Tell me about cooking with quinoa?

H0NEYBADGER

I see it all over pinterest and I have seen RR mention it on her blog. I'm nervous. Is it bland?

NSL

It's not really bland, but like most grains is improved by some kind of seasoning. I like the packs Costco sells.

SunnySky06

It's like plain rice, you'll probably want to add something to it. There's a recipe on my pinterest that I really like, you cook it in veggie stock and add mushrooms and stuff. I will probably never cook it in plain water again.

H0NEYBADGER

I think it was Hilly that posted about making burgers with it. Anyone have any luck with that? I am in some serious need of cooking inspiration. Nothing that I used to make regularly sounds appetizing at all anymore. I have an especially hard time with chicken, but I crave red meat on occasion.

Sibil

There was a post on this on pce today.  There were good suggestions in that thread.

http://community.thenest.com/cs/ks/forums/thread/64075289.aspx 

Sibil

H0NEYBADGER:

I think it was Hilly that posted about making burgers with it. Anyone have any luck with that? I am in some serious need of cooking inspiration. Nothing that I used to make regularly sounds appetizing at all anymore. I have an especially hard time with chicken, but I crave red meat on occasion.

Have you recently gone vegetarian?  

The way I make quinoa is by taking whatever veggies look good and in season and sauteeing them (zucchini, and onion work really well).  I mix those veggies, a chopped tomato, and a can of beans into the quinoa. 

For the quinoa itself, I basically follow a straightforward recipe with a rinse and simmer, but I cook in stock and season liberally with curry. 

H0NEYBADGER

Sibil:

H0NEYBADGER:

I think it was Hilly that posted about making burgers with it. Anyone have any luck with that? I am in some serious need of cooking inspiration. Nothing that I used to make regularly sounds appetizing at all anymore. I have an especially hard time with chicken, but I crave red meat on occasion.

Have you recently gone vegetarian?  

The way I make quinoa is by taking whatever veggies look good and in season and sauteeing them (zucchini, and onion work really well).  I mix those veggies, a chopped tomato, and a can of beans into the quinoa. 

For the quinoa itself, I basically follow a straightforward recipe with a rinse and simmer, but I cook in stock and season liberally with curry. 

No, I think it's just pregnancy related. I normally don't have a problem preparing, cooking or eating chicken. But seeing it raw, even in the grocery store, makes me ill and then I lose my appetite to eat all together. I've been trying to substitute with new recipes until this passes.

Sibil

What about buying roast chicken from Costco?  You can't beat $5 for a whole chicken!  

I haven't cooked much meat in the last 10 years, so I can still get squicked out when dealing with fatty and gristly parts, but if I get the chicken and put it in the fridge before pulling it apart, I don't have a problem.

Heyhey Hilly

http://eatingwelllivingthin.wordpress.com/2010/11/01/love-my-quinoa-burger/

That's the recipe for the burgers I made for lunch the other day.  I used a zucchini, and it was way too wet, even after I cooked it, which made me nervous, because it had eggs in it.  Thinking back, I used Japanese eggs, so I shouldn't have been worried for the lack of salmonella.  

If you use this recipe, I would remove an egg and be sure to squeeze your zucchini very very dry.  besides them being too wet, they were delicious!  I can't wait to try them out again.  DH was even for them! 

H0NEYBADGER

Sibil:

What about buying roast chicken from Costco?  You can't beat $5 for a whole chicken!  

I haven't cooked much meat in the last 10 years, so I can still get squicked out when dealing with fatty and gristly parts, but if I get the chicken and put it in the fridge before pulling it apart, I don't have a problem.

I don't think we have Costco here in my little portion of Louisiana, but I know the Commissary has them! That's a great idea. Then I don't have to see it all slimy and just, bleh.

Sibil

It's still slimy to me, just due to the animal fat.  But, that's why I chill it.  Congealed fat is much easier to deal with (and remove!).

Added benefit is that it keeps up my frozen homemade chicken stock for use in quinoa and other grains

H0NEYBADGER

Sibil:

It's still slimy to me, just due to the animal fat.  But, that's why I chill it.  Congealed fat is much easier to deal with (and remove!).

Added benefit is that it keeps up my frozen homemade chicken stock for use in quinoa and other grains

DowagerCountessofNJ

I love me some quinoa.  I made quinoa cakes for NYE and they were delicious.  I use it as a substitute for rice and add veggies to it but it's delicious on it own.  Very buttery tasting.  I give it to Sophia and she houses it.