Quin n' Cheese

 

You see what I did there?  Quin n' Cheese??  Like Mac n' Cheese but 'cept without the Mac?  

#1totalgenius.

Can I admit to you that I literally felt like a genius when I came up with this idea? 

For a long while I've been thinkin' about the Mac n' Cheese conundrum:  seems like all kids eat it, because let's be honest, it tastes good.  And we moms make it because it's cheap and easy and fast.  

But does it ever make us feel well?  Ugh.  Brick in the stomach.  Do we ever want to pick up and go for a nice run after a bowl of Mac?  Or at least do something other than lay on the couch and snooze it off?  

No, no.  No, no.  

And I'm choosing to give this to my kid?  

You see the conundrum? 

So, I wanted to come up with an alternative.  Something just as simple.  Something with ingredients I always have on hand.  Something just as economical.  But better.  

You see where I'm going with this?  Quin n' Cheese.  

(Note:  everytime I type that I really just want to type Quin 'n Ivory Wayans..., but pretty sure that wouldn't taste the same).  

Here's what I do:

Cook 1 C quinoa (follow package instructions).

Once done, add 1 T butter & 1/4 C milk.  

Grate in some cheese as desired.  Not much needed.

Stir.

Grate some cheese on top. 

[+]

*Getting a whole grain, and something other than wheat.

*Getting in some protein. Legit.

*Nutty flavor of quinoa adds to the overall flavor.

*Using real cheese, and not that powdery crap.

*Jude can still feed it to himself and therefore I can be busy doing other things (most likely cleaning up the mess).

*I can eat some of the leftovers and not beat myself up completely the rest of the day.

Jude's totally happy with the switch, which really ups my genius factor, if ya think about it.

But, I'm curious if an older little one might also like this knowing just what they're missing?

Try it, and let me know.