"Quinoa: The Super Carbohydrate"

Quinoa Cookies

Healthy cookies? We thought you’d never ask. Quinoa is a high-protein, high-fiber grain that you might already have in your kitchen. Luckily for us, it’s also awesome in cookies. We promise that it’ll be way worth the effort when you’re finished, though.

What you’ll need: 

2/3 cup dry quinoa

1/3 cup rolled oats

1/2 cup creamy peanut butter 

1 Tbsp melted butter

1/3 - 1/2 cup maple syrup to taste

1/2 cup shredded unsweetened coconut

1/2 cup mini chocolate chips

2 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 to 1/2 tsp sea salt

What you’ll do: 

1.  Toast oats and quinoa in a toaster over at 350° for a few minutes. Make sure you keep an eye on them, because they can burn quickly!

2.  Lower the oven to 325°.

3.  Combine all ingredients in a medium-sized mixing bowl and refrigerate for 15 minutes.

4.  Scoop cookie dough by the tablespoon onto a parchment-lined cookie sheet. If you pack the dough tightly with a melon ball scooper forming nice, rounded tops, the cookies will keep their shape better while they’re baking. 

5.  Bake for 10-12 minutes.

6.  Allow the cookies to cool for 5 minutes. Dig in!

Quinoa is an amino acid-rich (protein) seed that has a fluffy, creamy, slightly crunchy texture and a somewhat nutty flavor when cooked. Most commonly considered a grain, quinoa is actually a relative of leafy green vegetables like spinach and Swiss chard. It is a recently rediscovered ancient "grain" once considered "the gold of the Incas." It is grown in South America and is considered a complete protein because it includes all nine essential amino acids. 
Fiber is parts of grains, fruits, and vegetables that contain cellulose and are not digested by the body. Soluble fiber maintains lower blood sugar levels, dissolves in water and is mainly found in fruits, legumes and oats. 

Insoluble fiber is tough, and doesn’t easily break down. Insoluble fiber tends to increase the “speed of transit” through our digestive systems, and increases regularity of bowel movements.

I liked these cookies because they were very tasty and are healthy for you.