Peruvian Asparagus: I buy Quinoa, Not Asparagus, From Peru

I fell in love with asparagus about 25 years ago when my friend's mother wouldn't listen to my protests that I did not like asparagus. She said that only people who haven't tried fresh asparagus are so sure they won't like it. Most likely I had never had it cooked properly.

That turned out to be true for me, and five years later I echoed those words to my then husband during the first spring of our marriage.

Was I trying to kill him?

He tried to tell me he was allergic to asparagus.

He said asparagus had put him in the hospital.

Really? When?

My bulls**t detector must have been spot on in those days because I called his bluff.

Go ahead, show me what this allergic reaction looks like. 

One taste and he was hooked on asparagus too.

BTW, you should never tell someone to eat something to which they are allergic just to see what the reaction looks like. In this instance, I knew I was being teased.

Asparagus in the 90's

When my kids were young, we all loved asparagus. I remember I used to wait for the asparagus to come in season so for a few weeks we could eat what would be an extravagance any other time of the year. I would watch the price fall from $4 or even $5 per pound to just 99 cents per pound at peak season. I would hope the boys hadn't forgotten how much they loved asparagus a year ago.

Of course, when I served it, I would think - Who cares if you don't want some? More asparagus for me.

Peruvian Asparagus

Over the past decade, factory farms have been cultivating asparagus in Peru that is then shipped to the US and UK. In this new global economy, asparagus is available year round and the price has stabilized. Gone are the wild fluctuations in price and availability, and now asparagus shows up in recipes and on restaurant menus regardless of the season.

I recently learned though, that this availability comes at two great costs:

1. Peru suffers because these asparagus farms are draining the water from the land.

Factory farms have bought up water rights exceeding what can be replenished. The water is used to grow asparagus, so it isn't available for the small farmers who then have to buy water.

Hey, wasn't this in a recent James Bond movie? Yes, but the country was Bolivia.

2. American asparagus farmers suffer because Peruvian asparagus farms are able to undercut their prices during the spring asparagus season, forcing American farmers out of the asparagus business.

I have no beef with Peru in general.

I love quinoa. I love Peruvian quinoa. I understand that quinoa probably doesn't grow on the same land that suits asparagus farming, and I don't have any answers to offer the Peruvian people employed by the asparagus farms.

To my mind a water thrifty crop like quinoa makes a lot more sense for a country with a falling water table. I can justify to myself buying quinoa from Peru.

But ever since I learned about the water situation, American asparagus is the only asparagus that it makes sense for me to buy.

Did you know if you aren’t subscribing to How Do You Cook Quinoa? at the new domain, you risk missing out on new posts and quinoa recipes? Not mention the upcoming quinoa contest. Subscribe today and learn tasty new ways to enjoy quinoa along with other exciting (and sometimes exotic) ingredients.

Subscribe in a reader

Subscribe to How Do You Cook Quinoa? by Email

You may also follow @keenonquinoa on Twitter.

Rosanne Cash Quinoa Tweet

I am starting a new category on the blog I call "celebrity quinoa" where I will highlight any celebrity connections or references to quinoa.

Rosanne Cash tweeted today about her first experience with quinoa, cooked with cranberries and scallions.

I tweeted back to Ms. Cash that she could visit my blog for quinoa recipes and she responded. Apparently Ms. Cash is an active tweeter and responsive to her following.

I don't know if that means she stopped by my blog, but I like the warm feeling I get thinking that Rosanne Cash tweeted directly to me. Social media works.

And who knows? Maybe some day Ms. Cash will stop by and share her quinoa recipe.

note added 3/17/11 - One month later, Rosanne Cash shared her Quinoa Carrot Cake recipe.

Did you know if you aren’t subscribing to How Do You Cook Quinoa? at the new domain, you risk missing out on new posts and quinoa recipes? Not mention the upcoming quinoa contest. Subscribe today and learn tasty new ways to enjoy quinoa along with other exciting (and sometimes exotic) ingredients.

Subscribe in a reader

Subscribe to How Do You Cook Quinoa? by Email

You may also follow @keenonquinoa on Twitter.

Easy Quinoa Salad

After soaking quinoa overnight, I tweeted to see if anyone had a good recipe.

@waterlilyto tweeted an easy salad recipe that looked perfect, so I went to the store to get some canned beans and cilantro.

One of my sons won't eat black beans, so I bought light kidney beans instead. Didn't he then take one look at the salad and declare he doesn't like kidney beans?

Wrong answer, buddy. You can only hate one bean at a time in my house.

I substituted rice vinegar because I bought it last week and I am not going to rush out and buy another vinegar any time soon.

I forgot the corn. I didn't realize my omission until we were eating.

Easy Quinoa Salad

1 cup dry quinoa, soaked overnight (about 2 cups)
1 can light kidney beans
1 can chickpeas
1/4 cup chopped sweet onions
1/4 cup chopped bell pepper
1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
2 tsps rice vinegar
2 tsps olive oil
Juice of one large lime
Salt and pepper to taste

Large lime and penny

Drain and discard the liquid from the bean cans and rinse the beans. Mix all the ingredients together in one bowl and then let it rest about fifteen minutes before eating.

Could it be any easier? Not without eliminating the fresh ingredients that make it taste so good.

