Jumbled Quinoa Salad

This tasty meal is a mix of all sorts of different ingredients. An Italian dressing is nicely accented with red onions, cheddar cheese and black olives. The quinoa sucks up the flavors for a strong experience :)

-Ingredients-

-2tbsp fat free Italian dressing

-1/3 cup cooked and cooled quinoa

-a large spoonful of:

  -black olives

  -cheddar cheese

  -chopped red onion

  -sliced water chestnuts

  -yellow corn

-2 pimento stuffed green olives sliced in half. (Adds a tangy flavor)

-1/4 of an avocado sliced

-Directions-

-throw everything together in a bowl and enjoy! 

If you leave it in the fridge for a little bit, the quinoa really absorbs the flavors. I make mine in the morning to bring to work for lunch. :)

Zesty Quinoa Avocado Boats :]

These wonderful boats of joy feel so healthy and delicious going down! I will definitely be making many versions of them. It is so easy to substitute, add or remove any ingredient and it will always be delicious :D

-Ingredients-

-1/2 cup of cooked quinoa (cooled. I like to have a cup of cooked quinoa in the fridge most days)

-1/2 cup of corn (drained)

-1/2 can of black beans (rinsed)

-1/4 cup minced cilantro

-1/2 cup chopped red onion

-1/2 cup chopped green or red bell pepper

-1/2 cup cheese of your choice

-1.5 Tbsp taco seasoning 

-1 tsp garlic powder

-2 avocados

-Directions-

-To cook quinoa, for every cup of dry quinoa add two cups of water. Make sure you rinse quinoa in cold water before you cook it. Bring the quinoa and the water to a boil and then set to simmer for 15 minutes so it absorbs the water completely. For this recipe you'll want to stick it in the fridge until it cools down before mixing with the other ingredients. 

-Prep all vegetables and throw together into a bowl. Then add the cheese.

-Mix them with the taco seasoning and the garlic powder. 

-Add cooled quinoa to the mixture. (You may want to add more of the spices after)

-Cut avocados in half and hollow out a little bit to make room for the filling. Peel the skin off and then stuff overflowing with the quinoa mixture. 

-I like to serve the boats with salsa and lime chips :]

Cheesy Quinoa Bites

These delicious patties of goodness are very filling and fun to make! When I dip them in marinara sauce and add chunks of creamy avocado it reminds me of eating...bread sticks actually. So for you gluten free rock stars out there missing the taste of yummy bread sticks, try this.

-Ingredients-

-2 cups of cooked quinoa

-2 large eggs

-1/2 cup chopped carrot

-1 cup sliced green onion

-1/4 tsp black pepper

-2 cloves garlic, minced

-1/2 cup parmesan

-2 tbsp flour (or red mill GF flour)

-1/2 tsp seasoning salt (I like Lawry's)

-Directions-

-Cook quinoa in vegetable broth or low sodium chicken broth. (always rinse quinoa thoroughly before use)

-Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

-mix together all ingredients except quinoa and stir until smooth.

-add cooked quinoa and mix until evenly distributed.

-in a mini muffin tin distribute batter so it fills each cup to the top.

-bake for 13-15 minutes.