Cuisine for Love

Last weekend some local friends and our family had a surprise baby shower for my friend Joy as she prepares for the upcoming birth of her third child.

Joy's family has some food sensitivities such as gluten intolerances and dairy as well.
So trying to come up with good menu's to bring to get togethers sometimes challenges me because I don't have alot fo education in this area.
So I pulled a few things together and wanted to share my 2 favorites of the evening.

Quinoa Salad

Cook quinoa as directed on the package. I ahve alwasy cooked it like rice, 1 cup to 2 cups boiling water until done.
Thinly slice cabbage..about half a cabbage or more
Cut a red pepper up into chunks
a little thin sliced onion
Kalamata olives cut up
Minced fresh parsley
Mix well and then add the dressing which is a famous recipe of my friend Kathy Jo.

1/3 cup olive oil
1/3 cup apple cider vinegar (in this case it was nettles infused I think)
1/3 cup Braggs
2 tbsp maple syrup
3 garlic cloves in a garlic press

Let this mingle for awhile. best if made the day before I feel but whatever you have time for will work.

Add just enough of this dressing to lightly coat the quinoa and cabbage.
Toss lightly to incorporate the dressings.

Sprinkle sunflower seeds on top and your done:)
It is really good.

Ok then onto this delightful sweet desserty treat.

Strawberry Melon Salad

1 ripe honeydew melon, seeded and cut into chunks
1 pint strawberries, cored and halved (use a straw to core, taking it through the bottom of the strawberry all the way to the top)
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
2 tablespoons agave nectar
1 ½ cup nonfat plain yogurt
3 tbsps. sugar
1 tablespoon freshly grated lime zest
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
Combine melon, strawberries, lime juice and 2 tablespoons of agave nectar in a large bowl
Chill for 15 minutes.

I LOVE LOVE LOVED the fruit dessert completely. But this is my personality. I love things like this that have lemon or lime. The honeydew woudl have been easily replaced with cantelope or any other fruit really.

Let me know how it turns out if you take your hand at either of these recipes.
Peace~