The quinoa has a crunchy quality prepared this way that works well with the crisp vegetables and soft beans. If you prefer to use cooked quinoa, 2 or 3 cups of cooked and cooled quinoa should work well in this recipe.

Ceviche Quinoa

My son, the one who now hates black and kidney beans, loved the flavors of this salad and kept calling it ceviche. I had never heard of ceviche, but a Wikipedia search shows this seafood dish originated in Peru. This makes these seasonings seem somehow true to the heritage of quinoa to me, even though there was no seafood in the dish.

Please comment with your recipes for soaked quinoa and let me know if you tried making this easy quinoa salad.

Did you know if you aren’t subscribing to How Do You Cook Quinoa? at the new domain, you risk missing out on new posts and quinoa recipes? Not mention the upcoming quinoa contest. Subscribe today and learn tasty new ways to enjoy quinoa along with other exciting (and sometimes exotic) ingredients.

Subscribe in a reader

Subscribe to How Do You Cook Quinoa? by Email

You may also follow @keenonquinoa on Twitter.

Soaking Quinoa

Some people recommend soaking quinoa every time you cook with it. Personally, I find that as long as I rinse the quinoa before I use it, I do not have any problems with bitterness or digestive upset, so I do not bother soaking quinoa that I will cook.

However, I have been interested in preparing quinoa to eat raw. There are two ways to prepare quinoa raw:

1. Soak the quinoa overnight to make a nutty, crunchy salad base.
2. Sprout the quinoa to make a sprout salad.

Soaking Quinoa

I soaked quinoa for the first time over the weekend.

To begin, I rinsed the quinoa using my plastic strainer.

Then I put the seeds in a bowl, covered them with about 3/4 of an inch of water, and placed the bowl in the refrigerator overnight. Most sources recommended soaking quinoa for 12-14 hours - I wound up soaking it about 18 hours before I made my salad.

I drained the water from the quinoa using my strainer again, and rinsed away the soapy residue on the seeds.

I measured the quinoa before I made the salad. After soaking, quinoa had doubled in size, going from 1 cup to 2 cups. This quinoa had a chewing texture somewhat similar to chopped walnuts - nutty but easy on the teeth. The seeds still looked very much as they did dry.

I am very interested in learning different ways to use soaked quinoa in my kitchen. I wonder if it can be used in cookies or if the quinoa would change when baked.

You can see the salad I made after soaking quinoa here ==> Easy Quinoa Salad.

Did you know if you aren’t subscribing to How Do You Cook Quinoa? at the new domain, you risk missing out on new posts and quinoa recipes? Not mention the upcoming quinoa contest. Subscribe today and learn tasty new ways to enjoy quinoa along with other exciting (and sometimes exotic) ingredients.

Subscribe in a reader

Subscribe to How Do You Cook Quinoa? by Email

You may also follow @keenonquinoa on Twitter.

Crock Pot Quinoa Lentil Stew For a Crowd

This may be the best dish I have ever cooked. Heavily seasoned with Indian spices, this stew cooks very quickly for a crock pot meal (just 6 hours on low) and fills your home with the warm scent of cinnamon.

Seriously, I think you could cook camel dung with this recipe and it would taste fantastic.

I don't have a photo of the resulting stew, so you will just have to take my word for it.

This recipe was inspired by Quinoa Red Lentil Stew on Savvy Vegetarian. I used regular lentils because red lentils were the most expensive legume at my local supermarket.

Crock Pot Quinoa Lentil Stew For a Crowd

Lentils

1 1/2 cups lentils
1 cup quinoa
2 tbsp olive oil
2 cups cut up carrots
1 cup cut up celery
2 cups cut up summer squash
1 cup cut up broccoli
2 bay leaves
2 sticks of cinnamon (about 2-3 inches long)
Several thin slices of fresh ginger
3 cloves of garlic, pressed or minced
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp curry
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp Italian seasoning
1 tsp marjoram
1/2 tsp rosemary
12 cups of water or broth

Wash the lentils and inspect for pebbles. Rinse the quinoa. Place the lentils and quinoa in the crock pot. Split carrots lengthwise and cut into pieces about 2 inches long and a 1/4 inch thick. Cut celery into chunks about 1/2 inch thick. Slice summer squash into 3/4 inch rounds and then dice. Chop broccoli stalks and cut the florets into bite size pieces. Add vegetables to slow cooker.

Mince garlic and slice ginger. Add to the stew with the spices and herbs. Pour in water or broth. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours.

I doubled the original recipe to fill my 10 qt slow cooker. I used water, not broth. I used carrots, celery, summer squash, and broccoli, but you could use just about any vegetables you have on hand. If they are already cooked, save them and add to the stew about 20 minutes before serving.

I also used a different variety of spices from the original recipe. I feel  it just isn't worth the money to buy too many spices for a new recipe. And it's not green to keep buying new herbs and not using up the ones you have on hand.

I got a good deal on cinnamon sticks due to it being the fall season, and I bought fresh ginger and garlic. But I exercised some liberty by substituting a premixed "curry" for turmeric and coriander and an Italian seasoning blend for basil and thyme. I hope you allow yourself some liberty as well and make this recipe your own.

