{"id":13728,"date":"2013-09-20T06:40:12","date_gmt":"2013-09-20T13:40:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/shescookin.com\/?p=13728"},"modified":"2013-09-20T06:42:33","modified_gmt":"2013-09-20T13:42:33","slug":"winning-quinoa-recipes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shescookin.com\/winning-quinoa-recipes\/","title":{"rendered":"Winning Quinoa Recipes"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Black<\/a><\/p>\n

As a big fan of quinoa and an advocate of sustainability, fair trade and supporting local farmers, I wanted to take this opportunity to share with you the winners of Alter Eco’s Quinoa Recipe Contest. To celebrate the International Year of Quinoa<\/a> (who knew!), Alter Eco<\/a>\u00a0invited aspiring chefs from across the country to share their most delicious and inventive quinoa recipes for a chance to win a trip for two to Napa Valley.\u00a0 Winners were selected by a panel of Alter Eco staff in conjunction with quinoa cooking experts Patricia Green and Carolyn Hemming, authors of Quinoa 365<\/i> and Quinoa Revolution<\/i>.<\/p>\n

\"Quinoa<\/a><\/p>\n

The contest grand prize winner, Merry Graham from Newhall, CA, created an Indian Inspired Quinoa Street Taco with Fresh Fig Salsa<\/strong>, a spicy and unique recipe that truly showcased the versatility of quinoa.\u00a0 For taking the top prize, Merry wins an all expenses paid trip for two to attend the Culinary Institute of America\u2019s gala \u2013 \u201cIngredients for Impact\u201d on October 6, 2013, where event caterers will whip up her winning recipe for the crowd.<\/p>\n

Four runners-up won a year of Alter Eco\u2019s high quality royal quinoa – I happen to know one of them: Erika Kerekes of Santa Monica, CA who pens the blog In Erika’s Kitchen<\/a> and is co-founder of Food Bloggers Los Angeles – a wonderful community of \u00a0food bloggers which has grown into an organization that meets once a month for fun, friendship, and sharing food and information on the every-evolving blogging and social media landscape. Congratulations Erika! I’ll be trying your Salmon Quinoa Cakes with Caper Dill Sauce<\/strong> soon \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

\"Salmon<\/a><\/p>\n

The other three semi-finalist recipes are: Thai Quinoa & Crab Salad<\/strong> with Yuzu Vinaigrette by Edwina Gadsby (Hayden, ID):<\/p>\n

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Honey-Lime Quinoa with Toasted Pumpkin Seed<\/strong>s by Johanna Shapiro (San Francisco, CA):<\/p>\n

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\nand Pearl Quinoa Banana Bread Pudding<\/strong> by Jerilyn Korver (Sherman Oaks, CA).<\/p>\n

Alter Eco<\/b> shared the Grand Prize winning recipe with me and I’m excited to be able to share it with you. This delightfully unique recipe for street tacos brings the satisfying crunchiness along with all the nutritional benefits of quinoa – a complete protein plus 3 grams of fiber per 1\/4 cup – flavored with green tea,exotic Indian spices and savory fig sauce.<\/p>\n

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