Quinoa Week: Quinoa Fritters

Quinoa Fritters
from thehounoursystem.com
makes 12 fritters

1 Cup Quinoa
1 Cup Shredded Parmesan Cheese
6 Scallions, Finely Chopped
2 Eggs
3 Tablespoons Flour
1 Tablespoon Olive Oil

Cook quinoa according to package directions.  Let cool.  In a medium mixing bowl mix quinoa, Parmesan, scallions, eggs, and flour.  Heat olive oil in a medium skillet over medium high heat.  Pack quinoa mixture into 1/3 cup measuring cups.  Drop mixture into heated oil and press down so it makes a patty.  Don't overcrowd the skillet because the fritters are fragile.  Cook for 5 minutes per side.  Garnish with extra Parmesan and scallions, if desired.

These fritters are a great alternative to boring potatoes as a side or you can even have them for a light lunch with a salad.  Or throw them on a bun and call it a veggie burger!  I've been making a few at a time, keeping the extra "batter" in the fridge until we're ready for another batch!

Quinoa Week: Quinoa Chili

Quinoa Chili

from damndelicious.net
makes 8 servings

1 Cup Quinoa
1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
1 Onion, Diced
2 Tablespoons Garlic, Minced
2 (14.5 oz.) Cans Diced Tomatoes with Chilies
1 (15 oz.) Can Tomato Sauce
2 Tablespoons Chili Powder
1 Teaspoon Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
1 1/2 Teaspoons Sugar
1 (15 oz.) Can Kidney Beans, Rinsed and Drained
1 (15 oz.) Can Black Beans, Rinsed and Drained
1 (15 oz.) Can Corn, Drained
Chili toppings such as sour cream, shredded cheese, or avocado.

Cook quinoa according to package directions.  Set aside.  In a large pot or dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium-high heat.  Add garlic and onion, stirring frequently, until onions have become translucent, about 2-3 minutes.  Add in tomatoes, tomato sauce, chili powder, red pepper flakes, sugar, beans, corn, and cooked quinoa with 1 to 2 cups water. Season with salt and pepper.  Reduce heat to low, simmer until thickened, about 30 minutes.  Serve with your favorite chili toppings.

What a fun way to jazz up boring chili!  I made this for my mom when she came to visit and it was a hit!  This recipe made a ton so I made sure to freeze some for when M comes back from Wisconsin.  

Quinoa Week

I'd like to introduce you to my new best friend, quinoa!  Quinoa is always up for anything - salads, breakfast, main dishes, you name it!  Quinoa is a little fussy, she likes to take a little shower before she gets to work, but once that's done quinoa is a blast!  Quinoa is a grain that is all the rage on the food blogs recently.  You might be wondering if there's a difference between red, black, rainbow, or regular quinoa?  Answer:  Nope, no difference!  When you're shopping choose whichever color you think would look best with the dish.  I usually get the regular quinoa because it comes in the biggest bag at Target.  (I've been going through tons of it!)

Chick Pea Burgers

Chick Pea Burgers
from simply whole kitchen
makes about 6 burgers

1 Can Chick Peas (Garbanzo Beans) Rinsed and Drained
1 Zucchini, Roughly Chopped
1 1/2 Teaspoons Garlic Powder
1 Teaspoon Onion Powder
1/2 Teaspoon Cumin Powder
Salt and Pepper, To Taste
1/2 Cup Bread Crumbs
1 Egg
1 Tablespoon Olive Oil

Mix all ingredients in a food processor or blender and blend until almost smooth, but a few chunks.  Preheat a saute pan over medium-high with a tablespoon olive oil.  When the oil is hot, fry the patties for 4-5 minutes per side.  Serve with your favorite burger toppings.

While I was making these, I had a flash back to the last time I made vegetarian burgers when right in the middle of making them I panicked at thought if this doesn't work out I don't have a back up for dinner!  But just like the last time, these were a hit!  M has been wanting to eat healthier and I found these on Pinterest and thought I just had to make them.  

Danish Apple Squares

Danish Apple Squares

serves about 20

family recipe

Crust:

3 cups flour

1 Tb. sugar

1/2 tsp. salt

1 cup shortening

1/4 cup butter

Combine dry ingredients, then cut in shortening & butter as like pie crust. 

1 egg yolk

milk

2 Tbs. butter

Put egg yolk into measuring cup & add enough milk to make 2/3 cup, mix well. Mix egg yolk/milk into flour mixture to make soft dough. Divide into 2 portions, one slightly larger than the other. Sprinkle more flour on pastry board & roll out larger dough portion first for the bottom crust. Place rolled crust into bottom & sides of a standard jelly roll pan (11 x 16 inches). Spread 2 Tbs. soft butter on bottom crust. Roll out the top crust. 

Apple filling:

5-8 large apples (Granny Smith, Braeburn, or your choice or combination of cooking apples)

2 Tbs.cornstarch

1 cup brown or white sugar

1 tsp. cinnamon

2 tsp. frozen lemonade concentrate

Peel & slice apples, making 6 to 8 cups. Mix sugar, cornstarch & cinnamon together, then mix into sliced apples & add lemonade concentrate & mix again. Spread apple mixture onto the buttered crust in pan. Cover with top crust. Patching & sealing crust with ice water as needed. Make a few slits on top crust.

Bake 375 degrees for about 55-60 or until crust is golden brown & apples bubble.

Glaze:

1 cup powdered sugar

1 tsp. frozen lemonade concentrate

1 - 2 Tbs. milk

Combine to make glaze pourable & drizzle over cooled pastry.

This recipe has been a family favorite for as long as I can remember but it was forgotten about until recently.  My mom has been leading the baking and we've been making these bars almost every weekend we go to the lake - either to bring to church Sunday morning or just to eat ourselves!  My mom came up with this recipe based on a Danish Apple Squares recipe she received "in the 80's".  But it's diverted so much for the original that she thinks it needs a new name.  Sisters Bars? (Since these bars are much easier when made with sisters/cousins/aunts!)  Marry Me Apple Bars (The men in your life LOVE them!)  Better-Than-Buckhunter Bars?  (The guys say they'll drop the rifles as soon as these come out of the oven!)  Whatever they're called, they are becoming our family's signature dessert!