Foodie Detox: Quinoa with Steamed Purple Cauliflower, Green Beans, and Almonds

This week, in repentance for all the weekend birthday festivities, I really wanted to treat my body to some healthy and nutritious foods. I was also (ever so slightly) hungover on Sunday and wanted something easy. Quinoa embodies all things nutrition: the tiny little grain is delicious, versatile, and a perfect protein. I had some cauliflower and green beans I'd picked up from the famer's market on hand, and I thought together they'd make a pretty delicious meal. They did! 

I bought this cauliflower mainly because it was purple, and pretty. Yes, purple is my favorite color. 

So purple! 

This thing is awesome. It cooks rice or quinoa in its bottom while steaming veggies on top (here is one for $25). To cook Quinoa in a rice cooker, rinse it, and then use water and quinoa in a 2:1 ratio. 

Throw your veggies in the steamer and let em' cook. You can also do this by simply placing veggies in a colander over a boiling pot of water and plopping a lid on top of the colander.

When everybody is done cooking (when the rice cooker clicks done or about 20 minutes in a pot), throw them all in a bowl, add some sliced almonds, and mix with some balsamic vinegar and olive oil. Salt and pepper to taste. 

Eat. 

Boyfriend says this dish looks weird ("why is it purple?"). Apparently men can't handle purple in their foods. It didn't taste weird. It tasted delicious - and nutritious! It was also incredibly easy and simple. 

My mantra is generally that the more natural colors are in a meal, the more nutritious it is. Eat colorfully! 

This dish was easy, filling, and inexpensive to make.