Healthy Breakfast: Quinoa

Hello again! Please join me in extending a warm welcome to our guest blogger, Sarah Williamson, of Sweet & Savory Life. To help you  stick to your "healthier me" New Year's resolution, Sarah has  shared three yummy variations of this quinoa recipe.

Good morning to everyone at Pricilla J. Designs!

My name is Sarah, and I blog over at Sweet & Savory Life. I'm a big fan of heart-to-hearts, brainstorming ideas for new projects and anything scrumptious. In addition to making DIY messes and blogging, I do my best to eat and live well. I am definitely not one of those people who just loves to work out or eat broccoli... but I do love the way I feel when I routinely make good choices for my body. I chose not to make any ironclad resolutions for 2013, but I did decide that this was the year that I start taking better care of myself. It's not about a number on a scale or the size of my pants--what's important is knowing I'm treating myself well. One of the ways I do this is by eating foods that really pack a punch. Enter, quinoa.

Quinoa truly is one of the best foods you can eat. It's protein-rich, full of fiber, contains iron, and the list goes on. As an ingredient it's super versatile--you can use it in a stir fry in place of rice, or as a side dish, as a base for room temperature salads. Personally? I eat it for breakfast! It's filling and sustains me throughout the day. If your breakfast routine is getting dull, give quinoa a shot. Below I show you three different ways of dressing it. I encourage you to try them all and get creative on your own!

Breakfast Quinoa: Three Different Ways

You'll need:

• 1 cup quinoa
• 1.5 cup water
• dash of salt
• various additions from your pantry

Toast the quinoa in a skillet on medium heat. This is important - it helps bring out the nutty flavor! Once I hear the quinoa start crackling, I add in the water and salt. Let the water come to a boil, and then cover the skillet and turn down the heat. Let the quinoa simmer for about 15 minutes. Then fluff it and separate it into 4-5 small Tupperware containers. Dress it (using my additions below) while it's still hot. Store in the fridge. When you're ready to eat, pop it in the microwave for a minute and presto! You've just made a healthy breakfast for yourself.

This recipe should yield enough quinoa to have 1/2-3/4 cup for breakfast each morning. I know that doesn't sound like a lot, but trust me, it's more than you think. Even though quinoa is one of the best grains you can eat, remember, it's still a carb.

I am a huge peanut butter fan. HUGE. The PB+J combination is my favorite because it feels like a treat!

I hope you give quinoa a go for breakfast, and if you do, I'd love for you to let me know how it turns out. Visit me anytime at Sweet & Savory Life - I love meeting new bloggers and discovering creativity! Thank you so much, Pricilla, for letting me chat with your readers over breakfast. I've had the best time!

Stay keen on quinoa,

 Sweet Sarah

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