Did you know if you aren’t subscribing to How Do You Cook Quinoa? at the new domain, you risk missing out on new posts and quinoa recipes? Not mention the upcoming quinoa contest. Subscribe today and learn tasty new ways to enjoy quinoa along with other exciting (and sometimes exotic) ingredients.

Subscribe in a reader

Subscribe to How Do You Cook Quinoa? by Email

You may also follow @keenonquinoa on Twitter.

Delicata Squash Stuffed with Red Quinoa

I had a lot of red quinoa stuffing left after I made the Quinoa Chiles Rellenos the other day. I decided to stuff a delicata squash I had on hand.

In a classic case of photo fail, I neglected to get side shot of the delicata squash, so I cannot show you how beautiful it looked.

Delicata Squash Stuffed with Red Quinoa

1 medium delicata squash
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp honey
2-3 cups of red quinoa stuffing
1/4 cup cheddar cheese

Preheat the oven to 375º.

Split the squash, clean out the seeds and guts. (I save the seeds for toasting and tossing on salads.)

Put the squash in a casserole dish cut side up with a 1/2 inch of water in dish.

Sprinkle with salt and drizzle with honey.

Cover with foil and bake 30 - 45 minuntes, until squash is fork tender.

Remove from oven and fill squash with stuffing.

Return to oven and bake uncovered for 15 minutes.

Sprinkle with cheese and return to oven for 5 minutes until cheese is melted.

Did you know if you aren’t subscribing to How Do You Cook Quinoa? at the new domain, you risk missing out on new posts and quinoa recipes? Not mention the upcoming quinoa contest. Subscribe today and learn tasty new ways to enjoy quinoa along with other exciting (and sometimes exotic) ingredients.

Subscribe in a reader

Subscribe to How Do You Cook Quinoa? by Email

You may also follow @keenonquinoa on Twitter.

Red Quinoa Stuffing

This is the stuffing I used in Quinoa Chiles Rellenos.

Red Quinoa Stuffing

1 cup red quinoa, rinsed
2 cups water or broth
1/2 tsp chili powder
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
salt as desired
1 tbsp olive oil
1 cup diced carrots
1 cup frozen corn
1/2 cup green onions sliced on the diagonal
1 cup grated cheddar cheese, divided


Bring the quinoa, water, spices and salt to a boil.

Reduce heat and simmer 15 minutes.

Heat the olive oil in a skillet and add carrots. Cover and cook 2 minutes.

Add corn and onions and saute uncovered for 2 minutes to thaw the corn.

Stir the vegetables and 1/2 cup of cheese into the finished quinoa.

Makes 5 cups of stuffing for peppers or squash with 1/2 cup cheese remaining to sprinkle on top before baking.

You can also spread stuffing in casserole dish and heat 10 minutes at 400º.

You can prepare this stuffing ahead and then reheat in 350º oven for half hour. Sprinkle cheese on for last 5 minutes of baking.

I used this stuffing to stuff delicata squash.

Did you know if you aren’t subscribing to How Do You Cook Quinoa? at the new domain, you risk missing out on new posts and quinoa recipes? Not mention the upcoming quinoa contest. Subscribe today and learn tasty new ways to enjoy quinoa along with other exciting (and sometimes exotic) ingredients.

Subscribe in a reader

Subscribe to How Do You Cook Quinoa? by Email

You may also follow @keenonquinoa on Twitter.

Quinoa Chiles Rellenos

I am of the opinion that when you find a new recipe that calls for several new ingredients that you don't already have in your kitchen, it's a good idea to substitute some things you already have to keep the price reasonable and to avoid a cupboard full of one off ingredients you don't like or aren't sure how to use.

Of course, you risk not creating exactly what the author intended.

Quinoa Chiles Rellenos

I cooked these poblano chilies with red quinoa stuffing recipe loosely following the quinoa Chiles Rellenos recipe that ran on the Dallas Morning News site last week. `

How Much Quinoa Stuffing Do You Need?

This recipe makes much more stuffing than necessary for four peppers. I could have halved the recipe and still I would have had leftovers. If you make this, either cut the stuffing in half or buy about ten chilies to stuff.

I was somewhat disappointed with my results. Probably my fault, I tinkered with the recipe. I was afraid the stuffing wouldn't have enough flavor, so I added 1/2 teaspoon of chili powder and 1/4 tsp of cayenne pepper to the quinoa. The stuffing was fantastic but with the poblanos it was too hot for our palates. We scooped out the stuffing and left the peppers uneaten. (I know, damn yankee.)

Peel Me a Poblano

Charring the skins takes a long time. I don't know if it would have gone quicker on a grill, or if I should have had the skillet hotter, but I spent fifteen minutes charring them and they still weren't easy to peel in places. Not sure I ever plan to try that again.

I also did not care for the diced carrots blanched. Next time I would saute them with the corn (didn't have peas on hand) and the green onions.

Smoked Cheese On My Mind

I looked in the specialty cheese case at my local supermarket and I could not find scamorza cheese. I can understand the opinion that there is no good substitute for this cheese. I have felt that way about smoked provolone ever since I moved away from Pennsylvania and I cannot find it in Massachusetts stores. Meatball subs don't taste right to me without smoked provolone.

To get back to the quinoa chiles rellenos, I used my usual Vermont sharp cheddar instead of a smoked mozzerella.

