Wild Rice and Orzo Salad with Maple Vinaigrette

This dish is really three recipes in one. I combined my wild rice, kidney bean salad and orzo pasta salad recipes together to make a light and healthy meal. The maple vinaigrette helps tie everything together.

I usually make orzo pasta salad for parties and picnics, but we've been having a heat wave here and we all felt like eating something cool. The addition of kidney beans for protein and wild rice for fiber makes the dish more of a complete meal. If you have some leftover roast chicken, you can dice or shred it and add it to the salad as well.

Blueberry Maple Oatmeal Smoothie

Oatmeal Smoothies are the fastest way for me to give my husband Lulu a well balanced breakfast. It's also perfect for him when he's on the go. I already made an Oatmeal Vanilla Almond Protein Shake last week so I decided to change the flavor this week. I had blueberry preserves left in my pantry that I made last summer from the berries from our garden. Unfortunately, my blueberry bush hasn't produced any fruit yet, so I ran to my local market and got some fresh blueberries.

The smoothie turned out velvety and creamy, yet still very healthy. You can add your own twist to it by using different fruits and flavors (tropical fruits, berries, different syrups). Be creative.

It's always a great feeling to make something for the ones you love that they can appreciate.  I think that's why I love to cook. This is a perfect recipe to express your affection when you're pressed for time!