strawberry citrus fruit salad with maple, mint and lime

May is filled celebrations!  A month of graduation parties, showers and Mother’s day!  Serve this beautiful Strawberry Citrus Fruit Salad with Maple, Mint and Lime for a healthy and sweet treat at your next event!

Strawberry Citrus Fruit Salad with Maple, Mint and Lime ~vegan, gluten free~

I dished these up individually (because I thought they looked pretty that way!), but serve in a large bowl if preferred. I love grapefruit, but some find it a bit too tangy.  That’s why I made a quick mix of pure maple syrup and lime juice to off set the bitterness.

 Sliced citrus holds up really well in the refrigerator.  You can make this salad to enjoy with breakfast or as a snack for a few days!  Try mixing in pecans or walnuts for protein!

Strawberry Citrus Fruit Salad with Maple, Mint and Lime ~vegan, gluten free~

strawberry citrus fruit salad
 
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Makes 6 individual 1 cup servings or 1 medium bowl
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Cuisine: Vegan
Serves: 6
Ingredients
  • 1 grapefruit, peeled and cut into segments
  • 2 oranges, peeled and cut into segments
  • 1 cup strawberries, sliced
  • 1 tablespoon lime juice
  • 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
  • fresh mint
Instructions
  1. Layer fruit in a medium bowl or individual serving cups. Whisk together lime juice and maple syrup, evenly pour on top of fruit salad. Garnish with fresh mint, enjoy!

Strawberry Citrus Fruit Salad with Maple, Mint and Lime ~vegan, gluten free~

Grapefruit’s amazing healing power and health benefits fly under the radar in my opinion.  They have been studied for a long time and  have been proven to lower cholesterol, normalize hematocrit levels, protect against certain cancers and rid the body of excess estrogen…that’s a lot of work for one type of fruit!

Beware, certain medications negatively interact with the powerful compounds found in grapefruit.

Check here for more info.

Strawberry Citrus Fruit Salad with Maple, Mint and Lime ~vegan, gluten free~

fiesta quinoa lettuce boats

Since Cinco de Mayo is just around the corner, I thought I would share some of my favorite fiesta themed recipes!  Today’s recipe includes my recipe for fiesta quinoa, which is one of my most shared recipes yet!  I simply added it to romaine lettuce and topped with avocado for an easy to prepare appetizer for any Cinco de Mayo party…Fiesta Quinoa Lettuce Boats!

Fiesta Quinoa Lettuce Boats ~vegan, gluten free~

 These lettuce boats are light, fresh and have a pinch of spice!  In the summer months I keep a batch of fiesta quinoa ready in the refrigerator, it makes a great side or can be eaten as a meal on its own.

fiesta quinoa lettuce boats
 
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Fiesta Quinoa Lettuce Boats, a light and fresh addition to any Cinco de Mayo celebration! Makes 10 Lettuce Boats
Author:
Recipe type: Main
Cuisine: Vegan
Serves: 10
Ingredients
  • 2 cups water
  • 1 cup dry quinoa
  • 1 cup cucumber, diced
  • 1 cup red bell pepper, diced
  • ¼ cup red onion, diced
  • 3 scallions, chopped
  • 1 cup corn (frozen, fresh or canned)
  • 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 10 cherry tomatoes, halved
  • ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • ¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
  • 1 avocado, thinly sliced
  • 2 heads of Romaine lettuce
Instructions
  1. Bring water to a boil, add quinoa, reduce heat to a simmer, cover and cook for 10-15 minutes or until all water is absorbed and l quinoa is soft and fluffy. Transfer to a bowl and allow to cool.
  2. Once quinoa is cooled, add all ingredients except avocado and romaine lettuce, stir until well combined. Adjust flavors as needed. Refrigerate to let flavors marinate.
  3. To assemble boats, add a scoop of quinoa to the center of a romaine lettuce leaf and top with sliced avocado. Enjoy!
Nutrition Information
Serving size: 1 boat Calories: 220 Fat: 10 Carbohydrates: 28 Sugar: 5 Fiber: 6 Protein: 7

 Fiesta Quinoa Lettuce Boats ~vegan, gluten free~

 Fun Fact:  Do you love or hate cilantro?

If you hate cilantro, it’s not your fault…you were born that way!  Some people are genetically predisposed to not liking cilantro.  They have the OR6A2 gene, making them very sensitive to the aldehyde chemical found in cilantro.  These aldehyde chemicals are the same substances found in soap, therefore making cilantro taste like soap!  Yuck!

If this is you, I apologize for adding so much cilantro to my recipes!

roasted spiced carrots with golden raisins and almonds

Roasted Spiced Carrots with Golden Raisins and Almonds to accompany an Easter brunch!

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Sliced carrots seasoned with cumin and cinnamon, sweetened with a hint of maple syrup and tossed with slivered almonds and golden raisins for a well-rounded burst of flavors!

Helpful Hint:  Turn this side dish into a balanced meal for the vegan in your family by adding fluffy quinoa and serving on top of fresh arugula!  (that’s what we had for dinner last night!)

Roasted Spiced Carrots with Golden Raisins and Almonds ~vegan, gluten free~

roasted spiced carrots with golden raisins and almonds
 
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Makes 4 servings
Author:
Recipe type: Main
Cuisine: Vegan
Serves: 4
Ingredients
  • 1 pound carrots, peeled and sliced
  • 1-2 tablespoons olive oil
  • ¼ cup orange juice
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup
  • ½ teaspoon cumin
  • ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
  • ¼ cup golden raisins
  • ¼ cup slivered almonds
  • 2-3 tablespoons fresh parsley
  • sea salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  2. Add all ingredients in a bowl and toss to coat.
  3. Transfer to a baking dish and bake for 20-30 minutes or until carrots are tender crisp.
  4. Serve alone or on top of fresh arugula and cooked quinoa, enjoy!

 Roasted Spiced Carrots with Golden Raisins and Almonds ~vegan, gluten free~