While in Washington DC a few weeks ago, I had dinner with two coworkers at L’Enfant Cafe — a cute little place (And I mean little. We could barely squeeze past other diners to our table. Apparently French women really don’t get fat.) in the Adams Morgan neighborhood. I ordered the melted leeks with quinoa and it was the perfect combination of rich and savory while still being light and fresh. I don’t know how they did it, but I was determined to find out.

And I did. The Parmesan rind is everything in this recipe. Bon appétit!

Melted Leeks with Quinoa & Parmesan

Makes 6 servings. Approximately 5 Weight Watchers points per serving.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 3 leeks, sliced
• 1 cup quinoa, uncooked
• 2 cups chicken stock
• 2 cups water
• Parmesan rind
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Parmesan to serve

Directions

Saute leeks until tender (10-12 minutes). Add quinoa and toast (2-3 minutes). Add chicken stock, water, and Parmesan rind, and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer until quinoa is tender (approximately 15 minutes). Season with salt and pepper to taste, plate and top with grated Parmesan. Serve with crusty bread.

If you’re feeling sassy, add a poached egg before serving.

I’m pretty sure Tulum is the perfect vacation. I relaxed my ass off, read four books, got lunch drunk, and didn’t wear pants for seven days.

We stayed at Ana y Jose Charming Hotel and Spa and it couldn’t have been more charming if it tried. Hartwood and Posada Margherita were the culinary highlights. Not to mention the 2 for 1 margaritas all up and down the beach.

I’m pushing to book early for Thanksgiving 2013, but in the meantime, where are we headed next? I don’t have any plane tickets booked and it’s making me twitchy!

(Apologies if you follow me on Instagram and have seen all of these photos already. I’m trying to keep the vacation feeling alive.)

I’ve been lucky enough to travel quite a bit this year and a good travel tote makes all the difference (and saves your sanity) when you’re searching for your ID or navigating security and taxi lines.

My Coach tote bag (which I picked up at the outlet for a steal years ago) is always by my side and fits all my must-haves for a travel worthy tote: 1.) a solid base and sturdy sides so it doesn’t flop over 2.) a cross body strap so my arms are free to maneuver and/or hand straps long enough to  sling over my shoulder 3.) large enough to carry a book, iPad, snacks, and other travel essentials without being unwieldy and 4.) interior pockets to keep cash, ID, and tickets easy to locate.

Here’s a few totes that I think are totally travel worthy…

(Top)
DVF Sold Out
Coach Bleeker Legacy Utility Tote $568
Baggu Duck Bag $24
(Middle)
GAP Neon Leather Tote $125
Zara Studded Shopper $90
Lesportsac Travel Tote $88
(Bottom)
Deena & Ozzy Studded Tote $69
Brix “X-Bag” $98
Old Navy Zip Top Tote $22 

Do you have a favorite travel bag? What helps make travel most stress-free for you?

Next week, my family and I leave for Mexico. For seven days. With no television. (I know. I know. Dumb thing to complain about.) I don’t watch much television as it is, but not having the option to watch television is making me a bit nervous about not having enough reading material. I, of course, had to place a last minute Amazon order and went on a bit of a Kindle book binge.

Here’s what I’m bringing…

The Chocolate Money by Ashley Prentice Norton
How to Be a Woman by Caitlin Moran
The House Girl by Tara Conklin

And in case that isn’t enough, here’s what I have loaded on my Kindle…

Laura Lamont’s Life in Pictures by Emma Straub
Tigers in Red Weather by Liza Klaussmann
Dare Me by Megan Abbott

Dear Life by Alice Munron
Instant Love by Jamie Attenberg (Just Finished The Middlesteins by the same author and loved it.)
Ferris Beach by Jill McCorkle

Whatever I don’t get finished is on my reading list for Christmas vacation. Are you reading anything good? Any must-read recommendations?

Are you sick of me blogging and Tweeting about my trip to Disney World yet? Just one more post. I promise.

(Despite my best efforts, I didn’t take nearly enough photos and no one ever took a picture of all nine of us! I guess we’ll just have to go again.)

We stayed at our old haunt — Port Orleans Riverside. They’ve spiffed the place up since our last stay and Mickey ears greeted us as soon as we arrived! (Don’t think I didn’t bring some of those shampoo bottles home.)

Does the view of the castle as you walk up Main Street ever get old? No. No it doesn’t.

There are just some rides that you have to go on when you visit Disney World, no matter how many times you’ve ridden them before.

And then there are others that I will never have the courage to ride.

The kids did get me on Splash Mountain of Expedition Everest for the first and last time. They swore up and down that Expedition Everest was “just like Big Thunder Mountain — just a little bit backwards.” They all lied. It’s Big Thunder Mountain backwards x 10 + in the dark.

High on gas fumes on the Tomorrowland Speedway. Kate drove. I got a headache.

Big Thunder Mountain is pretty much my favorite ride at Disney World, and my cousin Kate shares my enthusiasm. The lines were nonexistent so this was our third consecutive trip. By the sixth, we were looking a little green.

Obligatory character lunch.

Sufficiently prepared for our day at Animal Kingdom. Mitchell had his safari hat and binoculars at the ready.

Lots of adorable baby animals.

DinoLand lunch with Mimi LaRue. She went straight for the dessert.

$10 caramel apples never looked so damn cute.

The last of the Disney magic found in my wallet when I got home.

So…when are we going back?