Quinoa Crunch Salad with Peanut Dressing

I absolutely adore crunchy salads! Take, for example, the Thai Noodle Salad, which packs such a flavorful punch that it occasionally pops up in my dreams. Then there’s the Crunchy Shrimp Salad, essentially a justification for indulging in those crispy homemade wonton strips. And let’s not forget about the Cashew Crunch Salad, a cold, sweet-and-savory delight that got me through those summer pregnancy days, featuring nostalgic chowmein noodles and all.

This dish is a nutritional powerhouse thanks to the inclusion of quinoa and black beans, but it doesn’t stop there—it’s bursting with flavor. Creamy peppers confit, heaps of succulent sweet corn, and a homemade dressing that perfectly captures the essence of elote (Mexican street corn) with its tangy lime, savory cotija cheese, and spicy chili powder. And a shoutout to ALDI for providing everything needed to make this culinary dream a reality, including the freshest summertime produce. Mexican street corn, whether served on the cob (elote) or as kernels in a cup (esquites), is a beloved snack in Mexico, featuring grilled corn slathered in mayo, lime juice, cotija cheese, and chili powder—a delightful treat enjoyed on the go.

Two Person Raspberry Crumbles

These sweet, jammy, buttery, lip-staining red berry crumbles are my summer everything right now.

They are conveniently sized for just two people so that you don’t have to make a full pan of raspberry bars when the hardcore craving for a juicy, berry-forward, summery dessert strikes, which, for us, is, like, nightly?

It’s fine. We’re fine.

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Prep: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Mix: Gently mix up the berry mixture. Mix up the crumble in a separate bowl.
  3. Bake Part One: Press about two-thirds of the crumble into the bottom of two 4-inch ramekins. Bake for 5 minutes to set the crust (more for a firmer crust).
  4. Bake Part Two: Pour the berry filling over the crusts. Sprinkle the remaining crumble on top of each ramekin. Bake for 7-10 more minutes, until the fruit layer is bubbling and the crumbles are golden brown.
  5. Live It Up: Cooling for ten minutes is a good idea, but if you told me that it’s just not humanly possible, I would understand. Grab a fork, dive into the juicy, buttery layers, and never look back.