Winstead Wandering

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Thai Chicken Quinoa Salad with Soy Lime Dressing

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Thai Chicken Quinoa Salad with Soy Lime Dressing is full of flavor and packed with fresh veggies. It’s the perfect healthy lunch recipe!

Thai Chicken Quinoa Salad with Soy Lime Dressing is full of flavor and packed with fresh veggies. It's the perfect healthy lunch recipe!

This dish is a riff on two not-quite-as-healthy recipes I shared last summer: Quinoa Pepper Pilaf and Pasta Salad with Sweet Tea Vinaigrette. Both of those recipes have healthy components, but neither is as packed with super foods as this one. From quinoa to edamame to sweet bell peppers, Thai Chicken Quinoa Salad is basically one big bowl of stuff you should be eating all the time.

Don’t let the long list of ingredients intimidate you. The chicken and the quinoa can both be cooking within minutes, and all the vegetables can be prepared while the chicken bakes and the quinoa simmers. After, just shake up the dressing, toss everything together, and enjoy!

Thai Chicken Quinoa Salad with Soy Lime Dressing is full of flavor and packed with fresh veggies. It's the perfect healthy lunch recipe!

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How to Host a Stress-Free Summer Party

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This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #BlockPartyHero #CollectiveBias

Summer gatherings don’t have to be fancy, anxiety-filled affairs. Here’s everything you need to know to host a stress-free summer party.

Summer gatherings don't have to be fancy, anxiety-filled affairs. Here's everything you need to know to host a stress-free summer party.

In theory, hosting fun gatherings is one of the best parts of summer. Good food, good conversation, good weather; cookouts and block parties are iconic for a reason. In reality, though, the execution of those fun summer parties can be more work than they seem to be worth, especially if you’re an introvert like me.

Between prepping the food, putting up decorations, and dealing with cleanup after, sometimes it seems like hosting people at your house just isn’t worth it. Today, I’m sharing my favorite tips for how to host a stress-free summer party. Here’s how you can spend more time with your guests and less time sweating the details.

How to Host a Stress-Free Summer Party

Keep the decorations simple

With the abundance of Pinterest-worthy images bombarding you on all forms of social media, it might seem like a crime to host a party without going all-out with decorations. You could easily spend several hundred dollars, and countless hours, turning your party space into a themed wonderland.

When it comes to stress-free party hosting, though, less is definitely more. Instead of over-the-top opulence, opt for understated elegance. Think fresh flowers- bonus if they’re from your own garden- spread around in fun vases or jars. Not only are they inexpensive to purchase, but you’ll get to enjoy them for days after the party.

Summer gatherings don't have to be fancy, anxiety-filled affairs. Here's everything you need to know to host a stress-free summer party.

Use lots of candles, from big pillars to dainty tea lights. Mix in a few citronella votives to keep the bugs away. If you don’t have many candles, or if you have a larger space, throw up a couple strings of white Christmas lights.

Decorating your space simply, with fresh flowers and cozy candles, will ensure it’s ready for any kind of party you want to host.

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middle eastern quinoa tray bake

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A gluten free one-pot meal, this middle eastern quinoa tray bake is loaded with juicy chicken, rich middle eastern spices, and nutrient-packed quinoa.
A gluten free one-pot meal, this middle eastern quinoa tray bake is loaded with juicy chicken, rich middle eastern spices, and nutrient-packed quinoa.
Hey! The month of July has me crisscrossing the country, from a road trip to Chicago to a plane ride “home” to Oregon. While I’m away, I’ve lined up some awesome guest posts for y’all.  Today, Ruth is here to share a unique one-pot meal.
Hi I’m Ruth from Pea Fritters! I’m a mum who’s a foodie (or a foodie who’s a mum, not sure). I started Pea Fritters to share some inspiration around feeding your family, building healthy food relationships from the early days (I’m a huge fan of Baby Led Weaning) and trying to convert people to the awesomeness that is meal planning. I’m super excited to be guest posting on Winstead Wandering! You can follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.
Can I hear a heck yes for a one dish meal!? I love cooking, but I hate doing the dishes, so anything that I can cook all at once in one pan is an absolute winner in my book. This Middle Eastern Quinoa Tray Bake is one of those winners. It’s also gluten free and dairy free and super easy to bring together. Perfect for a mid-week family meal or if you’re entertaining- absolutely one to add to your weekly meal plan.

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