Applesauce Parfaits With Yogurt And Crispy Quinoa Food

BLUEBERRY KIWI QUINOA PARFAIT

Steps:

• Place the quinoa in a fine-mesh sieve and rinse well. Transfer to a small saucepan with 1 1/2 cups water and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce to a simmer and cover. Cook until the liquid is absorbed and the quinoa is cooked through, about 15 minutes. Remove from the heat and let stand, covered, for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork and set aside to cool completely.
• In a medium bowl, stir to combine the yogurt, honey, vanilla extract and lemon zest. To make filling the glasses easier and cleaner, transfer the yogurt to a large resealable plastic bag or piping bag and snip off a corner.
• Place two 12-ounce glasses on a work surface and start to layer into each glass about 2 tablespoons blueberries, 2 tablespoons diced kiwi, 1/2 cup yogurt, a spoonful of quinoa and a sprinkle of almonds. Repeat the layering a second time, then top with a spoonful of quinoa, a few almonds, and scatter additional fruit over the top. Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate overnight.

APPLESAUCE

Steps:

• Throw the apples, apple juice and lemon juice into a pan and bring it to the boil over medium-high heat. Lower the heat and simmer until the apples are soft, about 15 minutes. Stir through the sugar and mix until melted. Add the cinnamon and stir through.
• Puree the mixture in a food processor, blender or food mill. If not using right away, leave to cool and then refrigerate.

PUMPKIN GRANOLA AND ORANGE-CRANBERRY JAM WITH MAPLE YOGURT PARFAITS

Steps:

• Special equipment: 4 parfait glasses
• For the pumpkin granola: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line a half sheet pan with parchment paper and lightly spray with nonstick spray; set aside.
• Put the oats, seeds and nuts in a large bowl. Combine the pumpkin puree, sugar, maple syrup, oil and pumpkin pie spice in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat and let it cook for 1 minute longer, whisking occasionally. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract.
• Pour the wet ingredients over the oat mixture and stir until the oats are fully coated. The mixture will be pretty wet. Evenly spread the mixture, in a single layer, onto the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes, then stir and bake for an additional 15-20 minutes or until the granola is golden brown and crisp. Cool on a baking rack. Transfer to a bowl and stir in the cranberries, if using. Store leftovers in an airtight container in a cool, dark, place, for up to 1 week.
• For the orange cranberry jam: Combine the orange juice and zest, and the sugar in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. Cook until the sugar has melted. Add the cranberries, reduce the heat so the mixture simmers, and cook until the cranberries pop and the mixture thickens slightly (it will thicken much more as it cools), about 10 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and let cool. Makes about 2 cups; store leftovers in the refrigerator, covered, for 2 weeks.
• For the maple yogurt: Whisk together the yogurt and 2 tablespoons maple syrup until smooth; taste, and add more maple syrup if you'd like it sweeter. Chill.
• To assemble the parfaits: Dollop 1/4 cup maple yogurt in the bottoms of 4 parfait glasses. Follow that with about 1/4 cup of pumpkin granola, another 1/4 cup of yogurt, about 2 tablespoons of orange cranberry jam, then a little more yogurt and a few more tablespoons of granola. Drizzle over some Pumpkin Spice Syrup, if using. Serve.
• Combine the pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie spice in a small saucepan over medium heat and cook until the mixture thickens slightly and the spices become fragrant, about 3 minutes.
• Combine 2 cups cold water and the granulated and brown sugars in a medium saucepan, bring to a boil over high heat and cook, whisking occasionally, until the mixture thickens and reduces slightly, about 5 minutes.
• Reduce the heat to low, whisk in the spiced pumpkin puree and cook, stirring occasionally for 10 minutes. Do not allow the mixture to boil after you add the pumpkin or the syrup will become cloudy (even after straining.) Remove from the heat and let the mixture cool for 10 minutes.
• Place a mesh strainer over a medium bowl and line the strainer with several layers of cheesecloth. Pour the mixture through the strainer and let it strain slowly into the bowl. Add the vanilla extract to the syrup and transfer to a container with a tight fitting lid. The syrup will last 1 month stored in the refrigerator. Makes about 1 1/2 cups; leftovers can be refrigerated for 1 week.

SOFT SCRAMBLED EGGS WITH KALE AND CRISPY QUINOA

Steps:

• Set a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add 2 tablespoons of the olive oil and heat to shimmering. Add the ginger and cook until fragrant, about 15 seconds. Add the quinoa and shake the skillet to spread it out into an even layer. Cook, without stirring, until the bottom gets crispy, about 3 minutes.
• Flip the quinoa and continue cooking until the other side gets crispy, about 3 minutes. Add the kale, season with a pinch of salt and a twist of pepper, stir to combine and cook for 1 minute. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs and coconut water to thoroughly blend. Wipe out the skillet, set it over medium-high heat and add the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil, then immediately add the eggs and begin stirring. Season the eggs with a pinch of salt and a twist of pepper. Cook, stirring constantly, until small, soft curds form, about 2 minutes.
• Serve the scrambled eggs on top of the crispy quinoa.
• Make the quinoa: In a medium saucepan, combine 3 1/4 cups water, 2 cups quinoa (rinsed) and a good pinch of salt. Bring to a boil. Stir the quinoa, cover, reduce the heat to maintain a gentle simmer and cook until the quinoa pops open (releasing the circular white germ of the seed) and all the liquid is absorbed, about 15 minutes. Spread the quinoa out on a sheet pan and let cool before transferring it to an airtight container. Cooked quinoa will last up to 5 days in the fridge.

APPLE YOGURT PARFAITS

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine applesauce and nutmeg. Spoon 1 tablespoon granola into each of 4 parfait glasses. Layer each with 1/3 cup yogurt and 1/4 cup applesauce; sprinkle with remaining granola. Serve immediately.