#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛
Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged photo, but Lola just has ZERO boundaries and Clifford is exceptionally patient. 😂
I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s so good for you), so when I saw that a local patisserie has a smoked salmon croissant available (weekends only), I added it to my list of things to seek out. I popped into @chocolatinenj early on Mother’s Day and was rewarded with this deliciousness. Layers of soft flaky croissant dough, tender smoked salmon, light whipped cream, thinly sliced red and green onion slivers and dotted with capers… it was every bit as amazing as you’d imagine it would be. If you’re local, don’t sleep on this one. 😋
Weekend photos in review, the belated edition. 1/ Weekend photos in review, the belated edition.

1/ hit up a few yard sales and snagged this beautiful pasta dish from Italy with my favorite color for a buck, 2/ and one of these printer trays came home with me too, 3/ pre Mother’s Day celebrations with 30 local moms, 4/ finished the weekend supervising furniture assembly
Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd bir Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd birthday. Unfortunately she’s not here to celebrate because she died suddenly at age 49. I think of her often … every Mother’s Day because we spent most of them together since her husband worked weekends … when I discover a new food adventure (we once did a day long donut crawl) … when I’m sharing a special time with my kids knowing that her then-11 year old is growing up without her. Before she passed, I always appreciated every day, but since then, even more so. You never know what the next day can bring, so relish in the sunshine, surprise rainstorms, making wishes over railroad tracks and all the wonderful randomness life can throw your way. Don’t waste a single second, say yes, live on the outskirts of your comfort zone, laugh often, tell people you love them, give eight second hugs, and squeeze every ounce of joy you can out of life. Do it for the people who can’t. ✨
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Sweetnicks

Food and Life

Recipe: Summer Quinoa Salad

July 7, 2014 · Narrative

A light, healthy, and downright tasty quinoa salad that is perfect for the hot temperatures of summer, featuring chick peas, grape tomatoes, and avocado.

Summer Quinoa Salad - black background-001

Summertime cooking is all about easy recipes, grilling, and keeping the kitchen cool.

Which we pretty much do most of the time.

Except for when we feel the need to bake cookies.

#priorities

Recipes like this quinoa salad are perfect for the summer weather. When you don’t want to spend more than a few minutes in the kitchen. And the last thing you want to do is turn your oven on.

I actually only started eating quinoa over the last few years. I used to think it was one of those “weird grains” that others ate.

Now I’m them.

And, really, it’s pretty much a lot like couscous.

AND I LOVE COUSCOUS.

I kinda feel like couscous and quinoa, for the most part, are fairly interchangeable. So if you like couscous in a particular recipe, but haven’t tried quinoa yet, make a swap and start dipping your toe into that pool.

And that’s what I did here. I have a few couscous recipes that I love, so I made a batch of quinoa (15 minutes start to finish), and added in some of my favorite flavors to make this dish. It’s ideal for a light summer dinner, or for a few days’ worth of lunch, which is what I made it for.

Summer Quinoa Salad - chick peas

Chick peas. Creamy bits of avocado. Sliced grape tomatoes. And a tangy, lemony dressing.

Light, refreshing, super healthy, and downright delicious.

Hungry for more light summertime dishes?
This Make It Your Own Couscous is an easy way to tweak a recipe to suit your own individual tastes.
One of our favorite go-to salads, so simple to make and so full of flavor.
Five minutes and just a handful of ingredients, and this Mixed Greens Salad with Smoked Salmon and a Lemony Vinaigrette can be yours.
Let your slow cooker do all the work, and reap the rewards with this Carnitas Salad recipe.
And this Lobster Salad with Avocado and Feta from Sarah’s Cucina Bella is a perfect summer celebration on a plate as well.
Or meander over to my Grilling, Salad, or Slow Cooker boards over on Pinterest for more recipes than you could ever possibly make.

Summer Quinoa Salad
Recipe courtesy of Cate O’Malley

In a bowl, combine:
2-1/2 cups precooked quinoa
1 can garbanzo beans
1 cup grape tomatoes (halved)
1 avocado, chopped

In a food processor, pulse:
1 cup cilantro leaves
1/4 cup lemon juice
squeeze of lime juice
2 T extra virgin olive oil
2 cloves garlic
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt.

Toss with quinoa blend and chill for 15 minutes. Serves four.

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Posted In: Narrative · Tagged: salad, vegetarian

Comments

  1. Sarah Caron (Sarah's Cucina Bella) says

    July 7, 2014 at 10:07 pm

    YUM! This sounds great.

    Reply
  2. Joanne says

    July 8, 2014 at 6:55 am

    Beautiful summer salad! I feel refreshed just looking at it. Love how simple it is to throw together!
    Joanne recently posted..Kale Salad with Peaches, Corn, and Basil-Honey Vinaigrette

    Reply

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#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛

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#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛
Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged photo, but Lola just has ZERO boundaries and Clifford is exceptionally patient. 😂
I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s so good for you), so when I saw that a local patisserie has a smoked salmon croissant available (weekends only), I added it to my list of things to seek out. I popped into @chocolatinenj early on Mother’s Day and was rewarded with this deliciousness. Layers of soft flaky croissant dough, tender smoked salmon, light whipped cream, thinly sliced red and green onion slivers and dotted with capers… it was every bit as amazing as you’d imagine it would be. If you’re local, don’t sleep on this one. 😋
Weekend photos in review, the belated edition. 1/ Weekend photos in review, the belated edition.

1/ hit up a few yard sales and snagged this beautiful pasta dish from Italy with my favorite color for a buck, 2/ and one of these printer trays came home with me too, 3/ pre Mother’s Day celebrations with 30 local moms, 4/ finished the weekend supervising furniture assembly
Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd bir Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd birthday. Unfortunately she’s not here to celebrate because she died suddenly at age 49. I think of her often … every Mother’s Day because we spent most of them together since her husband worked weekends … when I discover a new food adventure (we once did a day long donut crawl) … when I’m sharing a special time with my kids knowing that her then-11 year old is growing up without her. Before she passed, I always appreciated every day, but since then, even more so. You never know what the next day can bring, so relish in the sunshine, surprise rainstorms, making wishes over railroad tracks and all the wonderful randomness life can throw your way. Don’t waste a single second, say yes, live on the outskirts of your comfort zone, laugh often, tell people you love them, give eight second hugs, and squeeze every ounce of joy you can out of life. Do it for the people who can’t. ✨

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