I skipped the sausage because that's how I roll these days. :-) Just as well, I would have had another cup of stuffing leftover.

This is how everything looked before I stirred it together.

Very colorful and aromatic.

Would I Do It Again?

When I think of Chiles Rellenos, I think of something swimming in white sauce or cheese, so this recipe didn't move me (though I bet with the scamorza and the sausage, it would have been a treat.)

One of my sons says he prefers the red quinoa, so I will be cooking with it again. I used the leftover stuffing to stuff delicata squash. I will make this red quinoa stuffing recipe again, though I likely won't stuff poblanos with it.

Did you know if you aren’t subscribing to How Do You Cook Quinoa? at the new domain, you risk missing out on new posts and quinoa recipes? Not mention the upcoming quinoa contest. Subscribe today and learn tasty new ways to enjoy quinoa along with other exciting (and sometimes exotic) ingredients.

Subscribe in a reader

Subscribe to How Do You Cook Quinoa? by Email

You may also follow @keenonquinoa on Twitter.

Quinoa: Calories Don't Tell the Whole Story

There's a tweet circulating today from @EatThisNotThat. I trust they are trying to teach us to make educated decisions about the food we eat.

I suppose they mean well.

However, having appointed myself defender of all things quinoa, I felt I must respond to this tweet. You can see I needed more than 140 characters.

This tweet lists quinoa in the top position and with an exclamation point. One might infer that all other things being equal, quinoa would be the worst choice on the list.

BUT

all things are not equal, not all calories are created equal.

red quinoa on scale

Yes, it is true you must eat fewer calories than your body uses each day if you want to lose weight. You have to be aware of the calories in the food you eat and you have to make choices.

Once you start counting calories it becomes even more important to consider the whole package you get with your calories. If you eat fewer calories, you have to be more careful about filling those calories with the nutrition you need.

Quinoa Calories and Nutrition

I went to the USDA nutrition database to make a few comparisons. You might think from the list in the tweet that brown rice (216 calories) and quinoa (222 calories) are interchangeable, but quinoa has 80% more protein and nearly 50% more fiber for about the same calories. Plus the quinoa cooks in less than half the time of brown rice, making it a better choice for many households.

Yes, a cup of bulgur has about 2/3 the calories of a cup of quinoa, but it also has about 2/3 the protein, 1/2 the magnesium, and 1/4 the phosphorus. When I look at quinoa's total nutritional profile, I know that the more quinoa I include in my diet, the more calories I can safely cut without making nutritional sacrifices.

I could point out that oatmeal has significantly less protein, calcium, iron, but you get the point. Besides, when was the last time you served beans and oatmeal?

Quinoa Afternoon Snack

My son got off work a little early today and came home hungry. Knowing it was too early to expect supper, he asked how to make more Salsa Quinoa Con Queso. (No, he doesn't read the blog, just eats the food.)

I told him he would have to make the quinoa from scratch because I didn't have any leftover quinoa. He was game (this stuff is that good) and twenty minutes later we all had a tasty snack that will tide us over until dinner. He did not bother putting it in the oven, just mixed all the ingredients together once the quinoa was cooked. He was light on the salsa because we didn't have much left in the jar.

I can't think of anything more nutritious that would go over so well with teenagers. So easy they can make it themselves.

Remember when you are counting calories, you need to make those calories count.

Quinoa calories are packed with the nutrition that helps me make the most of the carbs I consume.

Did you know if you aren’t subscribing to How Do You Cook Quinoa? at the new domain, you risk missing out on new posts and quinoa recipes? Not mention the upcoming quinoa contest. Subscribe today and learn tasty new ways to enjoy quinoa along with other exciting (and sometimes exotic) ingredients.

Subscribe in a reader

Subscribe to How Do You Cook Quinoa? by Email

You may also follow @keenonquinoa on Twitter.

Turmeric Red and White Quinoa With Mint

I had some colorful fun with my quinoa over the weekend. I wanted to use the red quinoa I bought last week, but had no particular red quinoa dish in mind. Then I remembered a new bottle of turmeric and I started to think how pretty turmeric quinoa would be with the red to offset it.

Turmeric Red and White Quinoa With Mint 

1 tbsp of red quinoa
Enough white quinoa to measure 1 cup total
1 3/4 cup water or stock
1/2 tsp turmeric
1/2 tsp salt
2/3 oz (roughly 1 cup) mint leaves chopped fine.

I put the tablespoon of red quinoa into a cup and then filled the rest of the cup with white quinoa. I tried cooking the quinoa with a little less liquid than a straight 2:1 ratio, and I like the texture of the quinoa better this way. I used water and stirred in the turmeric and salt before bringing to a boil.

I simmered the quinoa for 15 minutes.

All the water was absorbed, so I stirred in the mint leaves and let the pot of quinoa sit, covered, for about three minutes before serving.

I served this pilaf with vibrant vegetables (summer and zucchini squashes, red bell pepper, onion) sauteed with garlic and ginger.

Very delicious, aromatic, and visually appealing dish!

Did you know if you aren’t subscribing to How Do You Cook Quinoa? at the new domain, you risk missing out on new posts and quinoa recipes? Not mention the upcoming quinoa contest. Subscribe today and learn tasty new ways to enjoy quinoa along with other exciting (and sometimes exotic) ingredients.

