Quinoa for Skeptics

Even if cooking with grains that aren't rice isn't your thing, just try this quinoa pilaf.  Quinoa is so full of protein, it makes the perfect base for any meatless dish.  And this one is crazy good.  The secret's in the sauce. Lemon juice, Dijon mustard, maple syrup, olive oil, salt and pepper.  Instead of hemp seeds (hard to find in little old Staunton, VA), I tossed in some toasted pine nuts. Perfection.  Fresh basil from my container herb garden didn't hurt either.

You can read the recipe for Quinoa Salad with Peas, Basil and Lemon here on the Food52 Blog, which almost never fails to offer delicious meals made with a surprisingly short list of ingredients. Bon appetit!