Quinoa and berry breakfast!

Healthy and delicious way to start another busy day!

I have recently fallen in love with quinoa. I have used it in soups, as a side dish and most recently like grits or oatmeal for breakfast. The great thing about quinoa is it huge nutrient boost. Its protein content is very high (12%–18%). Unlike wheat or rice (which are low in lysine), quinoa contains a balanced set of essential amino acids for humans, making it an unusually complete food. It is a good source of dietary fiber and phosphorus and is high in magnesium and iron. Quinoa is gluten free and considered easy to digest.

With all of this in mind I have been using it when ever I can and the other day I happened upon Heidi's blog at 101 Cookbooks and saw this incredible breakfast recipe using quinoa as the base! My youngest daughter is a tough one to feed breakfast to so I am always looking for something new and healthy and my oldest daughter needs all of the energy foods she can get (with karate and figure skating she burns a lot!). I woke up a little earlier this morning and started cooking. This was a nice easy recipe and I knew how healthy it would be. The recipe easily feeds 4 so there was enough for all of us. Heidi's pictures are way better than mine so be sure to visit her blog to check out the pics!

Can you tell it was pretty early! This is the bright morning sun that shines right onto the pool.

Warm and Nutty Cinnamon Quinoa Recipe (Heidi Swanson - 101 Cookbooks)

Heidi used a red quinoa here, but you can use whatever kind you like, white/buff colored seems to be the most common. Also, a few notes and tips from the book: low-fat soy milk may replace the low fat milk, blueberries may replace the blackberries, dark honey may replace the agave nectar, and walnuts may replace the pecans.

1 cup organic 1% low fat milk
1 cup water
1 cup organic quinoa, (hs note: rinse quinoa)
2 cups fresh blackberries, organic preferred
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/3 cup chopped pecans, toasted*
4 teaspoons organic agave nectar, such as Madhava brand

Combine milk, water and quinoa in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low; cover and simmer 15 minutes or until most of the liquid is absorbed. Turn off heat; let stand covered 5 minutes. Stir in blackberries and cinnamon; transfer to four bowls and top with pecans. Drizzle 1 teaspoon agave nectar over each serving.

Serves 4.

*While the quinoa cooks, roast the pecans in a 350F degree toaster oven for 5 to 6 minutes or in a dry skillet over medium heat for about 3 minutes.

As Always...

Happy Entertaining!!!

Judy
www.nofearentertaining.com

A diet we all can follow!

Wow, finally a diet that I can follow!!! I really dislike dieting but I have gotten to the age where the wieght just won't cut me any slack...I guess that and the fact that I have 2 children and very little time to take care of myself. I am currently doing WeightWatchers Online which I really love becasue I can take all of the philosophys that I have regarding food and still hold onto them. I am still able to eat everything that I would normally eat but now I am very conscious of how much! For me it has worked amazingly well (I will never talk numbers but I have lost wieght). Contact me for more info on WeightWatchers...I love to talk about it!

Check out this article. It is pretty interesting!

Breaking News Latest News Current News - FOXNews.com

Happy Entertaining!!!

Judy
http://www.nofearentertaining.com/

Have you heard about Fish Oil?

Yes...I did say Fish Oil!

Any one who spends anytime at all with us know that we are big cheerleaders for the Pharmaceutical Grade Fish Oil (Omega-3 Fatty Acids) trend. We are not taking about the fish oil that your Mom used to make you take when you were a kid and the rest of the day you you had fish burps!

It is being marketed as the big miracle cure for just about everything. Now I am pretty skeptical about things that are supposed to fix everything so I don't usually jump on the bandwagon for all of these things but I have to tell you we have been taking it for about a year now and really have never felt better. My skin feel better, my hair looks better, my blood pressure is borderline low (this was from borderline high) and I have lost weight! This is just how it has visibly helping me. The benefits of the Omega-3's are well documented and extensive: protection against heart disease and stroke, lowered bad cholesterol (Tony's was 375 now it is normal), lowered triglycerides, increased level of good cholesterol, reduced risk for diabetes, improved joint and bone health, relief from depressive disorders and ADHD, support in treatment of eating disorders, improved skin, improved recovery from burns,a lowered risk for some cancers. Omega-3s are also beneficial for treating asthma, macular degeneration, menstrual pain and any conditions linked with inflammation.

We take Omega-3 pharmaceutical grade Fish Oil daily as do the children (and the dogs but that is another story altogether). My youngest daughter has been able to greatly improved her ability to concentrate which is attributed directly to the Omega -3 Fish Oil!

I know that I have emphasized the fact that it is pharmaceutical grade Omega-3 fish oil but that is a very important factor in this mix. If you walk into your local health food store and buy fish oil you are doing yourself a huge disservice. The pharmaceutical grade removes all of the toxic heavy metals that we would naturally get from eating the fish (mercury, lead etc). Therefore you are left with a purer, healthier product. You also don't get the fish burps all day long (nice by product of the purifying).

To learn more about how this can improve your health and that of your family click here. We buy our vitamins from Dr. Vince. Check out his link at Better Health, Better Energy, Better Life.

To your good health!!!

Judy
http://www.nofearentertaining.com/