QUINOA videos, twitter tips and recipe links

The Incas held the crop to be sacred and referred to quinoa as "chisaya mama" or "mother of all grains".

Quinoa is closely related to species such as beets, spinach and tumbleweeds. The leaves can also be eaten as a leaf vegetable but are currently not widely available commercially.

INTRODUCTION VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7uvygMiwfo&feature=fvw

Use as an alternative in any recipes where you would use white rice or couscous.

The Basic Quinoa Recipe

1 1/2 cups water
1 cup quinoa

Place quinoa and water in a 3 pint saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer, cover and cook until all the water is absorbed (about 15 minutes). You will know that the quinoa is done when all the grains have turned from white to transparent, and the spiral-like germ has separated. Makes 3 cups.

TWITTER TIPS and FOOD BLOGGER LINKS:

@paigedansinger if you roast your quinoa in your pot first before adding water...it imparts fabulous nutty rich taste...Once tried cannot go back! ... make your tabouli with quinoa! Also great cold in a salad, or with avocado drizzled in olive oil... Endless uses, all amazing!!!!

Have fun with it!! Roast chicken with it, mix in a pilaf, mix it in scrambled eggs, put it in waffle mix, purée for babyfood..

@smittytabb Quinoa - what a great food it is. Learned so much about it in Ecuador where you can see it growing everywhere along the roads

Black bean and quinoa chili
http://closetcooking.blogspot.com/2008/07/black-bean-and-quinoa-chili.html

Crusted Mahi Mahi and quinoa with vegetables (@savorthethyme )http://savorthethyme.blogspot.com/2009/06/fast-frugal-friday-crusted-mahi-mahi_26.html

Kale wrap with quinoa, adzuki beans and avocado (@ilikegranola )
http://www.ilikegranola.com/2009/06/23/recipe-kale-wrap-with-quinoa-adzuki-beans-and-avocado/

Quinoa and asparagus chowder
http://www.newtaste.com/quinoachowder.html

Quinoa and black bean salad with smoky lime dressing
http://superspark.wordpress.com/2008/07/04/quinoa-and-black-bean-salad-with-smoky-lime-dressing/

Sweet potato and quinoa salad (@recessionrecipe)
http://recessionrecip.es/2009/06/25/a-week-of-salads-part-4-southwestern-sweet-potato-and-quinoa-salad/

RECIPE LINKS:

Butternut squash chilli with quinoa
http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/4888/butternut-squash-chilli-with-quinoa

Organic quinoa cornbread
https://www.organicuniverse.com/organicforum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=21

Quinoa, herb and pomegranate salad
http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/4545/quinoa-herb-and-pomegranate-salad

Quinoa rice pilau with dill and roasted tomatoes
http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/1607/quinoa-rice-pilau-with-dill-and-roasted-tomatoes

Red quinoa, feta and spinach salad
http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/8176/red-quinoa-feta-and-spinach-salad

Spicy vegetable and quinoa laksa
http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/2577/spicy-vegetable-and-quinoa-laksa

recipe collection http://www.quinoa.net/181.html includes pilaf, tabouli, lasagne, croquettes

rhubarb collaboration

Here's a list of a couple of rhubarb recipes I like and some suggestions from my Twitter friends:

Maggie Beer Rhubarb with pouring cream:
http://www.abc.net.au/tv/beatthechef/txt/s1366430.htm

Gary Rhodes Vanilla risotto rice pudding with poached rhubarb:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/recipes/5215179/Gary-Rhodes-recipe-Vanilla-risotto-rice-pudding-with-poached-rhubarb.html

@Browners Rhubarb tart recipe with a semolina cream base:
http://aroundbritainwithapaunch.blogspot.com/2009/04/rhubarb-tart.html

@Ami_Norml suggested Rhubarb and Strawberry Pie and I found this link:
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Rhubarb-and-Strawberry-Pie/Detail.aspx

@KeyIngredients tweeted "if fresh & juicy, just stick in pot with sugar-no water or juice! Serve in sheet shortcrust & dob clotted cream. easy & yum!"

