adapted from gluten free goddess
1/2 cup walnuts
1/8 cup sugar
1/2 tablespoon butter
1/2 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1 cup cooked quinoa
3 cups spinach
1 apple, diced
1/4 cup soft cheese (feta or blue or goat)
salt and pepper to taste
Put sugar and butter in a small frying pan on high heat and stir until the sugar begins to melt. Add the walnuts. Once the sugar/butter mixture turns slightly golden brown remove from heat and stir until walnuts are well coated and immediately cool them on a greased pan.
Whisk together the oil, vinegar, and maple syrup and mix it into the quinoa. Top the quinoa with the spinach, apples, walnuts, and cheese. (You can store it this way if you make it ahead of time.) Stir the salad all together when you're ready to eat and salt and pepper to taste.
