Crispy Quinoa Cakes

The most common thing I hear from people when I ask if they like quinoa is, "Eh...it's ok." Rather than boiling a batch of plain old quinoa, try this recipe. It's something to get you excited about this ancient grain.

This recipe makes about 15-20 cakes. They freeze nicely in a pyrex dish and then they are so easy to pull out and re-heat on a busy workday. Enjoy!

Crispy Quinoa Cakes

Ingredients 

In a large bowl, combine the following:

1 cup quinoa
2 cups water
3 small (or 2 large) sweet potatoes, shredded
1/2 bag frozen spinach
1/2 cup kalamata olives, halved

In a small bowl, combine the following:

1/2 cup tahini (or sunflower seed butter or almond butter)
4 organic eggs
2 tbsp white wine vinegar
1 tsp salt
1 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp thyme

Preheat oven to 375 F. Bring water to a boil. Add the quinoa and simmer on low for 20 minutes. Meanwhile, whisk together the wet ingredients in the small bowl. Pour the wet ingredients into the large bowl and stir until everything is thoroughly mixed. Make into patties with your hands and place them on a greased cookie sheet. Bake for 25 minutes. Remove from oven and flip. Bake another 20 minutes. Top with salsa (my kids love to top them with the peach salsa from TJ's) and chopped avocado.

Healthy Hemp Hearts

Hemp hearts are my new favorite plant-based protein source. Hemp contains all 10 essential amino acids. Hemp also provides a nice balance of essential fats. Hemp hearts (or seeds) are a complete protein, providing 10 grams protein per 3 tbsp. Adding hemp hearts to oatmeal or smoothies will not only keep you full but also focused. Hemp hearts enhance your brain's memory and cognitive function.

Here are some of my favorite recipes to incorporate hemp hearts in
your diet:

Hemp Crusted Salmon

Ingredients 

• 1/2 cup hemp hearts
• 1 pound wild-caught salmon fillet, cut in 4 pieces
• 1/3 cup organic mayo (or veganaise, made with grapeseed oil)
• 1/2 tsp thyme or tarragon
• 1/2 tsp salt

Instructions
1.   Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease baking sheet with olive oil
2. Arrange salmon on baking sheet and spread with a thin layer of mayo. Top with hemp hearts and sprinkle with herbs and salt.
3. Bake 20 minutes.

Super Seed Granola

Dry Ingredients

• 4 cups gluten-free oats
• 1/2 cup hemp hearts
• 1/4 cup ground flax seeds
• 1/4 cup chia seeds
• 1 tsp cinnamon

Wet Ingredients

• 1/4 cup raw organic honey
• 1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions:
1.  Preheat oven to 275 F. Grease 2 baking sheets.
2. In a large bowl, combine dry ingredients. In a small bowl combine wet ingredients.
3. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients. Spread mixture on baking sheets.
4. Bake for 30 minutes.

Coconut Chocolate Hemp Balls
 
Ingredients

• 1 cup nut butter (I use cashew butter, almond butter or sunflower seed butter)
• 1/4 cup raw honey
• 1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• pinch of sea salt
• 1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
• 1/4 cup raw sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds
• 1/2 cup raw hemp hearts, for rolling

Instructions
1. In a large bowl, mix together the nut butter, honey, cocoa powder, cinnamon and salt until well combined. Add the coconut and seeds (pumpkin or sunflower).
2. Refrigerate dough for 20-30 minutes.
3. Roll the dough into 1.5 inch balls.
4. Roll the balls into hemp seeds to coat.
5. Store in fridge or freezer.