Quinoa the SUPERGRAIN

Okay, so my blog is turning into a cookbook - but I love to cook and we have to eat (something else I love to do) so I try things and then want to share with all my friends.

Our First SUPER GRAIN! Quinoa

Quinoa (Keen-Wah) comes in three colors, white, red and black. You've probably heard that you should eat whole grains, but try the gluten free grain-like seed called "quinoa" instead of wheat. "Quin-WHAT?" is not a grain; it is actually a seed and related to the spinach family. When cooked, quinoa is light, fluffy, slightly crunchy and subtly flavored. It actually cooks and tastes like a grain, making it an excellent replacement for grains that are difficult to digest. But its flavor is only part of why quinoa is such an amazing "supergrain."


Some of the nutrients in quinoa include:

Complete protein. Quinoa contains all 9 essential amino acids that are required by the body as building blocks for muscles.

Magnesium helps relax your muscles and blood vessels and effects blood pressure. Quinoa contains high levels of this vital nutrient.

Fiber. Quinoa is a wonderful way to ensure that you consume valuable fiber that eases elimination and tones your colon.

Manganese and copper. Quinoa is a good source of these minerals that act as antioxidants in your body to get rid of dangerous cancer and disease-causing substances.

Compared to other grains, quinoa is higher in calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, iron, copper, manganese, and zinc than wheat, barley, or corn.

Quinoa is close to one of the most complete foods in nature because it contains amino acids, enzymes, vitamins and minerals, fiber, antioxidants, and phytonutrients.

Quinoa in the Kitchen
Quinoa is especially easy to cook and can be enjoyed year-round because it's versatile and light. You can use it in warming winter soups or refreshing summer salads.

Make sure you rinse your quinoa and then soak for at least 8 hours to remove the phytic acid that can prevent proper digestion.

Quinoa is prepared by simmering in water 1 part quinoa to 2 parts water (1 cup of quinoa to 2 cups of water) until water is absorbed about 15 minutes. The texture of quinoa is much like that of al dente pasta or of brown rice. Added to brown rice, ground meat/turkey and it was hard to tell. The flavor is a little 'nutty' and quite pleasant.

Here are some ideas for your next quinoa meal:

• Saute garlic, onions, and spinach with coconut oil to top your quinoa.
• Make a summery salad by chopping raw carrots, zucchini, cultured vegetables, and onions over quinoa.
• Use quinoa with vegetable broth and your choice of vegetables for a nutritious soup.
• I cooked up a cup of quinoa and used some of it tonight and put the rest into snack sized ziplocs and stuck it in the freezer where it's supposed to be good for 6 months. To anything with ground beef I'm adding 1/2 cup of Quinoa. I've done this to Taco Salad and Sloppy Joes, Meatloaf, and Spaghetti. Spaghetti sauce is a great place to hide grains and veggies. Even to bottled sauce you can add zucchini, carrots, quinoa, - just simmer and then throw in the blender when everything is soft.
• It is also recommend eating quinoa in the evening. It is the ideal easy-to-digest food to eat in the evening because it encourages a good night's sleep.
  

Quinoa can be your superfood: regulating your blood sugar, enhancing elimination, and keeping your heart healthy. Add this "mother grain" to your diet and enjoy the health benefits of quinoa.

Fiesta Lasagna

Fiesta Lasagna

1 lb ground beef or turkey
¼ cup chopped onion
1 (16 oz) can refried beans
1 (15 oz) can mild chili beans
1 (14 oz) can Mexican stewed tomatoes
1 cup salsa
1 (4 oz) can chopped green chilies
1 envelope taco seasoning
1 t. oregano
1 t. cumin
¼ t. garlic powder
1 ¼ cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1 ¼ cup shredded mozzarella
¾ cup cottage cheese
1 ¼ cup sour cream
9 lasagna noodles, cooked (I used no-cook noodles)

Brown meat and onion. Stir in beans, tomatoes, salsa, chilies and seasonings. In a bowl, combine cheeses (not cottage cheese); set aside 1 ½ cup. Stir cottage cheese and ¾ cup sour cream into remaining cheese mixture. Layer noodles, meat and cheese. Cover and Bake at 350 for 1 hour. Uncover spread with remaining sour cream. Sprinkle with reserved cheeses and bake 10-12 minutes or until cheese is melted.

I halved this recipe and it was the perfect size. Full recipe will make a HUGE lasagna! It was so good! It looks like a lot of ingredients - but I bet you have most of them in your pantry and fridge already!

Enjoy!

Izzie's bath towel

This is our clean girl! She looked so cute in her flower towel that I had to take some pictures. A Christmas gift from her Aunt Kazia -thank you!

Oh ya.....Matthew had to use it too and he didn't look as cute as Izzie.

Blogging in slow motion

THANKS Janet!

Here's to Janet for helping with my blog. I owe you a drink! Sonic here we come! It is still a work in progress, but I am trying to improve my blog - very slowly. I need more time! AHHH!

Try it - you will NEVER know!

If you love dark chocolate or just chocolate you will LOVE this. Plus it is so easy to make and you will never know. I tested out John and Matthew and they had NO CLUE it was made with Tofu. Matthew couldn't get enough of it. To make it even more special add fat free whipped cream!

Tofu Mousse

Makes 4 servings

One package silken tofu (don't get the firm stuff)
2 tsp. pure vanilla
12 oz. semi-sweet or bittersweet chocolate (chips or bars) (I used semi-sweet)
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In a bowl of a food processor, puree tofu until completely smooth. Add vanilla, scraping the sides of the bowl to make sure everything is combined. In the microwave, melt chocolate, stirring every 30 seconds to make sure it doesn't scorch. Add melted chocolate to tofu mixture and process until smooth and thick. Divide mousse into four ramekins and allow to set in the refrigerator for at least one hour.

Tofu mousse is one of those recipes. Tofu mousse? Yep, tofu. Not only can you not tell that the base is made out of silken tofu, rather than eggs and cream, but the best thing about it is the texture. I think the texture is even better than the real thing -- it is lighter and fluffier.
Besides being low in fat, the recipe has no added sugar, and if you use bittersweet chocolate, there will be even less actual sugar in your mousse.

Potty on the Potty --PLEASE!!!

We are trying to potty train Matthew. So far no luck. I bought the books on training, we talk about it, we bought cute car underwear and so far I am getting nothing but more dirty diapers to change. Matthew turns 3 in March and I think it is time he learns to use the big boy potty. Especially when he is telling me he is peeing or pooping in his diaper. He thinks the potty is a evil thing. So we bought him a little potty of his own. And I hate that thing-it is so small and I have to clean out what goes in there! Yuck! And he still doesn't want to sit on it. Why is this so hard? I will probably have Izzie potty trained before Matthew.

Christmas and New Years

We had a very low key Christmas and loved it. Matthew made out like a bandit. And Izzie got a few toys. Good thing she doesn't care! New Year's was nice, we had a few friends over and some of my in-laws. We even made it to MIDNIGHT! Then I got the stomach flu and hated the rest of the weekend! Yucky sickness!