Farm-Fresh Salad of The Week

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Inspired by Sunday's Farmer's Market, designed by yours truly. These sexy and well balanced salads will help keep your belly full, your blood levels happy, and perhaps even turn you on to new flavors!  Easy to make, these salads have 4 ingredients or less. Plus, a great dressing which keeps well in the fridge.

MEDITERRANEAN-STYLE QUINOA SALAD

What's more Mediterranean than cucumbers and tomato?  How about some tahini dressing?  Yes. Add a little sesame-based zing, and you got yourself a satisfying salad.  Quinoa, as you might know, is also a fantastic grain with a low-glycemic index(great for gluten-free eaters), and is jam-packed with protein and other fantastic nutrients. The crunch of cucumbers, and the tangy earthy tomato will complement and round out the flavors.

Salad:
One large heirloom tomato, diced
One persian cucumbers, diced
One green onion chopped (green plus white parts)
One cup cooked quinoa

Optional: Couple sprigs of parsley

Tahini (Goddess) Dressing: (Source:Vegetarian.about.com)

1/2 cup tahini

1/2 cup apple cider vinegar

1/4 cup soy sauce

1 tbsp lemon juice

1/2 tsp salt

3 cloves garlic

1/2 cup water

2 tbsp dried parsley

1 tbsp sugar

1/2 cup oil

Combine all ingredients, except for the oil to a blender or food processor and puree until smooth and creamy. Slowly add oil until well mixed. Dressing will be thick, but you can always add a bit more water if you prefer a thinner consistency.