Day o' Fun!

I can't believe it's already Sunday night! Another weekend gone by too quickly. Let's start with today's breakfast. I knew we didn't have much time before our meet time for Day o' Fun, so I opted for oatmeal with an autumn twist.

Autumn Oatmeal

Serves 2

Even though it was hot in LA today, this meal made it feel like fall!

Delicious!

• 1 3/4 C. water
• 1 1/2 C. oats
• 1 handful pecans, chopped
• 1 handful walnuts, chopped
• 2 teaspoons maple syrup
• Cinnamon

Boil the water, and cook the oats according to the package instructions. Meanwhile, toast the nuts on a small baking sheet at 350 degrees for about 3-4 minutes(we used our toaster oven). When the oatmeal is ready, top with the walnuts, then pour one teaspoon of maple syrup over the top and sprinkle the nuts and a dash of cinnamon on top.

We ate our oatmeal with a glass of apple juice, which turned out to be an even more incredible autumn meal, and we were both stuffed!

It was great we had such a substantial breakfast, because our day was packed! After planning our week of meals, we ventured out to the farmers' market to grab the necessary supplies. We're getting pretty good! We finished our shopping in less than 25 minutes. Terry still had to run to Trader Joe's for a few more items, but I stayed home to pack up our picnic lunch supplies.

We met up with two other couples at Malibu Wines for a picnic lunch. The six of us ended up with a huge spread of meats, cheeses, breads, salad skewers, cookies, veggies, fruits, and hummus, and then we bought a bottle of wine to share. The drive there was really beautiful, and the grounds were perfect for a picnic. The wine was good, too! I was pleasantly surprised and excited because I had never had Malibu wine. I've heard great things and would love to explore the area more.

Our delightful picnic!

The girls and me at Malibu Wines

After our picnic, we packed up and headed to Thousand Oaks to redeem a Living Social deal for go karting. Things I learned:

• I really, really suck at go karting.

But the group had fun, and Terry even got the highest score. Our next adventure (oh yes, the day continued!) took us to Camarillo for laser tag and arcade games. Looking back, this day may have been better suited for middle school children, but we had a blast. When was the last time you played laser tag? We got to play two games. During the first, we split up our group, had no idea how to play, and probably looked ridiculous. During the second, we joined a first grader's birthday party, totally knew how to play, and still looked ridiculous. We had a blast! The arcade games were a bit weak but still brought us back to our childhoods, which, I suppose, is the whole point of a day o' fun.

Finally, our last stop was a local Irish pub in Camarillo. We each enjoyed a drink or two, played darts, and eventually parted ways. We miss our friends because they live about an hour away from us now, so days like this one make us so happy!

For dinner tonight, super quick burritos! We didn't get home from our awesome outing until 7:30, but dinner was on the table before 8:00. Impressive! I know Rachael Ray has her 30-Minute Meal dynasty, but those never actually take 30 minutes...at least for me. Usually I have to make a meal several times before it's a quick one, and yet tonight's can truly go under the "easy and quick" category!

Super Quick Burritos

Serves 4

Burritos (minus the sour cream and salsa)

• 1 lb. ground beef, preferably grass fed
• 1 onion
• 1 bell pepper
• 2 tortillas, preferably whole-wheat and homemade
• 1+ oz. shredded cheddar cheese
• Sour cream
• 2 tsp. cumin
• 1 tsp. Cayenne pepper
• Salt and pepper to taste

For the salsa:

Terry made the salsa!

• 1/2 cup onion, diced
• 1 jalapeno, finely chopped
• 1 red jalapeno, finely chopped
• 1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
• 1 clove garlic, finely chopped
• 1 large tomato, diced

Combine the first five ingredients (through garlic) and let sit for a few hours if possible. Stir in the tomatoes just before serving.

These burritos were delicious! The ingredients are simple and usually stuff we have on hand, so it makes for a great go-to recipe on weeknights. The salsa isn't too hot or too mild, but you can determine your own level of spiciness. I like a little bit of kick, but Terry can handle the crazy stuff. Plus, you can play with the burrito ingredients: Add extra vegetables, beans, different spices, more peppers, different toppings. I'm all about taking a great recipe and finding ways to make it more exciting!

And now, alas, it's Sunday night. Another crazy week at work for both of us, but hopefully one we can survive. Our day o' fun tuckered us out, so here's hoping Monday is kind!