recipe: apple-banana-quinoa muffins

I like quinoa. But Tony and I always seem to eat it the same way, and lately I grown bored of it. So there's been a bag of quinoa just sitting in my pantry for months, and I haven't wanted to cook it. 

But I've also been on a kick to clear out food in my pantry, so the other weekend I fired up Pinterest and discovered this treasure: apple-banana-quinoa breakfast muffins.

These muffins are sweet but healthy, and they're Baby L's favorite meal. I froze the muffins, and in the morning I take one out and throw it in the microwave for 30 seconds.

Apple-Banana-Quinoa Muffins

Adapted from Pumps and Iron

• 1/2 cup quinoa
• 1 cup water
• 4 mashed bananas: 3 mashed and 1 cut into pieces
• 1/2 cup applesauce
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 1/2 cups oats
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 apple, peeled, cored and chopped fine

Combine quinoa and water in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Cover and reduce heat. Cook 10-15 minutes until water absorbs. 

In a large bowl, mash three bananas. Stir in applesauce, milk, honey and vanilla.  

In a medium bowl, mix oats, cinnamon and cooked quinoa. 

Stir the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. Stir in apple and banana pieces.

Scoop the batter into a greased muffin tin. 

Bake at 375 for 20-25 minutes. 

Makes 12 muffins.