Summer Quinoa Salad

I'm cooking more quinoa! and loving it.

This is a great main dish salad or a perfect side dish on those summer BBQ evenings.

4 cups chicken broth

2 cups quinoa

1 can (12.5 oz) chicken breast

1 medium cucumber, chopped

1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved

1 can (3.8 oz) black olives, pitted and sliced

1/2 cup crumbled reduced fat feta cheese

1/3 cup fresh Italian parsley, chopped

Dressing:

3/4 cup olive oil

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

1/4 cup fresh rosemary leaves, chopped

salt and pepper to taste

• Place quinoa and broth in saucepan and bring to boil, cover and reduce to simmer. Cook for 10-15, or until liquid is absorbed. Cool for 10 minutes.
• In a small bowl, combine ingredients for dressing and whisk until well combined.
• Combine quinoa, chicken, cucumber, tomatoes, olives, feta, and Italian parsley. 
• Toss salad with desired amount of dressing.

NOTE: Try tofu in place of chicken! It's good too.

Banana Bread - Gluten, Egg, and Nut Free

Have a couple ripe bananas? It's time for banana bread!

There are so many recipes for banana bread and they are all similar...mashed bananas, sugar, flour, eggs...I read so many looking for one that would work for our house. I found this one which I thought looked different and intriguing. I did my usual "tweek" to the recipe and came up with the recipe below.

The batter tastes like heaven! Sweet banana flavor with a hint of orange. Delish!

2-1/2 cups all purpose gluten free baking mix

3 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon xantham gum

1 cup sugar

1/4 cup butter, softened (or butter substitute)

1-1/2 teaspoons Ener-G Egg Replacer*

2 tablespoons warm water*

2 very ripe bananas, mashed

2  tablespoons orange zest

1/2 cup milk (or milk substitute)

*If you are ok to have eggs, use one egg 

in place of egg replacer and omit warm water .

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 
• Combine flour, baking powder, salt, and xantham gum in bowl and set aside.
• In separate bowl beat together sugar, softened butter, egg replacer, and water until smooth.
• Add bananas, orange zest, and milk.  Mix together until combined.
• Add flour mixture and mix until smooth.
• Pour batter into greased bread pan.
• Bake in oven at 350 degrees for 50-60 minutes or until done.