Lovely Breakfasts - Quinoa and Muesli

Okay, I've got two new breakfasts for you to try!! Both are grain-based, healthy, tasty, and different from your average breakfast!! The first is quinoa (KEEN-wah). It is unique because of its high protein content, so it is a great, filling, healthy way to start the day. I first saw it featured on the Martha Stewart show, and she was making it similar to the way I have my oatmeal. She added some cream (or milk), some blueberries, toasted nuts, and added some honey for sweetness. This is the way it is pictured below, though I thawed some frozen mixed berries.

We buy ours in bulk from Costco, and first bought it that way. It was a gamble, and we were hoping we would like it since we got so much. So glad we did! We first tried it sweet like how I just described for breakfast, but I have also made it savory as a side dish with chicken kebabs and steak, and it was delicious! I just added some garlic powder, salt, pepper, and a little olive oil. Very easy!!

You basically make it a lot like rice. I follow the back of the package and rinse the quinoa first, then toast it in a skillet until it smells done and changes color a little bit (this gives it a nice, nutty flavor), and then add 2 cups of liquid (I've used water and milk) per cup of quinoa and boil, then simmer for 15 minutes until it is tender but chewy and forms a "white spiral-like thread around each grain." It makes a good amount too, so I put it in the fridge and warm some up the next morning for a quick, warm, delicious start to my day!

Yummy!!

The second breakfast is called muesli. According to Wikipedia, muesli is "a popular breakfast cereal based on uncooked rolled oats, fruit, and nuts." I first had an unbelievable muesli dish for breakfast while staying at a home in Australia. I loved that dish, but had never had anything like it. Then, I found something comparable at the Ritz Carlton Hotel, where we get comp nights through Tad's work. Awhile back, I posted a picture of this Swiss Bircher Muesli and went on to say that I wish I had a recipe for it. Well, several people sent me different recipes and this is the first one I tried. Though this isn't Swiss Bircher Muesli, it is muesli, and very tasty I might add. I hope to try the other recipes suggested too! This recipe was sent to me by my sister's mother-in-law. She is such a sweetheart! The recipe is as follows:

3 Tbs. uncooked oatmeal
3 Tbs. water
1 Tbs. lemon juice
1 Tbs. sweetened condensed milk (or honey)
1 grated apple (unpeeled)
2 Tbs. chopped nuts

1. Soak the oatmeal in water until soft - overnight. (I used the old-fashioned oats!)

2. When time to serve, add the lemon juice and milk (or honey) and grate apple directly into muesli. Sprinkle with nuts.

3. Notes: Amount of water depends on kind of oats used. Instant oatmeal doesn't have to stand as long, maybe 10 minutes.

This is the recipe as I got it. My observations are as follows: The lemon juice was a little strong, I would either not add as much lemon, or use sweetened condensed milk instead of honey to cut the tartness of the lemon. I used sliced toasted almonds, pine nuts, and peanuts and chopped them all up for the topping. It was delicious!! Another note: This is served as is! It isn't to be warmed up at all!

I hope this inspires you to change up your morning breakfast routine and find something new that is healthy and tasty! I'm so glad I found these two because I love breakfast food and these two are totally satisfying! Let me know what you think, or if you have any other good recipes for quinoa or muesli!

And thanks again to those who sent me recipes!