Saturday, April 28, 2012

Menu Plan April 30- May 4

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May...wow... this year is flying by! But I just can't wait for that warm weather to come around...I may have mentioned that before. Apparently that is a running theme...come on warmth!!


This week I have five delectable new dishes for us to try!


But first...Let's have a talk about quiona. If you have never tried this grain you are really missing out. Quinoa (pronounced keen-wah) is what health food people call a super grain. Most commonly considered a grain, quinoa is actually a relative of leafy green vegetables like spinach and Swiss chard. It is a recently rediscovered ancient "grain" once considered "the gold of the Incas." Now are you ready for the cool part...it has protein!! It is not like pasta or rice that is essentially empty...it is packed with protein, but can be used instead of pasta or rice! I usually describe it as a mix between rice and couscous. It cooks super fast and is really delicious! There are manly ways of preparing quinoa and you can add just about any seasonings or stir-ins. You can follow the directions on the package and boil it or you can toast it (see recipe for toasting here) as my cousin Colleen does! Most grocery stores carry it now. It may come in a box or a small bag. Give it a try!


This is the brand I buy, but I don't think it really matters the brand.






So of course I have a new Quinoa recipe to try this week. Quinoa Mac and Cheese!!


Monday: Quinoa Mac and Cheese



Recipe and photo from Iowa Girl Eats


Tuesday: Grilled Balsamic Chicken


Recipe and photo from Picky Palate


Wednesday: Simple Stuffed Shells


Recipe and photo from Lovely Little Snippets


Thursday: Chipotle Chicken Taco Salad


Recipe and photo from Cooking Light


Friday: Cheesy Chicken and Rice Soup


Recipe and photo from Picky Palate


Enjoy your week! :)














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