Thursday, August 12, 2010

Southwest Quinoa Salad in Small Polish Pottery Bowl

Lately, I like to go "shopping" for recipes at www.findingvegan.com

It is an awesome website that lets users submit recipes (with gorgeous photos)...and I can basically just look through all of the photos for an idea of what to make for dinner! Take a look...you'll be drooling, too!

Southwest Quinoa Salad
I found this recipe, and made it yesterday. It is supposedly a "salad"...but I personally thing most dishes like this deserve to be a dip, too. So, out came the tortilla chips...yummy!! It uses avocados, fresh lime juice, and quinoa, which is literally one of the healthiest foods on the planet (and a staple in many South American countries). It's a shame I only discovered quinoa last summer...and that most people have still never heard of it, or tried it. I would compare it to rice (cooks the same way), but it is lighter, fluffier, and has a light crunch when you eat it. I often mix it with rice in my rice cooker, because I love its high fiber and iron content! You can find it in the health food section of stores, and it looks like a little tiny seed (which it is).

These little 5.5" Polish Pottery bowls are to die for (okay, they're not THAT little...but they're still not your standard cereal bowl size)! I prefer to use them, instead of big bowls...because I tend to take smaller servings (and we all know that is a smart idea)! Then again...perhaps it just means that I'll get 2nds, and I feel justified...? Either way...I guess I just like small things!

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Curried Cashew Couscous in Polish Pottery Heart Bowl

I apologize that it has been so long since I've posted. We had baby #3, and he takes up a lot of time from my day!

I love to cook new recipes, particularly ones that are meat and cheeseless. A lot of friends and family have asked me what in the world I eat, if I don't eat meat and cheese. So, in an effort to share with the world that there really are PLENTY of foods out there that don't include the aforementioned...I will now be posting links to recipes that I enjoy (and of course--they're displayed in Polish Pottery)!
Double the pleasure...double the fun!!

Curried Cashew Couscous
I have to admit that I've had a bag of couscous hanging around for about a year...and I haven't figured out what to do with it, until now. I picked it up in the bulk section of the grocery store in Whitehorse, Yukon (because Canadians are healthy like that, eh?)...but I put it in a recipe for the first time this week.I pulled out a recipe I found online, originally from the "Vegan Express" cookbook. The Curried Cashew Couscous was delicious, in my opinion...I had it for yesterday's lunch, dinner, and even breakfast this morning. My dad also ate it up! He supposedly hates curry...but he's never turned away from any of the dishes I make with curry (which is quite a few). My Mom didn't feel like eating...but had one bite and said she liked it. My husband took a 1/4 cup of it (you could tell he had great faith that he would like it), and then told me he wasn't a big fan. Oh well...you can't win them all!

If you dare to try this recipe (I really did love it!), then I would recommend Craisins instead of raisins (I have no use for raisins in my life...ugh)...it was the key ingredient, and gave the dish JUST the right amount of sweetness!

Couscous was a completely new venture for me--I would compare it to a rice texture, but smaller...similar in flavor to white rice (but healthier)...and it cooked a LOT faster. I might have to try it as a replacement for rice, some time!

And of course, I can't fail to mention the beautiful Polish Pottery Heart Bowl. We have many of different shapes and patterns. They're cute...they're nicely sized...and they make such a cute addition to the dinner table! Plus, they're a fantastic gift for a "LOVED" one! ;)

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