Have you ever eaten something and you just knew it was good for you. It looked pretty good, definitely tasted good, you didn’t feel all gross and stuffed afterwards?
No? Well, you should, really, this should be a goal: to feel better at the end of a meal if not down right happy.
I did just the other night.
I had extra chopping time since Sofia was with my parents so I decided to tackle Fitness Aficionado’s Clean Eating Quinoa recipe. I use quinoa in my bread but I’ve never enjoyed the process of cooking it, seemed too labor intensive with bringing things to a boil, covering the pot, fluffing, etc.
I couldn’t be bothered.
Then I found this recipe with straight forward easy instructions and now I’m converted. As per usual, I didn’t have all of the ingredients on the list and with my pregnancy sinusitis things aren’t as flavorful as they normally would be. I basically used the veggies that I had on hand at the time, being between CSA deliveries which left: carrots, red onion, celery, a bit of frozen corn and frozen peas (not too much b/c of carbs). I really liked the dressing, very light but flavorful – almost. Maybe it was the sinusitis or my cumin was old, or both, but it needed a little extra something. I looked around and the only thing that came to mind was a splash of Shoyu sauce tho’ I easily could have used Tamari if I had some on hand. Perfection. I’ve eaten it plain with a side of more veg as in the picture, with the Tofu Sticks which I hope to post in the next week because man-o-man are those tasty, as a side with soup and mixed with some fish.
Are you getting the impression that this dish is versatile?! It has a really mild flavor that doesn’t upstage whatever else you’re eating it with.
I doubled the recipe and took some to a family get together and while it wasn’t a hit (quinoa seems to be happy in more of a supporting role than the star of the show) – my family isn’t exactly as health conscious as I’d like them to be – but I do applaud the fact that so many of them tried at least a little bit! There was just too many yummy bad-for-you foods there to compete: the quinoa didn’t stand a chance.
But, since being overweight/obesity, Type II diabetes, heart attacks, and strokes run in my family perhaps one day I’ll convert one of them because, sadly, I think that’s what it’s going to take.
I have high hopes for you though, dear reader. Give this recipe a try and, soon you will be enjoying a Plate Full of Awesome and will leave the table a happier person knowing you put such goodness into your body!
Do you have the cookbook “Feeding the whole family”? There’s a great Mediterranean quinoa recipe in there, always a hit in spring/summer. I’m with you, eating quinoa makes you FEEL so good!
I do and I love it! I have so many page corners turned down in that poor worn out book!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it and made it your own, too! 🙂