Zucchini Quinoa Saute {Gluten Free, Vegan Optional}

October 2, 2015October 5, 2015Leave a comment

It’s October. So, time for harvest-y dishes. Well, you will love this festive little bowl of warm sunshine to eat as the temperatures drop this season.

Talk about 10 minute meals, this is so easy to make and fills you up completely.

Now, this meal is meat-free (not vegan, because chicken broth is used) but, you can easily swap the chicken broth for vegetable broth!

If your honey needs to eat some type of meat protein with this dish, I’d bake some chicken or heat up some sausage (to serve him on the side!)

You’ll need: 3 zucchinis, 1/2 yellow onion, 1 cup of quinoa, 1 cup chicken broth, 2 cloves garlic, 1 tbsp. olive oil, 1 tsp. garlic powder, 1 tsp. onion powder, salt and pepper to taste.

First cut up your zucchini, onion and garlic. Then, place them in a pan on the stovetop! Saute these yummy veggies up with about a tbsp. of olive oil. Sprinkle salt and pepper on these veggies to taste.

In a separate pan on the oven, pour in 1 cup chicken (or vegetable) broth. Wait for this broth to start boiling and add in your cup of quinoa. Stir this mixture up and let it cook on medium high for about 10 minutes with the lid on.

Next add 1 tsp. garlic powder and 1 tsp. onion powder to the quinoa mix and salt and pepper to taste. Then combine both mixtures (zucchini and quinoa) together in a large bowl. Stir, then serve!

Bonus – for a cheesy taste, add nutritional yeast to the top of your saute!

Quinoa Burgers {Gluten Free, Vegetarian}

February 20, 2014February 20, 2014Leave a comment

Hello meat alternative to a burger! Oh my goodness, this fake burger is delicious. Seriously, move over store bought veggie burgers even.

These tasty gluten free quinoa burgers were so simple to make. I doubted their incredible flavor; yet – there was no reason at all to doubt.

Dallas, my sweet puppy, even liked them. Dropped one on the floor. Yikes. And my furry fellow gobbled it up. No worries; and, hey – he’s a picky eater.

You will make this over and over again. It will be a staple to your gluten free diet!

You will need: 2 cups cooked quinoa, ¾ cup parmesan cheese, 1 carrot – grated, 3 cage free eggs, 3 tablespoons gluten free flour, ¼ yellow onion – chopped, ½ tsp. stevia, ¼ tsp. black pepper, ¼ tsp. cumin, a pinch of salt and ¼ tsp. garlic powder.

This is simple to make. Add the cooked quinoa into a large mixing bowl. Dump in all your dry ingredients. Then stir them all together.

Add the eggs in last – and make your burger mixture into a nice, wet little blend. You will be able to smell the richness – before cooking.

On the stove, put two tsp. of olive oil in to a frying pan. Let it heat up.

Make your quinoa burger mixture into little patties with your hands. I made all the mixture into patties first before frying. Because these little suckers cook fast!

Set patties one at a time into the frying pan. Let each burger sit for about 3 minutes on each side. You be the judge, the hotter the pan is – the faster it will cook. Cook all patties like this.

Yay – this is all you need to do to make fabulous gluten free, vegetarian burgers!

Mozzarella Quinoa {Gluten Free}

February 12, 20141 Comment

This is a quick, simple dinner. If you don’t feel like slaving away over the hot stove – this is the meal for you. It’s gluten free and loaded with fiber galore.

Make a big batch and save the leftovers for lunch at work the next day. All you will have to do is pop it in the microwave.

You need: 2 cups gluten free chicken broth, 1 cup uncooked quinoa, 1 garlic clove, ¼ chopped yellow onion, ¼ cup mozzarella.

First, boil the 2 cups of chicken broth. Then add the 1 cup of uncooked quinoa to the boiling batch.

While this is cooking, sauté the chopped onion and garlic clove on the skillet. You will pour a little olive oil into the pan and brown.

After the quinoa is cooked {should take about 15 minutes}, dump in the garlic and onion mixture. I stirred the seed mixture and then added the ¼ cup of shredded mozzarella cheese.

The cheese will melt into the mixture making to gooey and loaded with flavor. You also might want to mix in salt and pepper {you be the judge on the amount.}

Dish the quinoa into a bowl and top with a pinch of additional cheese. Enjoy this simple, hearty dish!

Blackberry Almond Quinoa {Gluten Free}

February 1, 2014February 1, 20145 Comments

A few days ago, I purchased some delicious looking blackberries at the grocery store. Honestly, any type of berries makes my mouth water – but blackberries especially.

In addition to raw turnips, I used to pick them out in the garden of my grandparents’ Texas home. And, boy – did they taste sweet after being out in the sun. Yum.

This no fuss breakfast {or snack} will leave your tummy full and happy. Not to mention, the cinnamon will give your metabolism a kick start to the day.

You will need: 1 cup of uncooked quinoa, 2 tbsp. cinnamon, 1 little grocery store container of blackberries, ½ cup almonds and 1/4 cup agave nectar.

First, cook the quinoa. Bring 2 cups of water to boil on the stove and add in 1 cup of quinoa.

Let this cook for about 10-15 minutes. You want all the water to be mostly gone and absorbed into the yummy, healthy seeds. The quinoa should look almost clear to the naked eye.

Let the quinoa cool in a bowl off the stove {for about 5 minutes.} Dump the cinnamon into the quinoa mixture – stir. I diced my almonds on my own {because I only had whole almonds.} Place about ½ cup of almonds into a food processor and pulse. But, not too long – because it will turn into butter.

Pour the almond crunch into the bowl and stir. Then drizzle about ¼ cup of agave nectar to create a beautiful sweet taste.

Lastly, add in the berries and gently mix them into the bowl. Now enjoy and serve. This makes enough for a few days. So, breakfast is taken care of for half the work week. Good deal!

Gluten Free Garlic Parmesan Quinoa

October 9, 2013October 10, 2013Leave a comment

Last night was my first time to eat quinoa. Fair to say – I probably sound like a horrible gluten free eater for admitting that. But, the look of this ‘grain’ was not really appetizing to me. It really looks bland and uninteresting in the package.

However, I was wrong (that is a common trend for this blog!). Quinoa is superb – it’s delightful. I was literally scrapping the bowl for more after my plate was gone.

This recipe for gluten free, garlic Parmesan quinoa is fantastic. It tastes a little like gourmet macaroni and cheese. Obviously without the noodles; but, this really could be a great substitute for this staple all-American dish.

You will need: 1 cup quinoa, 1 tbsp. olive oil, ½ onion, 2 cups water, 2 cloves garlic, ¾ cup Parmesan (don’t worry, it does not have to be fresh), 2 tsp. dried basil, salt and pepper to taste.

First, pour the olive oil into a cooking pot on the stove. Let it simmer. Cut up the onion and the garlic. I simply threw them in the food processor. Then dump these chopped up flavor pieces into the cooking pot. Brown your onion and garlic for about 2 minutes.

Next pour in the water and quinoa into the cooking pot. Also add in the basil. Stir this mixture a little and cover the pot for about 15 minutes. This will let the quinoa cook.

You will know it is done – when all the water is absorbed in the pot. The quinoa also will look clear in the center of the grain. Dump the Parmesan over the quinoa mixture after it’s fully cooked.

Sprinkle salt and pepper to taste and serve. Enjoy your delicious gourmet tasting gluten free, Italian dish. You are sure to make this again. Promise.