Quinoa Power!

OK, so maybe you've already heard of quinoa (pronounce it "keen-waa"). It's a grain apparently discovered  by the Incas that was a stable of their diet. The cool thing about quinoa is that it has all seven of the essential amino acids that make up complete proteins. It may be the only grain that has this. Usually to get a full complement of protein amino acids  you have to mix two other ingredients (like say, rice and beans), or just take the easy way and grab a burger, because all seven are in meat.

OK, but here's some other cool stuff about quinoa (and please remember, I'm talking off the top of my head and reading from the box and from stuff I've seen on the Internet and specifically on Wikipedia. I'm not an expert on food and nutrition or health or any o' that cool stuff. Which means you oughta check for yourself, realize your mileage may vary, and I'm a professional driver on a closed course...but this is cooking, so don't take my word for any health stuff, ok?).

Anyway, besides being a "complete" protein source, quinoa is:

• gluten-free
• high fiber
• low sodium
• low fat, including no saturated fat or trans fat
• low cholesterol (like none)
• easy to prepare
• easy to digest. 

Cool huh? And I'm not even selling the stuff - nor do I care to.


I also think it tastes pretty good but you're reading this from a guy who likes the taste of everything but crab apple, so take that into account.

So here's what I've been having for breakfast lately:

Quinoa Power Breakfast

Ingredients:

• Ancient Harvest Quinoa (mentioning this brand because it's easy to find, organic, AND prewashed - which saves step)
• Ground Coriander
• Ground Cardamom
• Chili Powder
• Garlic Salt
• Tumeric
• Ground Cumin
• Dried Minced Onion
• Ground Ginger
• Fresh ground pepper (I use Tellicherry peppercorns)
• Tap Water
• Pastor Karl's Fit to be Thai'd Chili Pepper Oil made with EVO and Thai Chili Peppers

Easy to make:

I just dumped a box of Ancient Harvest Quinoa into a bowl and added some of the spices (not the water or oil yet). Please note, I'm an ingredient cook, not a recipe cook, so I just dump some in in an amount that feels and looks right from past experience.

I mixed it up and then put 1/3 cup portions in sandwich bags. Turned out I ended up with seven bags worth (which means one week's mixture ready to rock).

Then, I took one of the baggies, dumped it in a sauce pan, added 2/3 cup of tap water, and a healthy dollop of Pastor Karl's Fit to be Thai'd oil.

Stir it all up.

Bring it to a boil and let it boil pretty much wildly for 5 minutes.

Remove from heat and cover, let sit for 15 minutes.

It's done.

I cut up some red apple and some walnuts to add to the cooked quinoa and that's it.

Total prep time (for a week's worth of servings), about 5 minutes.

Total cooking time, about 22 minutes (2 to get the water boiling, 5 to boil, 15 to sit - a good time to take a shower and get dressed).

That's it, folks. I think it's tasty. I used dried spices, and of course you get more of a kick out of fresh spices (and it takes more time, too).

I think it's pretty tasty. I KNOW it's healthy (subject to the above disclosure, of course).

Business Networking Events Aren't One Night Stands

I was reminded late in the year that while many people who can and do benefit from building their business by adding business networking events to their relationship marketing mix, there are many who just don't get it. They just show up, see some people they know, say "Hi", maybe have some appetizers and a beer or glass of wine and then leave. Later, they say, "Nah, business networking events don't work."

Sorry, but you've got the wrong idea.



If you'd like information on how to really make the most of business networking events, well, I do have a book about it, 31 Days to Networking Events Mastery.

It's available on Amazon.com in both print and Kindle versions and, if you live in southeastern North Carolina, Clif Bridgers also carries it at RBR Books in Leland, NC.

Cool House for a Christmas Party - Augusta Greene at Shelmore in Brunswick Forest

Even though I'm no longer working in real estate Marge and I were happy to be invited to see Plantation Building's newest model in the Shelmore area of Brunswick Forest today. I've known David Spetrino, Plantation Building's owner, for 7 years and am a fan of his designs and his quality work.

So, we took a tour, had a Christmas cookie or two, and grabbed these quick photos. This model is the Augusta Greene and it has a loads of standard features for comfortable, bungalow-style family living with 1718 finished square feet on the first floor with two bedrooms, two full baths, and an open living/dining/kitchen area plus a rocking chair front porch, spacious screened porch, and rear entry, oversized two car garage.

Upstairs there are four optional plans, with the base plan adding 950 square feet, a sitting area, two bedrooms, and another full bath. If you add the optional flex room, which increases the second floor square footage to 1432 (for a house total of 3,150 sq. ft.), you will have space for everyone. Marge said four sets of bunk beds in the finished bunk room would easily accomodate 8 visiting grandchildren (which is a bit odd because at last count we only have 3, but maybe she knows something I don't).

So cruise these photos and take a tour. There's plenty I left out, including the built-in banquette in the kitchen, screened porch, and all the upstairs. This house has many many large closets and more walk-in storage on the second floor than any four families should ever need.

First look inside, the tree, with a view of the oversized front windows.

Just inside the front door looking back through the living room and dining room to the kitchen.

Living room with built-ins and gas log fireplace.

Here's David.

David and some other folks in the dining area.

A partial view of the kitchen - that granite topped island will seat 6 plus the banquette, which isn't  seen but is on the left of this area, seats another six. So overall you have room for seating about 20 within talking distance of each other.

A partial view of the first floor master suite, with two walkin closets.

 

This master bath is as large as some Manhattan apartments.

So as we left Marge was careful to grab a brochure of this fun, classy, spacious home.

And I chilled on the porch with some guy in a red suit.

Thanks for the invite, David, nice job on the house (we'd expect no less).