Confetti Quinoa – Friday Food

fridayfood2.jpgQuinoa (keen-wa) is an awesome grain. It’s a whole grain, Good for You, and cooks in only 20 minutes (rather than the 1 hour plus of most other whole grains.) My children call it fish eye-balls because it is a small round grain that forms a little spiral when it cooks. For a quick, Good for You, wholegrain dish that tastes delish try:

Lisa’s Good for You-Naturally!™ Confetti Quinoa

I cook this in my Miracle brand electric stainless steel rice cooker. Other ways of cooking it may require different proportion of water. Most stovetop recipes say twice as much water as quinoa.

  • 4 c. quinoa, organic
  • 5 1/2 c. pure water
  • medium chopped onion (organic)
  • 2-3 stalks celery, chopped (organic)
  • a big squirt of Bragg’s Liquid Aminos

Takes approx. 15-20 min to cook. (only 2 minutes if you cook in a pressure cooker)

Steam 16 oz. frozen organic mixed vegetables (or a nice fresh mix, if you’re doing better than me today.) I use Cascadian Farms which has diced carrots, peas, and corn. (If you’re doing better than me today, you could also saute your onion and celery in a bit of extra virgin olive oil before adding to the quinoa.)

When both are finished, mix together and serve with a big leafy green salad. The 4 cups of dry grain makes more than enough for our family of 8. As our boys get older, we’re having to prepare bigger batches of everything.

Country Pot Pie – Friday Food

fridayfood2.jpgAnother request from Lisa. And another that works great in the crock pot.

Country (Veggie) Pot Pie

Saute in 3 Tbl. olive oil (organic, extra virgin):

1 small onion (organic), diced

3 stalks celery (organic), chopped

In large stock pot or crock pot add:

  • 8 cups diced potatoes (organic)
  • 2 cups sliced carrots (organic)
  • 2 cups peas (organic – fresh, shelled if available, otherwise frozen)
  • 2 tsp. dried parsley (non-irradiated, organic)
  • 1 tsp. dried basil (non-irradiated, organic)
  • 4 cups vegetable broth (or pure water with Rapunzel vegetable bouillon)
  • squirt of Bragg’s Liquid Aminos
  • sauted onions and celery

Cook until veggies are soft.

Stir in: 1/2 cup whole wheat flour (fresh ground, organic), shaken in 1 cup pure water to thicken.

S&P if desired.

If made in a stock pot, transfer to casserole dish or 9×13. (If made in crock pot, you can leave it there.) Top with Biscuits. To serve place biscuit on plate (we slice them in half), then ladle veggies on top of it.

We always make lots of extra biscuits to eat with butter and all-fruit (no sweeteners or additives) jam, with this. Also a nice green veggie salad.

Biscuits

Mix together:

  • 6 cups fresh ground, organic, whole wheat flour
  • 3 Tbl. baking powder (non-aluminum containing brand, like Rumford’s)
  • 1 tsp. unrefined salt (Real®, himalayan, or celtic salt)

Cut in:

  • 3/4 cup unsalted butter (organic, if you can)

Add:

  • 2-2 1/4 cups pure water

Stir until ball forms.

Roll 1/2 – 3/4″ thick. Cut into circles (with a glass or biscuit cutter).

Back on ungreased cookie sheet (stoneware is awesome!) for 12-15 minutes at 425°.