Creamy Quinoa Salad

I recently went to Harvest Moon Cafe in Canal Winchester and fell in love with the creaminess and nutty flavor of their quinoa and kale side salad. Slowly but surely I am coming back into good graces with quinoa (we have had a few not so stellar recipes together) and have acquired an appreciation of the diversity the grain has to offer. The following quinoa salad recipe has the same beloved creaminess with the added flavor of pea shoots; and this makes enough to bring to lunch throughout your work week. Enjoy!

1 cup cooked quinoa
1 small container organic pea shoots
8-10 pitted dates finely chopped
3/4 small herbed goat cheese log
1/4 cup Trader Joe's champagne and pear vinaigrette with gorgonzola
lemon juice to taste
salt and pepper to taste

1. Once the quinoa has cooked add the goat cheese, salt, pepper, and lemon juice and stir until goat cheese has melted. Let the mixture cool.
2. Once the quinoa and goat cheese mixture has cooled add remaining ingredients.
3. Store in the refrigerator.

Salad Challenge Begins!

 I want to devote each month to a category and make a new item at least 1x a week to share with you; along with bonus recipes just to spice things up. So today begins this month's challenge: Salads! I found this following inspiration on no other than Pinterest and in true me fashion I tweaked and added items to my taste (and hopefully yours too!) This chilled lobster salad is bursting with color from bright tomatoes, corn, and avocados; not to mention it's a refreshing. Eat this salad by itself or add it to a bed of bright green arugula.


Chilled Lobster Salad with Corn, Avocados, and Tomatoes

Chilled Lobster Salad with Corn, Avocados, and Tomatoes

2 packages pre-packaged lobster
2 packages grape tomatoes
1 can sweet corn (no salt added)
2 ripe avocados cut into 1 inch chunks
1-2 tbsp lemon juice
salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes to taste

1. If the lobster is not pre-cut, cut into 1 in squares and place into large mixing bowl
2. Peel and cut avocado and place into mixing bowl with lobster
3. Add tomatoes, corn, and lemon juice and mix with large wooden spoon (or I transferred bowl a few times so not to mash the avocados)
4. Add salt and pepper to taste




** I have also used this recipe with crab which is just a tasty. In addition, I have added garlic powder as well (because lets face it who doesn't love garlic).