Subscribe in a reader

Subscribe to How Do You Cook Quinoa? by Email

You may also follow @keenonquinoa on Twitter.

Green Egg and Mushroom Quinoa

Oh yeah, look at that baby. Your mouth is watering.

I received inspiration for today's lunch in the form of a tweet.

I checked out the recipe and thought I still have plenty of leftover quinoa on hand. No Swiss chard, but I do have baby spinach. And I have been craving eggs all morning.

From there Julie's Green Eggs & Quinoa morphed into this outstanding lunch.

Green Egg and Mushroom Quinoa

1 cup cooked quinoa
1 cup sliced mushrooms
1/2 cup baby spinach leaves
1 egg
1 tsp Parmesan cheese.

Put the quinoa, mushrooms and spinach in a medium hot non-stick skillet with a tablespoon of water. Cover for about three minutes to wilt the greens.

Stir it up, shape the quinoa, make a well.

Drop an egg in the well, cover pan and cook on medium-low for 5 minutes to set the egg.

Remove from pan with a spatula and spoon any loose quinoa from pan to plate.

Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

Wow, just telling you about this makes me think I will have to cook this again for supper. YUM. The quinoa crisps on the edges and the mushrooms soften but retain their shape. Just a little bit of cheese adds aroma and flavor without overpowering the dish.

Did you know if you aren’t subscribing to How Do You Cook Quinoa? at the new domain, you risk missing out on new posts and quinoa recipes? Not mention the upcoming quinoa contest. Subscribe today and learn tasty new ways to enjoy quinoa along with other exciting (and sometimes exotic) ingredients.

Subscribe in a reader

Subscribe to How Do You Cook Quinoa? by Email

You may also follow @keenonquinoa on Twitter.

Natural Products East Expo 2010 Boston - This Week

I found out about this trade show over the weekend.

Natural Products East Expo 2010 Boston October 14-16

Unfortunately, I missed the deadline for free registration and I would have to scramble to meet the criteria for admission on such short notice. (This expo is not open to the public. You must prove you are a natural products professional.)

Andean Naturals

If I had gone to the expo, I would have visited the Andean Naturals booth. They are bringing quinoa farmers from Bolivia who will be available to answer questions. I even prepared a few questions I am now saving for another day:

• How many pounds of quinoa seed are produced per acre?
• What non-organic methods do some quinoa farmers employ? Of what should the buyer beware?
• How do you cook quinoa? :-)

Andean Naturals news mentions their farmers' coop was Fair Trade certified in May and they have launched La Yapa Fair Trade Quinoa.

If you would like to learn more about the planting, growing, and harvesting of quinoa, the Andean Naturals site has three great quinoa photo albums worthy of a look.


Quinoa 365: The Everyday Superfood

Authors Patricia Green and Carolyn Hemming are slated to sign their book at the expo, but I can't see the events schedule for a time without registering to attend. I wonder if they will appear anywhere else in the Boston area this weekend, as I would like to meet them.

Are you attending the Natural Products East Expo 2010 Boston?

Did you know if you aren’t subscribing to How Do You Cook Quinoa? at the new domain, you risk missing out on new posts and quinoa recipes? Not mention the upcoming quinoa contest. Subscribe today and learn tasty new ways to enjoy quinoa along with other exciting (and sometimes exotic) ingredients.

Subscribe in a reader

Subscribe to How Do You Cook Quinoa? by Email

You may also follow @keenonquinoa on Twitter.

Salsa Quinoa Con Queso

What can you do with leftover quinoa? 

Okay, I'll admit I came up with a rather fancy name for this next day remix. I had several cups of leftover quinoa from last night and I decided to fix a side dish with some of the quinoa the way I often fix refried beans. This is so easy, all you need is your favorite salsa and some cheese.

Salsa Quinoa Con Queso

1 1/2 cups of leftover quinoa
1/3 cup salsa (my personal favorite is ChiChi's medium salsa)
2 slices of American cheese

I mixed the quinoa and the salsa together.

9" x 5" casserole dish

I must say, I tasted this cold and it was good enough to eat just like that. Think about it - if you would dip a chip in salsa, why not try mixing it up with some leftover quinoa instead?

But to get back to my recipe. I was going to put this in a 1 1/2 quart casserole, but at the last minute that dish wasn't available, so I went with a larger one.

I put the casserole in a 400º oven for 5 minutes and then I took it out to add the cheese. If I had a smaller casserole dish, I would have left it in the oven longer, but this was spread pretty thin and I didn't want the quinoa to burn.

I would have preferred a sharp, white cheddar cheese, which is exactly why I don't have any on hand right now. I have been trying to eat healthier so I don't buy the cheeses I prefer and am more likely to snack on. Instead I have these orange American slices that my son prefers. Can you feel me shudder?

As you can see, I tore each slice into strips and arranged them across the casserole. Popped it back in the over for about 3 minutes to melt the cheese and that's it.

I was cooking chicken breasts at the time, so that's why 400º. If you are using your oven at a different temperature you would adjust the cooking time. If you aren't using the oven already, you could microwave the quinoa and salsa and then stir in the cheese at the end to melt it.

