Quinoa Revolution: Over 150 Healthy, Great-tasting Recipes Under 500 Calories (book review)

Quinoa Revolution
Over 150 Healthy, Great-tasting Recipes Under 500 Calories
Authors:  Particia Green & Carolyn Hemming
Published: January 2013
Publisher: Pintail, a member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.
Pages: 256
ISBN 9780143186410 (original trade paperback)
www.penguin.ca (Penguin Canada)

Thank you to Pintail Books for providing a complimentary copy of Quinoa Revolution.  Receipt thereof did not influence this review which is my honest opinion of this cookbook.

Includes: 

• Introduction - Revolutionalizing Health and Fitness with Quinoa
• Quinoa Revolution
• You Asked Us
• Easy Quinoa Basics
• Revolutionize Breakfast
• Revolutionize Salads, Sides & Snacks
• Revolutionize Soups & Stews
• Revolutionize Meals
• Revolutionize Dessert
• Index

Written by bestselling authors Patricia Green and Carolyn Hemming, QUINOA REVOLUTION is a cookbook using the ancient super-food quinoa to revolutionize the lives of people everywhere. The book is packed full of inventive recipes including "Chipotle Corn Chowder," "Red Velvet Waffles," "Korean Barbeque Beef Wraps," "Black Forest Goat Cheese Brownies," "Ginger Peach Crisp," and more. The authors, Patricia Green and Carolyn Hemming, are sisters passionate about healthy living. Both are busy balancing physically active lifestyles, careers and family, and they put this book together to show that quinoa is more than just salads, and can be used in everything from light snacks to full meals and desserts. (description provided by publicist)

My review:

A few months ago, while shopping, my husband and I decided to try quinoa.  With no previous knowledge of the product, aside from rumours that it is a healthy alternative to rice, I just followed the instructions on the package and used it much as I would rice.  Then I was approached by Pintail Books to review Quinoa Revolution and I was thrilled to.  I am excited by the idea of revolutionzing my every day cooking by adding quinoa!  

Quinoa flour is a terrific substitute for regular white flour or whole wheat flour, especially for those with gluten sensitivities.  (I had no idea there was such a thing as quinoa flour until I read some recipes in Quinoa Revolution.)  Beyond the flour, quinoa is terrific in soups and stews, salads, as a rice substitute, and so much more!  

In Quinoa Revolution you will find recipes such as:  Apple Pie Pancakes; Blueberry Sprout Smoothie; Avocado Basil Pesto Salad; Pear, Walnut & Blue Cheese Salad With Thyme Dressing in Radicchio Cups (the full page colour photograph that accompanies this recipe made my mouth water!); Thai Chicken Fingers; Chipotle Corn Chowder (a yummy looking full-colour visual of this chowder is on the facing page for the recipe); Quinoa Lasagna; Black Forest Goat Cheese Brownies (these look like they'd melt in your mouth!); Chocolate Cream Mini Cupcakes With Avacado Icing (yes, you read that right and they look scrumptious!).

As I am packing to move today and tomorrow, I reluctantly packed away this book, running out of time to try a mushroom soup recipe that grabbed my eye.  The Chocolate Cream Mini Cupcakes With Avacado Icing caught my attention immediately when I first received my copy of Quinoa Revolution!  I am so intrigued with the idea of avacado in the icing that once my baking pans are unpacked I am definitely going to make this recipe!  We have a bake sale coming up at work as a fundraiser for our charity and this is one recipe I am definitely considering for it!!  (I have a reputation to uphold for baking for the fundraisers so when I saw this recipe I had an "Aha!" moment!!!)

All in all, Quinoa Revolution is a keeper.  The oversized full colour cover is but a sampling of the terrific food photography within courtesy of Ryan Szule (photographer) and Nancy Midwicki (food stylist), with prop styling by Madeleine Johari. In addition to the recipes, there is an instructional and Q&A section at the beginning of the book.  Suggestions on how to use quinoa cooked or raw and sprouting the seeds are included.  Virtually anything you can think of in terms of using quinoa can be found here.  I had no idea quinoa was so versatile!  I have a feeling Quinoa Revolution will be one of my favourite go-to cookbooks, just like my Betty Crocker cookbook that I have owned for more than 20 years and still use regularly.  That, my friends, is saying a lot!!

Read another terrific review here:  http://www.chatelaine.com/health/diet/quinoa-health-benefits-10-ways-to-make-recipes-healthier-and-lose-weight

The bestselling authors of Quinoa 365, Patricia Green and Carolyn Hemming, are sisters and are both passionate about healthy living.  Patricia is a physically active mother of two, while Carolyn is also busy balancing family, career, and fitness goals.  Both avidly explore the use of superfoods and new meal ideas.