Clockwise from the top left:  Almond Cranberry Quinoa Cookies from Bon Appetit, Pumpkin Quinoa Breakfast from MakeandTakes.com,  Quinoa Pilaf from Weis Markets, Quinoa Salad from Food & Style

Its January, and while that means we are freezing with the chilly weather (but still hoping for snow), it also means many of us have made a resolution to eat better and lose weight.  Sometimes that can be hard because people slip into a rut of eating the same old thing day after day to ensure they stick to a healthy diet.  It doesn’t have to be that way though!  Adding Quinoa (pronounced KEEN-wah) is definitely something to consider to mix it up!  It resembles couscous and is packed with nutrition and is high in protein – plus this little grain is so easy to use in EVERY meal.  Breakfast, lunch, dinner, even dessert – quinoa recipes are vast and DELICIOUS.  Mary Crafts, who is also a big fan of Quinoa, shared her super simple, and super healthful preparation of Quinoa.

“Cook the Quinoa and dress lightly with EVO, a splash of balsamic vinegar, and salt & pepper to taste.  Chill.  Add scallions and sun roasted peppers and voila!  You have a super healthy side dish full of fiber, protein, and nutrients!”

We at Culinary Crafts LOVE Quinoa and it is definitely a favorite on our menus.  One of Mary’s particular favorites on our menus is a warm Quinoa salad with arugula and sun roasted tomatoes.  YUM!!!  Happy cooking!

Check out our NEW website at www.culinarycrafts.com!