Superfood quinoa is combined with fruit, nuts, almond milk, and natural flavorings to make up a delicious, healthy, energizing breakfast. Mix and match the fruits and the nuts, add more toppings if you wish! These breakfast bowls help keep me sane on busy mornings. They can be thrown together quickly and are packed with protein and flavor to start your day in a positive way.
Made up of ingredients many of us keep on hand, these breakfast bowls are easy to make in the morning when your brain is not fully awake, yet once they are eaten, they provide the body and brain with lots of high-quality energy. To make things even easier, you can cook a batch of quinoa ahead of time, and then in the morning, warm up the desired amount on the stove in a bit of almond (or regular) milk. Then just add the desired flavoring (maple syrup or honey and vanilla), fruit, and nuts, and you have breakfast. If you are cooking the quinoa that morning, just use twice as much liquid (water or almond milk) as you do quinoa, and simmer it for about 15 minutes, until tender.
There are endless combinations you can use for this type of breakfast bowl–in this post I am just sharing two basic and easy ones that I enjoy, because sometimes the most simple recipes are the most accessible and helpful in our everyday lives.
Our mornings are still chilly at this time of year, so a nice warm bowl of quinoa with fruit and nuts is comforting and cozy, as well as delicious and healthy. Spring comes in fits and starts here, rarely smoothly. Following our spring snowstorms we had a major heat wave, and now it’s back to damp, foggy weather today. The spring peepers have started, stopped, and started peeping again at least a couple of times in the past couple of weeks. They say that after the peepers have started and stopped peeping three times, then spring is finally here to stay. I have lost count, but we must be about there. Our lilac bushes and cherry trees have little buds on them. A birch tree we thought was dead has just sprouted tiny little leaves!
With spring comes soccer for our kids, which means full schedules and lots of muddy laundry, mixed with lots of fresh air and fun. I get a chance to spend time with my fellow soccer moms, who are some of my favorite people on this earth. Last night they helped me identify some recipe ideas to develop in the coming weeks, since we are all in need of quick, energizing foods and spring crock pot ideas to help us get through these active times with grace and vitality. I have lots to work on!
No matter what the weather is–cold or hot, damp or windy, have you noticed how good the spring air smells? It is full of the promise of new life and new experiences, while at the same time waking up long-buried emotions and bringing back memories from past springs. No wonder spring is such an emotional time! That’s why it’s important to have a good, stabilizing breakfast. I hope you all have a lovely weekend! I’m sharing this post with Angie’s Fiesta Friday, co-hosted this week by Judi @ cookingwithauntjuju and Cynthia @ eatmunchlove.
Two Easy Quinoa Breakfast Bowls
For Quinoa with Dried Berries and Pecans
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of cooked quinoa (follow the package instructions, or gently warm up one cup of leftover quinoa in some milk)
- 1/4 to 1/2 cup of almond milk (or cow’s milk, if you prefer)
- 1-2 teaspoon of maple syrup or honey
- 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract
- a handful of dried cherries or dried cranberries
- a handful of chopped pecans
Directions:
Spoon 1 cup of cooked quinoa into a bowl. Moisten it with the desired amount of milk. Stir in the maple syrup or honey and the vanilla. Top with desired amount of dried cherries or cranberries and pecans. Enjoy!
For Quinoa with Sliced Banana and Walnuts
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of cooked quinoa (follow the package instructions for cooking, or gently warm up one cup of leftover quinoa in some milk)
- 1/4 to 1/2 cup of almond milk (or cow’s milk, if you prefer)
- 1-2 teaspoons of maple syrup or honey
- 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract
- 1 banana, sliced
- a handful of chopped walnuts
Directions:
Spoon 1 cup of cooked quinoa into a bowl. Moisten it with the desired amount of milk. Stir in the maple syrup or honey and the vanilla. Top with the banana slices and the desired amount of chopped walnuts. Enjoy!
There has been a lot going on since I last posted, including two spring snowstorms, two weekend getaways for spring break, and a birthday for my son, among many other things. While most people around here prefer to go south for spring break, we went on two mini vacations, first a couple hours west, and then a few hours northwest. And while it would have been nice to lie on a beach in a bikini in the sun, sitting in an outdoor hot tub while the snow swirled around us and landed in our hair was truly exciting and refreshing.
The natural beauty of fruits and vegetables continues to amaze me, and maybe that’s partly because the seasons are always changing, and the plant life reflects the seasons. I always feel so contemplative, so wistful, when my kids have birthdays. Growing children are such poignant representations of the passage of time, the cycle of life, always changing. I hope you all have a great weekend! Savor the spring! There is a 
With my kids’ spring sports schedules starting, I am once again looking for snacks that taste good, can be eaten quickly, and that also have nutrients to give my active kids good energy. I am very happy with this recipe, which I adapted from one in my Dr. Cookie Cookbook by Marvin Wayne and Stephen Yarnall. There’s just enough sweetness from the brown sugar to make the cookies taste like a treat, but enough substance to make them more than just sweet. If you are looking for an easy, protein-rich cookie, this is a great recipe to try.
It is the very last day of March today, and I must say I am really looking forward to April! Although it’s still chilly here, it’s such a great time to be outside, with the fresh wind, green grass, and trees and bushes budding. The spring peepers have been peeping really loudly at night, and I love to sleep with the window cracked open so I can listen to those frogs all night long. There is a feeling of new life and excitement in the air–I can sense it just from watching the birds in the sky.
