Receta Quinoa and Sun-Dried Tomato Salad...
I wasn't going to pull out the 4th of July decorations...but I just couldn't help myself - they looked so forlorn sitting on the shelf in the garage! So the manse is star-spangled with red, white and blue and we're not having a party...but we'll still have great food...it's a tradition!
This is about 3/4's of our 4th of July menu...they're our favorite dishes and they go well with sun (if you live East of the Cascades) or rain (if you live in Seattle!) If you're going to a 4th of July bash and need a good dish to take along, you might want to consider one of these tried-and-true crowd pleasers:
Aunt Tillie's Baked Beans
Cheesecake Cupcakes
Black Bean and Corn Salad
Roman Farro Salad
Sweet Onion Dip
Salted Chocolate Covered Graham Crackers
This year, we're adding a new salad to the mix...Quinoa and Sun-Dried Tomato - it's not only colorful but it's dang delicious...and it has the added benefit of being GOOD for us! If you don't like Quinoa or have any on hand, you can substitute a small-shaped pasta; Quinoa can be found in most super-markets and at Whole Foods and Trader Joe's.
- Quinoa and Sun-Dried Tomato Salad - Pots and Pins
- 2 cups Quinoa, cooked, drained, rinsed and cooled or small-shaped pasta
- 16 kalamata olives, pitted, sliced in half
- 16 ripe cherry tomatoes, cut in half
- 8 fresh large basil leaves, chopped
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese, freshly shredded
- 1/2 cup red onion, chopped
- 1/2 cup capers, rinsed and drained
- 1 large cucumber, peeled, chopped
- salt and pepper to taste
- Dressing:
- 1 jar (8.5 oz.) sun-dried tomatoes
- 3 cloves garlic
- 3 tablespoons red-wine vinegar
- 1/2 cup olive oil
In large serving bowl combine cooked quinoa (or small-shaped pasta) with all of the salad ingredients. Season to taste with salt and pepper. In a blender or a food processor, combine sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, red-wine vinegar and process until smooth. Slowly pour in olive oil with processor or blender on low speed. Process until smooth. Pour dressing over salad and toss gently until mixed. Serves 10.
"Seize the moment. Remember all those women on the Titanic who waved off the dessert cart." ~ Erma Bombeck