quinoa

Recipes, Snacks, Treats, Vegan, Vegetarian

Quinoa Flax Crackers

This is my first experiment with homemade crackers. Sometimes I like to eat my Maple Quinoa Cereal dry as a snack, which gave me the idea to turn it into a savory cracker.

I love eating these plain, but my favorite topping is a dollop of  Laughing Cow Spreadable Light Creamy Swiss Cheese, with chopped bosc pear, and a hint of fresh cracked black pepper!

These crackers do not contain any flours or oils and in fact only consist of 5 ingredients! You could use this recipe as a guideline to make different flavored crackers by changing the seasonings and seeds on top! Next time I may try a sweet sesame poppy seed cracker! Mmmm, the possibilities are endless!

Quinoa Flax Crackers
Makes about 40 crackers

2 cups cooked quinoa
2 Tbsp finely ground flaxseed
1 Tbsp  salt-free Italian seasoning (I used Frontier)
¼ tsp ground sea salt
1-2 Tbsp sunflower seeds

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Combine quinoa, flaxseed, seasoning, and salt in a food processor and blend until a dough-like consistency if formed.  Spread the dough onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper (do not use wax paper). Place another sheet of parchment paper on top of the dough and flatted with a rolling pin until it has spread into a thin layer. Sprinkle sunflower seeds on top of the flattened dough. Place parchment paper on top and lightly roll the seeds in so they stick. Remove top layer of parchment paper and cut the dough into 1in x 1in squares. Place in the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes until edges become golden.

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Breakfast, Lunch, Recipes, Snacks, Vegetarian

Quinoa Orange Breakfast Bowl

My friend Taryn and I went to Zinc Café on Sunday and decided to try their new quinoa bowl. It was filled with red quinoa, oranges, almonds, and topped with rich ricotta cheese. Zinc Café served their dish hot, which I really enjoyed since the weather has taken a turn. I wanted to try making the quinoa bowl at home,  and used cold quinoa that I had prepared and stored in the refrigerator the night before. I might even try making it into a parfait by alternating the layers of quinoa with ricotta in a glass jar. Perfect to have waiting in the fridge for mornings where I don’t have time to make something. Hot, cold, or in a jar, this is definitely going to be one of my new breakfast staples!

Quinoa Orange Breakfast Bowl
Serves 1

½ cup cooked red quinoa
1 cup Mandarin orange slices
¼ cup nonfat ricotta cheese
2 Tbsp slivered almonds
½ Tbsp fresh orange zest
½ Tbsp fresh orange juice
1 tsp honey if desired

Cook quinoa to package instructions. Combine quinoa with orange slices, orange zest, orange juice, and slivered almonds. Top with ricotta cheese, and garnish with a pinch of orange zest and honey if desired. Enjoy warm.
Note: You can use 2 small fresh mandarin oranges, 1 cup of canned Mandarin orange slices (no sugar added), or slices of 1 tangerine or orange!

The Rabbit Food Pyramid Breakdown
Produce: Mandarin orange
Whole Grain: quinoa
Protein: ricotta cheese
Plant Based Fat: almonds

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Dinner, Lunch, Recipes, Vegan, Vegetarian

Rainbow Quinoa Salad

First of all, thank you SO MUCH to everyone who reads my blog! Today I hit over 200 likes on my Facebook fan page, and couldn’t even believe my eyes! You guys have been so inspiring and I am so grateful to have amazing fans like you! I promise to keep the recipes and tips coming!

Colorful dishes are the healthiest. The more colorful, the better… and no, I’m not talking about Froot Loops. Vividly colored fruits and vegetables are filled with flavonoids and polyphenols; powerful antioxidants that will support your retina, mitochondria, brain cells, and aid the removal of toxins. You can get your daily dose from vibrant veggies such as beats, carrots, peppers, and red cabbage, as well as brightly colored berries, and fruits like peaches, oranges, etc.

To achieve optimal health, aim for 3 different colors of fruits and veggies everyday!

Not only is this dish the perfect springtime salad filled with flavor, vitamins, minerals, and chewy whole-grains, but it also tallies up to a total of 4 different veggies of 4 different colors! Feed your brain, not just your tummy!

Rainbow Quinoa Salad
Serves 1

¼ cup cooked red quinoa
¼ cup cooked farro
½ cup unshelled edamame beans (chilled)
½ cup diced red pepper
½ cup diced red onion
½ cup shredded carrot
1/8 cup chopped cilantro
1 Tbsp red wine vinegar
1/8 tsp ground cumin

Cook quinoa and farro to package instructions and chill in the refrigerator. Combine edamame, pepper, onion, carrot, cilantro, vinegar, and cumin with cooled quinoa and farro. Enjoy your brain food!

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Lunch, Recipes, Snacks, Vegetarian

Quinoa Grape & Sunflower Seed Parfait

If you were a fan of my original Cinnamon Apple Pie Quinoa Parfait, then you will love this variation as well. This protein packed treat is ultra convenient and easy to make, store, grab, and eat!


Quinoa, Grape, & Sunflower Seed Parfait
Serves 1

1 cup frozen green seedless grapes
6oz or a single serve cup of plain nonfat Greek yogurt
1/2 cup cooked chilled quinoa
2 Tbsp sunflower seeds
cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice to taste

Cook quinoa and refrigerate beforehand. Cut frozen grapes into halves. In a glass jar, layer half of the yogurt along the bottom, followed by half of the quinoa, sunflower seeds, and frozen grapes. Sprinkle grapes with cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice. Repeat layers to create a parfait and store in the refrigerator or eat right away.
Note: If you don’t like the tartness of Greek yogurt, you can mix a 1/2 tsp of pure vanilla extract and natural sweetener such as stevia to give more flavor.

The Rabbit Food Pyramid Breakdown
Produce: grapes
Whole Grain: quinoa
Protein: Greek yogurt
Plant Based Fat: sunflower seeds

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Breakfast, Recipes, Vegan, Vegetarian

Maple Quinoa Cereal

Have you ever had a bowl of store-bought cereal in the morning and heard your stomach growl an hour later? That is because your cereal is probably low in protein, fiber, and overall nutrition. Most breakfast cereals are high in simple carbohydrates, fats, and loaded with added sugar. Even if you look at the nutrition label of a “healthy” cereal, you may be surprised to find that there is nothing healthy about it.

The complex super grain quinoa (pronounced keen-wa) is considered a complete protein, which is an outstanding source of essential amino acids. The fiber and slow-releasing carbs in quinoa will keep your stomach feeling feel, and your blood sugar stable so you won’t get that usual after cereal crash. Chia seeds add a dose of omega-3 and are loaded with both soluble and insoluble fiber.


Maple Quinoa Cereal
Makes 3 servings (1/2 cup each)

1 1/2 cups cooked quinoa
1 Tbsp chia seeds
2 Tbsp pure maple syrup
3/4 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla


Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a large bowl, combine all ingredients and mix together. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper (do not use wax paper. Trust me, I tried it and it failed!) and pour the batter onto the paper. Flatten smooth with a spatula until batter is a thin sheet (about ¼ inch thick). Bake for 25 minutes, flip (it’s ok if the sheet of quinoa breaks into smaller pieces at this time), and bake for 25 more minutes (about 50 total) to ensure that both sides are baked evenly. Remove from oven when cereal is slightly golden brown. Allow cereal to cool, and then break into small cereal sized flakes. Enjoy with almond milk and fresh berries or fruit!

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