Quinoa and Black Bean Stuffed Peppers #MexicanRecipes

Simple Mexican Quinoa and Black Bean Stuffed Peppers are full of protein, fiber, and plenty of flavor!

 This is a healthy and well-balanced meal that the whole family will love.

So Cinco de Mayo is quickly approaching...in fact, it's in three days! You all know how much I love Mexican food, so to celebrate the holiday I've teamed up with some of my blogger buddies to share delicious Mexican recipes all week long! Drinks, side dishes, main dishes and desserts, we've got it all covered! Be sure to scroll down to the end of this post to see what my foodie friends are sharing today.

Asparagus, Hazelnuts, and Mint with Quinoa and Lemon Vinaigrette #WeekdaySupper

This fresh and delicious dish combines asparagus with quinoa, mint, and hazelnuts, and is topped with a 

light lemon vinaigrette. It makes a perfect meal this time of year!

Spring has finally sprung and I've really been enjoying the beautiful weather we're having in Michigan. With this weather starts farmers market season, which I am so excited about! I love strolling through the market on a Saturday morning and picking up fresh vegetables from local growers to bring home to my family. 

Speaking of fresh veggies, I'm really excited to share this amazing Asparagus, Hazelnuts, and Mint with Quinoa and Lemon Vinaigrette recipe from Cara Mangini's new cookbook, The Vegetable Butcher!  Let me start off by saying it is a stunning and inspiring cookbook. Cara shows us in step-by-step photos how to break down a butternut squash, cut a cauliflower into steaks, turn carrots into coins and parsnips into matchsticks, and so much more. There are more than 150 simple recipes that put vegetables front and center, from this dish, to Kohlrabi Carpaccio, to a Parsnip-Ginger Layer Cake for dessert. It’s everything you need to know to make extraordinary vegetable dishes!

Quinoa Salad with Apples, Pecans and Dried Cranberries #SundaySupper

This easy, delicious and healthy quinoa salad is full of flavor and makes a great side dish or main dish meal!

Since the start of the new year I've really been focusing on my healthy habit goals. One of those goals was to eat more fruits and vegetables, and another was to eat more whole grains. An easy way for me to fulfill the veggie goal has been eating salads. I LOVE salads, and more often than not I have a side salad with my dinner. Luckily, my kids like salad too, so it's been a great way for us all to up our veggie intake.

I've recently been experimenting with quinoa and recipes to make with it. Quinoa is a wholesome grain that's a great source of fiber and protein. It has a mild taste and a bit of crunch, so it's perfect in many dishes. This Quinoa Salad with Apples, Pecans and Dried Cranberries also has spicy arugula and super flavorful and nutty Gouda cheese in it, and it's quickly become my favorite winter salad.