Tortilla Quinoa Salad with Cilantro Lime Dressing (Gluten Free) Very Simple

This is wonderful way to change up your regular salad routine and try something new! I have been using quinoa more in my recipes and adding it to my diet ever since my chiropractor Dr. Khristi mentioned it to me.{Thanks Dr. Khristi Kennedy Otto}. I'm so thankful for my chiropractic office, its not just a place to get an adjustment, but a place to talk about lifestyles changes, recipes, new health news.

 Quinoa is a known super food. It is a complete protein and is a great replacement for gluten free diets and those watching carbohydrate intake. I use it in my chicken soup instead of noodles and I use it for breakfast, I use it with curries and whatever else I can figure out.

I also want to mention that if you like avocados, and cilantro you will like this very much but if your not sure about avocados, leave them out but you can't leave out the cilantro. This salad is very refreshing and flavor packed!

 I recently picked up the book "The (Gluten Free) Quintessential Quinoa Cookbook" By Wendy Polisi. I REALLY like it and have already tried many recipes and plan to try a bunch more. I borrowed the book from the library but I will be buying this one to keep. The library is a great tool for renting books first to test them out and then only purchasing what was most useful.

Tortilla Quinoa Salad with Cilantro Lime Dressing {Gluten Free}

6 corn tortillas
3c Romaine Lettuce
2c Cooked Quinoa
1 1/2c Black Beans {about 1 can}
1c Cherry Tomatoes, quartered
1 medium red onion {I used white because I had it on hand}
1 Avocado, pitted, peeled, and diced





Cilantro Lime Dressing

1/4 c fresh lime juice
2tbsp maple syrup {or agave nectar}
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
2 cloves garlic {or 2 tbsp minced garlic}
1/2c cilantro leaves, chopped
1/2c Olive Oil
1tsp REAL salt



Directions:

Bake corn tortillas for about 5-10 minutes in oven to make them a bit crisp, take out set aside

In a large bowl combine lettuce, quinoa, black beans, tomatoes, red onion{or white}, and avocado

Next make dressing by combining all of the ingredients, in her book it says to blend, but I think it would be good either way, blended or just mixed up, so you choose :)

Lastly add your dressing to your salad and add tortilla, you can crumble it up or leave it whole and scoop out salad on it.

Here is a link to the author of this recipes website her website:
http://www.cookingquinoa.net/

I really enjoyed reading her story about her journey with her own health. It really encouraged me. The slogan on her book says "Eat Great, Lose weight, and feel healthy", and I feel that way with her recipes.

~Honest Motherhood~

My Family Favorite Guacamole Recipe {Thanks to my mom}

My mom has been making guacamole for me since I can remember, it has always been a favorite past-time treat! I love avocado's so much sometimes I just eat them with a little salt. This recipe has come from my mother who always makes the best guacamole! Now if you don't like any of the ingredients just leave it out, and add what you like. My sister in law said she puts garlic in her guacamole, I do not, but maybe some of you would like it that way.

Make your own and tweak it to your liking, Avocado's have the good fat your body craves for! An avocado a day may keep the doctor away ;)

Family Favorite Guacamole Recipe

2-3 avocados
1 tbsp lemon juice {Use fresh lemons, lemon juice in a bottle usually has yucky preservatives}
half of an onion, diced small
1/2 c tomatoes {Use organic if possible, tomatoes are on the dirty dozen list, highly sprayed with pesticides}
cilantro, add to liking, I really like cilantro so I add 1/2 cup, chopped
salt and pepper to taste

Slice the avocados in half, cutting around the seed, pull apart and use spoon to spoon out. Put in dish and smash up a bit but don't over do it, some chunks are good, unless you have texture issues.

Add lemon juice, onion, tomatoes, cilantro, and salt and pepper to taste. Stir up and serve with Organic tortillas.

Enjoy!

{Most of the corn grown in the US is genetically modified, so its safer to go organic as its against organic standards to use GMO's, or find a Non-GMO food label on the bag.}

Guacamole is best eaten the same day but if you have leftovers, SAVE the avocado SEED and leave it in the bowl when you store in the fridge for leftovers. It will help keep some of the flavor and not go bad so fast.