Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Quinoa Pizza Salad

Well, the saga continues. After spending an hour and a half at the Apple store today, I’m still sitting here:

Since my laptop picked up the store’s signal, it seems that there’s a problem with our wifi, not the computer. Annoying, but at least I won’t have to shell out for new parts!

While waiting for a technician at the Apple store, I snacked on a pecan pie Larabar:




On the way home, I stopped at Trader Joe’s to restock our produce. With heirloom tomatoes this gorgeous, how could I not incorporate them into my next meal?




I wasn’t sure what to make for dinner, but after spying a jar of marinara sauce and several containers of hummus in the fridge, the wheels began turning. I threw a bunch of things together and hoped for the best…the result? Pizza quinoa salad:




To make the “pizza quinoa” sauce, I combined:


  • 1/2 cup dry quinoa
  • cooked marinara sauce
  • 3 T nutritional yeast
  • 3 T Athenos original hummus
  • 3 T water
  • handful of heirloom tomatoes

Served over a bed of baby spinach and sliced cucumbers, this was packed with protein and absolutely delicious. Definitely one to remember!

Dessert was a pound of fresh strawberries and the other half of my New Leaf flax seed dark chocolate.



* * *
This summer I’ve been rereading my favorite books, the Jessica Darling series by Megan McCafferty. Though their covers look juvenile, they’re actually adult books, and are some of the wittiest novels I’ve ever read. This is probably my fifth time reading them, and they’re still hysterical! I highly recommend them if you’re looking for a fun but intelligent read.


I’m off to do some errands with the mama. Have a great night loves!

Are there any books you read over and over? I also love the Harry Potter series, Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld, and anything by John Steinbeck.

What’s your favorite quinoa dish?

32 comments:

Jessica @ How Sweet said...

American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld... love love LOVE that book!

*Naomi* said...

Yum! That quinoa looks pizzalicious :)

givinganythingbutup said...

yum looks SO good! I need to start reading for fun, but alas grad school is a pain in my ass and will not allow me to do so forr oh I dunno, another year. lame.

Happy Wednesday!

xo-Molly
www.givinganythingbutup.wordpress.com

Maya said...

That quinoa is protein packed! I love nutritional yeast, tomato sauce, and hummus, it's like a glorified humnut sauce!

I'll have to check that series out, I've never heard of it. I don't really like to read books over again but my all time favorites are probably the Great Gatsby and the Phantom Tollbooth. I could definitely read those anytime.

Tracey @ I'm Not Superhuman said...

Wow, I can't believe your Trader Joe's had those tomatoes. Mine has kind of crappy produce. I usually stick with everything else there and get my produce at Whole Foods. But those look great.

Chelsea said...

I've reread the Harry Potter series so many times too! I always get so sucked into those books! Other than that I don't tend to reread books because there are so many new ones that I want to read.

Katie ♥ said...

Beautiful girl!!!

Ahhhhhhhhhhh computer problems stink, but I see you solved it and its your wifi, hope you get that fixed! We have had problems with are wifi before too, it was agitating!

LOVE this recipe! Looks so delish and fresh produce is the best!!

Have a great night girl! xoxo Love u!

Michelle @ Give Me the Almond Butter said...

I have read the Harry Potter series over and over again. Sometimes its fun to reread the teeny-bopper books like The Sisterhood of the Traveling pants or the Au Pair series.

Andrea @ Celery In The City said...

I need to get on the quinoa. I've been meaning to, and now that I've been informed I -have- to eat more protein it seems like an easy way to get into it.

So your quinoa wasn't cooked at all? Sounds easy! :)

Kailey (SnackFace) said...

OH MY GOSH!!! I've been reading and re-reading Megan McCafferty's novels, too! I'm ashamed to admit, though, that I didn't know about the fourth one! I'm so stoked now. I also read Eat, Pray, Love all the time. It's probably been five-ish times now. I just flip it open when I feel as though I need it. I also love Ruth Reichl's memoirs!

I love quinoa just plain-cooked with some hot sauce! It's so good.

Lovebug, I meant to comment on your Tipping Point post, but I have been travelling. Anyway, you are so incredibly gorgeous for coming to this realization. I've been there, too, and it came down to: What do I want to be remembered for? My appearance had nothing to do with my answer!

Anyway, miss you can't wait to see you again soon! xoxoxo

Katie said...

Aww, sorry about the computer woes. That's never fun!

I'm so glad you recommend these books - I've seen them before, but never picked one up. I'm going to have to. I've read the Harry Potter series twice (yes, I'm 10 years old) and Lonesome Dove as well.

I love quinoa for breakfast with toppings like oatmeal. But your pizza quinoa salad is lookin' good!

cleaneatingchelsey said...

