Quinoa!

What is Quinoa? Pronounced keen-wa, it is similar to a whole grain but in fact a seed. It has 9 essential amino acids making it a complete protein and great for vegetarians and vegans especially. It was first cultivated in South America thousands of years ago in the Andes Mountains but is finally making a comeback in 2013!

Nutritional Facts: 1/3 cup of cooked quinoa has 160 calories, 2.5 grams of fat, 3 grams of fiber, and 6 grams of protein

Why is this your new favorite food?

1. It takes less time to cook than whole grains - only 10-15 minutes!
2. It tastes delicious even on its own (unlike plain rice or barley)
3. It is HEALTHY! Quinoa is gluten-free, cholesterol free and kosher!

Where can I buy quinoa? Any natural foods store will carry it either in the bulk bins or the baking section but lots of main stream grocery stores such as HEB now carry it too!

How do I cook quinoa? Prepare quinoa as you would prepare rice. Cover it with water or vegetable broth until soft, about 15 minutes. Or, place 1 part quinoa to 2 parts water in your rice cooker.

Quinoa Recipes!

• Quinoa Vegetable Fried Rice
• Warm Quinoa, Spinach & Mushroom Salad
• Quinoa Breakfast Bowl
• Quinoa with Pesto
• Quinoa Pizza Bites!
• Quinoa Stuffed Acorn Squash