Sweet breakfast - Berry Quinoa

Today's post is not my typical sweet, but it is a sweet indeed.  As part of the healthy start for 2013, I tried a new breakfast recipe found on 101 Cookbooks.

Until this, I'd only had quinoa as a savory item, replacing rice or barley as a side.  This recipe confirmed that quinoa is an excellent breakfast food, too!  The finished product is warm, filling, satisfying, healthy, and despite the lack of white sugar, surprisingly sweet!  This will definitely have a spot on our weekend breakfast routine this year.

To try this for yourself, check out the original recipe at 101 Cookbooks here.  I made a few tweaks based on what I had in the cabinets:

Need:

• 1 cup skim milk 
• 1 cup water 
• 1 cup organic quinoa
• 2 cups frozen mixed berries
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 
• 1/3 cup chopped walnuts, toasted
• 4 teaspoons agave nectar

Do:

1. Combine milk, water and quinoa in a medium saucepan. 
2. Bring to a boil over high heat, then turn down to low once it boils.
3. Let mixture simmer with the cover on for 15-20 minutes, then turn off heat and let it sit covered for another 5.
4. While the quinoa is simmering, heat oven to 350F. 
5. Spread walnuts on a cookie sheet covered with parchment paper, and toast in the oven for 5 minutes.   
6. Defrost frozen berries in the microwave, and drain most of the liquid off of them.  
7. Stir the berries and cinnamon into quinoa, then portion out and top off each with the toasted walnuts and a teaspoon of the agave nectar.

Enjoy!  If you try this recipe, or have other great breakfast quinoa recipes to recommend, let me know in the comments below!

Chocolate Rum Balls

"Hey Kid, do you like rum?"

"What's rum?  Rumplestilskin??"

Does anyone else love Big Daddy as much as I do?  So funny.  I can't have rum without quoting that line.

Anyway, tonight's cookie is something new to me- rum balls!  These were recommended by my husband's coworker.  They're an awesome no-bake, extremely rummy (har har) treat.  The dough is a cinch to put together, the rolling takes a bit more time.  These would be a hit for any chocolate and rum fans.  Like me. love love love.  Warning, despite only using 1/4 cup of alcohol, these definitely have a kick and should be enjoyed by adults only.

Here's the recipe:

Crush up 1 box of Nilla Wafer cookies, and put them in a large bowl.  Then, add the following ingredients and mix well:

• 2 tablespoons of cocoa 
• 1 cup of chopped walnuts
• 1 cup of confectioner's sugar
• 4 tablespoons of honey
• 1/4 cup of rum

All you have to do now is roll the dough into bite-sized balls, and if you prefer, coat them in extra confectioner's sugar like I did.  I put mine in the fridge to firm up, and these can be frozen as well.  They are fine at room temperature if you don't have space in the fridge. 

Let me know in the comments below if you have your own version of Rum Ball cookies- I'd love to try some other recipes for these!