date cookies & quinoa edamame salad

I'm so eager--but at the same time lazy--to try new things. There's so many recipes I've been dying to try and it feels as if I've been cramming recipes onto this blog by making so many things in a day. But that's okay, right?

I've been feeling adventurous lately but I'm also a bit sad because my food-making and blogging might soon take a hiatus. Hopefully not too soon though, and I will try to squeeze in a few recipes before that :)

I got both of these recipe ideas from my online Pilates instructor, Cassey Ho. No I'm not actually taking classes but I do follow her blog and her workouts on Youtube, and I think I've said this before in a previous post but she inspired me to make a lifestyle change, starting with food.


I'm pretty surprised but happy at how my taste buds have changed and adapted, and how they're unwilling to go back to fried greasy foods and such :) I still indulge a bit here and there in chocolate and sweets, but that's probably just something I won't let go of hehe. But anyways both of these recipes are healthy and simple and I especially love how colorful my quinoa edamame salad turned out to be! I feel like it's more of a fried rice rather than a salad, but either way it's a light and satisfying dish and I'll probably make more tomorrow because I love quinoa so much. Haha yeeeaaahh I should try using noodles or brown rice or something else huh. Maybe later!



Date Cookies

adapted from Blogilates
yields 6 cookies

Ingredients:

2 egg whites
1/2 cup oat flour (half a cup of rolled or steel-cut oats, put them in a food processor or blender until it becomes finely ground, like flour!)
1/8 tsp baking powder
1 tsp ground flaxseed
2 tbs honey
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp almond milk (I used unsweetened)
dash of cinnamon (optional)
1/2 cup dates pitted, chopped (soak them in water so it's easier to remove the seed)

Directions:

- Preheat oven to 325° F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
- In a small bowl, beat the egg whites with the honey and vanilla extract. Then add in the oat flour, ground flaxseed, baking powder, cinnamon, and almond milk.
- Add in the roughly chopped dates and stir. 
- Spoon the batter in tablespoons onto the lined baking sheet and press down to flatten a bit.
- Bake for 9-10 minutes until the cookies are a golden brown, remove and serve. 


Quinoa Edamame Salad

adapted from Blogilates
yields 1 servings

Ingredients:

1/4 cup dry quinoa 
1/2 cup edamame
8-10 grape tomatoes halved 
1/4 small onion, finely diced
1/2 carrot, finely diced
salt 
lemon juice (optional dressing)

Directions:

- Cook the dry quinoa in a pot with 1/2 cup of water and add in a bit of salt to taste. When the quinoa has completely absorbed the water, turn off the stove and set aside.
- Lightly drizzle a pan with olive oil and set at medium heat. Sauté the onions and carrots until soft. Turn the stove to low heat.
- Add in the grape tomatoes and cook for about a minute on low heat until soft, then add in the edamame and sauté.
- Lastly add in the cooked quinoa and cook as if you would fried rice. Add in a bit more salt to taste. Remove and serve with lemon juice if desired.