Liz Lemon Nights
by Lys Riley, Liz Lemon Nights blogger

I am not Bethenny Frankel.

I don't even watch The Real Housewives of Whatever.  (My mother on the other hand loves that series.)

Some may even say she's a better example of a human being than me.

Like, she's a hardcore yogi.

Her arms are way more jacked than mine.

She's either one of the best business women of 2011 or her agent/manager is Yoda.

What I owe in interest every 10 days for my student loans is probably what she makes per hour.  Correction, minute.

She owns an obedient, little dog while I have two cats that love to overeat and have tried to ruin Christmas by knocking over the tree.

But.  But!

I recycle.

Ok, I don't know if she recycles or not, and quite honestly, even I don't recycle sometimes.

I'm a terrible person, I know.

However, I hope that this quick and easy breakfast will convince you to forgive me for my non-Bethenny arms, drowning in student loan interest and occasional recycling ways.

This warm bowl of quinoa is creamy from the soy milk, has a hint of sweetness from the maple syrup and chock full of different textures with bright, sweet-tart cranberries, slightly plumped golden raisins and crunchy slivered almonds.  Quinoa is also a complete protein, so put down your cold, chalky protein powder shake and treat yourself to a warm breakfast that almost tastes indulgent.

Seriously. You deserve more than that shake (despite what Sue Sylvester tells you).

*Roo was extremely dubious when I placed this in front of him from breakfast, not knowing how to deal with a non-savory quinoa dish (he suddenly forgot that he's eaten it in a cake before).  Just try it.  I promise you it won't taste like a quinoa patty with maple syrup on top of it.  Pinky swear.

Adapted from Bethenny Frankel.





Makes One Serving (recipe can be easily doubled, tripled, etc.)

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Ingredients

Half cup of cooked quinoa

3 tablespoons of soy milk (or any other non-dairy milk)

1 tablespoon of maple syrup (you can also use agave nectar)

Half tablespoon of dried cranberries (or whatever you prefer as a yummy dried fruit)

Half tablespoon of golden raisins

1 tablespoon of slivered almonds (or whatever nut you prefer)

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Equipment

A bowl

A clean spoon (or whatever you plan on eating the quinoa with, to mix the ingredients)

Microwave (or if you don't own one, a small pot)

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Add the cooked quinoa, soy milk (or other non-dairy milk), maple syrup, golden raisins, dried cranberries (or whatever you prefer for dried fruit) and slivered almonds to a bowl.  Mix together with a spoon (or whatever eating utensil you have on hand) and throw in the microwave to heat through for a minute or two (depending on how strong your microwave is).  If you don't own a microwave, dump the ingredients after mixing into a small pot and place on you burner on medium low heat.  Cook till heated through, stirring occasionally.  Serve warm.

To catch up on more recipes, please visit Liz Lemon Nights