I had a blast in the kitchen this afternoon with a pair of recipes: one semi-homemade and one made from scratch!
The semi-homemade turned into a wonderful afternoon snack. I’m previewing the KERF Blend of cookie mix for an upcoming OpenSky sale and had to make sure the combination I chose was good.
Man was it!
My mix was oatmeal cookies [duh] made with walnuts, coconut and chocolate chips. KERF favorite superfoods.
To the mix I added butter, egg and milk and into the oven they went. I don’t bake often (because I don’t need to with a bakery at my fingertips!) but this was so much fun : )
If I ever tell you that I think vegetables are as good as desserts — I am lying. Nothing compares to a warm chocolate chip cookie.
I promptly consumed 2.5 of them.
And then I made quinoa for dinner!!
Back in the day of working full time for a boss man and packing a lunch everyday when in school, I used to make chilled salads all the time. They are so easy to make in bulk and pack for lunches, picnics or make-ahead dinners.
Some favorites…
Lemon Caper Chickpea Salad [not a grain, but served with one]
Radicchio and Wheatberry Salad
And now to add to the list:
Rainbow Quinoa Salad
Ingredients
- 1 cup dry quinoa
- Generous pinch salt
- 2 cups water
- 1 giant stalk rainbow chard
- 1 to mato
- 1/2 bell pepper
- 1/2 log goat cheese ~2 ounces
- For the dressing
- Juice of quarter of a lemon
- 1 heaping tsp dijon mustard
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1/4 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp soy sauce
- 1/4 tsp dried dill
- Pinch red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Cook quinoa in 2 cups of water with pinch salt (Bring to a boil, reduce to simmer for 20 minutes)
- In last 2 minutes, add chopped chard leaf to steam.
- Chop tomato and pepper.
- Combine all in bowl.
- Mix dressing in a jar and pour over salad.
- Add goat cheese.
- Stir to combine.
- Serve!
This salad combines red quinoa with chard, pepper and tomato. On top a lemony soy mustard dressing adds tons of flavor
But the best part is definitely the goat cheese!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Clumps throughout made this wonderful!
My assistants: sparkling water and POM and Pandora Film Scores.
Dinner, served.
Loved this – and have an extra portion for lunch!
Notice that extra cookie? That was for Matt, who combined it with a bowl of Breyers “cereal surprise”-style. Remember the days when he would mash cereal, frozen cool whip and peanut butter into a mug of heaven!?
kelsey says
Those cookies look too good! Love that the mix comes in mason jars 🙂
The Healthy Hipster says
Those mason jar cookies look fantastic! Can’t wait to check out your special blend 😉
Kinley @ Better Off Barefoot says
Cookies are and will forever be my biggest sweet weakness. Especially right from the oven…. oh man!
Anjali @ The Picky Eater says
Oatmeal chocolate chip cookies are my absolute fav! And that rainbow quinoa salad looks delicious. I was looking for something light to make for dinner tonight and this totally fits the bill! 🙂
Katie @ Peace Love & Oats says
those cookies sound good, but that dinner looks phenomenal! So fresh and pretty!
kathleen @ the daily crumb says
oh how i love quinoa… and goat cheese… and cookies… and your pink phone cover!
[email protected] says
Gosh that dressing looks like it totally transforms the salad—like it’s straight out of the WFs salad bar.
Aria says
Got to stop by the Great Harvest in Wayne, PA today and I thought of you!! The cranberry orange bread is amazing by the way – I made sure to pick up a loaf 🙂
Annette @ EnjoyYourHealthyLife says
OH I love hot choc chip cookies straight out of the oven!! SO freakin’ good
Kristen @ Change of Pace says
Cookies are my favorite dessert. And I think anyone would be lying if they said they liked veggies more than cookies!
kristen @ verbs and vignettes says
i approve that chocolate chips made its way onto your list of superfoods. 😉
i do not remember those “mug of heaven” days with matt (although that sounds DELICIOUS), but i stole a chocolate chip cookie last night to top my cup of mint chocolate ice cream. that was also divine.
Maria @ Sinfully Nutritious says
Oatmeal cookies are heaven, and add coconut, pure heaven! I love quinoa salads and wheat berry salads too. Lots of veggies and cold grains with a vinaigrette make a great meal.
