A Simple Summer Salad

I love quinoa and I love this quinoa salad.  It is so good on a hot summer day.

Make some quinoa according to package directions.  Use stock to replace the water if you want added flavor.

You can add all sorts of ingredients.  I used 1/2 diced red onion, 1 sliced bunch of green onions, diced cucumber, sliced cherry tomatoes and 2 grated carrots.

Add 1/2 cup of sliced kalamata olives, salt and pepper, 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice and 1/2 cup of olive oil along with 1 teaspoon of honey. Add about 1/2 cup of chopped fresh parsley and 1/2 cup feta cheese crumbled.

Add the quinoa...this is about 2 cups.

Mix it all together.

This ring set and tamper can be used in so many ways.  It is from Curtis Stone and has four rings in different sizes.

Place the salad in the ring and tamp it down with the tamper.

Slide the ring off and you have a perfect mound of salad.  Drizzle with some balsamic vinegar glaze if you wish.  I did but I forgot that pic.