Quinoa Salad

It's Sunday night. I just got home from my first swing dance lesson. It was a lot of fun. We learned the basic quick-quick-slow--slow steps. We switched partners throughout the class. It's amazing how much difference it makes when you're dancing with an experiened lead! I felt so cool with the instructors and totally lost with other students. I'm hoping to work up to the weekly group dances. Not yet, though. I need a little (a lot) more practice!

Since I was mostly taking small steps around, it wasn't too taxing. I realized that if I didn't make dinner, I wouldn't have leftovers for the week at work. I've already got dinner plans Monday and Tuesday with some girlfriends, so I want something filling but healthy and low calorie for lunch.

Quinoa is a great grain, especially for vegetarians, because it has protein. Enter something green and some spices and it's a meal.

Quinoa Salad

1 cup quinoa

sundried tomato strips

1 Tablespoon sunflower seeds

2 Tablespoons raisins

1 can 28 oz green beans

Caesar dressing (~1/2-1 Tablespoon)

salt and pepper to taste

Put dry quinoa, sundried tomatos, seeds, and raisins in a pan with 2 cups of water. Add salt. Bring to a boil and let cook about 20 minutes, or until the quinoa is done.

Add pepper and green beans. Stir. Add dressing and stir well.

Can be served hot or cold.