Quinoa Cakes

March 2, 2013 By ClaireFrancis in Recipe Tags: dinner, quinoa 1 Comment

After going to a local restaurant in my town, I had to make these Quinoa Cakes right as I got home.

Cook one cup of quinoa with two cups of water for about 15 minutes or until all the water is absorbed. If the water is absorbed and the quinoa is still dry, add more water until light and fluffy
Put the quinoa into a bowl with 1/4 cup olive oil and juice of 2 limes, mix, and refrigerate for 10-15 minutes
While the quinoa is cooling, cut up olives, tomatoes, avocado, and red onion and put them in separate dishes. Also have micro greens
Heavily pack quinoa into 1/3 cup measuring cup and turn upside down on a plate. Top quinoa cake with tomatoes, olives, avocado, micro-greens, and red onion

Green-Machine Bowl

February 17, 2013 By ClaireFrancis in Recipe Tags: brussels, dinner, lunch, quinoa Leave a comment

I love making these bowls because they are so quick and you can essentially add anything to them following this guide: carb, protein, vegetable, fat.

Recipe:

Cook 1/4 cup quinoa with 1/2 cup water for about 15 minutes or until the water is fully absorbed. If all the water is soaked up and the quinoa is still dry, add more water until quinoa is light and fluffy
Cook brussels sprouts with my “Brussels Sprouts” on how to cook the perfect brussels sprouts
Add 1/2 an avocado and/or 1/2 cup edemame beans. Sometime the edemame beans don’t suit well with my stomach so I will use tofu for the protein
Combine all the parts in a bowl

Superfood’s of: Starches

January 27, 2013 By ClaireFrancis in About me, Recipe Tags: quinoa, superfoods, sweet potato, wheatberry 4 Comments

I am going to be starting a new series on my blog that will talk about superfood’s and a little bit about each food. A superfood is a food that fuels your body and has nutritious benefits. Sounds awesome right? Well it is! So, let’s get started and EAT UP!

Quinoa

Quinoa is a complete protein that contains all nine essential amino acids.
It contains twice as much fiber then other grains. Fiber lowers cholesterol and glucose levels. It takes a longer time to chew than other foods because it makes you feel fuller for longer and is less “energy dense” which means it has fewer calories for the same volume of food.
Quinoa also contains iron which helps keep our red blood cells healthy. Iron also helps improve brain function.
Quinoa is rich in magnesium. Health benefits of magnesium include transmission of nerve impulses, body temperature regulation, detoxification, energy production, and the formation of healthy bones and teeth.

Sweet Potato

Sweet potatoes contain vitamin A, vitamin C, manganese, fiber, B vitamins, potassium and even iron.
Sweet Potato’s have a low Glycemic Index. The glycemic index of a food reflects the food’s effects on a person’s blood glucose level. It’s better for the body to slowly absorb any gluclose, sustain a moderate rise in sugar levels and experience a gradual return to the regular level. White potatoes have a high GI level so that is why it is better to have sweet potatoes.

Wheat Berries

Wheat berries are whole wheat kernels. They look like thick, short grains — similar to brown rice. When boiled, cooked wheat berries have a chewy bite and subtle nutty, earthy flavor.
Since the wheat kernel is left intact, virtually none of the nutrients are stripped away. A cup of cooked wheat berries has about 300 calories and is packed with fiber, protein and iron. Tasty sprouts are loaded with vitamin E, a cell-protecting antioxidant, and magnesium, which is good for healthy bones and muscles.