A friend of mine is interviewing me this morning for an article about quinoa’s rise in popularity in the health community over the past several years, so I suppose you could say I woke up with quinoa on my mind. I have always wanted to make a sweet quinoa breakfast dish like I have seen so many of my blogger friends do – something like warm quinoa with almond milk, cinnamon and sliced bananas. But this morning I felt like using quinoa in a bit more subtle way. So I mixed it with my regular oatmeal – gluten-free, of course – and voila! It happened to turn out superbly delicious. And while I was at it I added some peanut butter, honey (agave is a great substitute for those who don’t eat honey), walnuts, mulberries and blueberries. Surprisingly, the mulberries were one of the best additions! They gave a sweet little crunch. And look how wintery it is! Does this not scream stay-inside-by-the-fireplace-and-cuddle-up-with-Christmas-music-and-get-cozy? Winter dishes are big on my mind right now, because it is snowing in New York! This may not sound like a big deal to a lot of you, but I have lived in sunny California my whole life where 60 degrees requires a full on parka. I am enchanted by the snow. It makes me want to blast “Baby It’s Cold Outside” and twirl around outside catching snowflakes on my tongue. (Ask me how I feel about the snow in a few months… I might be kind of done with it by then. Ha ha.) Also, since I was kinda curious about whether this breakfast was going to be a protein overload, I did a bit of research. (*Ahem* to those who wonder where vegans get their protein.) There are 14.9 grams of protein in this dish, which comprises about 60% of what your overall daily protein intake should be if you are an active person. It is also high in iron and fiber and is low in sodium. And, as with almost all of my recipes, it has no cholesterol. Plus, it tastes like d-e-s-s-e-r-t! And when you’re on this awesome healthy vegan train, dessert is not a dirty word. Ingredients: ½ cup oats (I use gluten-free) ½ cup quinoa 1 tablespoon peanut butter 1 tablespoon honey ¼ cup walnuts 1/3 cup blueberries 1 tablespoon mulberries Directions:
- Combine quinoa with 1 cup water and boil over medium heat until the water is soaked all the way through. This will take slightly longer than the oats so put these on first.
- Combine oats with 1 cup water and boil over medium heat until the water is soaked all the way through.
- Once both are fully boiled, combine quinoa and oats in a bowl and mix thoroughly.
- Add the peanut butter, honey, blueberries, mulberries and walnuts and mix thoroughly.
Enjoy! Nutrition Information: P.S. 5 DAY COUNTDOWN until The Blonde Vegan 5-Day Cleanse Program is released! Woo!!!