Kathy's Walnut, Chicken and Cherry Quinoa Salad

1 cup dry quinoa
2 cups  water
1 1/2 diced grilled chicken
1/2 cup dried cherries
1/2 cup celery, diced
1/4 cup sweet onion, minced
1/2 cup walnuts (pecans) toasted and coarsely chopped
chopped fresh thyme (optional)
(options to add- mandarin orange slices, pumpkin seeds, craisins)
Dressing

1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 cup white wine vinegar (or 3 tbsp. balsamic vinegar)
1 tsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1 garlic clove, minced
freshly ground pepper, to taste

Bring water and quinoa to a boil in a medium saucepan; reduce the heat and simmer, covered, for 12 minutes.  Let stand for 10 minutes, then fluff with a fork and let cool.

Place the cooled quinoa in a large bowl with the chicken, cherries, celery and onion.  (can prepare the quinoa the day before)

Prepare the dressing.  Whisk together all ingredients and pour over the salad; toss well to coat.  Cover and chill for at least 1 hour.

Add walnuts and thyme to the salad just before serving.  Makes 6 servings.

Tip: Replace the dried cherries with halved and pitted fresh  herries when they're in season.

Breakfast of Champions

I'm NOT a cold cereal person.  Never have been.  To my mom's chagrin, growing up, I would rarely eat a bowl of cereal.  On the rare occasion, I would get myself a small bowl of dry cereal and eat it with no milk.  Thankfully, I haven't passed this gene on to my crew, as they love milk and cereal, just as much as their Daddy.  Costco loves us too, since the cart is usually overflowing each visit with multiple cereal boxes.

I'm always on the hunt for other easy breakfast options.  I came across this recipe in a Martha Stewart Magazine a couple of months ago.  Quinoa has become a staple in our pantry, especially since I found a huge bag of it at Costco that lasts us for months.

Quinoa

This week, the weather here in Calgary has truly turned into Fall.  The leaves are blowing, and it is raining, almost snowing.  This Breakfast Quinoa recipe is an alternative to warm oatmeal porridge.  The kids and Mommy are loving the warm breakfast and it is helping to keep our tummies warm on our walk to school.


Breakfast Quinoa


Makes 2 cups

2 cups milk, plus more for serving
1 cup quinoa, rinsed
3 Tbs brown-sugar, plus more for serving
1/8 tsp ground cinnamon, plus more for serving
1 cup fresh bluberries, plus more for serving

1. Bring milk to a boil in a small sauce-pan.  Add quinoa, and return to a boil.  Reduce heat to low, and simmer, covered, until ¾ of the milk has been absorbed about 15 minutes.
2. Stir in sugar and cinnamon.  Cook, covered, until almost all the milk has been absorbed, about 8 minutes.  Stir in blueberries, and cook for 30 seconds.  Serve with additional milk, sugar, cinnammon and blueberries.

Why did I title this post Breakfast of Champions?  Our daddy is a champion, in more ways than one.  He NEVER misses a breakfast and he is a huge fan of cereal.  In fact, he has two special cereal bowls that he eats out of every morning.  If heading to work, he will pack cereal to go, using one of Reegs sippy cups to transport his milk.  He says the milk never leaks and he doesn't really care what people think of the sippy cup in his lunch box, he's proud to be a Daddy.  Here is one of our 'Daddy' adventures this summer, Kev's 1/2 Ironman Triathlon.

Make a picture slideshow

Love Twin B
xoxoxoxoxo