Just in time for Memorial Day! Grandma's Cucs and Onions

Having a hard time thinking about what to make for your Memorial Day Party?  On a budget?  Try this fantastic and super easy salad.  It's goes great with Corn on the Cob, BBQ, Burgers, just about anything.  It adds the perfect zing to your plate and you can build this creation for about $5!

This is my great grandma's recipe so you can thank her...

Cucs and Onions

1 regular English Cucumber - washed and thinly sliced
1 red onion - thinly sliced
4 tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar
1/3 C. oil of choice

2 tsp fresh dill (or 1/2 tsp dried)
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp sugar
Few cracks of fresh pepper

Combine cucumber and onions in bowl.  Chop dill and top with a few cracks of pepper.  Mix together vinegar, oil, salt and sugar.

Drizzle over bowl.  

Toss to combine.  

Let sit at room temperature for at least 2 hours before serving, tossing occasionally.  Chill leftovers.  They'll keep for about 5 days in the fridge.  The red onion can sometimes bleed into the dressing turning everything a pinky hue so if you're going to be making this ahead of time, I'd recommend no more than 24 hours in advance.

Variations: Toss in some fresh tomatoes before serving along with some crumbled feta for a delicious greek salad.

Super Cute Lunch Ideas

Ok...so this one isn't exactly related to a recipe per say but it does have to do with some super cute lunch box ideas.  Want to create beautiful lunches for your kids to open?  Making them feel uber special while enhancing the chances that they'll actually eat that asparagus?  Like this...

or this...

Can you see how cute these things are?  Another amazing site is Bentoriffic.com.  She has put together some adorable lunch box ideas and gives you tutorials.  She also has adorable themes to help your kids learn colors and the alphabet!  I can't wait to start packing lunches.

Does it get any cuter?  

And what's the moral of this?  Well it's to promote the site All Things for Sale and their giveaway.  Here's the link...you have 1 day to enter to win their beginner kit so don't delay!  Click here for the giveaway info.

Happy lunchbox making everyone!  

Psst...May is Celiac Awareness Month so I'm going to work hard to bring some new gluten-free recipes to the table.  Stay tuned!!!

Cranberry Quiona Cookies

So we all have the mornings when there's not even time for a bowl of cereal so you walk out the door and hope that the cup of coffee will keep you tided over till lunch.  By the time you hit traffic, you think to yourself that the morning decision of skipping breakfast might have been a mistake.  Well these little nuggets might be just what you were looking for.  They are super simple, especially if you have some leftover quinoa from last night's dinner.

I've mentioned it a couple times on my facebook page that I have ventured in the realm of quinoa cookies.  I first saw my inspiration at Once A Month Mom's page for their veggie menu selections.  They has a chocolate quinoa muffin and I was blown away.  Could it be?  A quinoa muffin that was delicious enough for breakfast and yet easy, quick and an on-the-go snack?  This is one that almost anyone can enjoy - it's a nut free, dairy free and gluten free bite sized nugget of goodness.  After three attempts, I think I might have the recipe to share with you guys.  Finally.  This is yet again one of those adaptable recipes and would be great made a little bigger and frozen for those mornings when there just isn't enough time in the day.  Also, let me preface that this is not my best photography in the world.  : )

Cranberry Quinoa Breakfast Cookies
2 c. gluten-free oats (quick-cooking rolled)
1 1/2 c. cooked quinoa
1/2 c. shredded coconut
1/2 c. cranberries
2 ripe bananas - mashed
1/4 c. unsweetened applesauce
1/4 c. maple syrup/agave/honey
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ginger
1/4 tsp salt

Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl except cranberries and quinoa. 

Mash up the bananas and mix all the other wet ingredients together in a smaller bowl.  Combine bowls and mix well.  Add in quinoa and mix again.  Toss in the cranberries and mix one last time.

This is where you can choose to do a couple things.  Roll into balls and place on parchment lined baking sheet making sure to smoosh just a little bit.  Or you could spray a tablespoon with cooking spray and scoop it batter, tap onto parchment paper and repeat.

Or you could press the mixture in a parchment lined glass baking dish.  The choice is up to you!  However, I would advise that you do individual cookies rather than bars to get the texture that I enjoy.  Slightly crisp on the outside and chewy on the inside.




Bake for about 20 minutes at 350.  The tops should just be starting to brown.  If you've chosen the bar method than the edges should be pretty golden.  If you went with the cookie, the bottoms should look like this:

Store out in the open in the fridge or in an airtight container.  That is of course if they last that long.  Enjoy!