Mexican Quinoa Salad.

I'm sleepy as I write this.

Georgia just went down for her afternoon nap and while I contemplated crawling under my comforter and closing my eyes, alas, I have resisted the temptation.

Instead of letting me sleep, the voice in my head kept saying "Self, quite being lazy and go type your blog post."

So...here I am.  Even though I want to be napping.

Sometimes I hate that voice.

However, it's right.  Where you would be in life if I couldn't muster the energy to type this fine Mexican Quinoa Salad recipe?  No where.  That's where. 

Mexican Quinoa Salad:  Easy, fresh, and delicious
Recipe adapted from The Nourished Gourmet

 You will need:
 - 5 cups cooked quinoa
 - 1 bunch chopped cilantro
 - 1 diced bell pepper
 - 1 can corn (or fresh sliced off the cob!)
 - 1 can beans (or 1 cup homecooked)
 - 1 diced avocado (optional)
 - 1 diced tomato (optional)
Dressing:
 - 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
 - 1/4 cup raw apple cider vinegar
 - 2 teaspoons ground cumin (freshly ground is best!)
 - Pinch of red pepper flakes or a dash of cayenne pepper
 - 1 teaspoon chili powder
 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
 - Big 'ol pinch of sea salt

Step One:  Cook the quinoa (pronounced keen-wa) on the stovetop according to directions.  Then, let it cool to room temperature.

Step Two:  While the quinoa is cooking, mix up your dressing (recipe above) and set aside.

Step Three:  Add your cilantro, corn, beans, avocado, and tomatoes to the cooled quinoa.  Then, toss with your dressing.  Adjust the spices to your taste!  Honestly, I hardly ever measure anything (terrible habit!), so sometimes I have to guesstimate how much of each spice I use!  Feel free to make it spicier with more pepper flakes - and add a nice course grain sea salt at will!  I used freshly toasted and ground cumin for this, which can be quite powerful and limey tasting.  But if your salad tastes a wee bit flat, jazz it up with some freshly squeezed lime juice.  That'll do the trick!

Do you like how my recipes are horribly vauge?

"Oh yeah, just add a little of this and a little of that...and maybe a splash of that and a pinch of that..."

Really great instructions Shaye.  Nice job.

I suppose you could think of this wonderful recipe as more of an outline, as opposed to a detailed recipe.  You are an individual, creative cook equipped with your own personal tastebuds and opinions.  Use 'em!  Create!

I love creating new things with food.

I love trying new foods.

I love playing with food.

I love eating food.

I.  Love.  Food.

The end.