Quinoa with Jerk Veggies and Greens

Thursday Night Meal! I only had a quick second to snap this photo before this meal was totally devoured! Seeing it now I wish I had a better shot however at the time all I cared about was giving thanks by digging in:) First of all I want to say that this meal is super easy to prepare- Dinner was ready in less than twenty minutes. You couldn't drive to taco bell and be back in that short of time- The ingredients should all be staples in a healthy eaters home as well. This meal has a little bit of cooked food however it is mostly raw and full of protein, flavor, and benefits! To the right in the pot is "the Mother Grain", Quinoa. Hailed as "the supergrain of the future," quinoa contains more protein than any other grain. It's considered a complete protein because it contains all eight essential amino acids. Quinoa is also higher in unsaturated fats and lower in carbohydrates than most grains, and it provides a rich and balanced source of vital nutrients. Quinoa can be eaten just as you would rice- it is adaptable to breakfast, lunch and dinner also! It's lighter than rice and prepares very quickly. Behind the quinoa is Jamaican Jerk Veggies. I threw olive oil, diced onions, garlic and ginger in a saute pan and only cooked for about a minute just until the onions steamed a bit, turned off the heat and threw in sliced bell peppers, sliced carrots, diced celery, and lastly cubed tomatoes. The entire premise of this meal was that I was craving jerk so a lot (about 2 Tbs.)of Jamaican Jerk seasoning went on the veggies which were stirred and covered with a lid to let the seasoning settle in. The Jamaican Jerk seasoning I use is from Herbs and Spice and Everything Nice at Findlay Market. The Colonels Jerk blend contains garlic, onion, allspice, coriander, red pepper, thyme, mustard, lemon peel, nutmeg, black pepper, ginger and garlic. All of these herbs contain health benefits as well! The largest dish is the salad of course, this one is really simple- i pulled the thick veins out of two different types of Kale from the garden, rolled up the leaves and sliced thin, sprayed the leaves with Braggs Liquid Amino Acids and drizzled with olive oil. The salad is topped with avocado and heirloom tomatoes from the garden. Lastly in the small bowl is chopped parsley and cilantro. Parsley is an excellent source of vitamins A and C, it also aids the body in digestion and freshens breath after having the onions and garlic. Cilantro goes great with spicy foods. When I prepare my bowl I just let everything mix together into one big beautiful creation. This meal was soooo good. If Jerk isn't your craving this could be made with curry instead of Jerk. I think its important to point out again that all of these foods are staples in a healthy kitchen or garden; if you have the foods on hand you will be less likely to eat unhealthy. Mm..m.m! Bless up!