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They’re fresh, light, and the perfect thing to pack alongside a bottle of white wine for your next picnic. Or a “not-sad” desk lunch. As well as a solution for dinnertime that falls between watching one child’s soccer game and the others tee ball practice.
Cucumber ribbons and whole basil leaves.
Earthy pearls of fluffy quinoa.
Sweet, dried Montmorency tart cherries.
Creamy goat cheese.
Admittedly, an unexpected toss up of ingredients that over delivered. Melded together with a simple lemon vinaigrette, it’s the kind of thing we eat on the regular in summer. Anything that saves me from turning on the oven is a win! Better yet, the jars lasts for several days in the refrigerator. If you’re serving a crowd, you can leave it as one big bowl salad too.
I finally learned the secret to making quinoa for salads, so that the individual grains are separate instead of sticking together and being quite mushy. It’s all in the ratio, and not listening to the back of the package! Which always tells you 2 cups water to 1 cup quinoa.
Don’t do it. Instead, 1 1/4 cup water to 1 cup quinoa makes fluffy, light grains that are exactly what you want for a salad.
Six Little Things About Me:
Maybe it’s your first reading this blog, or maybe you’ve been with me for the last six years. Yes, this little blog turned SIX at the beginning of July, a venture I had no idea would turn into the thing that provides my living, but more so, fills me with passion and happiness every single day.
I love this space beyond the food and recipes because it has become my journal. Sharing the ebbs and flows of life, glimpses of the world we live in, and photos that will jog my memory and emotions as I grow older.
As I was looking through the archives recently, I realized I’ve shared some very big thoughts and happenings with you, like my decision to be childless, anxiety, health struggles, friendships, being the adult child of divorce, and career change. Yet some of the average every day things, which make us who we are, well, I’ve left those out. The quirky characteristics are what set us apart, and paint our picture, going beyond surface level. So! I’m sharing six of them with you today, in celebration of six years of Heartbeet Kitchen. Here goes….
xo,
Amanda
tag @heartbeetkitchen on instagram and hashtag it #heartbeetkitchen
Claudia | The Brick Kitchen
August 16, 2017
Happy 6th blog birthday!!! Your blog is such a stunner and I love reading your posts – just finished your post about the decision not to have children and I so appreciate how freely you share your perspective and thoughts. AND this salad looks like the perfect not -sad university lunch too – love the goats cheese addition, and it seems like the kind of salad you could add all manner of left-over fridge vegetables to <3
Sara @ Cake Over Steak
August 15, 2017
Aaaahhh happy blogiversary!! I’m so glad we’ve been able to get to know each other through our online spaces. Also – totally trying your quinoa trick soon. I HATE cooking quinoa these days because it always turns out too mushy for my tastes. Thanks for being you!! xoxo
amandapaa
August 16, 2017
Thank you Sara! I’m so glad it’s the reason we connected too. And no more mushy quinoa! xo
Kelly
August 14, 2017
Oh no, not country music ( don’t think we can be friends) — I’m teasing!
The combination of ingredients in this salad is wonderful – fresh, aromatic and so beautiful too! I can really taste this one (and I have to agree, a crisp chardonnay would make a lovely weekend accompaniment :)
amandapaa
August 15, 2017
hah! i know, i know. country girl at heart. :) and yes to a crisp chardonnay paired with this! now when can we picnic together? xo
Ruby
August 13, 2017
Happy 6th blogaversary! It was so lovely catching up with you this summer- and fun to find out even more little facts about you here :) Your car is my absolute dream vehicle. Also this salad looks gorgeous! Once I buy a new basil plant I am going to try to recreate it over here in Morocco xoxo
amandapaa
August 15, 2017
Thank you Ruby! It was so great to see you when you were in Minnesota. Now it’s my turn to come and visit you. :) xo
Alison
August 10, 2017
Love the flavor combos in this bowl! And I want to take a ride in your car, KTHX. Xoxo
amandapaa
August 11, 2017
we could cruise with the top down! ;)
Liz S.
August 10, 2017
Yay, happy blog anniversary!
amandapaa
August 11, 2017
thank you Liz!