La quinoa inflada es quinoa que al calentarse se infla como si fuera pochoclo. Fuente de proteínas, la "popquinoa" tiene una textura crujiente y suave. Yo use la que ya viene inflada (se vende en dietéticas) y se me ocurrió hacer una granola SIN TACC para comer como snack o como desayuno con frutas y yogur. Esta granola es super "personalizable" porque podes ponerle las semillas, frutas secas o desecadas que mas te gusten. 


Granola de quinoa inflada
Por Romina Barritta
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Ingredientes:
3 tazas (150 g) de cereal inflado de quinoa (disponible en dietéticas)
¾ taza (100g) de almendras
½ taza (100 g) de pasas de arándano rojo (disponible en dietéticas)
1/3 taza (20g) de coco rallado
2 cucharadas (20 g) de semillas de zapallo
2 cucharadas (20g) de semillas de  chia
½ taza (120 g) de miel
1 cucharada de aceite de canola (u otro aceite de sabor neutro)
 
Preparación:
Precalentar el horno a 180˚C y forrar una fuente para horno con papel manteca. En un bol grande mezclar la quinoa inflada, almendras, arándanos, coco rallado, semillas de zapallo y chia. En un bol pequeño mezclar la miel y el aceite. Añadir a los ingredientes secos y combinar bien. Esparcir la mezcla de granola en la placa reservada y hornear por 15 minutos o hasta que esté dorada. Retirar, dejar enfriar y guardar en frascos o bolsitas herméticas. Servir con frutas y yogur para un rico snack saludable!
 
Información Nutricional:
Por porción (1/2 taza – 35 gramos): Calorías 158; Carbohidratos 22g; Proteínas 4g; Fibra 3g; Grasas totales 7g; Grasas saturadas 1g; Colesterol 0 mg, Sodio: 59mg 

Popped quinoa is quinoa that is toasted until the seeds begin to pop, like popcorn. It's crunchy but not hard. I used one that already comes popped (available at healthy stores), to make this gluten free granola to enjoy with yogurt, fresh fruits or alone as a healthy snack. This granola is 100% customizable as you can use your favorite seeds, dried fruits and nuts. 


Popped quinoa granola
By Romina Barritta de Defranchi

Ingredients:
3 cups (150 g) popped quinoa (available at health stores)
¾ cup almonds (100g)
½ cup dried cranberries (100 g)
1/3 cup coconut flakes (20g)
2 tablespoons pumpkin seeds (20 g)
2 tablespoons chia seeds (20g)
½ cup honey (120 g)
1 tablespoon canola oil
 
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350˚F and line a baking sheet with parchment. In a large bowl mix popped quinoa, almonds, cranberries, coconut flakes, pumpkin and chia seeds. In a small bowl combine honey and oil and toss with previous ingredients until well coated. Spread the granola mixture on the reserved baking sheet. Bake for about 15 min or until golden. Let cool. Store in well sealed jars, bags or containers. Will keep for at least a week. Serve with fruit and yoghurt for a quick breakfast or snack.
 
Nutrition Facts:
Per serving (1/2 cup – 35 grams): Calories 158; Carbohydrates 22g; Protein 4g; Fiber 3g; Total Fat 7g; Saturated Fat 1g; Cholesterol 0 mg, Sodium: 59mg 

Para la merienda del día del niño, Felicitas me pidió galletitas con chips de chocolates. La receta original lleva toneladas de manteca, y aunque no está mal cada tanto comerlas, hice esta receta para chicos (y no tan chicos), con avena, harina integral y miel. Fáciles de hacer, son moderadas en calorías, reducidas en grasas y con alto aporte de fibra.  Lo mas importante, son riquísimas para tomar con la leche!

Cookies con chips de chocolate (avena y miel)
Receta por Romina Barritta de Defranchi

​Rinde: 15 galletas
Tiempo total: 30 minutos   Preparación: 3 min          Inactivo: 15 min          Cocción: 12 min

Ingredientes:
1 taza de avena arrollada molida en procesadora hasta hacerla fina (opcional)
¾ taza de harina integral fina
1 ½ cucharadita de polvo de hornear
¼  cucharadita de sal
2 cucharadas de manteca derretida
1 cucharadita de esencia de vainilla
1 huevo
½ taza de miel
½ taza de chips de chocolate

Preparación:
Precalentar el horno a 200˚C. Colocar en un bowl grande los ingredientes secos: avena, harina integral, polvo para hornear y sal. En otro bowl mezclar la manteca, esencia de vainilla, huevo y miel. Incorporar estos ingredientes húmedos a los secos junto con los chips de chocolate, mezclando apenas hasta combinar (evitar mezclar demasiado para que las galletitas no salgan duras).  Refrigerar 15 minutos en el freezer o 30 minutos en heladera. Luego, tomar una cucharada de pasta, formar una bolita y colocar en placa lubricada. Repetir hasta usar toda la pasta (aproximadamente 15 galletas), dejando un espacio de 2 cm entre unas y otras. Hornear unos 10-12 minutos o hasta que estén doradas. Retirar y dejar enfriar unos minutos sobre la placa.
 
