Rice cooker Italian quinoa

Good morning! Hope your day is off to a great start <3

Waffles with almond butter and jelly over here

waffles3

tea

snuggles and

teeny grunts and snores (coming from the lounger next to me). Itโ€™s a good day.

The Pilot had to fly late last night, and since heโ€™s been the dinner chef in our house lately while I feeding the little one and settle her down for bed- I really wanted to have some food ready to eat when he came home. We had chicken โ€“no shocker there, but it was quick/easy- but I did want to show ya the side dish to go along with it.

Rice cooker saves the day:

quinoa2

Itโ€™s been fun experimenting with different grains in the rice cooker, and last night I wanted to put together something I could prep in advance in minimal time, and just start it about 45 minutes before we would eat.

I chopped up some onion, garlic, tomatoes, and zucchini:

veg4

put it in the fridge until later

then added it to the rice cooker with 1 C quinoa, 2 C veggie broth, 1 can organic chickpeas (drained and rinsed), 1 t each of oregano, thyme and rosemary. The best part: we have a little leftover for lunch today- I canโ€™t wait to top it with some eggs.

More recent eats:

salad12

Salad beast with greens, a chopped apple, turkey, brown rice toast cut into croutons, goat cheese, raspberry vinaigrette

and saving a rhino with my sweet tooth ๐Ÿ˜‰

chocolate

Whenever Iโ€™m at the grocery store, I grab whatever โ€œfunโ€ chocolate they have at the register- that was the winner yesterday.

We donโ€™t have anything planned today, so the little one are I are going to hang out, venture to Target for some things weโ€™re out of, and see where the afternoon takes us.

Hope you have a happy Thursday <3

xoxo

Gina

Something to do: A Winter Shape Up workout! A fun way to switch things up at the gym and this weekโ€™s is a 2-parter ๐Ÿ˜‰

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43 Comments

  1. Kilee on February 9, 2012 at 12:34 pm

    Sounds like the prefect day! I love having dinner “made” in the crock pot. I’ve been meaning to pick up a rice cooker too.

  2. Jessica @ Dairy Free Betty on February 9, 2012 at 12:43 pm

    Mmmmm I’ve never seen that Endangered Species before it looks awesome!!

    I love my rice cooker too!!

  3. Corrie Anne on February 9, 2012 at 12:43 pm

    Cute Rhino chocolate! ๐Ÿ™‚ I love any relaxed day that includes Target!! Enjoy!

  4. Ali @ Peaches and Football on February 9, 2012 at 12:44 pm

    Sounds like a great day! I love slow-cooking more and more every time I do it. The chocolate looks like a winner to me too. Let us know what you thought of it! Yum!

  5. Mollie on February 9, 2012 at 12:49 pm

    Wait!! You put the veggies in the rice cooker too?? With the quinoa and liquids?? I will be so excited if this is the case-I’ve been making a huge portion of quinoa in my rice cooker to have for the week and would just love it if I could combine it with some veggies in the cooker! Thanks Gina!

    • Fitnessista on February 9, 2012 at 9:22 pm

      yep, put everything in there!

  6. Racheal @ Running with Racheal on February 9, 2012 at 12:50 pm

    I have never thought of putting veggies WITH the rice/grain in the rice cooker. DUH!?! Thanks for the idea….

    Have fun at Target. Just try leaving there without spending $100. I never seem to be able to…

    • Fitnessista on February 9, 2012 at 9:21 pm

      didn’t happen. haha

  7. Catherine on February 9, 2012 at 12:51 pm

    Question: what is the advantage of a rice cooker over a slow cooker? I don’t even know the difference, but I do know that you’re not supposed to make rice in the slow cooker. Why is that?

    Your dinner looks delish and I want to try!

    • Fitnessista on February 9, 2012 at 9:21 pm

      i’m not sure but my guess would be that the slow cooker gradually brings the temp up to a higher temp and the rice cooker brings it up to a high temp quickly, and then to a simmer. grains always burn in the slow cooker for me.

  8. Emily @ Glitz Glam Granola on February 9, 2012 at 12:52 pm

    Ohh I think I really need either a rice cooker or a slow cooker!! They both sound like they make cooking so much easier especially when things are so busy (which they always are!) And I love your salad bowls, those are so cute! That chocolate looks great too! I just picked up a dark chocolate with toffee from TJs last night!

  9. Jen @ Whittle My Middle on February 9, 2012 at 12:59 pm

    I’ve never thought of adding more than just rice and grains to the rice cooker. I will give this a try!

  10. Kaitlyn @ Keeping up with Kaitlyn on February 9, 2012 at 1:01 pm

    Your food always looks amazing! It makes me wish I lived in a apartment/house instead of a dorm room so I could make my own food!!

    PS any day with a trip to target involved is a good day to me! haha

  11. kaila @ healthyhelper on February 9, 2012 at 1:04 pm

    That salad looks yummy! Like a healthier version of a chefs salad!! Delish!

