After having been cooped up inside for the winter months, I am ready to get outside and fire up the grill. It can be such an easy way to make a healthy and tasty meal with less clean up!
   This month I am sharing with you one of my tried and true and absolutely favorite recipes. I love it because it is a very healthy recipe, it is flavorful and really fun to make. And the “star” of the dish is something called Quinoa (keen-wa). Although it is called a grain, technically it is a seed grown from a plant similar to spinach.
   If you haven’t heard of it, Quinoa was originally grown by the Inca Indians in the Andes of South America and is still a staple in that part of the world. There’s a lot to like about Quinoa and there are many reasons it is catching on here in the States. It is gluten-free, it’s very easy to cook and can be substituted for rice or pasta in certain dishes. Did I mention the nutritional benefits? It has a balanced set of amino acids making it a complete protein source. Great for vegetarians! It is also a good source of fiber, iron and magnesium. There are so many more positive parts to this super food; I recommend you look it up. They are too many to mention here!
Think about your cooking energy   And as always, think about the energy you want to put into your cooking. This recipe takes a bit of time, so it will work best on the weekend or on a day when you can take your time with the preparation. I enjoy the feeling of chopping the vegetables and how good they smell when they’re grilled. I also enjoy the feeling of chopping up the warm vegetables after they have cooled from the grill. If you’re feeling adventurous, use your hands to mix the whole fabulous mixture together (using clean hands of course!)! And if this seems sort of out of the ordinary, think of it this way. We carry a lot of energy in our hands: we hold hands with our loved ones, or shake hands as a greeting; we use them to hold the apple we’re munching on or feed our kids. I believe that our positive energy carries into our cooking and our food.
   So, the Quinoa isn’t actually grilled, but the other ingredients involved are. It makes for a great dish, cold or hot. And it makes plenty so there is enough for a couple of healthy lunches at work. If there is an ingredient listed here you don’t particularly care for, substitute something else or just take it out. Or add some freshly chopped basil. The beauty of cooking in your own kitchen, is that it is always to your taste, so have fun inventing your own favorite version of this. Sometimes I add a cup of cooked corn kernels, or cooked peas. It really is just a guide to help you discover a new food and hopefully create a wonderful cooking and eating experience for yourself and your family! Enjoy!

Grilled Vegetable and Quinoa Salad
Ingredients
1 cup Quinoa, cooked according to package (look for Seeds of Change brand or Trader Joe’s brand). Like pasta or rice, it will expand and be more than the uncooked cup, this is what you want!
3 bell peppers, different colors (orange, red, yellow), cut into four sections and veins removed
1 zucchini, sliced lengthwise, ends removed
1 yellow squash, sliced lengthwise, ends removed
1 cup sundried tomatoes packed in olive oil, chopped medium
1 cup black olives, chopped
½ cup goat cheese or feta cheese crumbles (add more to taste)
1 can artichoke hearts, chopped
¼ cup Balsamic dressing (add more to taste)
Salt and pepper to taste
1. Preheat grill, clean off any old residue, etc.
2. Coat the peppers, zucchini, and yellow squash with olive oil and a little salt and pepper.
2. Grill the vegetables on medium to low heat until tender. The peppers will start to peel. That’s ok. We want soft veggies in this dish.
3. Let veggies cool to touch, but still warm. Cut into bit-size pieces. There is no specific way for this, just what works best for you.
4. Combine all ingredients into a large salad bowl and toss with dressing.
5. Enjoy out on the deck with a glass of white wine or lemonade.
Yum!

Lola Kern is a Consultant for Internal Energy Plus. If you have a challenging relationship with food or simply want to learn more about cooking with positive energy, email her at lkern@iepcorporate.com. To learn more about IEP's programs and products, log onto our website at www.InternalEnergyPlus.com . Or join our Yahoo Group at http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/INTERNAL_ENERGY_PLUS/

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