Strawberry Basil Quinoa Salad

Quinoa.  It's a (nearly) perfect food.  It's nutritious, it's gluten free and it's delicious.  So why in the world can't I get my better half to enjoy it as much as I do?  (Life would be so much easier if I could just convince him to like everything that I like to eat.) 😂  

I've made deliciously savory quinoa chili and quinoa salads.  I've made baked quinoa squares and served it as a side dish with our favorite fish dinner.  I've even tried sweetening quinoa with honey and turning it into a dessert with ricotta cheese and apples.  Too far?  

So why is there a pile of quinoa left on his dinner plate every time I serve it?  Despite my best efforts, I can't seem to convince him that IT'S DELICIOUS!  Lucky for him, his dislike for something has never stopped me before.  ​I take it on as a personal challenge.  It's the reason that I continue to try and win him over to the Shepherds Pie Fan club.  

Maybe a giant bowl of quinoa salad with juicy strawberries and fresh basil will win him over.  Who could resist that?  

For the first time EVER - I had my sweet daughter record a video of me preparing a recipe.  (It was just as awkward as you might imagine.) 😬 Hope you enjoy!!

Strawberry Basil Quinoa Salad
3 cups water
1 1/2 cups quinoa
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup lemon juice
1/3 cup olive oil
2 teaspoons maple syrup
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 cups diced strawberries
1/2 cup fresh basil, chopped

Combine water, quinoa and 1/4 t. salt in saucepan.  

Bring to a boil.  Cover, reduce heat and  simmer 12-15 minutes. 

Whisk together lemon juice, oil, maple syrup, pepper and 1/2 t. salt.

Add cooked quinoa and stir to combine.  

Stir in strawberries and basil.  

I hope to make more cooking videos in the future but I need your help.  Send me the recipes that you want to see on video.  

Ciao!

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