Want to know more about quinoa? I’ve received a few emails on the wonders of quinoa since launching my 55-page free eBook: Frugal Food & Fitness. Since mentioning this cheap and healthy food in my eBook, it seems many of you are interested in how to cook and eat this nutritional wonder.

Quinoa (pronounced KEEN-wah) is a tiny seed high in protein and lower in carbohydrates than most cereal grains. When cooked, quinoa has a light, mild, and fluffy texture with a slight nutty flavor. Quinoa can be used as an alternative in meals and recipes that call for rice, couscous, millet, or any other starchy food. Just add your favorite vegetables, meats or seasonings and enjoy.

About Quinoa

Quinoa was eaten for thousands of years by the Incas of South America, who worshiped it as sacred. No wonder since quinoa is one of the most nutritional foods in the world! Quinoa is considered a complete protein because it contains all eight essential amino acids, it is naturally gluten free (unlike wheat) so it can be eaten by those with Celiac disease, and it’s cheap and easy to prepare. It is also a good source of dietary fiber, phosphorus, and is high in magnesium and iron. Not bad for a little seed, ehh?

In its natural state quinoa has a waxy coating of bitter-tasting saponins, making it terribly untasty. However, most quinoa sold commercially in North America is processed to remove this coating through a rinsing process.

Where to Find Quinoa?

Quinoa can be found in grocery stores across the United States, Canada, and Europe. Depending on where you live, you may have to find this sensational seed in a specialty or organic food store. I often find the cheapest quinoa in the bulk food section at my local supermarket. When shopping for quinoa, be sure to take note if the seeds still have their saponin coating or if this coating has been previously removed through a rinsing process. I have only ever found quinoa without this coating.

How to Cook Quinoa

Quinoa is easy to prepare. It takes only 15 minutes to cook a family portion of this wonder food, so do try it in place of rice, pasta, or other longer cooking complex carbohydrates.

• Note: Check if your quinoa still has a saponin coating. If your quinoa does have a waxy coating then the first step is soak the quinoa in water for 2 hours. Change the water and resoak for another hour. Vigorously rinse the quinoa under running water in a fine strainer or cheese cloth to remove the final traces of bitter tasting saponin. Most quinoa bought in boxes or in bulk stores comes pre-rinsed without this coating for your convience (just like in the photograph above).

To cook quinoa:

1. For every one cup of quinoa, bring two cups of water to a boil (just like rice). If you prefer your food more al dente, then use just 1.5 cups of water.
2. Cover the boiling quinoa and reduce to a simmer. Cook for 12-15 minutes, or until the germ separates from the seed. The cooked germ looks like a tiny curl (see photograph above comparing cooked quinoa to uncooked quinoa).
3. Let quinoa stand for about 3 minutes to become fully fluffy.

Alternatively:

• Use a rice cooker to prepare quinoa by combining one measure of quinoa with two measures of water.
• Try replacing water with chicken or vegetable broth to flavor the quinoa and add some spice to your meals.

Do you eat quinoa? Have a unique cooking method or favorite recipe? Please share!

Want to know if it’s time to trade in your current gas guzzling car for a more fuel efficient car? The Should You Buy a More Gas Efficient Car? calculator goes the distance by letting you know when it’s time to trade in the SUV for something more like a hybrid. You may just be surprised with the results!

Use the “Should You Buy a More Gas Efficient Car?” calculator to determine:

• The break even point of a new car, based on gas consumption.
• The yearly gas use for each car.
• The yearly gas cost for each car.

To use the “Should You Buy a More Gas Efficient Car?” Calculator:

1. Open the Should You Buy a More Gas Efficient Car? calculator.
2. Enter your Current Car information:
• Under Monthly Driving, enter how far you drive on a monthly basis. From the drop-down list, select distance in Miles or km.
• Under Gas Efficiency, enter the gas mileage for this vehicle. The Gas Mileage Calculator will help you figure this out.
• Under Price of Gas, enter the price paid for gas. From the drop-down list, select price in $ per Gallon or $ per Litre.
• Under Trade-in Price, enter the trade in value for your current vehicle.
3. Enter your New Car information:
• Under Gas Efficiency, enter the gas mileage for the new vehicle.
• Under Car Price, enter the price for the new car (don’t forget taxes and stuff!).
4. Click Calculate. The Results display.

Example Data:

Does it make sense for you to buy a more gas efficient car? Do the results surprise you?

I’ve been farming this week. It’s not sexy, glamorous, or delicious. Actually, getting covered in dirt is kind of sexy and fun…but seriously not delicious. I’m back next week with a bunch of helpful and humorous posts for your reading pleasure.

Dear New Email Subscribers: Looking for your eBook?

I just want to send a quick note to all new email subscribers waiting for your new eBook: Frugal Food & Fitness: How to get fit and fab without spending a fortune! I’ve discovered a glitch which makes instant eBook delivery a challenge.

It seems if I don’t publish a post on the day you subscribe, “the email system” will make you wait till my next post is delivered in your email. Since I do not publish daily, some of you guys have been left waiting. I’m very very very sorry for the delay as this was not my intention. I wanted everyone to get an instant eBook! I am hoping getting this article in your email helps.

Here’s how to download the eBook if you subscribe by email:

1. First Subscribe to Squawkfox by Email. You will get an email in your mailbox asking you to Activate your Email Subscription.
2. In this email, click the link to Activate your subscription.
3. If I publish a post on that day, you will get the new post in your email with a link at the bottom to Download Frugal Food & Fitness eBook. Here’s an EXAMPLE of what the link looks like:

If you still cannot find your way to eBook nirvana, then PLEASE send me an email via: squawkfox [at] gmail [dot] com and I’ll make sure you get your eBook. (I think I’ve figured out the problem, and for once it’s not me). Besides, I like email and my friends think I’m friendly.

Wise Bread: Top Personal Finance Blogs by Women!

The fabulous folks over at Wise Bread did a spotlight feature this week listing the Top Personal Finance Blogs by Women. I’d love to thank Lynn Truong for mentioning Squawkfox among her list of wonderful female writers. Be sure to check it out if you’re looking for a female perspecitive pertaining to frugal living and personal finance!

Around the Personal Finance Network:

My Personal Finance Network friends have been super duper busy this week. Here’s what they have to say:

• Clever Dude learns to appreciate what he has when nothing is appreciating in Can’t Sell Truck. Can’t Sell House. Have to Enjoy What We Have.

• Money Ning looks at When to Splurge.

• Quest for Four Pillars writes on multi-level marketing in Dreamkillers.

• Canadian Capitalist ponders Real Estate Investment Trusts in To REIT, or not to REIT.

• Blunt Money finds 16 Ways your iPhone Can Save you Money. She obviously doesn’t deal with the Canadian Rogers iPhone data plan ’cause it’s freaking expensive.

I’ll be less covered in dirt next week so stay tuned for more fun stuff…who knows…maybe I’ll have some more downloadable tools for you.