Apple Cinnamon Breakfast Quinoa

This apple cinnamon quinoa is the perfect breakfast for a chilly morning! It's warm, sweet and tastes like apple pie.....And it's such a nice change from oatmeal!  I usually use quinoa as a side or for dinner recipes, but I thought I'd try it for breakfast! Quinoa is such a versatile food, it can be sweet or savory, and it's naturally gluten free because it's actually a seed, not a grain! It's also a complete protein! I also added some chia seeds, one of my favorite super foods, for some extra omega-3s! They also expand in liquid, so they make the quinoa nice a thick! I also love how the mashed banana gives it such a nice natural sweetness!

Apple Cinnamon Breakfast Quinoa

(serves 1)

• 1/4 cup uncooked quinoa
• 1/2 cup almond milk
• 1/4 an apple, diced
• 1/2 banana, mashed 
• 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
• 1 tsp. chia seeds

1. First, as always, rinse your quinoa in a strainer before we start cooking! If you're new to quinoa, you may not know the seeds are coated with saponins, naturally-occuring plant chemical that can give it a bitter taste. Rinsing completing fixes this!

2. Add quinoa with almond milk in a small sauce pan and bring to a boil.

3. Turn down heat and let simmer and add your apple, it takes about 15 minutes to cook.

4. When the quinoa has just a few minutes left, add the mashed banana, cinnamon, and chia seeds. The chia seeds will expand. Add a little extra almond milk, if desired.

5. When the quinoa is done and fluffy, top with the other 1/4 of fresh apple for a nice crunch! Add your favorite toppings, like chopped walnuts, a drizzle of honey, and a little splash of cold almond milk!

Enjoy!

XoXo, Stephanie