Sarena (The Non-Dairy Queen) says
I LOVE throwing things together for a quick wholesome dinner! Quinoa and millet have been my favorites lately mixed with lentils and fresh vegetables.
lynn @ the actor's diet says
i forgot i have my mason jar creation sitting in my cupboard!!! mine was oatmeal too, but i added raisinets and pumpkin.
HRCK the Herald says
I would totally buy those if they were in the Open Sky store! Hope they got your official seal of approval 🙂
Ashley @ Coffee Cake and Cardio says
Those cookies look awesome! I’m craving something sweet like whoa today and I bet those would hit the spot. Must have been a fun afternoon.
Erin says
This was one of my favorite posts ever. So pretty! I can just feel all the fun you were having! :-] And when are those cookies available?! They look so amazing!
KathEats says
Thanks – and soon!
Jen says
I ditto everything Erin said – that photo of the cookies almost made me cry – in a good way! They look SO chewy. Please send? 🙂
Khushboo says
Cookies > veggies…heck yeah!
Gina @ Running to the Kitchen says
That sounds like the perfect cookie. All my favorite flavors in there!
Cait's Plate says
Oh man, I miss the days of cereal surprises!! I used to get excited FOR him when he’d have those! Time to bring them back!
Angela @ Happy Fit Mama says
Cookies and quinoa – yum!
Mom says
Cookie Mix! Can we mix it up and just eat, or do we need to bake?
Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga says
When I met my husband he would mash ice cream and frozen cool whip into a mug, and then keep on mashing. The man could pack I swear a half tub of Cool Whip into a mug. A superhuman trait that probably isn’t necessary 🙂
Those cookies look…PERFECT. The texture looks like my perfect kind of cookie. I love oatmeal-raisin-choc chip cookies so much!
Kaila @healthyhelperblog! says
I love grain based meals! They are so hearty and such comfort foods!
Kelly @ Vegolosophy says
mmm cookies are the key to my heart! I am loving the jar it comes in too, very cute!
Jamie @ Don't Forget the Cinnamon says
Love your cookie combo!
Hillary says
As I read this, I’m eating cereal and PB. Great minds think alike, no?
Samantha says
My oh my, I wish OpenSky was available in Canada!
Lexi @ Cura Personalis Foodie says
That picture of Matt is priceless!
Ash Bear says
This is definitely going on my favorite bar, along with Karen’s chili recipe as it looks delicious!! I love that picture of Matt! 🙂
Molly @ RDexposed says
No Yankee candle can replicate the smell quite like the real version of freshly baked cookies.
Emily @ The Swallow Flies says
OMG. I need one of those cookies in my mouth. Now.
Deva @ Deva by Definition says
Grain salads are my favorite meals to fix when The Boy is on business trips. Those and lots of tofu! They’re fairly simple and the leftovers can carry over for days.
Lauren @ What Lauren Likes says
Looks great! Love all the recipe links
Liz @ Tip Top Shape says
All of these delicious recipes/pictures are making me want to have a second dinner!!
AikoVenus says
I absolutely adore the cookies – the jar presentation is absolutely adorable! ^^ I should try them out some day – lovely blog by the way!
Angel7 says
My specialty is chocolate chip cookies. That is about the only sweet treat I make that I actually love 🙂
http://faithfulsolutions.blogspot.com/
SemiHealthy says
The food looks good! I like the pic of your husband with the tiny bowl! How do you find things so small
KathEats says
I just keep my eye out – I have a thing for little bowls!
Allison says
Love quinoa bowls! Great with hardly any additions or with Italian or Mexican style ingredients 😀
Kerry @ Totes My Oats says
Those cookies look aweseome!! Anything oatmeal involved – count me in!
jenna k says
i love your funny little tidbits about matt. maybe i’m just strange and creepy, but they make me really excited to be married one day! 🙂
Ari @ Ari's Menu says
I’ve totally been wanting to do the mason jar cookie thing! It looks so cool!
Stacy @ Say It With Sprinkles says
What a yummy food day! Especially the quinoa =)
Amelia says
I can’t believe you could eat 2.5 cookies rather than 3. I can never leave a half 🙂
Kristabel says
These put my break & bake oatmeal raisin cookies to shame!
