Warm Quinoa and Roasted Cauliflower with Balsamic-Tahini Dressing

It's back to work and school. Dave just started back into his Masters classes, every Thursday night he's not home ... which means I feel not an ounce of guilt when I make a meatless dinner. 

Another recipe with tahini in it. I don't know what it is, but there is something so addicting about the flavour. I love the concept of mixing quinoa with any roasted veggie, tossing it in a dressing and adding cheese and other yummy toppings. It is pretty healthy for being so comforting. This recipe can basically be a choose your own adventure - I often roast sweet potato and mushrooms along with the cauliflower. And then instead of the feta and pea shoots you could do anything (goat cheese, walnuts, sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds etc). To me, it's more then satisfying as a meal, but you could add a chicken breast to the top or maybe some chickpeas if you insist.

Fried Halloumi on Kale and Brussels with Tahini-Soy Dressing

I tried to come up with the most trendy salad possible, and this is what resulted. Kidding, kind of. Kale, brussels sprouts, pumpkin seeds, Tahini. I have never been a veggie lover, and certainly not a salad lover, but with the right dressing and some cheese, I can be convinced. If you've never tried a dressing made with tahini, you must.

Finding Tahini (a sesame paste) can be a bit difficult. On my most recent trip to Superstore I found it in two places: the health food/organic food isle with the other nut butters, and also in the international food sections, with other middle eastern foods. Halloumi is easy to find now, it's with all the fancier cheeses. 

This salad can be a little too intense in the greens department for a main dish - but that's how we ate it on a Monday after a bit of weekend excess. So if you feel like being super healthy, have it as a main, otherwise it would be a good side dish with something that doesn't require so much chewing.

If you want it to be a really quick salad - use any cheese and just crumble it into the salad instead of the Halloumi. You could use any nut in place of the pumpkin seeds and not worry about roasting them.