Quinoa

To soak the quinoa (quinoa, BTW, should always be soaked because it contains antinutrients, and soaking for a period of time neutralizes these) –

The evening before, put your quinoa in a pot, cover with warm water  ( I usually put in enough water to be about a half inch over the quinoa), then stir in  3 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, lemon juice or buttermilk.  Cover the pot, and let sit overnight at least 12 hours.   Sometimes, I have soaked mine for 2 days!  I just let the pot sit at the back of the stove.

In the morning, I drain and rinse it, and then cover it with water again and put on the stove, bring to a boil, cover it and then turn it to a simmer until the water is gone, stirring it every once in a while when it is cooking.

Once it is cooked, you can add anything you like to it.  I happen to LOVE peanut butter quinoa, so I will stir in about 3 tablespoons butter and add about 1/4 – 1/2 cup of peanut butter (you could add more or less, depending on taste).  I put it in my bowl, and then sweeten it with about a tablespoon raw honey, and add a dash of salt.  I top it all off with a dollop of whipped cream, and sometimes add toasted coconut flakes or crumble pecans on the top.  YUM!  I am getting hungry thinking about it!   Very filling breakfast – you won’t be hungry for a while.  Also, quinoa is a good source of protein.

You could leave the peanut butter out of it, and serve it with cream or milk.  You could sweeten it with maple syrup, or maple sugar.  You could put fruit on it – berries, bananas, etc.  Actually peanut butter banana quinoa sounds delicious.  I haven’t made it, but will have to try it!   You could also swirl some kind of fruit preserves in it, like rasberry or cherry.

You can do all of the above with oatmeal.  Oatmeal should also be soaked overnight.  I LOVE oatmeal soaked in buttermilk, it gives it such a good flavor.