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2/12/12 11:09 A

Coach Nicole posted this on facebook today: "Superfood breakfast--- red quinoa, walnuts, flax, blueberries and honey". I never thought about trying quinoa for breakfast.

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2/12/12 10:59 A

I'm gonna have to try that one! Thanks

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2/12/12 10:52 A

One of my favorite meals is SP's quinoa with spinach & Feta cheese. I've made it several times now and routinely add more garlic than it calls for. Check it out (if you like spinach & Feta)! The suggestions following the recipe are a good source for getting creative with the initial ingredients, too. Have fun!

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2/11/12 8:03 P

Tried the quinoa today. Kind of used a recipe in the book. Combined diced chicken, chicken broth and the quinoa to simmer. Then sautéed garlic, onions, carrots, mushrooms and asparagus. Seasoned with salt and pepper and added a dash of basalmic vinegar. Really good and high in protein which satisfies me.

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2/8/12 7:51 P

Thanks for the links, Timothy.
I really like the sound of the veggy meat loaf, using the quinoa, and I'll make it for myself sometimer - hope it can freeze ok. Unfortunately, DH isn't keen on quinoa, or meat loaf, or veggy alternatives made with lentils
Oh well - he can have one of his meals that I don't eat (sausages or egg plant) and I'll have this new vegloaf

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2/7/12 9:25 P

Thanks for the help. Tomorrow night is my night . . . I'll let you know.

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2/7/12 6:14 P

I made the quinoa with pea pods and peppers from the Sparkpeople cookbook and really enjoyed it. I used it as a side dish with chicken.

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2/7/12 2:16 P

I have't done much with quinoa, but I've found the more seasoned cooking water is, the better it tastes. Also, the soaking and rinsing must be very thorough to reduce the bitterness. I like to cook it in chicken broth, but I think any broth would work great! It's also good with black beans and salsa.

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2/7/12 10:54 A

Samantha --- Spark people needs a like button.

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2/7/12 10:25 A

I have found with my children it what we call the dish makes a big difference in their openness to to try it. When my husband and I went away for a week I made a list for the grandparents of what we call everything :)

Samantha

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2/7/12 9:40 A

I Have like everything I have tried here.
www.quinoasalads.com/

Also one that has gone over well with my picky wife is is Coach Nicole's Vegetarian "Meat" Loaf recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-detail.asp?
recipe=759 . I se quinoa instaed of brown

This one, Stepfanie's Quinoa -Black Bean Casserole recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-detail.asp?
recipe=1239857 is also excellent.

One big problem they may have is that it looks weird. They may identify the taste as their problem, but it is really just the way it looks. These two recipes cover the look up.

She(WMBO) is the same way about grits. She likes polenta. But when I cook the exact same dish using grits she turns up her nose. WHy? because it "tastes funny." No, probably because she has "always hated grits." Call it grits yuck. Call it white polenta yum.

Edited by: TIMOTHYNOHE at: 2/7/2012 (09:46)

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2/7/12 7:56 A

I use it just like rice. However you prepare rice, quinoa would work just as well. It does have a "different" feel in the mouth, maybe that is what they do not like. I would mix 1/2 and 1/2 rice and quinoa at first to get them used to the feel and taste. Chicken rice dish come to mind, stuffed peppers, beans and rice, really any dish that uses rice adapt to quinoa.

I use it in a vegetable stew I make for the protein. Quinoa is a complete protein. You can use it in place of meat.

good luck and let us know how it turns out.

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2/7/12 7:11 A

Can you help me with tasty recipe suggestions for quinoa?

I bought quinoa for the first time in a long time at the grocery store this week. My last try was a bit "disasterous" as my sons didn't care for it. We eat lots of different rices and couscous, but the quinoa fell short for them. I cook for everybody, not just me, so it is important to have something they like too.

I also see quinoa is pretty high calorie and high protein. Do you use it as a side dish, vegetarian main dish or in some combination with meat for a main dish?

Oh, just to make this challenge more interesting. . . one of my sons really doesn't like "sauces". He doesn't eat dressing on salad, prefers that I make his tilapia with just a little spice and no salsa (the way I like it). He "keeps it simple" most of the time.

Thanks for your help!

current weight: 182.4

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