Broth-Infused Quinoa

The day I got married is the day I started cooking for my husband and exploring different dishes, recipes and ways of cooking in general. I remember the first few times I made him quinoa and thinking, "Man, this stuff is so darn bland. Let me go get some hot sauce, salt, whatever..."

Then one day, I think I was making soup or something, and I needed chicken broth. As I tasted my soup to check the flavour, I remember thinking it tasted so good, so I thought of preparing my quinoa in a chicken or beef broth next time. And sure enough, it was deeeelish. 

Now, when it comes to nutritional value, the broth honestly does not add any. But when it comes to flavour, oh yeah, that's when you realize that nothing else matters. Your taste buds and whomever you prepare this for will definitely thank you.

Broth-Infused Quinoa
(Serves 4)

Ingredients:

• 1 +Knorr beef or chicken broth cube;
• 1¹⁄2 cups dry quinoa;
• 3 cups water

Directions:

1. Place water in a small pot and bring to a boil over med-high heat.
2. While you are waiting, rinse quinoa in hot water using a strainer.
3. Once the water in the pot starts to boil, drop the broth cube in, followed by the quinoa.
4. Let everything boil for 1-2 minutes.
5. Turn the heat off, put the lid on and let sit for 10 to 12 minutes.
6. Drain excess water if needed.

I hope you enjoy this!

-Alesia D.

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Ever tried something similar? What do you use to flavour your quinoa? 
Tell me about it!

Egg-Tofu Scramble

Before I had my baby boy in November, I cannot count the number of times I told my husband how excited I was to start back up at the gym and get back into shape. So for Christmas, one of his gifts to me was the +Tone It Up book with motivational stories, exercises and recipes. I love trying new things, especially when it comes to food, so I was looking forward to browsing through the different meals they recommend to their followers.v

One of the breakfasts they put together was a "Terrific Tofu Scramble", which, at first, was scary since I'd never had, bought or prepared tofu. I didn't even know what it was. But I finally decided to give this recipe a chance, with a modification, of course. (I added eggs! Mmmm.)

Egg-Tofu Scramble

Ingredients:

• 5 ounces firm, herbed tofu;
• 1 egg;
• 1 tbsp coconut oil;
• ¼ onion, chopped;
• 1 garlic clove, minced;
• ¹⁄2 tsp cumin;
• 1 tsp tumeric;
• ¼ tsp paprika;
• salt and pepper to taste;
• ¹⁄2 cup spinach, chopped;
• ¹⁄2 cup red pepper, diced; and
• ¹⁄2 cup ripe avocado, diced.

Directions:

1. Use a paper towel to drain tofu of extra water then cut into dices.
2. Heat coconut oil on medium-high heat, then add onion and garlic.
3. Once these begin to brown slightly, add tofu and stir for a few minutes. 
4. Add cumin, tumeric, paprika, salt and pepper. 
5. Add the egg and stir.
6. Now add your vegetables and cook until they turn soft.
7. Once plated, add some Frank's RedHot if you like to put that **** on everything.
8. Enjoy!

Thanks for following! :)

-Alesia D.

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Quinoa-Crust Pizza

I was first introduced to quinoa-crust pizza this past summer... I can't remember where. But what I do remember is that I felt healthy after eating this lighter version of its not-so-healthy and not-so-light cousin.

The first time I attempted to make this, the crust was a little too thick, so when it came time to spread the pizza sauce on top, the "dough" just absorbed it all. Also because of the thickness, it tasted like I was eating a ton of rather bland quinoa. Mind you, I consumed an impressive amount of protein in that one sitting, but it mostly had no flavour and my taste buds did not appreciate it.

Then the second time I tried it, I added an extra ingredient, one that I would normally use when preparing quinoa as a side dish: chicken or beef broth. I added this handy flavour enhancer to the water these grains were soaking in, and when it came time to actually form the crust, I made it thinner. These two small changes made a big difference.

This recipe is good for people looking to find ways to incorporate more protein into their diet without over-consuming meats, for the parents whose children won't eat anything but pizza or for a foodie looking to simply try something new and rather simple.

