Friday 24 April 2015

Lemon, Tomato, Feta Quinoa Salad

After Easter with all that chocolate, and after 6 weeks working in a pastry section, i thought should take a break from sugar and eat healthily for a few weeks. I did also promise a new salad recipe, and I'm pretty sure i won't be easing up on the salad front, any time soon: Sorry. Not Sorry. This is, by far my favourite quinoa salad I've made (I've already made it three times, and I'm making it again this weekend!), its fresh and zingy, and filling without being heavy. 
Quinoa has become a popular and trendy food item now, particularly with bloggers, as i have seen a big increase in the amount of recipes that use it, in whatever shape or form. I on the other hand, didn't get off with the best starts with it: My mum gave it to us when we were little, back when it was much cheaper, and we disliked it so much, that i had to buy the first packet myself just in case i didn't like it again; but hence this salad, i liked it.
As always feel free to switch up the ingredients if you don't like something, but personally i would just keep it, as it is. Serve on its own, or if you wanted to make a more substantial meal serve with grilled salmon, asparagus or green beans.






Ingredients

175g quinoa
1/2 tsp mustard
salt & pepper
1tsp red/white wine vinegar
2 tbsp olive oil
1 lemon
1/2 pack feta cheese
handful cherry tomatoes
handful mixed salad leaves eg. rocket, watercress, spinach
1/4 red onion


1. cook the quinoa 
2. Meanwhile make the vinaigrette; zest the lemon, juice of half the lemon,add       the mustard, vinegar, oil, and season to taste.
3. Finely chop the red onion and soften in the vinaigrette 
4. When the quinoa is cooked, drain, and leave to cool
5. Cut to tomatoes in half and add to the onions and vinaigrette.
6. Mix in the feta and salad leaves
7. Add in the quiona when cool
8. Mix together and serve


Sunday 12 April 2015

March Favourites 2015

I thought i would switch up the content on my blog a bit. Starting with endless posts starting with" where has that month gone"; Except maybe not this one, it went pretty fast i suppose; but i was doing work experience this month, which meant waking up at 4:10, (that's no typo unfortunately) so the days did tend to drag a bit.
1. Clinique moisturiser : An oldie, but a goodie. The original was my first ever moisturiser, and i loved it, but i thought it was a bit expensive, as i was so young. I then tried the new formula when it came out, and loved it even more, but put off buying another bottle for quite a while, but I'm so glad i bought it again, as it makes a visible difference to my skin.

2. Spring Flowers: Don't look so pretty. I love spending time in the garden admiring them, just because they are so pretty. Spring is definitely my favourite season because of the flowers, not mentioning the sun these past few days.
3. E45 hand cream: My life saver. Without this, I'm pretty sure my hands would have bled. The detergent for cleaning at work experience, ruined my hands. This eased my pain, and repaired my hands each night, before they started stinging again.
4: Chocolate Easter eggs: I just to add these in; One, Lindt is my favourite chocolate, and two, i love how pretty they are with metallic foil, and Easter is all about chocolate. Right?

5. Pretty honest, Sali Hughes:My favourite thing. I finally caved and bought it, I'm so glad i did. Its a bible for beauty, anything i don't know about i look it up in here, and will most definitely find what I'm looking for. Even if your obsessed with makeup, and think you know most things about makeup, don't say you do until you've read this book. Plus, its a great coffee table book.

 What things have you been loving this month? Let me know.