Quinoa Quickie

This dish is a winner not only because it requires minimal effort to prepare with just a few simple ingredients, but also because it is quite tasty and pairs well with almost any main dish. Substituting quinoa for rice is a healthy alternative because it contains almost twice the fiber and protein for the same amount of calories. Quinoa is a seed not a grain that is grown primarily in South America. This dish is also good warmed up the next morning for breakfast.

Ingredients:

1 cup of quinoa uncooked

2 cups of water

1 trimmed leek

1/2 cup pumpkin seeds

1 tablespoon of butter

1/8 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

Cooking Method:

Follow directions on package to prepare quinoa.
After pouring quinoa into stock pot, add salt plus 1 trimmed leek cut finely. Cook together until quinoa is done.
While the quinoa mixture is cooking, roast 1/2 cup of pumpkin seeds in a microwave on a flat plate for 2 minutes. Stir pumpkin seeds around the plate to avoid hot spots, and roast for another minute.
After quinoa has cooked, stir in pumpkin seeds and 1 tablespoon of butter.
Serve along side chicken, or fish dish.