Last week I went to a rather more up-market supermarket than usual. They have a marvellous deli section and, new since I have last ventured there, was a gorgeous array of pulse salads, all kinds of interesting things like quinoia and so on. I couldnle resist and bought a selection which were scrumptious, but pretty pricey. I have looked in my local library and foodie internet sites, but had no luck in finding recipes for much except bean or chickpea salads. With summer coming here we eat cold meals a lot and one of my sons is NOt a salad guy, but loved those, didn't even notice that there were peppers and tomatoes mixed in! I'd be very grateful if anyone has any recipes or can point my nose to somewhere I could find them.

Toni
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Toni
10-15-06, 01:17 PM
Sherasi
Can you provide a list of the actual ingredients and selections you want to use in the recipes? A specific list will help us have a starting point. Smile

10-15-06, 02:00 PM
Sherasi

quote:
Quinoa is an easy food to prepare, has a pleasantly light, fluffy texture when cooked and its mild, slightly nutty flavor makes it an excellent alternative to white rice or couscous.

The first step in preparing quinoa is to remove the saponins, a process that requires soaking the grain in water for a few hours, then changing the water and resoaking for a further period of time, or rinsing it in ample running water either in a fine strainer or in cheesecloth. However, boxed quinoa typically has been pre-rinsed for convenience.

A common cooking method is to treat quinoa much like rice, bringing two cups of water to a boil with one cup of grain, covering at a low simmer and cooking for 14-18 minutes or until the germ separates from the seed. The cooked germ looks like a tiny curl and should have a slight bite to it (like al-dente pasta). Alternatively, one can use a rice cooker to prepare quinoa.

Vegetables and seasonings can also be added to make a wide range of dishes. It is also well-suited to vegetable pilafs, complementing bitter greens like kale.

Quinoa can serve as a high-protein breakfast food mixed with honey, almonds or berries; it is also sold as a dry product, much like corn flakes.

Quinoa flour can be used in both wheat-based and gluten-free baking. For the latter, it can be combined with sorghum flour, tapioca, and potato starch to create a nutritious gluten-free baking mix. A suggested mix is 3 parts quinoa flour, 3 parts sorghum flour, 2 parts potato starch and 1 part tapioca starch.



Source

10-16-06, 12:22 PM
Toni B
Hi Sherasi, thanks for the interest! As far as the pulses go, any of the less well known ones would be interesting to try. I had never heard of quinoa until very recently and was amased to find it available here. The ingredients that get added in are also not a problem. My kids will eat most things, even John and salads, if they are chopped and disguised to an extent. The salads I bought all seemed to have very interesting dressings and one lot had feta cheese bits in it. Very yummy. Maybe I should look for interesting dressings and, with a bit of advice about cooking the grains, have a go at inventing my own versions. My mouth still waters when I think of them!

By the way, I told you about my friend who works with autistic kids. She's just been out for a visit and, if you feel like it, if you send me your e-mail address I will contact you about her and put you in touch. It may be that you feel you don't really need it, and that's fine. I won't feel hurt!

Thanks again for the info.

Toni

10-16-06, 03:03 PM
Sherasi
Toni, my email address is available in my profile. You are welcome to let your friend have it.

As for the foods, can you type out the actual list of foods that you need recipes for?

10-17-06, 10:50 AM
Toni B
Thanks Sherasi, I'll have to pay another visit to the deli to check the pulses. Some I had never heard of and the old brain forgets very quickly these days! I'll get back with the info in a few days time. Toni

This message has been edited. Last edited by: DorianGreyed,

Hi Sherasi

Sorry it's been such an age since I was in any contact. I have just retired from teaching and the end of the year (end of our school year too) was beyond hectic, what with parties and clearing my classroom. 18 years in the same room for a very untidy person results in major work!

Did you get a website called nuts4you to email me? I got mail the other day from them and they deal in all sorts of interesting beans etc, and I can't see how they got me unless you or someone else sent my address? Either way I was thrilled and wrote to them about recipes, got a reply asking for more info and now am waiting.

So, if it was you, thanks so much, if someone else, thanks to them. Toni

Actually, I didn't give your email to anyone.

I don't give anyones email out, ever, period, just to allay anyone elses mind reading this.

I am glad they were able to help you out with the information you wanted though.

Congratulations on the retirement!

If you need additional help, feel free to ask, though.