In response to last week’s post on the many health benefits of quinoa and call to the new-ingredient-breakfast-eating challenge, we received many calls to action—calls to action-cooking quinoa that is! BUT, there could only be one winner to claim Super Breakfast Bowl Challenge victory! And that winner, determined by a random number generator, is  Carolyn’s quinoa Breakfast

Carolyn, take it away…!!!

I love my quinoa breakfast, which I’ve been eating almost every day for about six months and still look forward to each morning. This makes a batch that’s enough for about a week. I usually eat it cold, sometimes I warm it up. I pour a little plain kefir over it, or milk is good, nut milks are tasty too. It’s just good food, any way you eat it. Besides the wonderful nutritional value of the quinoa, you get a healthy dose of nuts, fruit, cinnamon, and coconut oil. And the combination of the cinnamon and the coconut oil tastes fabulous.

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cups quinoa
• ¾  cup raisins (or to taste)
• ¾ cup chopped cashews or pistachios (or to taste)
• ¾  cup diced apples (or to taste)
• 2 tsp cinnamon (or to taste)
• 1 to 2 Tb coconut oil

Procedure:

Rinse the quinoa thoroughly, and soak overnight in water with a little yogurt added if desired. Put the quinoa with water to cover (quantity of water is not important, since you’ll be draining it later) into a saucepan, bring to a boil, then cover and simmer for 10 minutes. Drain any remaining water, and put the quinoa in a steamer (or just in a sieve over boiling water), steam for an additional 10 minutes. This method produces piles of fluffy quinoa, much better than just boiling in water. Put the warm quinoa in a bowl, add the remaining ingredients, and fluff with a fork. Can be enjoyed warm or cold, with milk, yogurt or kefir or all by itself.

Cheers!

Carolyn Goodwin

Again, CONGRATS Carolyn! Send your mailing address to TheSuperBreakfastBowlChallenge@gmail.com and you’ll be receiving some awesome lip-lickin’ goodies on behalf of Newman’s Own Organics—everything from dried fried to decadent delightful dark chocolate. And, YES this is a nutrition blog … BUT folks if ya don’t know by now, I fully support a daily treat! Come on now … I’m all about the 90:10 “rule”—90% lean, green, mean disease-fighting machine foods—fruits, veggies, whole grains, lean proteins/legumes, healthy fats—and a daily indulgence! So … Carolyn enjoy!

Happy Healthifying!

Corinne at Green Grapes Blog

Okay—perhaps a semi-cheesy title, but hey—after ya read why quinoa should be your new ladle to your pot—or for those who don’t take a liken’ to the kitchen—bread to your sandwich … you’ll see why…

Quinoa, pronounced keen-wah, is a nutritional powerhouse, according to not just I, but the ancient Incas. In fact, quinoa was so highly revered by those from its motherland—South America—that this lil’ protein, fiber-filled nugget was referred to as “the mother grain.” That’s a pretty gosh darn BIG title, if I don’t say so myself!

Today, dozens of foodie-nutrition blogs, health mags, and popular press tout quinoa’s “mother grain” status and often refer to it as “the super grain of the future.” However, I like to think of quinoa as the super grain of all time—past, present, and future (ya know … just to be clear here). But, before we get ahead of ourselves, I must provide you with the disclaimer that although quinoa presents as a grain … it’s actually the seed of the plant, Chenopodium quinoa. This plant is related to beets, chard, and spinach … who knew?!? Okay, I’ll refrain my inner dorkdum…but, really—isn’t that cool?

A Nutrition Lover’s Ode to Quinoa

What makes quinoa so absolutely fantastic is:

• It’s a WHOLE GRAIN! …okay, a whole seed!
• It contains more protein than any other grain or seed!
• It’s a complete protein! Meaning quinoa contains all the essential amino acids, or building blocks, our bodies need to form new proteins and keep our lean, green, mean, disease-fighting machine system in top-notch!
• It’s splashed with a good dose of gut, heart, and healthy- weight lovin’ fiber
• It’s laced with lysine! No—this is NOT somethin’ to worry about! Lysine is an amino acid essential for tissue growth and repair.
• It’s gluten and wheat free—those with wheat/gluten allergies, rejoice!

A Foodie’s Ode to Quinoa

• Its fluffiness accompanied by crunchiness offers up an escape from the ordinary grain.
• Its delicate nutty flavor tantalizes the palate.
• It’s a pretty cheap tasty health food!
• Although mellow yellow is the most popular variety, quinoa exists in many different colors,  including orange, pink, yellow, purple, and black.  Get lookin’ for it and experiment with color in the kitchen!
• It’s versatile! Quinoa can be used in soups, salads, breads, puddings, breakfast cereal—you name it, and I betcha quinoa can do it!
• Quinoa will adjust to your foodie schedule. It can be cooked in a pinch–in the microwave—or with more time—on the stovetop.

Now, for a lil’ Super Breakfast Bowl Challenge Fun!

Today, we’re eating breakfast and lickin’ up new b-fast duds while we’re at it! The new b-fast food today is—can you guess?!?—quinoa! Now, I usually dig my quinoa ensconced in a smattering of veggies… at dinner time (I tell ya, I’m addicted to my oats), but NOP—not today my friends. See—even I had to challenge myself! Today, I had to get creative … so, I thought of what flavors, textures, and smells jive together. And, by-gosh-by-golly-gee … I think I got a winner!

Cinnamon-Cran Quinoa

Servings per recipe: 1

Prep Time: 3 minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup quinoa
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/4 Tablespoon of Cinnamon
• 1 Light Laughing Original Cow Wedge
• 1/4 cup dried sweetened cranberries
• 1 tablespoon of honey or brown sugar

Directions:

• Cook quinoa (microwave for 4-5 minutes in 1/2 cup water. If  heating on stovetop, follow package instructions. Generally, the ratio of quinoa to water is kept to a 1:2 ratio)
• When done cooking and still hot, add the Light Laughing Cow Wedge to the Quinoa and stir until creamy and dissolving
• Add cranberries, cinnamon, and honey or brown sugar to the mix and stir!
• Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts per Serving: 338 calories, 4 grams fat, 70 grams carbohydrate, 10 grams protein, 5 grams fiber

Step Up & Send in Your Quinoa Breakfasty Goodness!

If Ms. Healthy in a Skillet (aka yours truly) can whip something up, you can too! AND—I want to see watcha got! So … send in your quinoa breakfast duds by Wednesday, February 17th  to TheSuperBreakfastBowlChallenge@gmail.com along with a picture of your FAB dish and its recipe! If ya win, not only will YOU be featured on all 5 of our blogs, BUT you’ll get a bunch of Newman’s Own Organics products—everything from delicious, decadent, dark chocolate to dried fruit to super sassy soy crisps!

Looking forward to your Quinoa Recipes!

Happy Healthifying!

Corinne at Green Grapes Blog