She Says: Hearty Quinoa with Sautéed Apples and Almonds
Christie had a great idea to exchange recipes based on one “secret ingredient” per week. This week’s ingredient was quinoa.
Uncooked Quinoa
I chose this recipe from Cooking Light for Hearty Quinoa with Sautéed Apples and Almonds. Christie also asked that we share something, nutritional or otherwise, about the secret ingredient. This is right from the recipe:
Besides providing fiber, quinoa packs more protein than any other grain. Almost one-fifth of your daily fiber needs are met in one serving of this side.
An interesting thing about the recipe was that it required me to rinse and rub the quinoa before cooking. I’ve cooked quinoa before, but don’t remember this step.
I liked this dish so much that I used it as my dinner, instead of a side dish. I liked the sweet and sour apples blending with the onions and garlic. The almonds provided a nice crunch. I read the reviews for the recipe and many people added dried cranberries, which I think would be a great addition. I can’t wait to have it as a salad for lunch tomorrow.
Scheduling Trouble
I am having a bit of trouble adjusting to my new exercise schedule. I got in the habit of running first thing in the morning last year when I went back to school and I loved it. Now that I am the (student) teacher, and currently lack the ability to wake up at 5 AM in order to get to school by 7:30, I have to run after school. I am trying not to complain about it, but I’m having a bit of trouble adjusting. I usually find myself needing something to eat after school, but once I start snacking, it’s hard to stop. In the past, I went right from work to the gym to avoid any potential procrastination or over-eating before working out. Now, however, my “gym” (i.e. treadmill, weight bench and free weights) are in my house. It’s sort of been a disaster for me.
Any suggestions for (1) not eating too much in the afternoon before a workout; and (2) finding motivation for working out after a long day when you’re already at home? I’ve been thinking of putting my workout clothes on my bed before I leave for school (like I used to put my clothes by my bed when I was working out in the morning). That might help. Now, if I can only walk directly from my car to my room instead of planting myself in the kitchen cupboard. 
Alright, off to run. Enjoy the quinoa.
Tags: apple, blog hog, cinnamon, garlic, onion, quinoa, vegetable broth
September 4th, 2008 at 7:50 pm
That quinoa recipe sounds/looks really good, I’ve never tried quinoa, but I really want to soon.
Maybe planning out and setting up your snack the night before, like portioning it out and having it “packed” on the counter or fridge for when you get home from school. I know that for me all of the temptation to keeping eating is gone when I portion something out. The clothes idea is probably good too. As far as the energy thing goes, when I’m tired in the afternoon before a workout, I like to do some good stretches or yoga to get the blood flowing, and I immediately feel at least a little bit energized. Hope those help!
September 4th, 2008 at 7:58 pm
I don’t like quinoa. I have tried it a million times a million ways and I can’t get over the fact that it looks like tad poles. Which is actually the clean version of what I really think.
I too am struggling with a workout schedule. I commit between 12 and 13 hours a day to work when you including getting ready, driving and actually working. It seems these days that my only choice is to get up at 4:30 or so to get it done because by the time I get home at night, I am wiped out. If you want to do it after work, could you bring a snack for the drive home so that by the time you get there the hunger is gone? I also think that dressing at work for the working out is a great idea.
September 4th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
I LOVE QUINOA!!!
I just got home from a grueling (but fun) 2-hour dance practice, after having a dance practice earlier today AND 4.5 hours of school (3 classes, each 75 minutes long) – I’m exhausted, but I feel great afterwards. Remember the great feeling after a workout!! That should help – good luck!!
September 4th, 2008 at 8:29 pm
Christine: LOL, but there’s no tail!
September 4th, 2008 at 8:35 pm
It is very strange to wash the quinoa before you eat it! I just made it for the first time and am loving it! Your recipe looks great!
As for the exercising after work, pack your snack the way you pack your lunch- in a baggie the day before. That way you are portion controlled to whats in the bag. I also love the idea of laying your clothes out the night before! Who wants the guilt of putting the clothes away knowing you didn’t go work out?
September 4th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
After my long two days so far with the two year olds its been extremely tough dragging my butt to the gym but I keep my gym clothes in my car so I have no excuse. Once I get there it took me alittle while to get in the groove, and I might be going a tad slower but hey atleast I went! And believe me, its a great stress reliever after being with the kids all day! Hope that helps you
September 4th, 2008 at 9:06 pm
Can you run around your school, or drive to a neighborhood and run there? Otherwise, I’d say change at school into your running clothes, eat your snack in the car, and ignore anything but your treaddie when you get home. It’s a slippery slope, I feel you on that one! Makes me happy my job allows me to saunter in at 11 a.m…
September 4th, 2008 at 9:25 pm
That quinoa looks delish! From what I’ve read about quinoa, the saponin (the bitter stuff that rinsing is supposed to get rid of) isn’t so much of a problem these days. Especially now that it’s more widely used, maybe they’ve also gotten better with the processing of it… you can probably skip this step!
I have the same problem, once I get home and I’m hungry it’s hard for me to stop eating. Why not try to pack a small snack to have at work. Then you’ll have some time to digest as you transit to your desired workout!
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Thanks! That could be it because the recipe is a couple years old when quinoa wasn’t quite as mainstream.
