quinoa & arugula salad

I'm a bit obsessed with quinoa. Recently, Drew and I had dinner with our wonderful friends, Robb and Barbara, who are quite the gourmet couple! Barbara made her amazing quinoa salad, so I'm sharing it with you.

Ingredients:

• 10 oz quinoa, cooked 
• 3 cups arugula
• 2 cups fresh cooked corn kernels, cut from the cob
• 1/4 cup pecans
• 1/3 cup dried cranberries
• 1/3 cup Asiago cheese, grated

Dressing:

• 1/2 cup fresh packed basil leaves
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 1/2 cup lite mayonnaise (or greek yogurt)
• 2 tsp fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 tsp sea salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper

Direction:

• For dressing, blend all ingredients in food processor or blender until smooth. Refrigerate until ready to use.
• In large a large bowl, mix the salad ingredients. Toss in dressing right before serving.

Bon appetite!

on turning 30

It's been a while since I've posted...anything! So I turned 30 this month (go Cancers), and I was unsure about it to be honest. I didn't know if I should be excited or scared. Looking back at turning 18, 21, then 25, and 28...I remember being excited, and looked forward to each new stage. But when it was time to turn 30, I was apprehensive. For years, it's always sounded "so old"--and I don't feel old at all (and hopefully don't look old)! When I turned 20, 30 was a long 10 years away--and how those 10 years have flown by, with many challenging and amazing times packed in.

Now that I realize I can't go backwards, I am excited about this next decade in my life and the new opportunities and challenges that will inevitably come my way. My family, friends, husband, and God are huge blessings in my life--all who I look forward to growing closer to each year.