Quinoa Breakfast -- a MUST try!

Ok folks, it's time for the best breakfast ever. Say goodbye to oatmeal forever. I saw this recipe on Beyond the Peel (if you haven't been to this blog, check it out, I LOVE it) and I knew I would make it the next morning for breakfast. My toddler and I inhaled it. And even though my knowledge of oatmeal is limited, I'm still 99.9% sure this is MUCH healthier than oatmeal. I did make a few changes though, because I didn't have the fruit that the recipe called for, but you can use any combination you want. Today, we used blueberries (organic), slivered almonds and brown sugar. You could also use dried cranberries, honey (to replace the sugar), walnuts, raisins, peaches or any other combo that sounds good.

I will be going out today to stock up on quinoa (buy quinoa in bulk to save money, a tip from Beyond the Peel) because I know this will be our breakfast every morning. I tend to find a breakfast item I like and then eat it for weeks. Also, another Beyond the Peel tip, if you are lazy in the morning (and I tend to be), then you could make the quinoa the day before, put it in the fridge and then the next morning just add the milk, fruit and heat it up real fast. It only takes 20 minutes to make, but in the morning I'm either wanting to lay around for a while, or I'm in a hurry for an appointment. I plan to make some tonight for  breakfast tomorrow morning.

PS: If you're not a quinoa fan, or are new to it, I think this would be a great recipe for you to try.

Quinoa Breakfast
Serving Size = 1 big serving, perfect for my toddler and I
Original Recipe: Beyond the Peel (I altered the recipe slightly)

• 1/2 cup quinoa, rinsed
• 1 cup of water
• 1/2 teaspoon or so of cinnamon (I just eye it)
• 1/4 teaspoon or so of vanilla (eye it)
• 1 teaspoon or so of oil (I used grapeseed oil)
• A few teaspoons of brown sugar or honey (I just add to taste)
• Some warm milk
• Slivered Almonds
• Blueberries

*Use any fruit/nut combo you want. Also, the original recipe said that you could serve it with yogurt as well.

1. Over medium high heat, add the oil and then toast the quinoa for a few minutes, while stirring. It will start to smell nutty and begin popping. Add the water, cinnamon (original recipe added the dried fruit at this point, but I will probably add mine towards to end to keep that chewy texture, it's up to you), and bring to a simmer, cover and turn the heat down to about medium low to keep a simmer but not a boil. Cook for about 20 minutes, checking in the last 5 minutes or so.
2. When done, add a tiny bit of vanilla, the sugar (add before the milk so it melts with the heat), some milk and mix. Pour into a bowl and add the fruit and nuts or any combo you want. I will say, you need to add warm milk or make sure it warms in the pan with the quinoa (what I do). This isn't oatmeal, which is lava-like after you cook it and never cools down, this will get cold if you add cold milk.

You can also find the Beyond the Peel blog link under my "Blogs I Adore" tab at the top.

Linking to: Foodie Friday, Potluck Friday, Gallery of Favorites