QUINOA

I get asked a lot about what is "clean eating." Basically it is eating as close as possible to  mother nature, and choosing the right foods for your body. I usually get the excuse "but eating healthy is so expensive." Well, it isn't really and how much is your health worth to you??

Here are some benefits and recipes of quinoa. This is an inexpensive clean eating item that is very versatile, family and gluten free friendly!! Give it a try!!

CONTAINS 8 ESSENTIAL AMINO ACIDS, A COMPLETE PROTEIN SOURCE

HIGH IN FIBER- REDUCING HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE AND CHOLESTEROL

LOW GLYCEMIC INDEX- MAINTAINS A STABLE BLOOD SUGAR LEVEL

COMPLEX CARB FOR ENERGY

RICH IN MAGNESIUM- RELAXES BLOOD VESSELS, IMPROVES BONES AND TEETH

GLUTEN FREE

GOOD SOURCE OF CALCIUM HELPING BONES, TEETH, HEART, NERVE AND MUSCLE FUNCTION.

CONTAINS OTHER MINERALS THAT BENEFIT THE HEART, NERVES, AND MUSCLE FUNCTION

HIGH IN IRON INCREASING ENERGY, CONCENTRATION AND STABILIZES YOUR MOOD

ANTIOXIDANT- HELPS PREVENT ILLNESS AND DISEASE

Quinoa Stir Fry!
Source: JennaBlogs.com
Serves: 4-6

2 cups quinoa, rinsed well
2 cups water
2 cups finely chopped and peeled carrots
3/4 cup chopped cilantro
4 cloves of garlic, minced
3 Tablespoons finely chopped chives
1 teaspoon grated ginger
5 Tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
2 teaspoons sriracha
2 Tablespoons vegetable oil, DIVIDED

OPTIONAL: Grilled chicken breast, eggs, snow peas etc.

Directions:

Rinse quinoa well. This removes that waxy, nutty taste. Add quinoa and water to a pot. Bring to boil, reduce to simmer. Cook about 15-20 minutes, or until all the water is absorbed and quinoa is cooked through. Fluff with a fork. Set aside.

Mix soy sauce and sriracha together and set aside.

Add 1 Tablespoon oil to a skillet or wok. Add your carrots. Salt and pepper them, and cook over medium-high heat stirring frequently. Cook about 4 minutes and then add ginger and garlic. Cook 1-2 more minutes. Remove to a bowl and set aside. Heat remaining 1T of oil in the skillet/wok. Add your quinoa. Stir fry the quinoa for about 3-4 minutes, then add your carrot mixture back in. Cook another couple of minutes and then add in your soy sauce mixture. Cook another 1-2 minutes.

Remove from heat, and place quinoa in a bowl. Stir in your cilantro and chives.

Serve warm.

Apple Cinnamon Quinoa Breakfast Bake
(serves 2-4)

• 1 1/2 Cups (160g) Fuji or Granny Smith Apples - cored and chopped (peeled or unpeeled, depending on preference)
• 1 Cup (160g) Quinoa
• 1/3 Cup (60g) Raisins
• 2 1/2 Cups So Delicious^® Almond Plus Milk (OR So Delicious^® Coconut Milk Beverage)
• 1/2 Tbsp (7g) Coconut Oil
• 2 tsp Ground Cinnamon
• Pinch of Nutmeg
• 1/8 tsp Sea Salt
• 2-3 (20g) Pitted Dates (optional, for sweetening/add'l sweetening of the almond milk)

For the Topping:

• Maple Cinnamon Pumpkin Seeds (see below)
• So Delicious Vanilla Cultured Coconut Milk or Vanilla Greek-Style Cultured Coconut Milk

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Love this quote...

I got this recipe off pinterest. There were two recipes I looked at. I tweaked them to be a little more fit friendly. Turned out to be a hit at our house. EVERYONE ATE them (2 adults and 3 kids) SCORE!!

