Comments on: Dinner With My Family #20: Quinoa Monk Bowl

By: Michelle

Michelle — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 14:51:35 +0000

I cook quinoa in my rice cooker. :)

By: Rhiannon

Rhiannon — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 12:41:01 +0000

Actually, quinoa is not a grain because it doesn’t come from a grass species.

By: Steven

Steven — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 02:55:14 +0000

Quinoa is like rice?

By: WeaverRose

WeaverRose — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 14:46:25 +0000

I like to do this too, but I use mostly raw veggies (red/yellow/orange peppers, scallions, grape tomatoes, blanched broccoli, carrots, celery, etc.) and mix with balsamic vinaigrette. It’s good cold or room temperature.

By: Kathryn

Kathryn — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 13:48:35 +0000

It is good to soak (and wash/rinse) grains before you cook them too. If you are soaking beans the night before, soak the quinoa as well.

By: Johanna

Johanna — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 13:23:50 +0000

@Michele: A lot of the quinoa in stores these days is pre-rinsed. When I first started using it (maybe 8-9 years ago) I found that I had to rinse it (I ruined a couple of batches by rinsing it, but not quite enough), but lately I’ve been using it straight without rinsing, and it’s been fine.

By: Leslie

Leslie — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 13:14:12 +0000

Sounds yummy. Just don’t forget to rinse the quinoa first or you may be bitter.Quinoa makes an awesome curry salad, too. Cheers!

By: Diana Freeman

Diana Freeman — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 12:54:37 +0000

Dear Trent:

I enjoyed reading your article on personal finances. I think you are on the right track towards financial solvency. However, when you speak of estimating the value of personal assets, there is something you must keep in mind. The real value of an asset compared to the amount you would be able to sell it for is often quite different.

For example, you need money; therefore, you plan to sell an item worth $100, and you put an advertisement in the newspaper. Chances are you will not get any phone calls or responses to your ad. However, if you lower the price to $50, the item is sold immediately.

When purchasing personal property, it is better not to want to sell it or plan on it’s financial liquidation. Real estate is the exception; however, it often takes a long time to sell.

My point is that while personal property is indeed valuable especially to it’s owner; yet, it is difficult to get the full value when put up for sale. However, if you want to use personal property as a financial asset to sell when you need money, then buy used and chances are you will get your money back or more when you sell it. It is truly valuable.

My philosophy is to save for “a rainy day,” rather than collecting a lot of personal property to sell for money. Keep the valuables you need and save as much money as possible. Remember we are in the midst of a deep recession, on the verge of another “Great Depression,” so in this day and age, I will go along with the saying: “less is better.”

God Bless,

Diana Freeman

By: Jens

Jens — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 05:03:45 +0000

I like to prepare my quinoa in water just as if it was rice, and top it with lower-sodium soy-sauce and toasted sesame-seed oil. Quinoa is also great to boil in a larger quantity on Sunday night, portion out, freeze some of it, and bring a portion for each lunch on workdays. And since I didn’t see it pointed out, quinoa is said to be one of the highest-protein (pseudo-)grains with a good essential amino acid profile for a plant. Its Wikipedia article is a pretty interesting read.

By: Interested Readers

Interested Readers — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 02:32:57 +0000

@Michele -I think now that quinoa is more popular it’s being pre rinsed.

I have quinoa that I bought at Costco and sometimes I rinse and and sometimes I don’t and honestly I don’t really notice a difference.

By: Michele

Michele — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 01:25:24 +0000

Looks delicious! I love quinoa…but, don’t you thoroughly soak the quinoa for 5 minutes and rinse with fresh clear water multiple times before cooking it?
That is the recommended cooking method to remove the bitter taste.

By: Tara@riceandbeanslife

Tara@riceandbeanslife — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 00:54:07 +0000

I love quinoa and so does my family. We’ll have to try it this way! Thanks!

By: Emma

Emma — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 00:46:10 +0000

Wow, the best recipe so far. I cook quinoa the way #4Rebekah described. Like rice, 2:1 ratio, all cover, simmer for few minutes and turn off the stove. After lets say 20 minutes it is done. Nice and fluffy. Quinoa is gluten free, I buy organic version in 5 lbs bags.Very gentle on you stomach, no cramps, nothing for grain of so much fiber. I sauté(some oil on the bottom of the pot) zucchini, green, and eggplant till they are soft with tons of garlic. Combine the ingredient in a lager pot. I prepare a lot of it .Good for lunch for next 3 days. At time I sauté a pack of grounded turkey, well spice up with black paper and garlic and mix it together with quinoa and veggies. I use cooked beans too. Throw a handfull of dry cranberries. Few spoons of extra virgin olive oil. You can add hard boiled and chopped eggs(or egg white)in one version. A can of tuna or broil salmon in yet another version. Love it. I can not however , picture the dish with BBQ sauce. Must try.

By: Kimberlee

Kimberlee — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 00:30:36 +0000

I am puzzled as to what BBQ sauce would add to this dish. The simplicity and healthiness is in the other ingredients.

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 22:29:54 +0000

I use a little less water than that, and make quinoa like rice. Bring the water and quinoa to a boil, cover and reduce heat to very low, and steam for 12 min. Then turn the heat off and continue cooking for another few minutes. Don’t peek or you let all the steam out.

By: Fifi @ fififrugality.blogspot.com

Fifi @ fififrugality.blogspot.com — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 21:11:10 +0000

I LOVE quinoa!!! I can be used in anything! Where did you find that large box? I can only find it at my store in bins you have to scoop out for yourself.

Fifi @ Fififrugality.blogspot.com

By: Jill

Jill — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 21:09:03 +0000

be careful with your barbeque sauce, ketchup is all sugar.

By: Nick

Nick — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 21:04:06 +0000

Sounds like a Buddha bowl!

I make a version with seared tofu, veggies, and a savory sauce. Leftovers are great too.

Not going to link to it because my comment will just get moderated into the abyss, but if you google “buddha bowl”, my version is 3 or 4 down.

By: Allie

Allie — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 20:02:56 +0000

And for those who were aided by Trent’s explanation of what quinoa is, here’s another bit of help – apparently that’s pronounced something like “keen-wa”, which I only learned a few weeks ago even though I’ve known of the grain’s existence for several years.