I usually don't re-read books, but I think I should start. There are many books where I thought, "huh?" at the end and wanted to go back to find out more and analyze it. I could never go wrong with a classic though. Something like Grapes of Wrath, How to Kill a Mockingbird, Where the Red Fern Grows - all FABULOUS reads.

Kaitlyn (PeaceLoveFit) said...

I've been reading Eat Pray Love but am heading to the beach soon, so I think I'm going to get that book :) Thanks for the suggestion!

-Kaitlyn

40apples said...

What a fantastic idea with the quinoa-hummus-tomato sauce! That's all stuff I always seem to have hanging around, yet I've never thought to mix. I can just imagine the pizza-esque taste. Must try it!

Most of the books I've re-read are YA novels that I've just loved forever and ever. Like the Golden Compass series. They're like good friends :)

hersweetcheeks said...

I had quinoa for dinner, too! Confetti casserole from Eat Drink and Be Vegan. SO GOOD! yours looks pretty darn tasty too though, yum!

thanks for the book rec..that looks right up my alley!

lisa said...

ahh I need to get an airport card.. no idea where to get one. or how much. its a monthly fee, right?
i have same problem tho- we have a modem so I have to use my macbook only in certain areas. not exactly conveinent!! haha

Jessica @ The Process of Healing said...

I'll have to check out those books!!! I loooove Mary Kay Anderson. I could read her books over and over and over. And the HP series? Absolutely.

runwritetherapylife said...

Hope the computer/wifi woes are over soon. Technology makes me crazy sometimes. Sigh...I am sending happy technology vibes your way!

I love love love quinoa. I can see it being really good with marinara sauce for a pizza/pasta-like effect. Did you cook the quinoa or eat it raw?

And I love your big piece of dark chocolate here. I want some. :)

Shannon, Tropical Eats said...

im a total harry potter nerd. but anything by John Grisham is also amazingggg. :)

you whipped up a yummy lookin meal there girly!

Averie (LoveVeggiesAndYoga) said...

girl sooo sorry bout the puter. Computer probs SUCK and they are the biggest time/money sucks and they make you wanna pull your hair out!

the quinoa dish looks great...just to clarify, you used raw, not cooked, quinoa, just threw it in there. I didnt know that was possible?! Sorta like eating uncooked rice i would think then again, quinoa is alot softer than rice but still....you are adventurous, i will say that!!

Books i read over and over? I hardly have time to read once, let alone repeat things. I read new stuff, not re-read LOL

Gracie said...

Wait...that quinoa is dry? As in uncooked? If so, that's pretty amazing since one of the main reasons I shy away from quinoa so often is because I don't feel like cooking it :P Regardless, YOU are one creative lady!!

From Here to There. In Purple. said...

technology stores are so frustrating. and such a pain in the butt. hope its all worked otu <3

hbobier said...

I love anything by Candace Bushnell. One Fifth is brilliant!

And I love how you combined hummus with marinara sauce--I never would have thought of that!

Megan D said...

I love Megan McCafferty! I can definitely read Jodi Picoult books multiple times. And computer problems are sooo frustrating so I feel your pain! I'm loving your pizza salad though :)

Missy said...

Your quinoa pizza looks awesome! So creative! I haven't made it myself it because I am nervous (bad excuse) but I do love it from Whole Foods...the one with the kale mixed in!

Julie said...

gaaaaah quinoa PIZZA SALAD!? why are you the most ridiculous genius in the world! that sounds SO friggn good and i seriously can't wait to make it!

i've had quinoa as both a dinner and a breakfast and i gotta say i'm liking it more and more with cinnamon & almond milk as a breakfast! with some greek yogurt :)

theresa @ActiveEggplant said...

MMmm...that salad looks GREAT! I think I definitely need to get onto the quinoa bandwagon!

The only book I remember reading over and over and over was "Thirteen and Loving It" when I was about 12 or 13 years old. I think I read that thing 100 times! (Although I guess I have read the whole Harry Potter series twice...)

Danielle (Runs on Green) said...

I love pizza salads! For me, a good pizza is all about the flavors of the tomato sauce/oregano/cheeze rather than having a crust. Do you have Veganomicon? You should try the pineapple cashew quinoa stir-fry!

And I've never actually tried a heirloom tomato...do they taste any different?

Gena said...

You had me at quinoa and hummus.

lisasfoods said...

I like to mix quinoa with some beans, cheese, and salsa for an easy meal. I also like it added to salads.

Kait said...

Oh, I've ready Harry Potter many, many times...another book I've re-read multiple times is the lovely bones. I still haven't seen the movie though. I hope the wifi situation gets solved, we had a problem at my apartment for a while 2 years ago and it was such a pain!

Jaclyn said...

I've had quinoa and really liked it (at HLS too!) but never cooked it myself, I need to get on that!

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