I've never heard of it....and I think I'll pass! Eating healthy is a goal of mine too.....just need to get past Easter and all it's yummy candy!

One of my former 3rd grade students said that his favorite food was quinoa. I found that odd for an 8 year old boy. I was actually checking out Quinoa at Target a couple days ago. I passed it up though. Your testimonial makes me feel better about leaving it on the shelf.

I like to say it too. I also like to correct people when they pronounce it wrong! I have tried it a couple times. I wish I could give you a good recipe but I have just tried mixing it with other things. I can only get my kids to take one bite. I think the texture bothers them. Plus, it is a little bland I must admit but since it is supposed to be so good for you, I keep trying! I need something to counteract all that chocolate!
-Shelley

When I first heard about quinoa, I thought it was pronounced the way it was spell (Key-no-ah). Safe to say I sounded like an idiot when I asked someone in the grocery store to help me find it.

We typically make it like a fried rice (with veggies, soy sauce) and occassionally, throw in shrimp or something like that. Joe's been creative lately and trying different recipes so I'll let you know when we perfect one!

Been thinking of trying this...but haven't yet. Maybe I'll give it a go? Let me know if you find a good recipe. :-)

Weird. I've never heard of this stuff before.

We eat quite a bit of it. I have a gluten allergy and quinoa is used in a lot of gluten free bread and pasta recipes. I have to say, I love it but I have never made it with cheese, eggs and milk like that. We cook it like rice and then mix in a variety of things - sometimes we treat it like fried rice, sometimes add roasted garlic, spinach and tomatoes. We cook it with chicken broth instead of water to give it more flavor too.

I've only used quinoa once and it was like a year or two ago. I can't remember the recipe, but I'm pretty sure it was used to bread chicken...and it was a Martha Stewart recipe. Her site has a lot of that.

I'm a fellow salad-hater. I've found that the only way I get green in my diet is if I cook it or mask it in a smoothie. Zucchini sticks are my favorite (Skinnytaste.com) and I'm trying baked Kale Chips on Wednesday. Another good site for ideas is 100daysofrealfood.com. That one has free meal plans to help balance out meals. I'm on a healthy food kick right now as well, in case you can't tell. :)

hmmmmmmmmm - interesting, I've never heard of this either. Now, I LOVE salad... could live on the stuff, sorry. Thanks so much for sharing this wonderful post... I hope you enjoy the rest of your day. XOX Jalon

We eat quinoa all the time. We use it in place of rice for under stir fry and curry dishes. I also make a breakfast quinoa with apples, cinnamon, agave and a little soy milk, as you would oatmeal. In summer I use it like you would prepare pasta salad and add red pepper, onion, beans (I like black or adzuki) and mix in some dressing. I have never heard of making mac and cheese with it so don't give up yet.

Mmmmmm, that sounds good. But I could see it also being a little funky. Especially for a first go 'round. I unfortunately don't have any recipes for you. I really like quinoa, but I've never actually cooked it for myself. I'm a weirdo. It is super delicious as a substitute for pasta in cold pasta salads. Yum.

I was actually wondering what quinoa was, so seriously thanks for the explanation. You may have given me the courage to try it, even though you said it's weird (I appreciate honesty).

I too hate salads. Every couple months I try to convince myself to eat one and I take like 3 bites, gag a little, and then have to throw it away. I'll stick to my grilled cheese thank you very much.

I tried quinoa for the first time not too long ago, and have to agree with you. I did it for a breakfast thing, cooked basically like rice, then topped with milk, brown sugar, and some fruit. It was good, but interesting.

You're timing is uncanny! I've been seeing Quinoa recipes all over the place (read: Pinterest), and I didn't know what it was. And I asked Dallas, and he didn't know what it was either. Verrryyyyy interesting....

