Quinoa Cakes with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce and Arugula Salad

Wow. That's what. Wow.

Yes I was in the kitchen playing today. Made yogurt. Made flatbread. Made butter. It was fun. While I played, here and there I assembled the ingredients for dinner. 

Throw three red peppers in the toaster oven on some foil at 350. Turn a third-turn every 20 min or so till all crusty black. When done take out and loosely wrap in the foil. Squishing is perfectly ok.

Let em sit.  Maybe watch a rerun of the West Wing.

Some other time during the day throw 2 1/2 cups quinoa and 5 cups water in a pot. Add 2 tsp good salt. Bring to a boil then cover and simmer 15 min. Set aside.


Think I'll have a cappuccino...

Later take half a sweet potato, grated, half an onion, minced, a few sundried tomatoes, slivered, and some chopped spinach....and set aside.  All the actors are on the stage...the stage is set... here we go!

When you're ready, just mix the veggies, the quinoa, and an egg. Make patties on parchment or in round cookie cutters on a sheet pan. Bake at 400 for 20-30 min or till browned.  Parchment is HIGHLY recommended as the quinoa needs to get crusty and will stick, ruining your perfect circles.

Meanwhile those peppers that smell so great,.. Peel off the skins now that they're floppy and throw the pepper flesh in a chopper with a clove garlic and a tbsp capers. Purée till smooth.

Lastly wash some Arugula and set aside. Your vinaigrette is the juice of a lemon, half as much olive oil, and a couple tsp agave nectar, or honey, or even sugar. Whip up and salt to taste. Dress salad.

Serve restaurant style... Smear some red sauce on the plate. Set a cake on the sauce and top with some salad.  Even better cold for lunch tomorrow. And say Ooh La La!!

Ingredient list
a bunch of arugula
3 red bell peppers
2 1/2 c quinoa
half a sweet potato
half a yellow onion
2 tbsp chopped sundried tomatoes
1 c chopped fresh spinach
1 clove garlic
1 tbsp capers
juice of 1 lemon (about 1/4 c)
olive oil
2 tsp honey, sugar or agave

Gadgets:
grater
knife and chopping board
pot to boil arugula
toaster oven
foil
parchment