This was an easy and delicious side dish you could combine with any Mexican entree. Or serve it alone for a late night snack. I served it with chicken breasts and steamed broccoli. 

I like the way quinoa is making me feel healthier all the time. I have more recipes to share tomorrow.

Did you know if you aren’t subscribing to How Do You Cook Quinoa? at the new domain, you risk missing out on new posts and quinoa recipes? Not mention the upcoming quinoa contest. Subscribe today and learn tasty new ways to enjoy quinoa along with other exciting (and sometimes exotic) ingredients.

Subscribe in a reader

Subscribe to How Do You Cook Quinoa? by Email

You may also follow @keenonquinoa on Twitter.

Pumpkin Quinoa

I went to Whole Foods again today. I bought a quinoa candy bar and a fig.

Pumpkin Quinoa

 

Savory Pumpkin Quinoa Stuffing - It's that time of year. Everyone is thinking pumpkins and stuffing. This is a nice two serving side dish for those who aren't cooking for a crowd.


Pumpkin Pie Quinoa Parfaits - These could be fun. I have been enjoying yogurt and quinoa parfaits and I am certain the addition of pumpkin will make my tongue happy. This is another two serving recipe.


Pumpkins Stuffed With Quinoa, Butternut, and Cranberries - These look beautiful and I love that they use the pumpkin seeds in the stuffing. I want to throw a party so I have an excuse to make these and show them off to real friends (and not just my fellow cyber foodies.)

FitSmart Quinoa

Twitter was abuzz yesterday on #quinoa with a link to the FitSugar community's new collection of quinoa recipes. The photos are gorgeous and the recipes tempting. I am impressed with the number of tweeps who tweeted this. FitSmart has an active Twitter community.

Quinoa Recipes 10/6/10

 
Here are a few more quinoa recipes I found around the net yesterday.

Peach or Nectarine and Blueberry Crumble with Quinoa-Oat Topping -  The New York Times featured another crumble using the same topping as yesterday's Plum and Fig Crumble. This recipe seems a little more accessible to me.

Balsamic Quinoa Salad and Mustard-Crusted Tofu Planks - I have been watching for a quinoa recipe with  mustard and I can't remember the last time I ate tofu. This recipe would be way out of one son's comfort zone, but I might be able to sell it to the other two boys.

I wonder what a courgette is.

Red Quinoa Salad With Figs and Cucumbers - This is a fun picnic salad because it is served in bell pepper bowls - no mess. I picked up red quinoa the other day so I can start making more colorful quinoa.

I'm off to cook some quinoa. Please let me know if you have tried any of these recipes.

Did you know if you aren’t subscribing to How Do You Cook Quinoa? at the new domain, you risk missing out on new posts and quinoa recipes? Not to mention the upcoming quinoa contest. Subscribe today and learn tasty new ways to enjoy quinoa along with other exciting (and sometimes exotic) ingredients.

Subscribe in a reader

Subscribe to How Do You Cook Quinoa? by Email

You may also follow @keenonquinoa on Twitter.

Chocolate Quinoa Candy Bars

Storm Large improvises in the kitchen

This post originally led off with a quinoa video that has since been taken down. The recipes are still available at these links. In this segment Portland, OR singer Storm Large demonstrated her creations Roasted Vegetables with Toasty Quinoa and Yam Soup With Blood Orange Juice.

Storm's tip for cooking quinoa is to toast the quinoa in oil before adding water. This should be familiar to those who have cooked Rice a Roni or Near East pilaf.

Best quote - "God was drunk when he made blood oranges." I am not quite sure what she means, but I think blood oranges look like someone had a sense of humor.

I found a few quinoa products around the web yesterday.

Chocolate Quinoa Candy Bars

Alter Eco sells a free trade Dark Chocolate Quinoa candy bar. I am pretty certain that if you bought a box of these and handed them out at the company Christmas party, no one would complain they already have plenty of these at home. :-)

Actually, I thought the price rather extravagant. I mean honestly, does the chocolate really require 72 hours of cooking? In Switzerland?

Then today, I shopped at Whole Foods and I saw they have granola bars at the register that are $3.79 for a 1.9 ounce bar, so I guess the Alter Eco Dark Chocolate Quinoa Bar is a fair price. 

I have one more thought about this I would like to share. I think it is a shame that the natural resources, the cacao and the quinoa, for example, are taken from the less developed world and transported to Switzerland to manufacture the chocolate. I wish the countries that cultivate quinoa could build their own chocolate factories some day and reap more of the benefits of their labor.

Okay, I'm off my soapbox.

Ready to Eat Quinoa

Merchant Gourmet in London sells ready-to-eat quinoa in pouches. They even have a ready-to-eat wholewheat, red quinoa, toasted soya flakes and lentils mix. Very convenient for dressing up a  salad, just tear open a pouch, pour over vegetables, and toss with dressing.

Conveniently, I have no opinion about the price. I am oblivious because pounds are something this American is looking to lose, not save.

Quinoa Recipes 10/5/10

Portobello Mushroom Stuffed with Quinoa, Spinach, and Pancetta - This recipe is from the Merchant Gourmet site and uses the Ready to Eat Quinoa they sell. Not vegetarian, and oh boy, this recipe makes my mouth water. I am a huge mycophile and with the quinoa and the spinach I think it could be death by fungi for me.

