Apple Cinnamon Breakfast Quinoa

Since today is pretty much a stay-at-home-Sunday, I took the opportunity to get in the kitchen and whip up a little something for breakfast this week.  And since quinoa is the latest craze out there in the foodie world, I took a stab at this one.

Quinoa can be a little tricky to cook, so I took to the best method I've found:  my rice cooker.  Just follow the 2-1 ratio (2 parts liquid, 1 part quinoa) and let your rice cooker do the work.   If you don't have a rice cooker, I'm sure there's a good stovetop version, but this seems to do the trick for me.

The flavors cannot be beat: apples, cinnamon, brown sugar ... what could be wrong?!  And quinoa - a superfood seed, not grain - is jam-packed with protein to keep you going all morning long.

I had to give 'er a little taste before portioning it out and packing it up for breakfasts this week and I must say, a pretty awesome alternative to that prepackaged brown-sugar cinnamon oatmeal.


Oh, and I also whipped up a little slow cooker dinner for tomorrow, so check back for the outcome!


Apple Cinnamon Breakfast Quinoa 

Apple Cinnamon Breakfast Quinoa

What You Need:

• 1 cup quinoa, uncooked
• 2 cups water
• 2 apples, diced
• 1 tbsp butter
• 3 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 c milk (I used unsweetened almond milk, but use your milk of choice)

How You Do It:

1. Place quinoa and water in rice cooker and cook according to appliance instructions.
2. While the quinoa cooks, melt 1/2 tbsp butter in skillet.  Add diced apples and cook until apples are soft and start to caramelize. 
3. Once quinoa is cooked, fluff with fork or rice paddle in large bowl.  Add remaining 1/2 tbsp butter, cinnamon, brown sugar, and milk.
4. Fold in apples.

Apple Cinnamon Breakfast Quinoa recipe adapted from Weight Watchers.