Crazy about Quinoa!

It's been a while - helllooo!

A short update on my past month:

1) Been doing my 29 Day Giving Challenge for 24 days now!
2) Visited Boston to see my bro and sis this past weekend - ate at awesome Boston veggie restaurants like Veggie Planet, The Other Side (not totally veg, but tons of veggie options), and Peace o' Pie. Yum!
3) Have been working like mad on my NY Farm Animal Sanctuary fundraiser. Are YOU coming?

But back to the point...

I really am crazy about quinoa. And for good reason - aside from being a grain that is naturally high in protein, when cooked right, it just tastes amazing. Nutty, fluffy, and fun to eat, quinoa has become my new favorite side-kick to lunches and dinners. And did I mention it's cheap? Like all whole grains, if you buy it in the bulk section of your favorite grocery store or health food store, you can get a whole lot for just a few bucks. Rockin. 

 
Quinoa!

I just made a quinoa recipe from Alicia Silverstone's stellar book, The Kind Diet, and it was so delish I needed to share it here. It takes about 20 minutes to make, only requires a few ingredients, and is a simple and fun way to introduce quinoa into your diet. I used cashew pieces and added golden raisins to mine, and it came out perfectly. Enjoy! 

Quinoa with Basil and Pine Nuts
from The Kind Diet by Alicia Silverstone
recipe by Alicia Silverstone

Serves 2

1 c. quinoa
pinch of sea salt
1/2 c. pine nuts or cashews
1 tbsp. olive oil
1 generous handful fresh basil leaves, chopped

Place the quinoa in a strainer and rinse well. Combine the quinoa with 2 cups of water and the salt in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes. 

While the quinoa cooks, heat the pine nuts in a small dry skillet over medium heat. Toast until the nuts are just starting to turn golden, about 6 to 7 minutes, shaking the pan frequently to prevent burning. Transfer to a serving bowl to cool. 

Add the quinoa to the serving bowl with the pine nuts and fluff with a fork. Add the olive oil and basil, stir to combine, and serve.

For more information about Alicia Silverstone and The Kind Diet, go to www.thekindlife.com

Comments

CurlyLocks said…
1 - Yes, I'm coming to the NY Farm Animal Sanctuary fundraiser.
2 - The quinoa sounds delicious! Are you using it as a main dish or a side dish? I've thought about trying it. It seems easy enough.
Natalie Would said…
THAT STUFF IS SO GOOD!

I mix it up w/ masala burgers from Trader Joe's when I need a quick meal. YUM!
Lindsay Wolf said…
CurlyLocks - you can do both! I made a lunch today of the quinoa from the recipe, marinated and sauteed portabellos and artichokes, and a side of steamed kale with a little ginger and soy sauce. It was delicious! But tomorrow, I'm going to be doing the quinoa for lunch by itself. I think you can go either way!

And yay for you coming to the fundraiser!
Heather said…
Quinoa is awesome! I have loved the discovery. I replace rice w/ it, I also like it for breakfast. If you take plain Quinoa and a small amount of soy milk and a teaspoon of natural maple syrup - its amazing.