Cinnamon Quinoa

I couldn't let whole grain week go by without sharing my absolute favorite way to eat quinoa: for breakfast! Simple, healthy, and delicious...like oatmeal but better!  I first discovered this recipe as part of Bon Apetit's "Foodie Cleanse"-- a two-week program focused on eating real food that was high in fiber, low in dairy and fat, and designed to help right the digestive system in a healthy way after the holidays this year.  Their choice recipe was the Warm and Nutty Cinnamon Quinoa from 101cookbooks.com.  That recipe, which includes toasted pecans and fresh blackberries, is absolutely divine.

The great thing about this recipe, though, is that the basic "recipe" can be adjusted and played with in an infinite number of ways. Here's the foundation:  bring one cup of water, one cup of milk, and one cup of quinoa to a boil over high heat.  Reduce the heat, cover, and simmer for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until most of the liquid is absorbed.  Remove from the heat and let stand, covered, about 5 minutes.  Then stir in LOTS of cinnamon and any add-ins (except fresh fruit, which should be a topping, not a stir-in).  Serve in bowls with toppings, and drizzle with sweetener. 

In the original recipe (did I mention that it's divine?), toasted pecans are stirred in, blackberries are added on top, and agave nectar is drizzled on top.  In the cleanse (and in my kitchen), almond milk is substituted for milk.  We always have toasted nuts, but the fruit changes.  Dried fruit works well stirred in at the very beginning (to allow the fruit to soak some of the liquid and soften).

This week, I was visiting my mom, and she asked me to make some for her to try.  We used what she had on hand, which was dairy milk, dried blueberries, sliced almonds, and maple syrup.  My picture is below-- it was still delicious! 

The possibilities are really endless with this beginning.  Honey, walnut, and bananas? Yes, please! Peanuts and strawberry preserves (thinking PBJ)? Why not?  The basic formula: whole grain quinoa + metabolism-boosting cinnamon + low glycemic index sweetner + healthy fats from nuts = delicious, nutritious, easy breakfast.  Plus, leftovers (the cooked quinoa with cinnamon-- leave the add-ins out until the last minute) reheat very well in the microwave, so this can be ready in a matter of minutes on a busy weekday morning.