As you’ve heard me say before and will likely say again, planning ahead is vital when it comes to maintaining long term healthy lifestyle changes. When Sunday rolls around and my husband is home to help out with our little man, I spend as much time possible in the kitchen prepping food for the week ahead.
We usually shop on Saturday so I’ll wash any lettuces, greens or fresh herbs that we’ve brought home so that they are clean and ready to go throughout the week. If I’m planning to make a stir-fry or fried brown rice for dinner later in the week, I’ll make a big batch of my Nishiki brown rice in our rice cooker. (Cold rice is the secret to good fried rice!) If I want to make my favorite Black Bean and Barley Salad or Vegetable Beef Soup & Barley Soup, I’ll use the rice cooker to make the barley saving me precious time later in the week.
My Four Bean Salad with Quinoa, Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Sunflower Seeds was created on a Sunday when I wanted to use up some leftover quinoa and veggies in the fridge to create a hearty salad to eat for lunch throughout the week. Bean salads are great because they are not only loaded with tons of protein and fiber to keep you satisfied but they store very well. In fact, this salad will just keep getting better as the days go by and the flavors mingle.
Head on over to Everyday Maven for my Four Bean Salad with Quinoa, Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Sunflower Seeds recipe! I’m guest posting there today while she is traveling with her family.
Your fork is waiting.
maryzell roberts
I really like salads and 4 bean salad must be packed with protein.
Liz DellaCroce
It is PACKED with protein!!!
Jamie | Thrifty Veggie Mama
Looks great! I’ve been craving salads lately.
Liz DellaCroce
Oh man me too! I’m ready for Winter to end. :)
Shea @ Dixie Chik Cooks
Beautiful salad!
Liz DellaCroce
Thank you so much Shea!
Alyssa (Everyday Maven)
Thanks again for the guest post and yummy recipe Liz! xoxo
Liz DellaCroce
My pleasure!! Thanks for having me!!
stefanie | sarcastic cooking
What a beautiful salad! heading over to get the recipe now!
Liz DellaCroce
I hope you like it Stefanie!!
katie
Yu! Love this spin on a classic four bean salad!
Liz DellaCroce
Thank you!! It was so good – surprisingly good!
Jen @ Savory Simple
I pretty much have everything to make this so I think I know what I’m doing today :)
Liz DellaCroce
Oooo yay! Let me know what you think!
Nikki @Seeded at the Table
I love how organized you are! Please come rub some of that off on me. :) Off to read your recipe at Everyday Maven!
Liz DellaCroce
Don’t get me wrong- this doesn’t always happen!! ;-)
Kiran @ KiranTarun.com
Though its freakishly chilly in Florida, I’m craving for this hearty and colorful salad :)
Liz DellaCroce
I would take Florida chilly over Michigan chilly any day!! :-)
Ali | Gimme Some Oven
This looks so fresh and delicious! Love all of those sun-dried tomatoes too! :)
Liz DellaCroce
Oh man so do I!! I need to buy them more often!
bianca
where is the recipe for the Four Bean Salad with Quinoa, Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Sunflower Seeds
Liz DellaCroce
Hi Bianca – did you follow the link to Everyday Maven’s site? I’m guest posting for her today: http://www.everydaymaven.com/2013/four-bean-salad-from-the-lemon-bowl/ Enjoy!
claire @ the realistic nutritionist
Oh yes!!!
Liz DellaCroce
I think you should come over and I’ll make it for you.
Anne @The Cooking Campaign
I have some left over quinoa too and have been looking for a recipe! Thanks for sharing :)
Liz DellaCroce
Leftover quinoa is exactly what this recipe was created for! Enjoy!
Hannah
Hi Liz, I enjoyed your guest post on Alyssa’s blog and can’t wait to make your salad! My family loves bean salads and I know they’ll devour this one. Thanks for sharing it! Have a wonderful weekend! :)
Liz DellaCroce
I’m so glad you came over to say hello!! Look forward to seeing you more!! :-)
sheila
My dad would love that salad. I need to remember it for him.
Liz DellaCroce
I love that!! Let me know what he thinks. :)
Lauren @ Climbing Grier Moutain
This salad needs to be a staple in the ol’ household. You are so creative with your salad recipes! Love!
Liz DellaCroce
Thank you so much!!! I just get sick of the same salad all the time. :) Your recipes are equally inspiring!
Maria
I want this salad for lunch…every day!
Liz DellaCroce
So do I – haha. I need to make this every week!! Thanks Maria! PS: I bet C would love it. A ate two huge servings.
Aggie
What a great & inspiring post to get my butt in gear to plan ahead. Why I don’t think to make rice ahead of time is beyond me. A healthy fried rice would make a pretty delicious addition to weeknight dinners.
This bean salad is my kind of food! Yum- heading over to check out!
Liz DellaCroce
Yes cold rice is KEY for fried rice!!!! Plus the rice cookers can hold so much rice – might as well put it to good use!! xo
Joanne @ Fifteen Spatulas
LOL your fork is waiting, I love that. I’m off to read the guest post!
Liz DellaCroce
:-) I’ve ended every post with that line for 3 years – you’re the first person to notice – hahahaha!!
Joanne @ Fifteen Spatulas
No way!!! Apparently I have not noticed it until today too! I had to go back and read other posts just to make sure LOL.
Joanne @ Fifteen Spatulas
Maybe because normally your eyes jump to the recipe? lol I don’t know.
Liz DellaCroce
LOL It’s no big deal! It’s just my silly little way of ending my posts. :-) hahahah I love this convo!