Cooking Quinoa

How to cook quinoa the easy way:

1. Rinse 1 cup of organic quinoa in cold water (unless it states on the box that you don't need to rinse).

2. Dump rinsed quinoa into your rice cooker.

3. Add 2 cups fresh water or broth

4. Turn on your rice cooker .

That's it. In about fifteen to twenty minutes you'll have hot fluffy quinoa to play with.

Quinoa is rather bland on its own and loves flavor spikes. So add herbs etc. My favorite thing to do is stir-fry cooked quinoa with various seasonings- herbs, garlic, spices, onion, etc. I add in fresh veggies and whatever else I might have on hand.

Quinoa makes delicious and hearty pilaf, sprightly salads, or a warm and grainy side dish in place of rice. I've even used it to stuff cabbage, acorn squash, peppers and portobello mushroom caps.

For those of you without a rice cooker:

Add the cup of rinsed organic quinoa to a saucepan; add 2 cups fresh water; bring to a boil, lower the heat to low; cover and simmer until cooked.

Season and use in recipes or store, covered, in the fridge, for almost instant meals. Use within three days for best taste.