Ginger Carrot Soup & Quinoa Salad

Quinoa has the most protein of any grain, and it's a great source of vitamins & minerals - ideal for vegetarian or vegan diets. It is fairly simple to cook, like rice. Cooked quinoa looks a bit like couscous but is more substantial and slightly crunchy.

SALAD:
1 cup quinoa
sea salt
organic peppercorn medley
2 tablespoons of omega 3 flax oil
curry
cumin
1/2 of a lemon
3 small carrots
half of bell pepper (any kind)
1/2 cup of chopped walnuts
1/2 of white onion
2 tablespoons of nutritional yeast
4 garlic cloves
1 ripe tomato
2 inch piece of ginger

SOUP:
Pacifica Ginger & Carrot Soup
2 chopped chives (optional)
Organic Garlic Multigrain Spelt Cracker (optional)

QUINOA INSTRUCTIONS

• You'll need a 2 quart pot with a tight fitting lid, and a fine mesh strainer.
• Double the recipe if you want to have leftover quinoa for another meal or two.
• Optional: Soak the quinoa for 5 min in the cooking pot. Soaking helps quinoa to cook evenly, and loosens up any residue of saponin (usually removed in processing), which can give a bitter taste.
• Most quinoa sold in the US these days has been cleaned, and steamed to remove the saponin, so I wouldn't worry about that much.
• Drain quinoa well in the strainer, transfer to the cooking pot, add 1 1/2 cups water & 1/2 tsp salt if desired.
• Bring to a boil, cover with a tight fitting lid, and turn the heat down to simmer.
• Cook for 15 minutes.
• Remove quinoa from heat and allow to sit five minutes with the lid on
• Fluff quinoa gently with a fork.
  
• Quinoa should have a translucent color to it when it's done.

Once quinoa is cooked, place in a bowl and refrigerate until it's chilled. In the meantime, use a chopper, or chop all vegetables, ginger and garlic by hand.

After quinoa is chilled, add yeast, peppercorn, salt, flax oil, and stir with wooden spoon. Add vegetables, herbs, and walnuts. Refrigerate salad before served.

The Ginger and Carrot Soup comes in a box from Pacifica that you should be able to find at your local grocery store. It is normally in the Natures Market section. Keep soup on low heat, and stir occasionally.

ENJOY!!