Love, empathy, tolerance--also puppies, flowers, and laundry

Thursday, July 03, 2008

My New Favorite Thing

I cook.

I cook because my sweetie eats out a whole lot when he travels and he travels often. I cook because I like my own cooking better than just about anybody or any place else's. I cook because I have control of the ingredients (think calories) and portion size. I cook because I am cheap and restaurant food is not.

I don't necessarily like having to decide what to cook, especially when I'm fresh out of new ideas.
"What do you want for dinner?" she asked in desperation.
"I don't know," he replied.
It's the story of my life.

But I've discovered quinoa. I know, I know, it's spelled like some variant of malaria medicine. But saying "keen-wah" is getting easier and easier.

It's high in protein and fiber (better than brown rice), only takes twenty quick minutes to cook (like white rice), has a neat crunchy texture, looks like fish eyes (okay, maybe that's not a plus), and has a flavor that can be enhanced simply (like butter and salt) or embellished (peanut sauce, tempura, balsamic vinegar). I find it in the bulk section of Raley's or Fred Meyer or Winco.

Having another option for dinner is priceless.

2 comments:

  1. I wish I could cook. Every time I try I screw up so royally it is quite comical. But I am not sure I could make myself eat something that looks like fish eyes.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love to cook too. It seems the "what do you want for dinner?" "I don't know." syndrome is universal - we have it at least 5 times a week.

    ReplyDelete