Quinoa Pasta with veggies

Ingredients:


6 slices bacon chopped
6 oz quinoa pasta*
6 oz sliced mushrooms
1 small onion sliced
1 bell pepper sliced
1 cup zucchini chopped
2 cups spinach
2 cups marinara sauce
2 cups water
1/3 cup fresh parsley and cilantro chopped
1 TB dried basil or 1/4 cup fresh
olive oil (if needed)
salt and pepper to taste
parmesan cheese


Cook bacon in a big skillet until cooked through but not too browned. Add onions, mushrooms, peppers, and zucchini and cook until they are tender, stirring occasionally.
Then add quinoa pasta, marinara sauce, water, dried basil, salt and pepper, cover the skillet and cook until pasta is done.
Add spinach and fresh herbs, stir well and serve with parmesan cheese.


*Araksya's tip: You can use regular pasta instead of quinoa pasta. You can also add 1/2 cup regular quinoa with pasta
like I did to give it more texture.

Quinoa, Kale and chicken dish

I ordered a salad in Florida that was so good. When we got home from our trip I tried to replicate the dish. After a few tries, this one is the best! I think we love this even more than the original dish in the restaurant.


2 cups raw kale, chopped
2 cups cooked quinoa
1 cup rotisserie chicken, shredded
1 cup shredded carrots
1 big tomato, chopped
1 can fire-roasted red peppers, sliced
1/3 cup pesto*
salt and pepper to taste




Combine all of the ingredients in a big serving platter. It can be served warm as soon as the quinoa is cooked and everything mixed together or just at room temperature. It will taste really good to squeeze some fresh lemons on top.

Serves 6-8


*Araksya's tip: I make my own pesto by blending fresh basil, garlic, Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper with olive oil in a blender. I also make pesto using dill, Italian parsley, and cilantro instead of basil.