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
August 7, 2013 at 6:11 amI really like salads and 4 bean salad must be packed with protein.
Liz DellaCroce
August 8, 2013 at 8:35 amIt is PACKED with protein!!!
Jamie | Thrifty Veggie Mama
March 14, 2013 at 1:18 pmLooks great! I’ve been craving salads lately.
Liz DellaCroce
March 14, 2013 at 6:32 pmOh man me too! I’m ready for Winter to end. :)
Shea @ Dixie Chik Cooks
March 11, 2013 at 6:13 pmBeautiful salad!
Liz DellaCroce
March 11, 2013 at 6:58 pmThank you so much Shea!
Alyssa (Everyday Maven)
March 10, 2013 at 9:38 amThanks again for the guest post and yummy recipe Liz! xoxo
Liz DellaCroce
March 10, 2013 at 9:52 amMy pleasure!! Thanks for having me!!
stefanie | sarcastic cooking
March 9, 2013 at 12:40 pmWhat a beautiful salad! heading over to get the recipe now!
Liz DellaCroce
March 9, 2013 at 2:23 pmI hope you like it Stefanie!!
katie
March 9, 2013 at 10:16 amYu! Love this spin on a classic four bean salad!
Liz DellaCroce
March 9, 2013 at 11:34 amThank you!! It was so good – surprisingly good!
Jen @ Savory Simple
March 9, 2013 at 10:04 amI pretty much have everything to make this so I think I know what I’m doing today :)
Liz DellaCroce
March 9, 2013 at 11:35 amOooo yay! Let me know what you think!
Nikki @Seeded at the Table
March 8, 2013 at 10:55 pmI love how organized you are! Please come rub some of that off on me. :) Off to read your recipe at Everyday Maven!
Liz DellaCroce
March 9, 2013 at 9:04 amDon’t get me wrong- this doesn’t always happen!! ;-)
Kiran @ KiranTarun.com
March 8, 2013 at 10:48 pmThough its freakishly chilly in Florida, I’m craving for this hearty and colorful salad :)
Liz DellaCroce
March 9, 2013 at 9:04 amI would take Florida chilly over Michigan chilly any day!! :-)
Ali | Gimme Some Oven
March 8, 2013 at 2:51 pmThis looks so fresh and delicious! Love all of those sun-dried tomatoes too! :)
Liz DellaCroce
March 8, 2013 at 3:31 pmOh man so do I!! I need to buy them more often!
bianca
March 8, 2013 at 12:01 pmwhere is the recipe for the Four Bean Salad with Quinoa, Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Sunflower Seeds
Liz DellaCroce
March 8, 2013 at 3:32 pmHi 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
March 8, 2013 at 11:47 amOh yes!!!
Liz DellaCroce
March 8, 2013 at 3:32 pmI think you should come over and I’ll make it for you.
Anne @The Cooking Campaign
March 8, 2013 at 11:44 amI have some left over quinoa too and have been looking for a recipe! Thanks for sharing :)
Liz DellaCroce
March 8, 2013 at 3:32 pmLeftover quinoa is exactly what this recipe was created for! Enjoy!
Hannah
March 8, 2013 at 11:19 amHi 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
March 8, 2013 at 3:33 pmI’m so glad you came over to say hello!! Look forward to seeing you more!! :-)
sheila
March 8, 2013 at 11:04 amMy dad would love that salad. I need to remember it for him.
Liz DellaCroce
March 8, 2013 at 3:33 pmI love that!! Let me know what he thinks. :)
Lauren @ Climbing Grier Moutain
March 8, 2013 at 11:01 amThis salad needs to be a staple in the ol’ household. You are so creative with your salad recipes! Love!
Liz DellaCroce
March 8, 2013 at 3:34 pmThank you so much!!! I just get sick of the same salad all the time. :) Your recipes are equally inspiring!
Maria
March 8, 2013 at 9:08 amI want this salad for lunch…every day!
Liz DellaCroce
March 8, 2013 at 9:12 amSo 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
March 8, 2013 at 9:01 amWhat 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
March 8, 2013 at 9:12 amYes 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
March 8, 2013 at 8:35 amLOL your fork is waiting, I love that. I’m off to read the guest post!
Liz DellaCroce
March 8, 2013 at 8:42 am:-) I’ve ended every post with that line for 3 years – you’re the first person to notice – hahahaha!!
Joanne @ Fifteen Spatulas
March 8, 2013 at 4:59 pmNo 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
March 8, 2013 at 5:00 pmMaybe because normally your eyes jump to the recipe? lol I don’t know.
Liz DellaCroce
March 8, 2013 at 8:36 pmLOL It’s no big deal! It’s just my silly little way of ending my posts. :-) hahahah I love this convo!