More Quinoa!!

I'm loving quinoa right now and I wanted to try another way to make it.  I wanted something sweet to mix in it and Evan thought of grapes, which couldn't have been more perfect.  The first couple times I made quinoa I did not rinse it before cooking and still loved it but heard it can have a bitter taste if you do not rinse.  I chose to rinse it last night in a fine strainer and I did notice that it was a bit less bitter.  So if you have a fine strainer go ahead and rinse first, if not, there isn't a huge difference.  The recipe serves 2.

1 cup Quinoa
2 cups vegetable or chicken stock
1 cup red grapes
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese 
2 scallions
1/4 of a red onion
2 cloves of garlic
1/2 cup of feta cheese
salt and pepper to taste
1 tbsp olive oil

First chop the scallions and mince the onion and garlic.  Then halve the grapes.  Heat a pot on medium heat and add the garlic and onion.  Saute for about 5-10 minutes until they are translucent.  Add the quinoa and saute for 5 minutes, until it begins to brown.  Add the stock and cover the pot, reducing the heat to low.  Cook for 15 minutes, until the liquid has been absorbed.  After 15 minutes, add the Parmesan cheese so that it melts and coats the quinoa.  Now, add the scallion, grapes and feta cheese.  Add salt and pepper to taste.  This is delicious cold or hot.

Last night I stuffed a bell pepper with the mixture.  To do this just cut off the top of the bell pepper and pack in the filling.  Put the pepper in a baking dish with about an inch layer of water on the bottom.  Cover the peppers with foil, and cook at 400 degrees F for 30 minutes.  Then take the foil off and cook for another 20-30 minutes until the tops are browned and the pepper is soft.