Roasted Broccoli Quinoa Salad with Creamy Lemon Dressing

A refreshing and nutritious salad featuring quinoa, roasted broccoli, and a zesty creamy lemon dressing. Packed with vibrant flavors and textures, this salad makes a perfect side dish or a light meal on its own.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup quinoa, rinsed
• 2 cups broccoli florets
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped
• 1/4 cup feta cheese, crumbled
• 1/4 cup almonds, sliced
• For the Creamy Lemon Dressing:
• 1/4 cup Greek yogurt
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 400F 200C

In a saucepan, combine quinoa with 2 cups of water

Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes or until quinoa is cooked and water is absorbed

Fluff with a fork and let it cool

Toss broccoli florets with olive oil, salt, and pepper

Spread them on a baking sheet and roast in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes or until broccoli is tender and slightly crispy at the edges

In a large bowl, combine cooked quinoa, roasted broccoli, cherry tomatoes, red onion, feta cheese, and almonds

In a separate small bowl, whisk together all the ingredients for the Creamy Lemon Dressing until smooth

Pour the dressing over the quinoa mixture and toss until well coated

Serve chilled and enjoy!

The Best Vegan Lemon Bars

The tangy lemon flavor and buttery crust in these vegan lemon bars make them a great choice for any event.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1/2 cup vegan butter, melted
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup cornstarch
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons lemon zest
• 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk
• Powdered sugar, for dusting

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 350F 175C

In a bowl, mix together flour, powdered sugar, and melted vegan butter until a dough forms

Press the dough into the bottom of a greased 8x8 inch baking dish

Bake the crust for 20 minutes until lightly golden brown

Meanwhile, in another bowl, whisk together granulated sugar, cornstarch, baking powder, salt, lemon juice, lemon zest, and almond milk until smooth

Pour the lemon mixture over the baked crust

Bake for an additional 25-30 minutes until the lemon layer is set

Let cool completely, then refrigerate for at least 2 hours

Once chilled, dust the top with powdered sugar

Slice into bars and serve

Lemon Cake Smoothie

Indulge in the delightful flavors of lemon cake with this refreshing and creamy smoothie. It's a perfect treat for a taste of Gracious Texas Living!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of frozen lemonade concentrate
• 1/2 cup of vanilla yogurt
• 1/4 cup of milk
• 1/4 cup of lemon cake crumbs
• 1 tablespoon of honey
• 1/2 teaspoon of lemon zest
• Ice cubes optional

Instructions:

Use a blender to blend the frozen lemonade concentrate, vanilla yogurt, milk, lemon cake crumbs, honey, and lemon zest together

Mix until it's creamy and smooth

You can add ice cubes to make it colder and thicker

Pour into a glass

If you want, add a slice of lemon or some lemon zest to decorate

Have a nice, cool Lemon Cake Smoothie!

Teriyaki Salmon with Broccoli Rabe

This recipe has tasty salmon fillets, a homemade teriyaki sauce, and soft broccoli rabe that has been sauted. This dish is tasty and good for you. It's great for a quick dinner during the week or for a special event.

Ingredients:

• 4 salmon fillets
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon ginger, grated
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• 1 bunch broccoli rabe, trimmed
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Sesame seeds for garnish

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 400F 200C

In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, garlic, ginger, and sesame oil to make the teriyaki sauce

Place salmon fillets in a baking dish and pour half of the teriyaki sauce over them, ensuring they are well coated

Bake salmon in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes, or until cooked through

While salmon is baking, heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat

Add broccoli rabe to the skillet and saut for 5-7 minutes, or until tender

Season broccoli rabe with salt and pepper to taste

Serve salmon alongside sauted broccoli rabe, drizzle with remaining teriyaki sauce, and sprinkle with sesame seeds for garnish