Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Super Food

QUINOA

A balanced essential amino acid and complete protein, without the meat! Also a good source of dietary fiber, phosphorus, magnesium and iron. Gluten Free and easy to digest.
Very high in carbs and protein:)


A friend of mine, Tammy told me about this super food, Quinoa and how it is the best recovery food out there. I finally picked up a 1/2 pound of this wonderful seed from whole foods and decided to take the plunge and try it. I have been thinking allot about ways to eat healthier and actually have been finding great interest in the VEGAN diet world. Don't get me wrong, I am what you call an Omnivore, but putting meat, dairy and the like aside a few days a week can be quite healthy and up-lifting for the body. I have also watched a program on Direct TV recently that talked about all kinds of American Diets, from A to Z. One interesting diet was the RAW VEGAN, totally there on the nutrition highway, at least in pure nutrients and vitamins that are NATURAL and not over processed kind of food stuff in a box. Not sure I could handle cold food all the time. Again very, very interesting. So... a friend of mine who just happens to be a vegan has inspired me to search further and explore the world of eating more natural, aside from animals that I was brought up on by my parents.


It only took 15 minutes in boiling water to make this Quinoa and then the fun begins. I reviewed some recipes in popular magazines and books on line and also tasted a few vegan dishes and decided to wing my own recipe.


1 -1/2 cup of Quinoa in 3 cups of boiling water. Bring to a boil and simmer, covered for 15 minutes or until water is absorbed.


I used fresh vegetables we had in the frig:

1 small Zucchini

1/4 Red Sweet Pepper

1 Orange Bell Pepper, chopped

clove of garlic, minced

3 scallions finely sliced

1/4 cup red onion chopped

4 table spoons of dried currants

1/2 cup of Almonds

2 carrots finely chopped


Mixed with 1/4 cup organic apple cider vinegar, one to two table spoons of honey, 2 teaspoons of olive oil or canola oil, and salt and pepper to taste. Mix together, vinegar, honey, olive oil and pour over Quinoa and veggie mixture. I think if you let it sit a day, the Quinoa absorbs the flavors. I could not wait and it tastes simply delicious. You can always doctor it up the way you like to your own tastes, but this stuff is really cool.



3 comments:

velogrrl said...

quinoa is great! quinoa and black bean salad was my favorite salad from the grocery deli before they got bought out by another grocery chain and stopped making it. I really miss it - I need to start making it myself. thanks for the info.

The Shed Master said...

Good job with the "Voila".

Regina said...

I love quinoa! It's so yummy!!