There’s a little country store called Trails End near my parents’ place. It’s kind of like the country access point for all things organic and vegan. The owner, Kim Manning, runs a great shop with lots of different things – it’s almost like the dry section of Whole Foods. (She doesn’t carry produce, but with all the farmers’ markets nearby, there is really no need to.) I stopped in the other day and she gave me quinoa flakes and agave nectar to try. I am hooked! The quinoa flakes cook up just like oatmeal or cream of wheat (with a consistency closer to cream of wheat) and the agave nectar was better than putting brown sugar on top.
For anyone who doesn’t know what quinoa (keen-wa) is, it’s a plant seed that’s used like a grain. There are some great articles on it at Men’s Health, the California Chronicle, BodyRock.TV and Ask Men. I’ve used it (the regular stuff, not the flakes) like rice or couscous in a lot of different dishes. It’s a great way to add some variety to your diet without breaking the bank.
If you’re curious, info on agave nectar can be found here. Since this was my first intro to it, I don’t know as much about it except for the fact that I liked it.