September 5th, 2008 at 12:39 am
That quinoa dish looks fantastic! You definitely did a great job with Christie’s “secret ingredient” challenge – congrats!
It’s really hard to get up the motivation to workout after a long day. I find that the best way for me to get pumped is to envision how I will feel when the workout is over versus how I will feel going to bed without any exercise. Visualization is always helpful
September 5th, 2008 at 12:49 am
There is nothing about that quinoa recipe that isn’t getting my taste buds to stand at attention. Definitely a bookmarked recipe!
You’re totally my FBSM!
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Well, a full 24 hours later I think I know what FBSM means. Thanks, lady.
September 5th, 2008 at 5:21 am
I love quinoa too. I’ve seen some kinds that don’t require washing before – the flaky white stuff is already gone. I think its the Red Inca kind? But this recipe sounds sooooo good. Especially the apples with the onions as the flavors meld together.
On the exercise question – I am always so exhausted after work that I can’t make it out for a run/swim/bike/whatever, or I get caught up in a work project and don’t make it out the door…. I just get up at 4am and am out the door by 5.30 most days. Well, yeah, I’m asleep by 8.30 or 9pm, usually, but….
If you can’t work out in the morning, maybe it’d help to take your running clothes to work? Then you don’t have to go home and aren’t as tempted to sack out for the evening? Fueling, I’d just have lunch as usual, and maybe grab a quick banana or a handful of crackers and PB at around 3.30 so you have a bit of extra energy, and yet are not over-full when you go to exercise?
September 5th, 2008 at 5:32 am
(LOVE the quinoa)
I am horrible at working out in the late afternoon so I feel yer pain and would be in the same seeking motivation position.
FOR ME it might be the needing of treats.
if I were doing cardio a magazine.
new music.
that kind of thing.
DEFINITELY MAKING IT NOT A CHOICE.
mentally part of my work day and then after THAT’S DONE the day is done.
(make any sense?)
and the food? hmmmm. Im not a big eater preworkout but Im working out at 5a.
I liked mangotriathele’s ideas!
September 5th, 2008 at 7:47 am
Great recipe and so excited you participates! I think working out is very mental and yes you have to prepare yourself in advanced when you have to make a switch such as yours. Make it so it can not be avioded. Maybe change AT work before you get home.. and have a snack withyou to eat on your way home so you dont even have to go in the kitchen.
September 5th, 2008 at 8:45 am
eat your snack on your way home from school. then go straight to ur room, change and get your workout done. Just do it as though it is part of your work schedule.
I always had a tough time working out before work but then one day I just decided that no excuse was good enough, I just needed to make it a part of ym routine. Now it is rare if I don’t work out before work.
Habits take about 2 weeks to fully form, so just push yourself hard for the first two weeks, and before you know it it will be so easy to just go home, change, workout, and then relax etc
September 5th, 2008 at 8:54 am
recipe sounds great
I am having this same problem, I used to work out at 5:30 am before work, but now if I can’t go to they gym at lunch, then it is almost a lost cause. I am starved after work and go home and then eat and then am too exhausted to hop on the treadmill.
This week at least I could get in long walks, but it is pitch black towards the end of the walk.
September 5th, 2008 at 9:10 am
I’m with everyone who says to bring your snack with you to school and eat it in your car on the way home. Once I start snacking, I can’t stop either! (especially if I am having a “hangry pants” moment). But maybe you’ll bypass the kitch if you’ve already had your snack. Good idea, too, to change into your clothes at school! Then, all you have to do is pull into the driveway, stretch, and hit the streets!
Even though this usually doesn’t motivate me, I try it anyways and hope once it will work: “I never regret working out, I only regret it if I don’t” Good Luck!
September 5th, 2008 at 11:51 am
the key to an afternoon work is getting yourself EXCITED for it all day!!
thanks for the suggestion to mix banana and sweet potato.. it MADE my oatmeal this AM!
September 5th, 2008 at 11:58 am
I LOVE quinoa! Though for some reason I am on a spaghetti kick right now… Still, that recipe sounds great, and I think I’ll try it! (Maybe will do raisins instead of cranberries, because my husband hates cranberries…)
Regarding the workout schedule; that really sucks :<
I am such a creature of habit – always work out first thing, then breakfast, then on with the day! Due to some changes (like… joining the military) my schedule will be changing very drastically, very soon, and I’m already stressed over it!
But I think a lot of people offered some awesome advice, like just forcing yourself to make it a part of your schedule. If you’re anything like me, you’ll have to push yourself at first, but rhodeygirl said – pretty soon it will be the new routine (until something shakes you up again!)
And also remember, if you start to feel like you don’t want to go after work, that you’ll probably feel crummy if you don’t! When you actually get going, you’ll forget you didn’t even want to!
September 5th, 2008 at 4:35 pm
i guess it was a quinoa day
that looks delicious – definitely something i would make. i don’t know what to advice about the working out, because i can imagine i would be feeling exactly like you in that situation (well, not only imagine, i have been there done that and still doing sometimes), but preparing your clothes does seem like a good step forwards, because it’s always the ore-effort that makes it seem cumbersome.
September 6th, 2008 at 9:42 am
Thanks for ALL the great suggestions re: snacks and motivation!
September 18th, 2008 at 5:57 pm
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