Bites of Summer

Summer is slowly fading out. While our furnace has yet to be turned on, we have spent fewer days on the beach and more days finishing our yard before frost sets in. A fresh crisp breeze is drifting in the window while hazy light filters through the clouds. It is beautiful and peaceful. Yet I'm still enjoying the last bits of summer, including the bounty from the farm fresh gardens! One way to enjoy all the fresh produce available right now is in sandwiches - no heat required meals are my favourite when the heat goes above 20*C. This sandwich is something special I learnt from my birthday lunch! My Mom arrived with the most amazing spread of delicious food! Watermelon salad, hummus and fresh vegetables, and quinoa salad sandwiches! Oh and the most incredible coconut cake, but I need to get that recipe from Mom before I can share it - she created it for my special day! We enjoyed the sandwiches so much that I recreated them that very week, and enjoyed them for a few days...for both lunch and dinner. When I like something I tend to go over board.  If you like nutritious food that leaves you drooling for more, this is a recipe you need to try! It is more of a guideline than a recipe as it is a 'what produce you have in the fridge is what you want to use' sort of recipe. And the amounts are up to you too - as this is completely customisable. So really, here's the list of what my mom and I liked in the ones we created, and you can create yours with your favourite vegetables too!

Quinoa Salad Sandwiches

an original recipe from my Mom!

+
cooked qunioa -roughly 2 cups
black beans
chick peas
kidney beans
pumpkin seeds, raw and unsalted
kale
carrots
cucumber
red and yellow bell peppers
red cabbage
red onion

Strain and wash all the beans and place them in a bowl with the cooled qunioa. The chop all the vegetables into little pieces and add them to the bowl until the desired ratio has been achieved. Dress with your favourite dressing [mine was olive oil based with herbs and lemon juice] and serve in pita  bread. I enjoyed my best with spinach and hummus lining the pita before putting in the quinoa salad - but really it comes down to personal preference.


What has been your go to meal this summer? Are you favoring those recipes that neglect your oven? Or do you brave the heat in favor of a cooked meal every night? Now that fall is swinging into season my oven and i may just be rekindling our relationship, but I will keep this sandwich in play year round.
+

Drooling

I love Pinterest! I find ideas, inspirations, and like minded people all in one place! Recipes are some of my favourite things to collect, try, and read and Pinterest helps me get my fill of eye candy when it comes to new food ideas. One recipe in particular caught my eye today and I simply had to try it.Right. Now. So I did. And now you need to!

 

Is your mouth watering yet? This recipe is titled 'Asian Slaw with Ginger-Peanut Dressing' and it is as drool worthy as it looks! I ate this bad boy right up at supper time, and my little Eli even gave it a go then opted for the Butternut Squash Soup I had made instead.  If you would like to enjoy this colourful dish from heaven, hop on over to Once Upon A Chef to find the recipe. Oh, and this is easier and faster to prepare than anything you'll find. Even hot dogs shudder.

Scrumptious

What do you think of when you picture tomatoes? Is it a salad? A plant? The sauce on your favorite pizza? [or all of the above] I love tomatoes and will often add them to recipes that don't call for them simply for their fresh flavor and burst of color. We all know that food is not only savored in the mouth, but also in presentation so try to add color however you can! And so there I was, standing in front of the fridge, quinoa cooking on the stove, and wondering what to pair with my tomatoes and quinoa. What resulted is a salad that I've made a few times now, each time having been met with delight from all that savored the experience. Try it, love it, and relish the thought that it not only looks and tastes wonderful, but is wonderfully healthy too!

Basil Tomato Quinoa Salad

2 cups quinoa, cooked and cooled
2 cups tomatoes, chopped
1/2 cup basil, chopped
1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
2/3 cup diced red onion
1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
dash of maple syrup
dash of coarse sea salt

Mix all of the above ingredients in a bowl and serve. It really is that simple!

This salad is a great post workout meal, main dish, or potluck addition. Don't be afraid to tinker with the measurements in this salad, and make it your own. Oh, I'd also try this out with whatever your favorite bean is...the possibilities are endless!