Baked Creamy Chicken Taquitos

Ingredients:
1 block of cream cheese (light works fine in this recipe)
2 Tablespoon lime juice
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
3 cups shredded cooked chicken

2 chopped bell peppers

½ chopped yellow onion

1 TBS Coconut oil
1 cup grated mozzarella cheese
About 16 (6 inch) La Tortillas or Ezekiel tortillas
Salt and pepper to taste
Cooking spray

Directions:

Sauté chopped onions and bell pepers in coconut oil. Heat oven to 425 degrees. Line a baking sheet with foil and lightly coat with cooking spray. Heat cream cheese in the microwave for about 20-30 seconds so it’s soft and easy to stir. Add lime juice, cumin, chili powder, onion powder and garlic powder. Stir to combine and then add cilantro and green onions. Add chicken and mozzarella cheese and combine well.
Place 2-3 Tablespoons of chicken mixture on the lower third of a tortilla, keeping it about 1/2 inch from the edges and roll it up as tight as you can. Place seam side down on the baking sheet.
Lay all of the filled taquitos on the baking sheet and make sure they are not touching each other. Spray the tops lightly with cooking spray and sprinkle some salt on top.
Place pan in oven and bake for 15-20 minutes or until crisp and the ends start to get golden brown.

Lean Grass Fed Beef Parmesan Meatloaf

Dinner time at our house can be hard at times and with three picky kids I do not have time to play chef and make them all their individual dinners. I try to be creative and make fun, fit, and frugal. I love pinterest. They have so many awesome recipes that you can choose from. I usually like to tweak mine, especially if I don't want to run to the store. This was a huge hit in our house, it will be made again!!

Here's the recipe from pinterest

Chicken Parmesan Meatloaf 

original Joelen recipe

1 lb ground chicken (ground turkey can be substituted)

1 egg

1/4 cup breadcrumbs

1/2 teaspoon dried basil

1/2 teaspoon dried thyme

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano 

1-2 cloves garlic,

 finely minced 1 small onion, grated 

1/2 teaspoon salt 

1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1/2 cup pasta sauce (homemade or store bought) 

1/2 cup shredded Italian cheese blend 

minced parsley for garnish

 Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a loaf pan with cooking spray, set aside. In a large bowl, combine the ground chicken, egg, breadcrumbs, thyme, oregano, basil, garlic, onion, salt, pepper and Parmesan cheese. To not over handle the mixture otherwise it will get tough. Place the mixture in the greased loaf pan and form into a loaf. Top the meatloaf with pasta sauce.

My version that I tweaked to work for us.

1 lb grass fed 90/10 lean ground beef

1 egg

1/4 cup gluten free bread crumbs

1/2 teaspoon dried basil

1/2 teaspoon dried thyme

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano 

1-2 cloves garlic,

1 cup carrots measured and then chopped

1 cup spinach measured and then chopped

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese (can omit)

1/2 cup Glen Muir pasta sauce 

1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (can omit)

Strawberry baked oatmeal

1/2 cup oats

1/2 cup water

1/2 cup International egg white substitute

2 TBS cottage cheese

4-5 fresh strawberries chopped

NuNaturals Vanilla Stevia

Cinnamon

1/4 tsp. baking soda

mix oats,water,egg whites together in an oven safe bowl. Add in the rest and stir together. Bake on 350 for 30-35 min. Let it cool and enjoy. Its yummy warm or cold. Perfect for your on the go schedules.

Yummy Lemon Chicken

Here's a yummy lemon chicken recipe from food network.

Ingredients
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (about 2 lemons)
1/4 cup olive oil, plus more for grill grates and drizzling
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh rosemary
3 cloves garlic, minced
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 3/4 pounds chicken cutlets (8 thin cutlets)
1 lemon, sliced in half, optional
2 large handfuls baby arugula
Directions
Whisk together the lemon juice, olive oil, mustard, rosemary, garlic and a big pinch of salt and pepper in a measuring cup. Add chicken to a gallon-size zip top bag or casserole dish and pour the marinade over the chicken. Turn to coat and let the chicken marinate at room temperature for 30 minutes (or 1 hour in the refrigerator).
Heat a grill to medium-high. Brush the grill grates with olive oil using a clean tea towel or paper towel.
Remove the chicken from the marinade and discard the marinade. Place the chicken on the grill and cook until golden and slightly charred, about 3 minutes per side. Place the lemon halves cut-side down on the grill grate and grill until charred, about 4 minutes.
Add the arugula to a platter and drizzle very lightly with olive oil. Remove the chicken from the grill and shingle across the bed of arugula. Squeeze some lemon juice over the chicken and serve.

Grilling

I love grilling my food. The crisp and clean flavor, along with the aroma smell of the BBQ going. We made this recipe a couple weeks ago. It rocks! Try it out in the beautiful spring weather.

Grilled Vegetables on the Food Network