It's Good to be Cheap

My husband and I made a New Year's resolution to begin Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover. We're tired of the debt. As any smart person would do, I made lunch for Jason and I for work. I got this recipe out of Vegetarian Times' January/February 2007 issue, and I felt healthier at the thought of making it. Quinoa (pronounced "Keen-Wa") is a whole grain that's high in protein. While making this recipe, it made me want to have pack a picnic or have a ladies luncheon. I dunno, something about apricots makes me thing of ladies who lunch. I thought this was very tastey, and I'm so excited that all things I had to buy for this recipe left with enough to make it again - soon! Very soon!

Quinoa Salad With Orange-Cumin Vinaigrette
(recipe says "serves 4," but it was a healthy serving for 2 at our house)

1/3 cup sliced almonds
1 cup quinoa, rinsed and drained (um didn't see the rinsed and drained part when I made it - oops!)
1/4 tsp. salt
1/3 cup apricots, diced into small pieces
1/3 cup fresh orange juice
1 shallot, finely chopped (I'm cheap, and used 2 tablespoons of red onion instead)
2 Tbs. chopped fresh parsley
2 Tbs. chopped cilantro
2 Tbs. chopped fresh mint
1 Tbs. grated orange zest
1/2 tsp. ground cumin
1/2 tsp. ground coriander
2 Tbs. olive oil
2 oranges, peels sliced off and sections cut out. (I used only one)

1. Toast almonds 4 to 5 minutes in dry skillet or toaster oven, or until pale brown and fragrant, stirring often.
2. Bring 2 cups water to a boil in medium saucepan. Add quinoa and salt, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer 15 minutes, or until tender and almost all water is absorbed. Drain, then transfer to large bowl. (I just let the quinoa simmer until the water was absorbed. Stir often!) Toss with apricots and raisins. Allow quinoa to cool before adding the vinaigrette.
3. Whisk together orange juice, shallot (red onion), parsley, cilantro, mint, orange zest, cumin, and corainder. Whisk in oil. Pour dressing over quinoa, and toss to coat. Garnish with orange slices and toasted almonds.