The recipe I use makes between 3 and 6 pizzas (depending on how thick or thin you make them). Additionally, keep in mind that the quinoa is required to soak for at least 7 hours, so either prepare this portion early in the morning or the night before.

Quinoa-Crust Pizza

Ingredients:

•  2 cups quinoa;
• 1 cup broth of your choice (chicken or beef);
• ¹⁄2 cup water and enough water to cover quinoa;
• 2 tsp baking soda; and
• salt to taste.

Directions:

1. Rinse quinoa with warm-hot water for a few minutes (did you know this is the correct way to prepare quinoa before cooking it or letting it soak?)
2. Set oven to 425°F.
3. Combine quinoa, broth and water, and let sit for at least 7 hours. Make sure to check on it every few hours and add water accordingly.  (Since the water will be absorbed, there will not be enough water for the grains that are on the surface.)
4. Once the 7 hours are up, drain bowl, add quinoa, ¹⁄2 cup of water, baking soda and salt to a food processor until it creates a batter!
5. Line your pans (preferrably the 8" or 9" ones) with parchment paper and pour enough of the batter into each one. If you like, I suggest you make each pizza with varying crust sizes to see what you like best.
6. Bake for 15 minutes, then remove parchment paper from underneath and flip to the other side for another 5 to 10 minutes, or until edges are nice and crispy.
7. And now it's time to choose your toppings and get creative!
8. Once you've added all your toppings, place in the oven for about 10 minutes.
9. Enjoy!

Thanks for reading!

-Alesia D.

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Come and join me on Instagram @ChezAlesiaDunn

Ever tried this recipe? Tell me what you served it with, for which occasion, and don't forget to tag me when you make it!

Raw Oatmeal Breakfast Bowl

A friend of mine approached me over the weekend and asked me for some tips and advice about eating whole, nutritious foods. We all know that feeling that takes over our body and mind after the holidays... Realizing that the best part of winter has come and gone, that the over-eating has possibly led us to gain a few extra, unwanted pounds and that it's time to get back on track and flush all those candies, chocolates, gravies and extra mouthfuls of turkey stuffing out of our system. 

But where to begin? I personally know how easy it is to somehow forget every dietary notion I held on to before the holidays. However, now is definitely not the time to keep on eating poorly. Why? Well, with the lack of sun we get in these cold, dreary months, it is vital that whole foods, such as fruits and vegetables, meats, whole grains and nuts are consumed often as they all play a very special role in keeping your skin looking brilliant and your hair healthy, your digestive system clean and your body working properly.

Now getting back to that friend, I think one of the first recipes I will recommend her is my Raw Oatmeal breakfast. It's delicious, extremely nutritious, and very easy to make. All you need is a banana, oats, cinnamon, coconut milk, a bit of real maple syrup and time. (And you are free to add fruits to enhance the flavour if you like.)

Oats are very high in fibre, meaning that eating oatmeal will keep you full and more satisfied for a longer period of time than eating a bowl of cereal and milk would. This will also prevent you from reaching for foods containing sugar, as it stabilizes your blood sugar. Oats also contain antioxidants that help flush your system, so you definitely will not be bloated after having this meal. Honestly, there are so many good things to say about oats and so many positive reasons to incorporate this superfood in your every day diet.

Stay tuned for the recipe after these delightful pictures.

Raw Oatmeal Breakfast Bowl

Ingredients

• 1 cup oats;
• 1 banana, mashed;
• coconut milk;
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon;
• 2 tbsp maple syrup; and
• fruit of your choosing, cut up.

Directions

1. Mash your banana very well in a small bowl.
2. Add all other ingredients to the bowl and stir.
3. Cover bowl, place in refrigerator and wait ~2 hours for the oats to soften.
4. Give your oatmeal a quick stir and enjoy!

I promise. You'll love it!!

-Alesia D.

Let's get social!

Come and join me on Instagram @ChezAlesiaDunn

Ever tried this recipe? Tell me about it!