Tuesday Tastings #9 & Quinoa & Spinach Salad

Link Party at bottom of post

Recipe was adapted (small changes made) from Taste Of Home

Salad Ingredients:

1 C cooked quinoa

6 oz baby spinach

1 cucumber, diced

½ C dried cranberries

½ C chopped, toasted pecans (I used almonds)

Dressing Ingredients:

3 T olive oil

2 T orange juice

1 T red wine vinegar

1 T maple syrup

1 garlic clove, minced

½ teaspoon salt

⅛ teaspoon pepper

1 green onion, finely chopped

Directions:

1. On a large platter or bowl combine the quinoa, spinach, cucumber and cranberries.

2. Make the dressing by combining all ingredients

3. Pour dressing over spinach/quinoa mixture. Sprinkle with nuts.

Once again we had some truly great recipes shared last week. I love getting new ideas and checking out new blogs.

As usual I have featured the most clicked through and also, my personal pick of the week.

I did things a bit backwards with the features this week. Usually I put the most clicked through as #1 and my pick as #2 but reverse that for this week. I picked this refreshing cucumber blueberry smoothie because I have such an abundance of cucumbers and my kids love smoothies and I have been contemplating throwing one in but wasn't sure if the flavors would meld well together for them. So this recipe came at the exact right moment for me and I have to say, the only way to describe what the cucumber does is "refreshing". It really lightens and brightens the flavors. I am a convert and my kids are too!

And let us not forget these delicious looking Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Muffins. Gluten free is certainly the way to go these days for most. Because we have food allergies in the house, I find myself using more and more gluten free products and I think I am not alone given the selection of gluten free at the stores these days. Congrats!