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Sunday, July 10, 2011

Meatless Monday! Easy Quinoa!






Quinoa is pronounced (Keen-wah) and is a grain unlike other grains.It contains twice the protein of regular cereal grains, contains less carbohydrates, more healthy fats, fiber, phosphorus, calcium and is high in iron.It is the most nutritious of all the grains and up until now has been quite unknown.It is a complete protein, which means it contains all the essential amino acids your body needs, just like meat, eggs and dairy. The great thing about quinoa, it can help you stay feeling full. The carbohydrates in quinoa release slowing into your body, so you won’t get that rush of energy after eating certain other foods, and you will have less cravings for sugary foods. (http://www.foreverlookingood.com/quinoa-nutrition)








  1. one small onion chopped finely


  2. half a bell pepper chopped(I like it a lot with the bell pepper but Rylee does not so I usually leave it out.)


  3. 1cup quinoa


  4. 2.5 cups water


  5. 1 table spoon garlic and herb seasoning(you could use any seasoning you like)


  6. .5 cup lentils
    Add all ingredients to pot. Stir together. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to simmer. Cook approximately 40 minutes or until quinoa and rice are tender and liquid is gone. If liquid is gone before they are tender add another .5 cups and continue to simmer.


This dish can be used as a side or main dish served with a salad. Feeds about 4.


I love, love quinoa. Rylee asks for it and Finn is eating it now, too. Give it a try. It is a nutritional powerhouse! To save money on quinoa, shop the bulk bins or consider ordering online.

Christmas Cookies in July!







Easy and Light Cut Out Cookies

Earlier this week my daughter Rylee was all about Christmas. She really wanted to make gingerbread cookies. I usually will stop and make cookies with her but I was very busy and I also did not need the temptation of cookies in our house. I remembered reading an article somewhere about an easy and quick cookie using tortillas. So I quickly devised a recipe that would satisfy Rylee's desire to use her Christmas cookie cutters and my need for this project to last less than 30 minutes. Here is what you need:



  • corn tortillas(the white corn seem to taste the best)


  • melted butter or butter substitute(I use I can't believe its not butter spray.)


  • Sugar(raw sugar if you have it but regular will work)






  1. Preheat oven to 350.


  2. Spread tortillas out on cookie sheet and let child cut out desired shapes.


  3. Discard extra tortilla pieces.


  4. Have Child brush or spray cookie cut outs with butter.



  5. Sprinkle generously with sugar.(You could also used colored sugar if you have any left over from holidays.)


  6. Bake in oven 8-10 minutes or until light brown around edges.