Spicy Quinoa Stuffed Peppers - This may be my favorite stuffing so far, I love black beans and corn.  I will split my peppers and cook them on their sides from now on. Folks who don't want a whole pepper will be more inclined to try the smaller serving, plus I can mound up any extra stuffing. And, yes, the peppers will behave better for the tongs and spatula this way.

Quinoa Risotto - more a photo journal than a recipe, this series shows the asparagus, shiitake, parmasan and the final risotto. We are left to work out the measurements on our own. But again, here we have a quinoa recipe that makes this mycophile drool.

How did you cook quinoa today? Let me know in the comments.

Did you know if you aren’t subscribing to How Do You Cook Quinoa? at the new domain, you risk missing out on new posts and quinoa recipes? Not to mention the upcoming quinoa contest. Subscribe today and learn tasty new ways to enjoy quinoa along with other exciting (and sometimes exotic) ingredients.

Subscribe in a reader

Subscribe to How Do You Cook Quinoa? by Email

You may also follow @keenonquinoa on Twitter.

What Does Quinoa look like?

Yesterday I came across stunning quinoa photos at Zigzo's Zlinks.They look like desert wildflowers, don't they? I read somewhere that quinoa is related to tumbleweeds. Looking at these photos, I believe it.

Here is a great video that shows the quinoa crop and harvest in Bolivia.

High Brow Quinoa

Leave it to the New York Times. They took a simple crumble and dressed it up to a Plum and Fig Crumble with Quinoa-Oat Topping.

The figs intrigue me.  Have you ever eaten a fresh fig?

I have not and if I prepared this I would have to buy an extra fig to try for myself.

Quinoa Recipes 10/4/10

Here is a sampling of quinoa recipes found around the web yesterday:

Quinoa-Oat Crumble Topping - This is a great crumb topping you can prepare ahead and keep frozen. This will be a gluten-free topping if you buy gluten-free oats and your spice mill does not contaminate your quinoa with gluten from other flours.

Note: Oats are naturally gluten-free but often suffer cross-contamination from other grains when processed on the same machines. Gluten-free oats are processed under stringent controls that prevent contamination from other grains.

Delicata Squash and Quinoa Pilaf - I had never even heard of a delicata squash but it turns out I have seen them at the store. I always thought they were decorative gourds, not cooking squashes. Silly me. 

I think it would be fun to stuff acorn and delicata squashes for the same meal. I could try them both and see which I prefer. 

Pineapple Cashew Quinoa Stir Fry - I found this recipe from a post on the Burning River blog where Suz recommends cooking the quinoa ahead to cut down on prep time and halving the recommended 10-14 minute stir fry time.

Applesauce Quinoa - Single serving size recipe designed to be served with pork chops. This recipe could easily be multiplied to serve a crowd.

Omnivorous Confessions

As promised, I did not cook anything quinoa today. We had chicken prepared with a delicious dinner-in-a-box package that was tasty indeed. I must admit I was thinking the whole time how delicious the leftovers will be with quinoa tomorrow.

Did you know if you aren’t subscribing to How Do You Cook Quinoa? at the new domain, you risk missing out on new posts and quinoa recipes? Not to mention the upcoming quinoa contest. Subscribe today and learn tasty new ways to enjoy quinoa along with other exciting (and sometimes exotic) ingredients.

Subscribe in a reader

Subscribe to How Do You Cook Quinoa? by Email

You may also follow @keenonquinoa on Twitter.

Lentils and Quinoa Stuffed Peppers

I essentially followed the recipe for Quinoa and Lentil Stuffed Bell Peppers on the Mele Cotte blog.


Note: when preparing this, bear in mind the peppers bake for an hour after all the preparation.

Lentils and Quinoa Stuffed Peppers

I made a few modifications to the recipe:

I added a bayleaf and 1/2 tsp of marjoram to the lentils to make the cooking fragrant.

Carrots, Summer Squash, Zucchini, Lentils and Quinoa

After sauteing the vegetables, I used a can of tomato soup instead of tomato sauce, and I added 1 tsp of chili powder.

Vegetable saute

I was very pleased with the results. Tasty, fragrant.

Of three sons served: one had seconds, one ate his but wondered why it couldn't be stuffed with quinoa and meat, and one refused to eat it.

I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Omnivorous Confessions

I served this with boneless chicken breast and baked potatoes on the side. I should have reserved some vegetables for the son who won't eat quinoa. I think next time I will try this recipe with a bit of ground meat or sausage in the stuffing.

Or maybe not. It is getting harder and harder for me to look at a vibrant saute like that and imagine soiling it with meat. Hmm. I must remember it is no different than adding soy sauce.

Don't be shy. If you read this post, please leave a comment and let me know what you like or don't like about quinoa.

Did you know if you aren’t subscribing to How Do You Cook Quinoa? at the new domain, you risk missing out on new posts and quinoa recipes? Not to mention the upcoming quinoa contest. Subscribe today and learn tasty new ways to enjoy quinoa along with other exciting (and sometimes exotic) ingredients.

Subscribe in a reader

Subscribe to How Do You Cook Quinoa? by Email

You may also follow @keenonquinoa on Twitter.

Quinoa on Ice Cream?

