On a quinoa roll!
We've been getting requests for healthy, simple meals...so here we are busy creating and testing in the kitchen - starting with quinoa. It's new for us...but we love it.
Craving cereal for breakfast...but it's cold outside....so want something warm...but not oatmeal. So...try a hot quinoa cereal! You can make it with whatever toppings you like or whatever you have at home. Decided to make an Apple Cinnamon flavor. Great for something different for breakfast or a post workout snack. AND this is protein-rich, gluten and dairy-free and easily vegan by subbing the honey. Say whhaaaaaa? Yeeeeeeah!
This can easily be made into a dessert by lighting the apples on fire with your favorite hard liquor( brandy, whisky, bourbon...) and lessening the amount of almond milk( or just letting the quinoa simmer in almond milk longer), so it's a little heartier. Feel free to add your favorite nuts as well (pecans, almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts). There are so many combinations you can make with this (Dark chocolate hazelnut with banana, strawberry banana, blueberry blend, persimmons, pumpkin spice, Honey Lavender... whatever is in season ;) ) Whoo!
And if it's hot outside. Just keep the almond milk chilled! :) You can even fridge the quinoa and just add all raw ingredients to keep it cool. B)
Have fun creating!!! Let us know your flavor combinations!
Ingredients ( roughly estimated...)
Hot Apple Cinnamon Quinoa Cereal
( 1 bowl)
- half an apple ( this one is a Rome Beauty Apple- a fave!)
- 3/4-1 cup of quinoa (refer to 'Autumn Quinoa Salad' for basics on cooking quinoa if needed)
- 1/2 - 1 cup almond milk (depending on how you like the consistency )
- 2-3 tsp cinnamon divided
- drizzle of honey (agave nectar sub. for vegan)
- ~a little less than a tbsp of coconut oil or olive oil
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 1-2 tbsp dried cranberries
- a squeeze of lime/lemon
Sauteed apples are simple to prepared( you can also bake them...but it takes longer)! Just cut them in cubes( we peeled the apples, but you can keep the skin on - extra fiber for ya! Yay!) and squeeze some lime on them in a heated pan with the olive oil. Once you hear the sizzle, go ahead and add in the cinnamon, brown sugar, drizzle of honey, and vanilla extract in there and mix. Meanwhile, warm your almond milk in a small sauce pan on low heat. (You can add cinnamon if you like or add the cinnamon to the quinoa.) Once the apples are nice and tender, remove from heat. Add the warm almond milk to your quinoa, and then add the apples! Mix well! Done!
Enjoy!
-S and C