Sarah says
So glad you said it: as good as veggies are, fresh baked cookies take the cake ALWAYS. Of course I bet it’s the moderation that makes these little gems such treats!
Can’t wait to try the quinoa dish, what a great recipe.
-Sarah
Kavi @ Lab to Fab! says
Those cookies look AMAZING! The special blend is a great combination!
Kathryn says
I love the idea of your own cookie mix and the finished result looks just perfect!
Brittnie (A Joy Renewed) says
Both the cookies and your dinner look great. I love that you added goat cheese. Everything is better with goat cheese. 🙂
Simply Life says
I just got a package of those to review and baked them last night as well! Just had one with my breakfast 🙂
Hope @ With A Side Of Hope says
Those cookies look so cool!!! I would love to try a cookie mix like that 🙂
Susan H. @ The Food Allergy Chronicles says
The cookies sound wonderful, minus the walnuts (allergic). I love, love, love quinoa! Especially when made into a salad like the one you had for dinner…lemony dressing…I am in heaven! Goat Cheese seems to compliment just about everything…don’t you think? I will definitly be checking out your list of top salads…they are my favourite types of meals.
[email protected] Flying ONION says
Those are my favorite kinds of cookies! So chunky and perfect. 😀
Rebecca @ Naturally Healthy and Gorgeous says
That cookie looks so good and it is so pretty in the mason jar!
Susie says
Hey Kath-
First of all, this has very little to do with the current post (other than to say, I’m trying to give quinoa a go, but so far haven’t been that impressed with it. I’ll keep trying! Also, cookies look amazing). That said, I was just exploring your “Cville” page and ahhhhhhh it made me sooo homesick! I went to UVA for undergrad and my fiance is in Med school at UVA currently (so at least I have an excuse to go back) but you definitely hit the nail on the head with your restaurant suggestions. I haven’t had the best luck with Boylan, however. But Fry’s Spring, Orzo, MAS, Bang, and Mono Loco are must-visits. What do you think of Basil and Lemongrass? I used to adore Lemongrass, but since living in NYC my adoration has been somewhat tempered. Also–BLUEGRASS CAFE. And RIP 12th Street Taphouse. You were my go-to for summer’s nights! Shebeen is also a great spot! Gotta get the Lamb Potjie–it’s unreal.
And hurrah for a tribute to oatmeal!
And I was very proud of you for taking the train; my fiance and I are VERY familiar with its charms!
I forget if you have it, but Trick or Treating on the Lawn is pretty special too.
Have a great day!
Susie
KathEats says
🙂 I haven’t been to Lemongrass before! But love all the ones you mentioned 🙂
Heather H @ Run Eat Play says
Your cookies look amazing! I love oatmeal & walnuts!
Katie @ Talk Less, Say More says
Those cookies look SO delicious! And the ingredients come in a jar? That makes them extra KERF-ish! 😉
How do you think they would bake up if made with vegan add-ins like soy or almond milk and a flax seed egg?
KathEats says
Yes, if you’re familiar with substitutions, you could totally do that
Elizabeth says
Why did you use SALTED butter in your cookies?!
KathEats says
That’s all we buy!! They tasted fantastic
Jules @ La Petite Maison Verte says
The cookies look and sound delicious! I love chunky cookies and those look like the chunkiest. The quinoa looks great too, I’ll definitely be trying that one out!
Lauren @ Oatmeal after Spinning says
I pack my lunch every day and will have to check out some of the recipes you posted! I have a salad and a wrap almost every single day, because it’s easy to throw together. But, it gets very boring!
I love the Mason jar cookie company. I made my own versions of their cookie mixes for co-workers for Christmas gifts this year!
Michelle @ A Healthy Mrs says
Those cookies look delicious! And the jar the mix comes in is too cute!
Roxanne says
Love the layers in the mason jar mix! Do you have a fancy label to put on the jars for selling?
KathEats says
It has a label – just turned to the side
[email protected] says
That salad looks so good! I love quinoa but have never tried it chilled in a salad. At the moment I eat it for breakfast as a kind of porridge with cranberries and almonds – is it overkill to eat quinoa for two meals in the day? 🙂
~Christy says
The Mason Jar cookies look like so much fun! Might have to check that out 🙂