Also, I've been pronouncing it "QUIN-noah". Also good to know. ;)

I like it mixed as a salad with fresh tomatoes and feta. You can add a bit of basil if you have it on hand. I fix a lot of polenta, it has a grainy texture kinda like grits. I use it as a pasta substitute.

xo
Amy

I love whole grains and all that healthy stuff, but Quinoa isn't my absolute favorite either. I also find its a bit lacking in flavor- so you REALLY have to punch up the spices and stuff to make it yummy. So far these are some of my favorite quinoa dishes I've made:

Quinoa, watermelon, and feta salad (perfect for the approaching summer) http://food-ology.blogspot.com/2011/09/wine-and-food-with-cheese-night.html

Quinoa with moroccan spices and butternut squash (I know, the season may have already passed on this one. But the squash could be replaced with chicken or some other protein)
http://food-ology.blogspot.com/2010/11/flavors-of-fall.html

I make quinoa every so often. I haven't found a recipe that I LOVE which is why I don't make it more. Basically I just eat it b/c I know it's good for me. It's the texture that I struggle with the most. It reminds me of fish eyeballs. So weird. I agree w/ you about it being bland. I make it like rice but use chicken stock instead of water to help bump up the flavor a bit. I'm actually thinking of using it for a dessert recipe...will let you know how that goes.

OH! About Dr. Bronner's...in all honesty the bar and liquid soap both suds up nicely. I think I read something about the coconut oil making it lather naturally...can't remember. Anyway, the only thing I had to get used to was the liquid soap viscosity. Dr. B's is thinner so I was initially using way too much. So much in fact that I couldn't seem to ever rinse the bubbles out of my loofah. But I've really been pleasantly surprised with both bar & liquid sudsing-power.

Yeah, quinoa is bizarre. I've cooked with it a few times and have always ended up deciding not to make it again ;-) The only recipes I've really liked with quinoa are summery salads with tomatoes and avocado and maybe some chicken strips . . . something like this: http://www.savvyvegetarian.com/vegetarian-recipes/quinoa-salad.php (I haven't made that one specifically, but I've made dishes similar to that and enjoyed them). I hate eating healthy. It's the worst. All I ever want to eat are Skittles and Cheetos :-(

i like it in a salad or mixed in to add texture to roasted veggies. but you don't like vegetables. trader joe's and whole foods have this microwaveable quinoa/black bean mixture thing that's super good. try that...or try making quinoa, seasoning it and adding a bean of sorts.

I so understand your distate of salads. I hate salads...Bleh!!! I love mac and cheese and everything carb-loaded! Yet, I have to watch my carb intake due to my pregnancy related gestational diabetes... It's a torture! So I might be giving this quinoa recipe a try.

I've been avoiding quinoa for years now, but finally decided to give it a go because a bunch of people I know just love it, and it IS a protein powerhouse. So I made a chicken & veggies stir fry and replaced my usual brown rice with quinoa. I made a big batch and saved the rest for lunches made from leftovers. I must have scarfed down the first meal in front of the tv (typical) and I liked it just fine, didn't have much of a flavor at all, so it really was just my stir fry that I was tasting. THEN I busted it out at work the next day for lunch. Vom. I finally LOOKED at what I was eating and I couldn't get it past my lips. Cooked up, it looked like tapioca with itty bitty mini calamari or something (two things I hate, gross). I didn't remember it looking like that the night before! I talked to my sister about it later because I ended up dumping all the lunches I'd made from the quinoa leftovers and she said it might have soaked up the liquid from my stir fry and germinated overnight in the fridge since it's a grain and all. She says she makes it with chicken stock and salt/spices, with fresh garlic and minced onion to give it more flavor, and never leaves leftovers, so I will probably give it another go in that manner. In a year. Or so. When I'm past the whole fishy-comparisons in my mind (I don't like fish).
- Jen M.

I love quinoa, but it is a bit strange. I use it wherever I need rice or couscous. It makes great cold salads but it does have the tendency to get watery. Yay you for trying new things! I hate exercise, so I'd rather eat right than sweat (but that's just me)
Cheers!

I've only ever had things like noodles made out of quinoa, but not quinoa by itself... I may have to try this for my in-laws since they cant have noodles.

