Best Mango Quinoa Salad and Smith Rock, Oregon

Enjoy Best Mango Quinoa Salad, a healthy, delicious summer salad made with mango, fresh veggies, and a light dressing. Perfect for a summer picnic or party!

When I think of gratitude, I think of the simple things in life, like the beautiful hike and picnic our family enjoyed together at Smith Rock, outside of Bend, Oregon.

Best Mango Quinoa Salad

One of the simple recipes we enjoyed on our picnic by the river was a Mango Quinoa Salad with the freshest of fresh ingredients!

Oh, and are you looking for how to cook perfect quinoa? My friend, Holly, has great tips. You may also want to try my Strawberry Quinoa Salad with fresh basil, or delicious Pear Quinoa Salad, or Heidi’s classic Quinoa Tabbouleh with Chickpeas, or Kalyn’s Southwestern Quinoa Salad–all so good!

Life doesn’t owe us

When we hike, we talk a lot about life.

We remind our kids that life does not owe them happiness or personal fulfillment. We become happy people not because we get what we want, but because we appreciate what we have.

I think they are getting it.

I’m still getting it. :)

Gratitude

Gratitude is something that I work on daily. It takes cultivation, just like the work we put into our garden.

It’s happens when I slow down and look at the gifts around me—all the blessings of friends and family— and I recognize that it’s because of God’s great love that I’ve been given these things.

It’s about acknowledging and being thankful, and putting to rest any resentment or longings for things that I think I may lack. (Hubby kissed by the sun.)

Forward and backward

I love to thank God.

It works inside and out. Forward and backward. That’s why it’s important to express to others gratitude for their being in my life.

This hike was another lesson for me, as we journeyed back to the car at dusk, on a gorgeous summer Oregon night.

Stars were bright.

What’s important

Every step reminded me of things that were important.

The sounds of nature brought a quietness and stillness to my soul.

I looked around at these big kids, that used to be so small, and my heart welled up with gratitude.

“A grateful attitude becomes a grid through which you perceive life.” – Sarah Young

Simple picnic

Now for the simple picnic. We packed snack foods such as crackers, curd, cheese, jicima, and green apples. I made BLT Green Apple Sandwiches !

And we indulged in our favorite salad using mangos, Best Mango Quinoa Salad.

I love this recipe because you can make it ahead of time, and it does not get soggy.

It’s great for a potuck or picnic, or a backyard gathering!

Enjoy – and today … give thanks!

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Get the Recipe:

Mango Quinoa Salad

Sandy Coughlin

Prep Time: 10 minutes mins

Cook Time: 30 minutes mins

Total Time: 40 minutes mins

Yield: 6

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Ingredients

 

1x2x3x

• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
• 1/4 cup lime juice
• 1 tsp. agave nectar or honey
• 1 tsp. sea salt
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 2 cups cooked quinoa
• 1 Tbsp. chopped cilantro
• 1 cup mango, chopped in small pieces
• 1/4 cup diced celery
• 1/4 cup diced carrots
• 1/4 cup diced red pepper
• 1/4 cup diced red onion
• 1/4 cup diced cucumber
• 1/2 cup dried blueberries, optional

Instructions

 

• Mix the first 5 ingredients in a bowl; set aside.
• Add the other ingredients together in a larger bowl.
• Mix in the dressing. Serve!

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reposted from April 2014