Gluten free Tabouleh

• 1 cup quinoa, cooked according to package directions
• 1 cup finely chopped flat-leaf parsley
• 5 green onions, finely chopped
• 2 cups small grape tomatoes, halved
• 1 cucumber, peeled and seeded, thinly sliced
• Juice of 1 to 2 lemons, more to taste
• 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
• Sea salt, pepper and crushed red pepper to taste
Combine all ingredients together in a large serving bowl. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt, pepper and lemon juice. Serve room temperature or chilled.

You can use dried tomatoes, onions and parsley in this dish.

If you like Tabouleh this is great. One of Zac’s favorites.

Mandarin Salad

Perfect for spring!  

1/2 cup sliced almonds

3 Tbsp. sugar

Bagged lettuce mix--I like some with romaine and the butter leaf lettuce

1 cup chopped celery

2 whole green onions, chopped

1 can mandarin oranges, drained

sliced strawberries

1/8 cup chopped cilantro

Dressing:

1/2 tsp. salt

1/4 cup vegetable oil

2 Tbsp. sugar

2 Tbsp. vinegar

dash of tabasco

caramelize almonds by mixing with sugar in a skillet until sugar in melted onto almonds.  mix all the salad ingredients together.  Toss with almonds and dressing just before serving.

Chicken Pasta Salad

really yummy on croissants for lunches etc.  --sorry no photos

1/2 box bow tie pasta, cooked

1-20 oz. can crushed pineapple

2 cans sliced water chestnuts, drained and sliced

2 cups chopped celery

1 pkg. craisens

1 can cashews

1 cup red grapes, cut in half

6 chicken breasts, cooked and cubed

1 bottle cole slaw dressing (the refrigerated kind by the lettuce in the market)

1 cup mayo

Mix it all together and serve cold.  One-half of this recipe will easily serve 12-15 people.

Dreaming of you Salad

This amazing salad was served at my baby shower and I probably think about it weekly for over 3 years now. I try to order it at restaurants and it is never quite the same. So I called up my friend for the recipe and realized the secret is in her dressing. I served it at my boys birthday for the adults and everyone asked for the recipe.
Spring Mix Lettuce
Candied Walnuts
Pears (slice thin or chopped)
Red Onion (slice thin and then chopped)
Blue Cheese

Dressing:
1 and 1/2 c olive oil
1/2 c balsamic vinegar
2 T Dijon mustard
1 t minced garlic
1/2 t fresh ground pepper
1/4 t salt
*optional sugar (I use about 1/4 cup)
Pour all ingredients into blender or food processor to emulsify or just heavily whisk.

Toss together and Voila!!!