Meatless Wednesday - Quinoa Primavera

This dish I have been kind of looking forward to making I am really enjoying cooking Quinoa and it is very nutritious for you! I also find that my Son really enjoys eating it which is surprising because he is not usually so good with new foods right away but with this he is and asks me to make the soup with it in there now on request.

Nutritional value ( as posted by Wikipedia)

Quinoa was of great nutritional importance in pre-Columbian Andean civilizations, being secondary only to the potato, and was followed in importance by maize. In contemporary times, this crop has become highly appreciated for its nutritional value, as its protein content is very high (12%–18%). Unlike wheat or rice (which are low in lysine), and like oats, quinoa contains a balanced set of essential amino acids for humans, making it an unusually complete protein source among plant foods.^[10] It is a good source of dietary fiber and phosphorus and is high in magnesium and iron. Quinoa is gluten-free and considered easy to digest. Because of all these characteristics, quinoa is being considered a possible crop in NASA's Controlled Ecological Life Support System for long-duration manned spaceflights.

Quinoa Primavera

1 cup quinoa
2 cups water
1/2 tsp salt
2 tbs EVO
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 parsnip, diced
2 carrots, diced
2 celery sticks, chopped
3/4 red bell pepper, diced
3/4 orange bell pepper, diced
3/4 cup peas
1/3 head of cauliflower, finely diced
2 scallions white part only, thinly sliced
1 tbs oregano
1 tbs low sodium soy sauce

1. Heat a small sauce pan over medium low heat. Add quinoa and cook stirring for about 5 mins (grains should be dry and fragrant). The add the water and 1/2 tsp salt, cover, simmer and let cook for about 10-15 mins or until the quinoa is tender. Do not stir while simmering. Set aside.
2. Combine EVO and garlic in a large skillet and place over medium heat. When oil is hot and garlic aromatic add your vegetables and saute until peppers are tender. Stir in quinoa, oregano, and soy sauce stir till everything is well coated and simmer for 1-2 mins. Add Salt and Pepper to taste and serve immediately.

Wanted to let you all know that I will be doing a Namaste Foods review and give away in the near future be sure to visit their site and take a look at all the wonderful products!

A quickie post about a quickie cake

My Aunt from Ontario is here visiting, we are really enjoying our time together and taking time to do things together. Well last night the chocolate cravings set and well I had to do something to satisfy them but it was late not really the time to bake a cake from scratch but I remember I had purchased a Namaste Foods chocolate cake mix and a frosting mix too. So we decided to try them out and well all I can say is Yum!!! Mixing the cake was very simple and I used a bundt pan to make the cake and it was the perfect size. The icing was a little trickier to mix but mostly it was just time consuming as you have to mix it and then wait 15minss and mix to proper consistency for incing but it was worth the extra work very rich and creamy perfect addition to a perfect cake!

Well today will be some more shopping and then Saturday a trip to Manitou Springs Mineral Spa for a soak in the lovely water and some lunch than back home for supper as I have a lovely missionary couple coming for supper. We haven't been to Manitou for many years but we are really looking forward to the soak as it leaves you feeling so wonderful and they now have a pool side play area for the kids so it should be a good trip for all. If you ever get a chance to make a trip there it is wonderful and they also have a hotel as well as Spa services to pamper you, perfect little mini holiday for the whole family!