The Mother of all Grains.

It's spelled Quinoa and one of the non-nutritional highlights is seeing how people pronounce it. I have a friend who bragged about trying it for the first time and called it Kwa-noah. My mom calls it Kwee-non. My kids call it healthy vegetable schnuggets, avoiding the pronunciation challenge all together.

I've tried to get my family to eat Quinoa because it is one of those superfoods loaded with health-building nutrients. It's protein rich and has a fluffy, creamy, slightly crunchy texture and a somewhat nutty flavor when cooked. It's not bad but...

It's not rice.

It's not pasta.

But it's better for you.

Quinoa is considered a grain although it is actually a relative of leafy green vegetables like spinach and Swiss chard.  Did you know that ass-kicking Inca warriors ate it centuries ago to power-up?

Savvy Vegetarian's website has a load of Quinoa recipes. Their black bean Quinoa salad is a keeper.

You can even turn it into breakfast food although it is doubtful that it will ever replace Fruity Pebbles in my house.