Quinoa and Black Bean Salad to go in just 8 minutes...YES I TIMED MYSELF!

Yes, I bake my own beans, make my own hummus and salsas etc., but here's a few things I do to ensure healthy foods fill our belly's even on the most chaotic and busy days...

Store bought Pico De Gallo is a healthy, quick, easy, and excellent way to spice up any dish.

A few items that will take you a long ways in less than 10 minutes!

One way to do a Quinoa Black Bean Salad in less than 10 minutes

Grow it or buy it,,,just GET IT!

GARDEN FRESH SALAD: TIP, if your lettuce is looking a little limp just put it in a bowl of water for a few minutes....

and watch it "rise to the occasion" right before your eyes. This pic is blurry because the leaf is literally rising!!

Quinoa Black Bean Salad

Kid can't wait to dig in...

My son chooses to make a burrito with a flour tortilla, Asian Chili Garlic Sauce, Avocado and Sour Cream,,,wraps it up and he's out the door!

               For those of you who spend most of your day away from your kitchen.. LISTEN UP! In just minutes pack a hearty, yummy lunch before you catch that Train!!! It'll be worth it at the end of the month when that bank balance is higher and the number on your scale is LOWER! Or if you're like me, with just minutes to prepare, feed myself and a family of 6 a healthy yummy lunch. This is a great hearty salad that packs well when taken on the go, keeping its texture fresh.

Yes, I timed myself. Done in 8 minutes, everything from beginning to end including gathering all my ingredients/utensils together, the rinsing of the canned beans, me running out to the garden for a lemon and reprimanding a 3 year old before the time was up. So no excesses..this doesn't take long at all~!

TIP: Pull out everything you will be using before preparing any meal, makes things go smoother and fast.
Ingredients:
2 cups cooked Quinoa
2 cans of Black Beans, 1/2 c.Pico de Gallo, 1Tomato slightly chopped, 1/2 to 1 tbs.Garlic,  a few plucks of Cilantro, 1/2 tbs.Grape Seed Oil, 1/2 of Lemon or about 1/2 to 1 tbs. Lemon Juice, Spices (salt/pepper to taste)1/2 avocado
Salad: Lettuce (prepacked or from the garden, here I did both), Sprouts, Prepacked chopped Carrots.

Take already made Quinoa (refer to previous post for recipe), in a larger bowl,
Add  Black Beans (canned beans I always rinse over a strainer just to get that extra salt off)
Pico De Gallo
Chopped Tomato
Garlic
Cilantro
Lemon
Grape Seed Oil
Spices
Stir and season to taste, more garlic for ya? a dash more pepper?
        Toss Salad in your to go container or bowl. I get prepackaged and chopped veggies, like carrots, and sprouts, some times instead of whole tomatoes, I'll buy cherry tomatoes if I am going to be busy because they're so easy to throw in and complete a meal. Just think of what you like and there's always a quick option. FYI: Traders even has Chopped Onions in the refrigerated veggies section. I've used them and they're very fresh!
        Add Avocado last, or on top of salad to insure freshness of Black Bean Quinoa Salad. If you think you'll still need a dressing, add a lemon wedge or a spoon of hummus in the center and mix when ready to eat.
Your out the door with a lunch that you can't wait to dig into! Get ready for all those "looky loos" and their questions, cause YOU GOT WHAT EVERYONE ELSE WANTS and for a great price too. No way to go wrong with this one!
Store extra Black Bean Quinoa Salad in refrigerator for an awesome dinner tonight....Stay Tuned cause I am about to show you what else to do with all that GREAT QUINOA!!