Black Bean, Corn, Quinoa Salad

2 cups cooked quinoa
1/2 cup diced red onion
1 cup corn
1 (15 ounce) can black beans, drained
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
1 large tomato, diced (I remove the seeds and juicy stuff)
1/2 cup fresh lime juice, or to taste
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tsp ground cumin
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
3/4 tsp coarse salt (or 1/2 tsp table salt)
black pepper to taste

In a large salad bowl, mix together red onion, corn, black beans, cilantro, tomato; lightly stir in the quinoa. In small bowl, whisk together lime juice, red wine vinegar, olive oil, and spices. Season with salt, pepper, and additional lime juice to taste, if desired. Chill the salad at least 30 minutes before serving; serve cold.

This is my own version of a salad I found online. I've made significant enough changes that I can call it my own. The cayenne adds a nice kick!

Black Bean and Couscous Salad

1 cup uncooked couscous
1 1/4 cup broth (chicken or vegetable)
3 TBSP olive oil
2 TBSP fresh lime juice
1 tsp red wine vinegar
1/2 tsp cumin
8 green onions, chopped
1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
1/4 cup fresh cilantro or flat Italian parsley
1 cup frozen corn, thawed
2 cans black beans, rinsed and drained
salt and pepper to taste

Bring broth to boil in a 2 qt or larger sauce pan and stir in couscous. Cover pot and remove from heat. Let stand for 5 minutes.

In a large bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lime juice, vinegar, and cumin. Add green onions, red pepper, cilantro, corn and black beans. Toss to coat.

Fluff the couscous well, breaking up any chunks. Add to the bowl with the vegetables and mix well. Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve at once or refrigerate until ready to serve. Keeps well in the frig for a couple of days.

Real Tabbooleh

1/2 cup bulgur , fine or medium grain, rinsed under running water and drained
1/3 cup lemon juice (from 2 lemons)
1/3 cup olive oil
Table salt
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 cups minced fresh parsley leaves
2 medium tomatoes , halved, seeded, and cut into very small dice
4 medium scallions , green and white parts, minced
2 tablespoons minced fresh mint leaves (or 1 rounded teaspoon dried mint)

Mix bulgur wheat with 1/4 cup of the lemon juice in medium bowl; set aside until grains are tender and fluffy, 20 to 40 minutes,depending on age and type of bulgur.

Mix remaining lemon juice, olive oil, salt to taste and red pepper, if desired. Mix bulgur, parsley, tomatoes, scallions, and mint; add dressing and toss to combine. Cover and refrigerate to let flavors blend, 1 to 2 hours. Serve.

Forest Floor Salad

I call this Forest Floor Salad because the first time I brought it to a Thanksgiving meal, my relatives said it looked like I had gone out into the woods and scraped stuff off the ground into my bowl. However, after the meal was finished my mother and her sisters sat down with the bowl in between them and polished off the remaining salad while they talked and laughed. So, don't let the looks deceive you; this is a great salad!

1 lb wild rice

For vinaigrette:
1/4 cup fresh orange juice
1 TBSP orange zest
3 TBSP balsamic vinegar
2 tsp Dijon mustard
1 tsp minced garlic
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil

3 cups cooked white rice

2 cups chopped pecans, toasted (or 1 cup pecans, 1 cup slivered almonds or pine nuts)
1 1/4 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
3/4 cup dried apricots, thinly sliced
3/4 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup finely chopped red onion or green onion tops

Rinse wild rice in a sieve under cold water, then combine with cold water to cover by 2 inches in a 5-quart pot. Simmer, covered, until tender, 45 to 60 minutes.

Make vinaigrette while wild rice is simmering. Whisk together juice, vinegar, mustard and garlic. Gradually whisk in oil until emulsified and season with salt and pepper.

Assemble salad: Rinse cooked wild rice in sieve under cold water and drain. Stir together rices, vinaigrette, nuts, parsley, dried fruit, onion, and salt and pepper to taste.

Salad keeps, covered and chilled, for 3 days. Serves 12