This is my favorite dish, post WLS.  I hope you enjoy it.  I can't remember the source.

Black Bean Quinoa Salad

for the dressing:
2 TBSP fresh lime juice
2 TBSP olive oil
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground black pepper

for the quinoa:
1 cup dry quinoa
1 TBSP olive oil
1/2 cup chopped red onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 bay leaf
2 cups water or vegetable stock
1 can black beans, drained
1 large tomato, diced
1/4 cup fresh chopped cilantro
salt and pepper, to taste

For the dressing:  Whisk all the dressing ingredients together and set aside.

For the quinoa:  Place the quinoa in a sieve and rinse under cold running water.  Drain and set aside.  Heat the oil in a saucepan over medium-low heat and add the onion.  Saute until translucent.  Add the garlic and saute for an additional minute.  Add the rinsed quinoa, bay leaf, and water or stock.  Cover and bring to a boil.  Reduce the heat and simmer for approx 20-30 minutes, or unil the quinoa is tender and fluffy.  Remove from heat.  Add beans, tomato, cilantro, and dressing, then stir gently.  Add additional salt and pepper, if necessary.

Makes 4 cups

Thank you!!

I made this last night and my whole family loved it! Thanks for the idea.

Hi Tiffany!

Peanut Butter Protein Cookes
1 to 1 1/2 cups natural peanut butter (I use Skippy - no gross oil!)
1 cup splenda
1 egg or 1/3 cup egg beaters
1 scoop vanilla or unflavored protein powder

*Don't forget to put the fork marks in the cookies otherwise they don't bake as good!
*Mix and stick in fridge for 10-15 mins; then bake at 350* for 8-9 minutes. Any longer than that and they get too dry and crumbly. I've also made these with 1 cup oatmeal mixed in and sugar free chocolate chunks - yumm! If you do add some oatmeal in I would suggest to do a little bit more egg, mine came out too dry with just 1 egg


Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
1 cup canned pumpkin
1 cup splenda
1/2 cup applesauce *I use this instead of vegetable oil, you would never know the difference!
1 egg or egg beaters equivilent
2 cups whole wheat flour *bakes the same as white, you'd never know the difference!
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon milk
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 cups sugar free chocolate chips/chunks
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
1 scoop vanilla/unflavored protein powder

Combine pumpkin, splenda, applesauce, and egg. In a separate bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, ground cinnamon, protein powder and salt. Dissolve the baking soda with the milk and stir in. Add flour mixture to pumpkin mixture and mix well.
Add vanilla, chocolate chips and nuts.
Drop by spoonful on greased cookie sheet and bake at 350* for approximately 10 minutes or until lightly brown and firm.

Thanks guys! I guess I just wasn't thinking right at all! Nuts, deli meat, string cheese, and tuna are foods I eat a lot of and it didnt even occur to me to take them!

You guys are awesome! Thanks again!