Fiesta Quinoa side dish or snack

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Quinoa is just awesome. And this easy to make, looks like you worked harder than you did dish makes it even better! This can be served cold or at room temperature so it is perfect for summer.You can make this for your next BBQ or to keep in the fridge ready to take out and eat as a snack or side dish.  (** the picture above does not have black beans OR cilantro)

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Cooked Quinoa
• 1.5- 2 cups cherry or grape tomatoes cut in half (you can cut it again to make it smaller if you wish)
• 1 large avocado
• 1 can or 2 cups black beans (you can get canned black beans or make them fresh! Follow bag directions for fresh black beans)
• 3 ears fresh corn
• 1 batch cilantro chopped 

Directions:

• Cook your Quinoa and then set aside to cool off completely
• dice tomatoes 
• chop cilantro
• dice your avocado 
• if you are using fresh beans this may take a whole night to prepare. Follow package directions. You can use cans if this is all you have.
• I think fresh corn is BEST for this dish. So try to avoid the canned stuff. How to make corn? You have options:

1. grill
2. boil
3. bake (simple and comes out really good! Add salt and paper to the corn before you place in the oven)

Let the corn cool off and then CAREFULLY cut the corn off the cob. 

After everything is prepared and cooled off you will get a large flat dish to lay out your quinoa. On the side mix the avocados, black beans, corn, tomatoes and cilantro. To this mixture add 3-4 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil and one whole juicy lemon! Salt and pepper to taste. 

Place dressing and vegetable mixture on top of quinoa. Do not mix. The vegetables are meant to say on top of the quinoa and get mixed in as people serve themselves.

This makes an amazing dish. If you have leftovers it keeps great in the fridge! Enjoy!

100 calorie Lara Bar inspired snack!

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I love Lara Bars, not only because of their sweet goodness, but also because they are made from about 4 ingredients. I thought, if Lara can make these bars... so can I (and so can you!)

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For my "Lauren bars" I used:

4 dates

1/2 C figs

1/4 C walnuts

1/4 C almonds

1 tbsp chia seeds

In a blender (I used a mini food processor by Proctor Silex) throw in all the nuts. Make sure not to turn the nuts into a powder. You want to have some chunks in there to add texture to your bar. Set the nuts aside.

Next: Throw the dried fruit into your blender. Blend until they form a paste like this:

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I used a vegetable cutting board and laid out my dried fruit paste. I took the chia seeds and added it to the top.

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After mixing the chia seeds and paste by hand, I threw in my nuts.

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Mix nuts and paste together. I always loved playing with my food. You can make a mohawk if you would like.

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Divide mixture into 8 snack balls. Throw the balls in a plastic bag and store in your fridge.

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Each ball will contain a little over 100 calories  (~108) and provide you with a sweet  and nutritious filled snack that will give you your afternoon boost, or that pre workout lift. You can get creative with the mixtures and add different dried fruit for the paste, or nuts for the filler. Let me know if you try it, and how it comes out! Did you add something different?

Berry Smoothie and Green Smoothie Recipe & Video

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Check out those stainless steel straws!

Berry Smoothie (serves 2)

Ingredients

• 2 Frozen Bananas (makes the smoothie cold, so no need for ice!)
• 1 C milk (can be almond, soy, anything!)
• Frozen or fresh mixed berries
• 1 tsp chia seeds

Feel free to get creative and add protein powder, flax seeds, or anything that makes you smile!

lauren green smoothie

Green Smoothie (serves 2)

Ingredients

• 2 frozen bananas
• 1 C any kind of milk (soy, almond, cow!)
• 2 tbsp nut butter
• 1 tsp chia seeds
• 3-6 stems of kale

Follow along with us here! [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aEM6kU0rvI?hd=1&w=560&h=349]

what I'm eating now...

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I currently have an obssesion with beats! Fresh are the best, but "ready to eat" steamed and pealed beats are pretty darn good too. Find them at Trader Joes. No dressing needed; they have so much flavor on their own. I cut up Persian cucumbers (my favorite) , added goat cheese and beats.

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Final product!