Winter Warming Quinoa Porridge

Here in cold Canberra, I find that the best way to warm up for the day is to kick start with a nourishing bowl of porridge. I do love oats (esp if they have been soaked overnight allowing some fermentation to occur for ease in absorption), however I also enjoy quinoa porridge to mix it up a bit. I first tried quinoa porridge at one of my favourite eating cafes in Sydney, 'Aboutlife', and so sought out how to make my own. With oats and quinoa various spices may be added to your own individual tastes, and the spices themselves are beneficial to your health.

serving 1-2

1/3 cup washed quinoa (rinse the quinoa through a large tea strainer)
1 cup filtered water (I like to mix 1/2 cup water and 1/2 cup coconut milk/cream)
1/4 tsp vanilla bean powder
1 tsp cinnamon powder or stick of cinnamon

Bring washed quinoa, water, coconut cream and spices to boil and simmer very gently for 15 mins

toppings - spoonful of natural yoghurt (coconut yoghurt if dairy free)
sprinkle of chopped nuts of choice
chopped seasonal fruit such as rubarb or Banana
toasted coconut flakes
drizzle of honey, coconut sugar (optional)

The Chocolate Deluxe Quinoa Porridge

Sound to good to be true. Not my choice every morning, but sometimes when it is the weekend and I'm having breakfast a little later, I don't mind a bit of chocolate for breakfast. Of course it is organic cacao powder full of antioxidants so no guilt involved.

Simply replace the cinnamon from the reicpe above with 1-2 tsp's of cacao powder (you really need to adjust this to your own tastes, too strong and I don't find it enjoyable). You may need to add a dash of maple syrup to counter the cacao bitterness.

I really enjoy the combination of chocolate and coconut, think of the good old Bounty bar which was always my favourite, so I love to add a sprinkle of toasted shredded coconut on top of choc quinoa porridge, yum!!