Breakfast with Quinoa: Part II

I spend a ridiculous amount of time playing crazy food scientist in my kitchen. There are times I wash a mixing bowl three times in one day, which inevitably makes me think “Should I get more mixing bowls?” and a shiver of excitement goes through me, thinking about scanning the aisles at Marshalls for a bright colored and shiny new bowl of possibilities.

And then, there comes a week where I am literally cooked out and cannot stand to pick up a spoon, let alone a measuring cup. So I have a few things that I make that are easy and require no washing of bowls or cleaning of floured surfaces.

I quite get that some people find the slow-cooker to be elementary. However, if you scoff at this lovely little machine for morning munchies, you are a narcissist! It’s honestly like having a personal chef, or at least what I assume having a personal chef would be like. Arise and eat!

A slight disclaimer: This is for serious quinoa lovers. It has a porridge-like texture and since quinoa has a particularly earthy aroma, some oatmeal die-hards may not be convinced. But give it a try and you just might find yourself going back for a second bowl.

For the Recipe, click here:

Quinoa Porridge with Pears

I have had a bunch of requests for quinoa recipes, and more specifically, breakfast quinoa recipes. Smart people! I don’t think it’s a secret that quinoa is a superfood. I only wish that during the three years I abstained from meat, I had known about quinoa because of its high protein content. Aside from that, it’s high in fiber, magnesium, iron and is gluten-free!

If that isn’t exciting enough maybe the discovery of quinoa flakes will make you jiggly with joy! I found these at Whole Foods and immediately heard a bell go off for granola bars.

It’s been about a year and a half now since I started running pretty seriously. After years of having a bum knee that would dislocate at even the sight of a slippery floor, surgery has given me the brand new experience of stability and I am addicted to my long, mind-clearing runs.

One of my challenges has been finding a breakfast that is easy to digest, energizing and tasty. So, enter oatmeal and quinoa! They are combined here into chewy, honey kissed granola bars that also offer the nutrients of nuts and fruit. I wrap them individually in tinfoil and munch before (and/or after) a long run, These will also pull you out of an afternoon slump in no time.

For the Recipe, click here:

Honey Quinoa Granola Bars