cooking with quinoa.
I'm sure that just like every year, everyone and their mother's New Years resolution is to get in shape and eat healthy.
It would be quite rude of me to start this year's food section off by baking some heavenly brownies. You would be forced to stare at them, letting out little innocent whimpers. I guess that goal to keep at least a 100 foot radius between yourself and the nearest baked good is becoming, well, irrational.
ANYWAYS, I have good news for all you health food lovers out there! I've prepared us all a healthy dinner featuring one of my new favorite things... quinoa!
Have you heard of it? It has been popping up all over my Pinterest news feed for quite a while now. I've decided to take a step forward and research this for myself. Should I add some quinoa to my diet? Let's see what I discovered...
According to this website, quinoa is a nutrient rich grain full of fiber, protein and healthy-fats. It is also a great source of antioxidants. It's claim to fame is the all of the anti-inflammatory benefits. Since this grain is just now becoming much more popular, tests for the effect on cardiovascular health and diabetes will probably be seen in the near future.
Quinoa isn't your average grain. It doesn't fall into the same cereal grass category as barley, rye, wheat, and oats. In fact, it's in the same family as spinach.
Here's my take on this South American dish.
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Southwestern Quinoa.
My spin on this recipe.
1 tsp vegetable oil.
3/4 cup uncooked quinoa
1/4 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1 1/2 cups vegetable broth
1/4 tsp chili powder
1 tsp ground cumin
Salt and pepper (just to taste)
1 cup frozen corn kernels
1 (15 oz.) can black beans - drained & rinsed
Heat up a medium sized skillet at medium heat. Drizzle vegetable oil and add quinoa. Pour in vegetable broth (it looks like a lot in the pan, but it will dissolve!). Sprinkle in the ground cumin, chili powder, salt and pepper. Stir it together. Reduce to low heat and let sit, covered, for 20 minutes. After the 20 minutes there shouldn't be any broth left undissolved. Stir in the frozen corn and black beans and let sit for 5 minutes. You are now ready to serve!
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So there you go! You now know how to make this delicious (& healthy) dish! I served it with a side salad and cornbread, but that is totally optional. I'm sure you'll love it!
For a little dessert, my brother and I made gingerbread men. But not just any gingerbread men. One Direction gingerbread men (in honor of the Kiss You music video). Aren't they precious?
For a little dessert, my brother and I made gingerbread men. But not just any gingerbread men. One Direction gingerbread men (in honor of the Kiss You music video). Aren't they precious?
Haven't seen the Kiss You music video? Check it out below!
Don't forget to give me a follow! It means a lot!
Much Love!
Sydney
