HOT QUINOA BREAKFAST

Ingredients: 

2/3 cup of water
3 Tbsp quinoa
2 Tbsp quick cooking rolled oats
1-2 tsp maple syrup, honey or brown sugar
1 1/2 tsp flax
2 Tbsp blueberries, cranberries or raisins (fresh, frozen or dried)
Milk, cream or yogurt to serve with

Directions: 

Place water and quinoa in a small saucepan, bring to a boil and cover.
Reduce to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes
Stir in oats (and dried fruit if using), cover and cook for another 5 minutes, until oats are tender
Remove from heat
Stir in maple syrup, honey or brown sugar and flax
Fold in fruit if using fresh or frozen.
Top with milk, cream or yogurt
Serve immediately

 From: Quinoa 365 - The Everyday Superfood

Veggie-Quinoa Soup

I invented this recipe on a cold, snowy day based on the vegetables we had in the fridge.  I wanted to make a veggie-quinoa soup, so I did.

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Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 zucchini
• 3 celery stalks
• 1 small onion
• 1 clove garlic
• 1/4 jalapeno pepper
• 2 cups chicken broth 
• 1/3 cup quinoa
• 1/2 cup frozen peas
• thyme to taste
• salt and pepper

Steps:

1. Heat oil in medium sauce pan
2. Sautée onion and garlic till translucent
3. Add in celery, zucchini and jalapeno.  Cook while stirring for 3-4 minutes, till tender.
4. Add broth, seasoning and quinoa
5. Bring to a boil, cover with lid and reduce heat
6. Simmer for approx. 20 minutes, till vegetable and quinoa are cooked through
7. Blend with a hand mixer till smooth and creamy.
8. Add in frozen peas and stir well
9. Serve and enjoy!

Makes 2 servings

Calories: 289

Carbs: 42

Fiber: 7

Protein: 8

Iron: 4

Calcium: 9

Shrimp and quinoa

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup quinoa
• 1/2 cup bouillon ( I like clam, but chicken works too)
• 8 large shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 1/2 small zucchini, diced
• 1/2 red pepper, diced
• 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
• 1/2 tbsp olive oil
• Squirt of lime juice

Steps:

Boil the quinoa in the the chicken broth.  Set aside to cool.
Heat a fry pan, add lime juice and shrimp and cook until shrimp is pink and done.
Mix vegetables, olive oil and vinegar with quinoa.
Top with warm shrimp.
Serve.

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The best part of this recipe is that it is only 255 calories and is filling enough to be a full meal on it's own.

Calories : 255
Fat: 10g
Protein: 14g
Carbs: 28g
Iron: 20g
Calcium: 6g

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This recipe is linked back to Cook & Tell at Shrinkingktichen.com

Dinner for Friends

While away on vacation, I had some friends over to my Mom's house for dinner. They always have me over to their house for a wonderful feasts, so I wanted to return the favour:

Menu 

Grilled Bocconcini

Mango Shrimp and Quinoa salad

Grilled/Broiled Okra

Eton Mess

Recipes

Starter - Grilled Bocconcini

• 4 tbsp Olive oil
• 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
• 1 tbsp chopped capers
• 2 tsp Dijon mustard
• 2 tsp lemon juice
• 3 chopped anchovy filets
• ¼ Baguette
• 1 container Bocconcini (8)

Combine olive oil, parsley, capers, Dijon, lemon juice and anchovies.
Slice baguette into 20 thin slices and Bocconcini into 16 halves.
Lightly toast baguette and top each piece with a Bocconcini half.
Run under broiler until cheese begins to melt – 4 to 5 minutes depending on broiler or heat on grill
Drizzle with anchovy sauce.

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Main - Quinoa and shrimp salad

• 1/2 cup Mango Chipotle dressing divided
• 2lbs shrimp peeled and deveined
• 3 cups vegetable broth
• 2 cups quinoa rinsed
• 2 tbsp lime juice
• 1 orange pepper, finely chopped
• 1 yellow pepper, finely chopped
• 1 bunch green onion, finely sliced
• ½ cup chopped fresh coriander

Bring broth to boil, add in rinsed quinoa.
Return to boil; cover.
Simmer med-low 10-15 minutes until quinoa is tender and liquid is absorbed.
Fluff and cool.

Marinate shrimp in ¼ cup Mango dressing.

Chop vegetables and mix remaining dressing with lime juice.
Add vegetables and dressing to cooled quinoa and toss, gently.
Flash fry shrimp and arrange, prettily, around salad.

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Side - Grilled/broiled Okra

• 2 or more lbs Okra
• Olive oil
• Pepper
• Salt
• Lime juice

Skewer Okra on two parallel skewers.
Brush with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper.
Broil for 5 to 7 minutes until tender.
Remove skewers.
Sprinkle with Lime juice and serve.

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Dessert – Eton Mess

• Whipping cream
• A little sugar/booze/Splenda
• Meringues
• Fresh chopped fruit (Strawberries are traditional but anything that strikes your fancy)

Whip cream to soft peaks.
Crumble meringues.
Stir all together with fruit and serve at once

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Dinner was a great hit with everyone!!