Hooked on Quinoa!

Yes it's true....

we are totally HOOKED and loving Quinoa!!  

I think we are going to be using this 

instead of rice and pasta, it is just SO good!  

The health benefits of this super grain are amazing! (here)

It's fairly economical as well...

 I've been purchasing 2 pound bags at Sam's Club for $4.48 and it gives you a little over 5 cups worth of Quinoa 

 (you use 1 cup for each batch of whatever you make up)  

My family could seriously have this Casserole  

every night and not get sick of it. 

It's full of yummy veggies and it can be made with, OR, without chicken.  

(although I bottled up a bunch of chicken this spring that I purchased from Zaycon foods and this is a great use for that). 

(found the original recipe here, but I tweaked it quite a bit as we LOVE onions and I wanted to use more veggies than just broccoli AND I cut down some of the mayo, added more quinoa, etc...)  

It's great because you can do 

much of the preparation in advance...

cook up the quinoa and put it in the fridge,

grate the cheese,

cut up the veggies....

THEN when it's time to make dinner,  

you just lightly steam the veggies,

WHILE you're sauteing the onion

AND while your making the white sauce.

You then just mix all together, top with Parmesan Cheese,

bake for 40 minutes and you have delicious, nutritious dinner for your family!
We enjoy ours with a green smoothie!

Quinoa Casserole  

2 cups cooked quinoa
1 finely diced onion (sautéed until tender)
(cook carrots, celery and cauliflower until slightly tender...5-10 minutes)
1 cup diced carrots
1 cup chopped celery
2 cups (either broccoli, OR, cauliflower)
1 can cooked chicken (OR, one cooked chicken breast)
White Sauce (recipe below)

2 Tbsp. Mayonnaise (this is optional, it just adds a little more fat)
2 Tbsp. milk
1-1/4 cup grated cheese
¼ tsp. black pepper
1/8 tsp. nutmeg
(1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan Cheese to top casserole with before putting oven)

Cooked Quinoa
1 cup Quinoa
2 cups water
¼ tsp. salt 

Rinse Quinoa well.

Bring water/salt to a boil and add in rinsed quinoa and cook 20-25minutes until fluffy and white ring/tail is visible.

(White sauce)
1/8 cup dry milk powder
1 cup water
2 Tbsp. cornstarch
1 Tbsp. butter
1 tsp. chicken bouillon
Dash of pepper
Bring ingredients to boil until thickened.

Heat oven to 350 degrees.
In a large bowl combine white sauce, mayonnaise, milk, pepper and nutmeg.
Stir in cooked quinoa, sautéed onion, chicken, lightly steamed veggies and grated cheese until well coated
Spoon into 9x13 pan and top with grated Parmesan Cheese and 

bake for 40-45 minutes, until bubbly. 

 If you have any leftovers 

they make a great lunch the next day!

Enjoy making something 

healthy and delicious for your family today!