No diet recipe here...I don't do diet either....I hit the gym...but I still eat what I want...mainly sweets....BUT, I just got some lab work done, and now I need to take iron, calcium, and vit d supplements...and..cut down on sweets..I don't know how this is going to go...I am starting to think that everything goes down hill once you hit 30. It sucks. Good luck with your healthier eating, I know I wouldn't be able to do it.

We've recently started eating quinoa and one of my favorite recipes with it doesn't even call for quinoa. I didn't have barley so I substituted quinoa and now we make it this way all the time! Even my husband, who is less than thrilled about eating healthy, really likes it. I just throw the quinoa in the rice cooker or cook it according to directions on the package. Enjoy! http://cookieandkate.com/2012/roasted-brussels-sprouts-with-cranberries-and-barley/

This recipe, with the addition of some feta, is my FAVORITE thing to eat for lunch: http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Black-Bean-and-Tomato-Quinoa-238939

That recipe looks yummy. I can't eat any wheat so quinoa is a good option. I like saying the the word too. My husband always calls it kin-o-a. Since I don't cook I'll have to pass the recipe on to him. Good luck on eating healthy. I give it a try everyday, but can't give up those sweets.

Hmmm...I've never heard of quinoa before! It sounds interesting.

So I tried quinoa about a month ago for the first time with similar feelings. Didn't love it, didn't hate it. I blame it on my recipe which included smoked salmon, honey, and dried cranberries. I'd try it again though using different ingredients. I'm also embarrassed to admit that I've been pronouncing it wrong for the last four weeks :(

I'm loving this post for the sole reason that you taught me how to pronounce quinoa! Thanks! :)

I'm not a fan of quinoa. Like, at all. But, good for you to try it.

Good for you for trying it. Since my daughter and I are vegetarians we eat quinoa 3 or 4 times a week (breakfast quinoa:) Go to my pinterest recipe board and you'll find some good recipes. I always delete the recipes I didn't like. The key to quinoa, like rice, is seasoning. You have to think of it as the base for things as opposed to just eating it alone. Keep at it and I swear you'll find at least a few recipes you LOVE! Fun fact, ounce for ounce it has more protein than any animal protein. You're welcome:)

Nothing positive to add... But, my hubby bought a Thai Green Curry Quinoa (maybe from World Market). It was foul. And smelled awful. Don't try that one.

Good luck on your quest for good quinoa.

One of my friends made this exact same dish a few days ago... coincidence is weird like that.
We used to make soup and use it instead of barley. If you're really not a fan of the taste this makes it so much easier.

I made a quinoa burger for my first attempt at using the stuff, and it was actually kinda good, plus I felt hip and awesome for finally jumping on the quinoa bandwagon.

Lisa made me some quinoa about a month ago instead of couscous. Not. a. fan. I think Trader Joe's sells macaroni noodles that are made from quinoa. It doesn't have that texture of the regular quinoa. Mehh.

I always that it was pronounced kee-noa. The real version is much more fun. I have never tried it, but maybe someday....? I LOVE my fruit and veggies and force them onto Rick every meal. He's a good sport unless I make brussel sprouts. :P

I keep trying to convince myself I like Quinoa - but the truth is I like the idea of it more than the reality.

I've always wandered what quinoa was! I'm a new follower from Karen's Parade of Homes series. Your home is gorgeous!

Michelle - I'm a recent convert to the deliciousness that is quinoa. I use quinoa based pasta almost exclusively now. Here's an AWESOME recipe for the grain form though. Its Quinoa and Broccoli casserole. Think that rice and broccoli cheese casserole that is at every potluck you've ever been to... well at least the ones I've been to. Enjoy!

http://eatingwelllivingthin.wordpress.com/2011/04/14/blast-from-the-past-with-a-new-twist/

Nice post. For a bit of light relief you might enjoy this cartoon about the food pyramid. http://caroleschatter.blogspot.co.nz/2012/04/food-pyramid.html