved.

Its a very easy but delicious dressing for any quinoa salad no matter what you put in it. I always add a can of lentils to my quinoa salads (or chickpeas), and i chuck in every possible vegetable that i have to make it super filling.

I hope you give this recipe a go, or even better- give QUINOA a go! Its so delicious and you know its so good for you.