Quinoa Pudding (dairy-free)

Image credit: ALein/bigstockphoto.com

Craving rice pudding? This dairy-free alternative pairs the health benefits of gluten-free quinoa with coconut, cinnamon and vanilla. The result is a dish that even the choosiest of kids (or grown-ups) will enjoy for breakfast or as an after-dinner treat.

Ingredients

4 cups of coconut milk (or substitute almond milk)
1 cup of quinoa
1/3 cup of coconut nectar
1 cinnamon stick
1 tsp of vanilla powder (or extract)
Diced or sliced fruit of choice (e.g., berries, apple, pear)

Directions

Soak the quinoa in lukewarm water for 20 minutes; rinse and drain.
Combine all ingredients into a medium-sized saucepan and bring to the boil.

Once boiled, stir and reduce the heat to a low simmer.

Allow to simmer for 30 minutes, stirring frequently throughout the given time. About 20-25 minutes into simmering, the quinoa will begin to swell and absorb the milk, creating a thick porridge texture.

When the quinoa has thickened and turned transparent, serve with your favorite fruit.

 

Peach-Spinach Chia Smoothie

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Sip-for-delicious-sip, except for the color, you’ll hardly notice the spinach in this green smoothie. Frozen peaches create a slushy-sweet base further enhanced by apple juice. Chia seeds give an energizing boost to this yummy low-cal and nutrient rich beverage. Perfectly refreshing after a long workout.

Ingredients

1 1/2 c. frozen peaches
1 c. apple juice
1/2 c. water
2 T. chia seeds
1 1/2 c. baby spinach leaves

Directions

Combine the peaches, apple juice, water, chia seeds, and spinach leaves in a blender; puree until smooth, about one minute. Serve immediately.

Recipe Source: http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/browse-all-recipes/peach-spinach-chia-smoothie