How to make Quinoa in a Rice Cooker

This is the second post in my how to make series. The first was how to make quinoa on the stove top. Today we're discussing how to make it in a rice cooker. I really love cooking quinoa in a rice cooker... okay I admit I also love cooking rice, cous cous and Irish oats in my rice cooker as well. It is just so much easier to start it and forget about it! (And honestly, who doesn't love a food they can just put in something and forget about for a while - that's why slow cookers are so popular!)

 

How To Cook Quinoa: Rice Cooker

 First you'll need to rinse the quinoa. (I discussed a different method in my last post on quinoa.) I lined a strainer with paper towels (double layer) and then ran water over the quinoa. I must admit that I really felt like quinoa and styrofoam have a great tendency to cling to my hands!

Give it a good rinse.

 Once it is rinsed, grab the sides of the paper towel

and remove paper towel (with quinoa in it) and drain.

 Then place the quinoa in the bowl of your rice cooker.

Then add in some water (or broth - broth gives it a better flavor.)

 For each cup of quinoa you'll need about 2 cups of water - the exact amount depends on your rice cooker and your elevation, etc. Start with 2 cups to each cup and adjust as necessary.

 Cook until water is absorbed and quinoa is 'fluffy'.

Eat plain or add into any quinoa recipe such as Quinoa with Roasted Peppers and Caramelized Onions, or Beef and Bacon Quinoa.

How to make Quinoa on the stovetop {Recipe: Tex-Mex Quinoa}

This year I want to start a How To make series. So for this first post I'm going to explain how to cook quinoa. I'm going to be doing two posts on this. First I'm going to post how to cook quinoa on the stove-top (with other ingredients). The next post is going to be how to make quinoa (plain) in a rice-cooker (my preferred method.)

Now some brief info for those of you who have never heard of quinoa or those of you who have but don't really know what it is. (First - pronunciation - Keen-Wah) Quinoa is a seed that originated in South America (mainly the Andes region). It is a power house and contains antioxidants, amino acids and protein. While quinoa is typically bunched in with grains, it is actually a relative of the spinach families. (Although tastes nothing like spinach! Side note - you can actually eat quinoa greens, but availability is limited.) The flavor of quinoa is actually quite bland but there are so many combinations of spices that can enhance the seeds. 

 How to Cook Quinoa: Stove Top (recipe: Tex-Mex Quinoa)

My computer is in a bad spot

So one of my unwritten goals this year was to post more on my blog... and I did well for the first week ;). However, I felt the need to make the next post I posted about one that had a recipe. The main problem? I don't have any photos edited for a recipe post... I have realized in the last week that the main reason I haven't edited photos is because my time I like to edit photos is in the daytime and currently my screen is facing 3 south windows. That means I have BIG time glares on my screen for pretty much the whole time the sun is up. Unfortunately glares and photo editing don't really get along. (Plus lately the time I've had for photo editing while the sun is down has gone to editing photos for my friend's baby that I took New Year's Eve.) 

So I'm thinking I should move my computer so the glare is not there. However, I really, really, really like where the computer is besides the whole glare issue...I don't want to put dark curtains up because it's better for my mood when I have the natural light.

So right now I'm debating as to what to do and I still haven't edited any recipe photos. But I do have a few I'm really wanting to share, so hopefully I'll be able to edit them soon - after the sun goes down...

I'm not so sure the end of the world isn't soon!

Driving on our main street out of town my husband and I saw this picture: 

We're pretty sure it's the end of the world!

(Or they're just put up the sign and the gas station isn't open yet...)

The only constant is change

I'm sure you've all heard the old adage - "The only constant is change." Well I certainly feel that applies to my blog. I started this blog when my oldest son was not quite 5 months old. He'll be turning 4 in a few months! When I started this blog, I was still adjusting to being a stay at home mom and the only thing I felt I could blog about was cooking - since I knew how to do that ;). 

My Resolutions

My husband and I like to set goals for different areas of our lives. Physical, emotional, spiritual, family, house, finances, etc.

 

Physical - Live healthier - I'm going back on my PCOS eating plan (took a break after the baby came... I'm not that with it while being sleep deprived and spending most of my energy keeping 2 kids alive ;). I'm also going to attempt to exercise 5 days per week - I think I can now that my baby isn't quite so attention needy - but I'm going to monitor and adjust this as needed. My goal is to get to a point where I'm exercising 30 minutes each day I exercise. I'm starting out at 10-15 and working up.

Setting and Achieving Resolutions

Every year many people across the world write down goals for the coming year... resolutions they hope will make themselves better by the same time the next year. The interesting thing is that 88% of resolutions end in failure. That means that only 12% will actually meet their resolutions. Sooooo do you really want to set a goal with only a 12% chance of success? Doesn't sound too enticing does it? Hopefully I'll be able to share a few ideas with you that can help you be part of the 12% instead of the 88%.