Hey creative mamas! I need side dishes...

[AFWife]

These are the basic ingredients that I have for side dishes this month. I can buy more fruits and veggies but I'd like to use what I have on hand FIRST!

- Assorted Summer Squash
- Quinoa
- Assorted Greens
- Corn (frozen)
- Green Beans (frozen)
- Sprouts
- Split Peas
- Potatoes
- Onion
- Bell Pepper
- Garlic
- Rice

[ollyoxenfree]

It looks like you could make a delicious southwest-inspired quinoa dish that could be served either hot or cold.

Cook the quinoa. I'd saute a little onion and garlic and some spices if you have them (cumin, chili, chipotle etc.), maybe a little lime juice, then add the corn and some finely chopped bell peppers. Stir in the cooked quinoa. Finish with some fresh chopped cilantro or parsely.

If you don't like spicy southwest, you could do something similar using the basic cooking method above, but with a lemon or balsamic vinaigrette added for flavour at the end.

[AFWife]

How do you cook quinoa? It's done like rice right?

[ollyoxenfree]

Originally Posted by AFWife

How do you cook quinoa? It's done like rice right?

Pretty much :

I use 1 cup of quinoa to 2 cups water or stock. I have seen recipes that call for a little less liquid - say 1.5 cups for 1 cup quinoa.

1. Rinse the quinoa well.
2. Bring quinoa, water and a little salt to boil.
3. Reduce heat and simmer about 15 minutes.


Here's a recipe for a quinoa dish made out of stuff you might find hanging around in your fridge:

http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives...oa-recipe.html

[AFWife]

Originally Posted by ollyoxenfree

Here's a recipe for a quinoa dish made out of stuff you might find hanging around in your fridge:

http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives...oa-recipe.html

Awesome. I can twiddle with that and use what I have! Awesome!!

[ollyoxenfree]

Originally Posted by AFWife

Awesome. I can twiddle with that and use what I have! Awesome!!

LOL! That's great. It's a terrific site, with lots of delicious recipes from good cookbooks as well as original recipes. Lots of inspiration there.

[InMediasRes]

Definitely make the quinoa. I like it with toasted almonds and honey if I don't have veggies and stuff to throw in with it. If you have greens, you can saute those with a little oil, throw them in with the quinoa and some apple cider vinegar and toasted walnuts.

You also have the stuff to make garlic mashed potatoes.

Summer squash is good just sauteed by itself, or with some carrot. I love zukes, yellow summer squash and carrots with oil and greek seasoning.

[JessicaS]

I think you are supposed to soak quinoa for fifteen minutes then rinse it then cook it.

If not I have really been wasting time

[AFWife]

Originally Posted by abimommy

I think you are supposed to soak quinoa for fifteen minutes then rinse it then cook it.

If not I have really been wasting time

http://www.savvyvegetarian.com/veget...sic-quinoa.php

1) Soak the quinoa for 15 min in the cooking pot. Soaking helps quinoa to cook evenly, and loosens up the outer coating of saponin, which can give a bitter taste if not removed.



Thanks for saying something. I never would have checked and then would have been pissed it was nasty.

[columbusmomma]

You could do a corn casserole with the corn.
Also, a skillet type of hash using many of the items you have. Saute with some olive oil, salt and pepper, seasonings of your choice.