Cook Up Some Quinoa Tonight

pronounced keh-NO-ah or KEEN-wah

When my daughter was first starting to eat regular food I was on the hunt for healthy things to feed her. My friend Tara introduced me to quinoa and said it was a great source of protein and other nutrients. Quin-what? Quinoa? Never heard of it. So the next time I went to the grocery store I picked up a bag to test it out. To my surprise, my daughter gobbled it up. I mixed it with a little diced chicken, avocado and steamed vegetables and she loved it.

I came across this article in The New York Times on Monday "Quinoa: A Protein-Packed Alternative to Grains" which states:

"Quinoa is as versatile as rice but it has a protein content that is superior to that of most grains, because it contains all the essential amino acids. In particular, quinoa is high in lysine, an amino acid important for tissue growth and repair. It’s also a good source of manganese, magnesium, phosphorus and copper, and it has a high iron content."

A great alternative to rice. All you need to do is rinse it, toast it in a pan for a few minutes and then cook in a pan as you would rice (boil, then reduce to simmer until cooked). Serve as I did, or with beans or lentils or check out 101 Cookbooks for some quinoa recipes.