  12. Krystina on February 9, 2012 at 1:07 pm

    Endangered Species is my favorite chocolate brand. ๐Ÿ˜€

  13. Angela @ Eat Spin Run Repeat on February 9, 2012 at 1:25 pm

    Ahh I need to get a rice cooker. You and Kath have got me convinced!! Have a fun time at Tarjayyy! ๐Ÿ™‚

  14. Natasha on February 9, 2012 at 1:34 pm

    Love my rice cooker too. Mine comes with a small steamer basket that sits on top and you can steam a piece of salmon or whatever at the same time! <3!!! Have a fun day ๐Ÿ™‚

  15. Jordan@almondjay on February 9, 2012 at 1:44 pm

    That is such a great idea to throw all of those things into the rice cooker. I can’t wait to try this!

  16. Stephanie @ Legally Blinde on February 9, 2012 at 1:57 pm

    I did the WSU workout this morning! Can really feel all those lunges ๐Ÿ™‚ I’m kind of sad that I only have one more workout left for the whole WSU – I can’t believe it’s already been 4 weeks! I’m thinking about starting it over again from the beginning like you’ve suggested to make it an 8-week plan.

    PS Your chocolate bar looks soooo good, I’ve got a chocolate craving now!

  17. Kath on February 9, 2012 at 2:10 pm

    I need to start experimenting with more one pot meals like this!

  18. mi-an d. on February 9, 2012 at 2:30 pm

    My sister in law just gave birth on tues to a beautiful baby girl!! Steffi is her name! :)) i got majahh baby fever!!

  19. FitnessLovingMom on February 9, 2012 at 2:32 pm

    This looks so tasty!

  20. natalie @ southern fit foodie on February 9, 2012 at 2:37 pm

    I love endangered species dark chocolate – it is so rich and delicious.

    I don’t have a rice cooker, but I love having dinner ready to go when I walk in the door, so I use my slow cooker at least once a week. What makes it even easier is prepping all my veggies ahead of time (usually on Sunday) and then throwing them in the crockpot before heading off to work.

    Livi is beautiful!

    • Fitnessista on February 9, 2012 at 9:18 pm

      thank you!

  21. Ali on February 9, 2012 at 2:52 pm

    Looks yummy! Thank goodness for the rice cooker/slow cooker I think.

  22. kerry on February 9, 2012 at 4:25 pm

    im not a big fan of salads but that one does look delicious!! yum!

  23. Stellina @ My Yogurt Addiction on February 9, 2012 at 4:28 pm

    You have officially sparked my craving for waffles!

  24. Jan C. on February 9, 2012 at 4:31 pm

    What kind and size of rice cooker do you have? Thanks!!

    • Fitnessista on February 9, 2012 at 9:10 pm

      i have no idea :/ it’s from costco, if that helps at all-seems to be a standard size

  25. Kelly @ Vegolosophy on February 9, 2012 at 4:37 pm

    I keeping seeing waffles everywhere and makes me want one! YUM! I really want to get a waffle-maker and whip-up some home made ones!

  26. Talia @ Bite Size Wellness on February 9, 2012 at 4:51 pm

    Your quinoa looks amazing. Have a bite of that chocolate today since it is Chocolate Day!

    • Fitnessista on February 9, 2012 at 9:13 pm

      that one is gone but i’ve been celebrating w an almond chocolate bar ๐Ÿ˜‰

  27. Karlee on February 9, 2012 at 6:12 pm

    i LOVE that chocolate! it’s so good. anddd that rice cooker concoction sounds like a winner. mmmm. i need a rice cooker.

  28. Jen @familyfoodfitnessandfun on February 9, 2012 at 6:17 pm

    That rice cooker dish looks amazing! I’ve never thought to put veggies in their too…but why not?! I’ll have to try that…thanks ๐Ÿ™‚

  29. Courtney on February 9, 2012 at 6:18 pm

    That chocolate is so good! YUM. ๐Ÿ™‚

  30. Kerry @ Totes My Oats on February 9, 2012 at 7:58 pm

    I am totally making that quinoa! It sounds delish!

  31. Michelle (Better with Berries) on February 9, 2012 at 8:10 pm

    Ohhh, dark chocolate with hazelnut toffee sounds amazing!!

    I don’t own a rice cooker but it seems pretty handy. Maybe when I get married it can go on the registry ๐Ÿ™‚

  32. britt on February 9, 2012 at 9:40 pm

    that chocolate sounds amazing right about now!

    i have been seeing a lot of rice cookers in the blog world lately. i’m thinking i need to hop on that bandwagon because everything always looks simple and yummy when it’s cooked in there.

    oh, and i’m way jealous of your target run. i recently moved away from a big city to a target-less town and i miss it so.

  33. Katie on February 10, 2012 at 12:36 am

    Your salad looked super yummy! The dark chocolate with toffee sounded really good, too! Bahh, I’m drooling right now just thinking about it! ๐Ÿ˜›

  34. Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga on February 10, 2012 at 1:34 am

    I feel like I’m the only person without a rice cooker! I don’t even love rice but I do love appliances..but I really don’t need any more ๐Ÿ™‚

  35. Moni'sMeals on February 10, 2012 at 5:10 pm

    I love that you are so “fearless” with that rice maker! I still do not have one, but you are motivating me to get one. ๐Ÿ™‚

    • Fitnessista on February 10, 2012 at 6:49 pm

      don’t be afraid!

  36. 13 {Other} Things You Can Make in a Rice Cooker on September 11, 2024 at 9:25 pm

    […] What better place to start than with quinoa? This is one of our healthiest and tastiest favorites, and an easy rice cooker meal. Photo courtesy of fitnessista.com. […]

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