Quinoa Breakfast Cereal

For only the second time since my daughter was born, my husband and I recently had the opportunity to get away for the weekend—kid free! We had a great time, had lots of laughs, and caught up, but because Scarlett is rarely not by my side, it also felt like I was missing an appendage. A normal outing with her consists of a huge diaper bag slung over my shoulder, chasing her around, and picking up everything she destroys in her path. To those who don’t have kids, this may seem like a nightmare, but to me it’s just the norm, and life without her is kind of…boring. I missed the little hurricane and she was always on my mind. Sunday morning we went out for a nice breakfast at Yew, in the Four Seasons hotel, Vancouver. Scarlett was on my mind then too, and when I spotted the hot, quinoa breakfast cereal on the menu, I couldn’t wait to get home and make it for her! Quinoa often falls into the “super-food” category, so I knew its attributes would make it perfect for breakfast. I followed the cooking instructions on the bag, but cooked the quinoa in coconut milk instead of water. After that I sweetened it with honey, and stirred in vanilla, cinnamon and cranberries, just as I would for making oatmeal. It turned out so good! Cooking it in coconut milk is a must! And as for Scarlett…well you can see for yourself. It went over even better than I thought.

Fun Facts about Quinoa

Quinoa is grown at a high elevation of 10,000-20,000 feet above sea level, and can withstand climates that receive less than 8 inches of rain per year. Most quinoa is organic (I have yet to find Quinoa that isn’t organic.) Quinoa is a complete protein, meaning it contains all eight essential amino acids. Because it is high in protein, it is a great source of non-animal protein for vegetarians. Quinoa is low on the glycemic index and is a complex carbohydrate, so sugars digest slowly, giving you energy throughout the day (making it a great first meal of the day.) Quinoa is a seed, not a grain or a grass, and is related to the chard, spinach and beet family. Quinoa is gluten-free. Unlike fortified breakfast cereals which contain synthetic vitamins and minerals, quinoa is naturally high in vitamins and minerals, so no need to fortify this hot, quinoa breakfast cereal.