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Want a healthier Mexican side dish? Cilantro lime quinoa to the rescue! It’s a fresh take on the classic cilantro lime rice side dish.
Will Quinoa Cook in a Crockpot?
You can cook quinoa in a Crock Pot over the course of three to six hours for a healthy, make-ahead meal.
Serve cooked quinoa as a side dish to meats, soups or stews.
Our cilantro lime rice, a Cafe Rio copycat recipe, is always one of our most viewed recipes. It’s easy and so flavorful and I just realized that it should totally work for quinoa too, so we busted out a little for mango chicken burritos one night and it was a huge hit. In fact, the girls couldn’t even tell the difference between it and the rice and it’s healthier. Pretty much a mom win if you ask me.
I don’t feel like I’ve had many of those lately. In fact, I’ve had a hard time feeling like anything other than a failure as a mom lately. I know that there are things we can’t help and that children are resilient but I also know that I can grow and be better. Being sick while pregnant was hard for more reasons than just the physical. When you’re really sick it suddenly becomes hard to have noise and confusion and that’s just something that comes with children. And talking only made me more sick so communicating with our girls became this big ordeal and I found myself getting so frustrated sometimes.
If they were disagreeing about something or trying to push the rules with me I was just way too short with them. Ugh, even as I type this I feel like a beast. I have been starting my day off earlier than usual to get things done, pray, read my scriptures etc so that I can have the peace I need to start the day off right. It’s definitely helping but it’s still a battle even now. I want them to feel peace in our home and not anger. Gosh dangit, I really thought I’d be a great mom before having kids, then you have them and realize you know nothing and they can make you more crazy or mad than you realized. Thank goodness they also bring you more joy and love than you ever knew existed. Here’s to a better week, and please tell me I’m not the only one that struggles to not get snippy with their kids.
Is Quinoa Healthier Than Rice?
One cup of cooked quinoa has about 40 fewer calories than the same amount of white rice, but the real benefit is in the carbohydrates.
White rice has almost 15 times more grams of carbohydrates, and quinoa provides 5 more grams of fiber and double the protein.
Cilantro Lime Quinoa
Cilantro Lime Quinoa
Ingredients
- 2 Cups Quinoa, rinsed
- 4 Cups Water
- 2 Tablespoons Unsalted Butter
- 2 teaspoons Chicken Bouillon
- 1 Handful Cilantro, chopped
- 1/2 Lime, zested
- 1/2 Lime, juiced
- 1 Can Diced Green Chiles, 4oz
Instructions
- Pour everything in a rice cooker and follow product instructions, or in a pot, heat to a boil and then add the lid and turn down to low for 15 minutes, let stand off the burner for an additional 5 minutes or until tender.2 Cups Quinoa, 4 Cups Water, 2 Tablespoons Unsalted Butter, 2 teaspoons Chicken Bouillon, 1 Handful Cilantro, 1/2 Lime, 1/2 Lime, 1 Can Diced Green Chiles
- remove the lid, fluff with a fork to combine everything and serve immediately.
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Saucy pulled pork just like Cafe Rio!
Holy. Quesadilla. This gooey mix of pork and cheese is my favorite quesadilla ever!
Try it with rice!
You are definitely not the only mother/parent who feels that way! It happens to us all. All we can do is our best, and sometimes we make mistakes. By talking to our kids about things like that, it helps them see we’re human too and models the importance of apologizing when you’ve done something wrong. Kids are very resilient and forgiving. You are a great mom–don’t ever doubt that!
Thank you Arlie! I hope that they do see that.
Boy, I sure hear you! I have felt like a failure of a mom many times myself! It doesn’t help that my almost-13-year-old continually tells me what a bad job I’m doing and how she’s going to be so much of a better mom than me. I told her that I hope she is a better mom than me. I have offered to let her try right now, and she has accepted the challenge to be “Mom for the Day,” but has backed out twice 🙂
Ugh! Isn’t it so hard? And we know, or at least hope that one day they will grow and mature and see you for who you are but in the middle of it it’s so hard! My mom always said that the more they push away the more they are craving your love and attention. I’m trying to keep that in mind and occasionally losing my mind in the process. haha