Are you looking for a friendly invitation to quinoa that you can offer a reluctant food experimenter? Offer the quinoa crunch in this Quinoa Crunch Parfait - a sweet and crispy topping you can add to yogurt, fruit, salads, and even ice cream. Red quinoa will be festive on my cupcakes and pies this year, and yes, I plan to sprinkle quinoa on ice cream.

If you are interested in how this topping looks with regular quinoa see Quinoa Crunch.

Quinoa Recipes 10/3/10

Here are a few other recipes I found for quinoa yesterday. I am faced with a bit of overwhelm this week - so many choices, so few quinoa dishes I can serve in a day.

Fresh Mint - 2/3 oz pkg

Fennel and Quinoa Salad Made with Herbs - I rate this recipe advanced for American cooks because you will have to do some conversions, but I think it worth the effort to try something as exotic for me as fennel.

I have to be honest, I look at the recipe and I wonder, do they really prefer to weigh out their ingredients in Wales rather than scoop out a volume by the cupful or spoonful?

The recipe calls for 25 grams of several fresh herbs, which is about 1 cup based on my assessment of this 19 gram package of mint.

Quinoa Pilaf - this recipe uses chicken stock. You could replace stock with water or the carrot stock recipe below to make this dish vegan.

Carrot Stock - not a quinoa recipe per se, but I came across this stock recipe that I think would work well with quinoa when you want to cook it in something more substantial and flavorful than water. Of course, carrot stock could substitute for chicken broth in any recipe, yes?


Balsamic Roasted Vegetables and Quinoa - this recipe features a balsamic vinaigrette in which you roast the vegetables. If you are rushed for time, you could substitute prepared salad dressing. Because you cook the vegetables in large pieces, there's little preparation with this meal. Double the dressing and add boneless chicken breasts to make it an omnivorous one dish meal.

Quinoa Marinara Soup - If you are creative and want to see yet another way yummy way to cook quinoa, check this one out. Another of those recipes that don't include specific measurements because the chef is preparing intuitively, this recipe is located about 3/4 of the way down the post. Get a gander at the purple soup you pass on the way.

Never be afraid to experiment.

Getting Stealthy Healthy with Quinoa

 

I have been reconsidering my quinoa strategy in light of my son's refusal to eat it. I think perhaps I have not be offering him quinoa that I know he would like.

For example, I am quite sure that if I prepared quinoa in an orange cheese sauce (think Velveeta) he would go mad for it in an instant. So I am thinking about quinoa in that way now - how would NRK (Not Really Keen on quinoa) like to eat quinoa? I know I can crack that code.

Meanwhile, one good thing has come out of the quinoa revolution. NRK used to detest rice. Now he has avowed himself firmly in favor of it. So when I serve rice, I can anticipate his cheerful rather than sulky response.

Win.

Do you have any suggestions for winning NRK to the quinoa team? Will you be trying quinoa on ice cream?

Did you know if you aren’t subscribing to How Do You Cook Quinoa? at the new domain, you risk missing out on new posts and quinoa recipes? Not to mention the upcoming quinoa contest. Subscribe today and learn tasty new ways to enjoy quinoa along with other exciting (and sometimes exotic) ingredients.

Subscribe in a reader

Subscribe to How Do You Cook Quinoa? by Email

You may also follow @keenonquinoa on Twitter.

The Quinoa Revolution Continues

I cooked the lentils and quinoa stuffed peppers for dinner tonight. I will get the photos up tomorrow. I thought they were delicious and they made my apartment smell great.

How Much Quinoa Is Too Much?

With three kids, there will always be one who doesn't get on board with something. I have one rebelling and refusing to eat anything quinoa. Actually, I should count it a blessing that the other two have remained tolerant and eaten my creations, as I have thrown a lot of new meals at them this week. I will think about scaling things back.

I said think about it.

Quinoa Recipes 10/2/10

A stuffing, a pilaf, and a warm salad - no matter what you are serving today, you can fix a quinoa side dish as a healthy complement.

Quinoa Stuffing with Dried Cherries - I am so happy to have found a stuffing recipe, though I admit this one is a bit of a challenge. I am not certain how much quinoa constitutes a crater, but with a little experimentation I am sure I can figure it out. At any rate, any recipe that includes dusty cherries had to be included in this blog out of respect for Betty White.

Lemony Quinoa - This side dish looks absolutely irresistible. I found this recipe on the Embracing Balance blog with photos of an entire meal I am tempted to recreate: glazed chicken, bigass salad, and lemony quinoa. I doubt it gets better than that very often.

Dave Lieberman's Warm Balsamic and String Bean Quinoa Salad - This recipe is from a recent episode of  Dr. Oz, and features frozen string beans. I imagine any vegetable would work.

I hope you found something to inspire you to try quinoa in a new way. Please feel free to comment with any suggestions or questions you have.

Did you know if you aren’t subscribing to How Do You Cook Quinoa? at the new domain, you risk missing out on new posts and quinoa recipes? Not to mention the upcoming quinoa contest. Subscribe today and learn tasty new ways to enjoy quinoa along with other exciting (and sometimes exotic) ingredients.

Subscribe in a reader

Subscribe to How Do You Cook Quinoa? by Email

You may also follow @keenonquinoa on Twitter.