February is Food from the Heartland month at Carolina HeartStrings. I decided to expand my horizons and try quinoa (pronounced keen wah) which I have been wanting to do for some time. Quinoa is a grain-like crop. Which means it is actually a “pseudo cereal” rather than a true cereal or grain. It is a member of the grass family and it is the seed portion of the plant that we eat. It is related in species to beets, spinach and tumbleweeds. Okay, that is where I draw the line. Tumbleweeds. I don’t think so. I am all about trying new things, but a tumbleweed... no thank you. (Those of you who have ever been out West know exactly what I mean). Quinoa (love saying that in my head every time I write it) is a complete source of protein which is really unusual for a plant food. It is an excellent source of dietary fiber and is high in iron and gluten-free. This is the perfect alternative if you want to eat less meat! I decided to make this the “meat” portion of my meal and paired it with a nice spinach salad. Delicious!