@eatnik If you're after comfort food, try Stephanie Alexander's homely but tasty rhubarb and ginger pud http://www.theage.com.au/news/epicure/talk-the-stalk/2007/06/25/1182623776905.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1

Rhubarb and Ginger Wine Trifle:
http://www.superfood.blog-city.com/another_rhubarb_recipe_rhubarb_and_ginger_wine_triffle.htm

James Martin Rhubarb Panna Cotta with Roasted Rhubarb:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/database/rhubarbpannacottawit_90890.shtml

Martha Stewart Rhubarb and Sour Cream Breakfast Blintzes:
http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/breakfast-blintzes-with-caramelized-rhubarb-and-sour-cream

Sauteed Red Snapper with Rhubarb Sauce:
http://bitten.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/05/20/recipe-of-the-day-sauted-red-snapper-with-rhubarb-sauce/

Food Blogs from Twitter

Twitter is full of so much talent! I've found some amazing new #foodblogs to follow from Twitter. Here's a list of just some of my favourites. @tomatom - Bio - Freelance business and food journalist. Food blogger. Drinks Chablis, rides Xtracycle. Pats small dogs and trills at cats - Blog http://www.tomatom.com/ @davidleite - Bio - Food writer, author, Web publisher, glutton - Blog http://leitesculinaria.com/ @figandcherry - Bio - Own and run Morning Copy, an online media agency. An overachiever that's only 4 foot 10 and 3/4 inches high! - Blog http://www.figandcherry.com/ @pikeletandpie - Bio - Cooking, eating, photographing, blogging - about anything delicious! - Blog http://www.pikeletandpie.com/ @culinarycory - Bio - I believe everyone should play with their food. - Blog http://culinarycory.com/ @limelightfood - Bio - Food Photographer in Salt Lake City. (alter-ego @createdbymom) - Blog http://limelightfoodphotography.wordpress.com/ @maggiejane - Bio - cooking, food blogging, designing, new yorking - Blog http://pithyandcleaver.com/ @cookinglarousse - Bio - Former peddler of corporate advertising turned trainee chef - Blog http://cookinglarousse.blogspot.com/ @foodgoesinmouth - Bio - Web Developer who happens to occasionally cook, photograph it, and write about it. Former twitizen behind @thedthawk. You can call me Caleb. - Blog http://foodgoesinmouth.com/ @culinarycara - Bio - I love the culinary arts and want to teach others how to expand their tastes and never fear the kitchen - Blog http://www.culinarycara.blogspot.com/ @amandascookin - Bio - Chief Editor www.familycorner.com, cooking fanatic, craft expert and mom of 4 :) - Blog http://amandascookin.blogspot.com/ @BigBlackDogs - Bio - Horticulturist, Food Blogger, Shiksa, History Buff - Blog http://bigblackdogs.blogspot.com/ @EuropeanFood - Bio - I'm a chef, freelance writer and the Guide to Eastern European Food on About.com. - Blog http://easteuropeanfood.about.com/ @BerlinKitchen - Bio - hedonist - Blog http://berlinkitchen.com/berlinkitchen/Food.html @JuliaParsons - Bio - British food blogger. Author of the 'A Slice of Cherry Pie' blog. First cookbook due to be published by Absolute Press Spring 2010 - Blog http://asliceofcherrypie.blogspot.com/ @brownies4dinner - Bio - What if Alton Brown and Ina Garten had a lovechild? And what if said child had Martha Stewart as a nanny? Sounds a little scary... but kind of fun too. - Blog http://browniesfordinner.com/ @kfleisher - Bio - Tech PR Pro, Food Blogger, World Traveler - Blog http://eatingthroughsf.blogspot.com/ @elleskitchen - Bio - Elle's New England kitchen. Living, loving, and cooking in New England. - Blog http://ellesnewenglandkitchen.blogspot.com/ @scrumptiousfoto - Bio - food blogger obsessed with baking, photography, photo gear, and techie gadgets of all sorts - Blog http://www.scrumptiousphotography.com/ @oliverthring - Bio - Twenty-something food blogger - Blog http://oliverthring.blogspot.com/ @stickifingers - Bio - Food. Fashion. Art. Advertising. Marketing - Blog http://www.deepdishdreams.blogspot.com/ @ishtar_ - Bio - freelance writer, author , foodie, geek, geocacher - Blog http://www.foodfreak.de/ @FoodStories - Bio - It's all about food - cooking it, eating it, dreaming, talking, writing about it - in London. Blog - http://www.helengraves.co.uk/ @moroccan_food - Bio - Guide to Moroccan Food at About.com, freelance writer and mother of six - Blog http://www.moroccanfood.about.com/ @tastyeatsathome - Bio - passionate about fresh, seasonal, delicious food, cooking, experimenting in the kitchen, learning from my mistakes! - Blog http://www.tastyeatsathome.wordpress.com/ @luvinspoonsfuls - Bio - food for someone like you to share with friends like yours - Blog http://luvinspoonfuls.wordpress.com/ @glamah - Bio - 'Glamahrous' cook and baker.And I blog about food too!Visit me http://www.examiner.com/x-2371-Chicago-Cooking-Examiner - Blog http://www.cococooks.blogspot.com/ @frugalnosh - Bio - College student, food enthusiast, amateur photographer, and aspiring journalist. - Blog http://www.frugalnosh.com/ @judecee - Bio - software developer, cook, kickbox, bake, run, bacon, protein shakes. yin and yang. learning about photography, good eats, and writing, hence a food blogger. - Blog http://www.applepiepatispate.com/ @messycook - Bio - Self employed designer/foodie/blogger/stuff-maker interested in type, veggie food, and... stuff. - Blog http://www.messyvegetariancook.com/ @MsMarmitelover - Bio - mum, photographer, astrologer, blogger, cook, Londoner, traveler, former punk, serial dater, - Blog http://marmitelover.blogspot.com/ @chewonthat - Bio - We love all things food: recipes, food in the news, Top Chef reviews and more! - Blog http://chewonthatblog.com/ @astarteny - Bio - the never ending question that resounds in my head is what shall I cook next? - Blog http://www.travelswithmyfork.blogspot.com/ @norecipes - Bio - Recipes are great for inspiration but cooking is more fun without them. - Blog http://www.norecipes.com/ @hollyhadsell - Bio - I am a chef, food stylist and consultant. I love food and entertaining - Blog http://chefholly.typepad.com/holly_hadsell_el_hajji/ @TunaToast - Bio - Cooking, eating, drinking life through life in Los Angeles. - Blog http://tokyoastrogirl.blogspot.com/ @recipeplay - Bio - I do my best to source, cook and eat the most sustainable available. - Blog http://recipeplay.com/ @TheChefsWife - Bio - I'm looking to network with moms who care about cooking healthy food for their family - Blog http://chefbud.com/WP/ @IHeartBrunch - Bio - I Heart Brunch is an open source brunch blog featuring reviews, recipes, tips and comments about everyone's favorite meal. Share your brunch experience! - Blog http://iheartbrunch.com/ @bffoodie - Bio - mom who cooks and eats, plays and lives in Cambridge - Blog http://www.examiner.com/x-1240-Boston-Food-Mom-Examiner @PaniniKathy - Bio - food blogger * paninista * mommy - Blog http://paninihappy.com/ @frombecca if you'd like to connect on Twitter - or if you'd like your #foodblog reviewed for the list - and - of course you are always welcome to list your food blog on the comments page below.

five fabulous food films

1. Mostly Martha (Bella Martha)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzXwrkgAD5w&feature=related

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0246772/

2. Babette's Feast

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1e9tJrHpU80

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/movies/videos/babettesfeastnrkempley_a0ca1c.htm

3. Like Water For Chocolate

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sd_-sNtb_mo

http://au.rottentomatoes.com/m/like_water_for_chocolate/

4. Chocolat

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cufxck9uIDQ

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0241303/

5. (and recommended from Twitter @HarpArora)
My Dinner with Andre

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOZ0l-uir6s

http://www.philfilms.utm.edu/1/mydinner.htm

Postscript: this list turned into a large list of Food on Film with contributions from my Twitter friends - http://thoughtsfrombecca.blogspot.com/2009/03/food-on-film-best-from-twitter.html