Nota: 
Podes reemplazar los chips de chocolate por arándanos (los rojos cranberries mis preferidos) o uvas pasas. 

Información nutricional:
Por porción (1 galleta, 25 gramos): Calorías 120, Grasas 4g, Grasas Saturadas 2g, Proteínas 2 g, Carbohidratos 21g, Fibra 2 g, Colesterol  15 mg, Sodio 105 mg

Whole wheat, oats & honey chocolate chip cookies

Yield: 15 cookies
Total time: 30minutes   Prep Time: 3 min             Inactive: 15 min                Cooking Time: 12 min
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Ingredients:
1 cup, regular or quick oats, blended in a processor for a fine texture (optional)
¾ cup superfine whole wheat flour
1½ teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
1 egg
2 tablespoon butter, melted
½ cup honey
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ cup chocolate chips

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375˚F. In a large bowl combine dry ingredients: oats, whole wheat flour, baking powder and salt. In a medium bowl, mix egg, butter, honey and vanilla. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and mix until just combined (do not overdue). Let chill in the freezer for 15 minutes or 30 minutes in the refrigerator. Take 1 tablespoon of dough, make a ball and put in a lubricated cookie sheet. Repeat until using all dough (about 15 cookies), placing cookies 1 inch apart from each other. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool on the cookie sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a rack to completely cool.

Note:
Replace chocolate chips with same amount of dried cranberries if desired. 

Nutrition Information:
Por serving (1 cookie, 25grams): Calories 120, Fat 4g, Saturated fat 2g, Protein 2 g, Carbohydrates 21g, Fiber 2 g, Cholesterol  15 mg, Sodium 105 mg

Cansada de las magdalenas que los chicos comen todo el tiempo? Esta es una opcion re facil y rapida para la merienda de chicos y grandes. Es una variante de mi Pan de Banana. Super Saludables (son integrales, con fibra, con grasas vegetales) pero sobre todo son riquísimos! 

Banana Rye Muffins
By Romina Barritta de Defranchi
Serves: 18
Total time: 40 minutes         Prep: 10 minutes      Inactive: 10 minutes       Cook: 20 minutes

Ingredients
1 cup all purpose flour
1 cup rye flour
1 teaspoon baking soda 
1 teaspoon baking powder 
pinch of salt
2 eggs 
3/4 cup light brown sugar 
4 very ripe medium bananas, smashed
1 teaspoon vanilla 
1/2 cup vegetable oil 

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line 3 muffin trays with 18 paper muffin cases. In a medium bowl combine all purpose flour, rye flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. In a large bowl lightly beat eggs, sugar, smashed bananas, vanilla, and oil. Mix in the flour mixture into the large bowl  until just combined. Be careful not to over-mix the batter as this will make the muffins tough.
Fill muffin cases two-thirds full and bake for 20 mins, until risen, and a skewer inserted in the middle comes out clean. Leave the muffins in the tin to cool for a few minutes and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Nutrition Facts: 1 muffin: 170 Calories, 23 g carbohidrates, 3 g protein, 7 g fat, 1.6g fiber, 28 mg cholesterol, 99 mg sodium.

Cooking Notes: You can add 1/2 of nuts or raisins to the batter for an extra crunch and aroma. Can be served with a dark chocolate bath or with dulce de leche spread!
Rye flour can be replaced with whole wheat flour. 

I just finished this crunchy and sweet homemade gift for Christmas. Perfect for my foodie family members! I have recycled my breakfast jam jar and used a nice ribbon for better look. You can mix and match your favorite nuts and mix-ins. It is hard to find cranberries in Argentina, so I made this Holiday mix thanks to my husband who recently travelled to the U.S. He brought me my favorite snack: dried cranberries. If you don´t have them on hand, you can also use raisins, prunes or other dried fruit. I used rice cereal, but also can be replaced by mini pretzels or potato chips. The recipe is sooooo easy that my 3-y.o. daughter helped me out:

Ingredients:                  
1 large egg white
2 cups walnuts, unshelled and raw
1 cup pistachios, unshelled and raw
1 cup peanuts, unshelled and raw
1 ½ cup rice cereal
6 tablespoons light brown sugar
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 ½ teaspoon cinnamon
2 cups dried cranberries
 
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and brush a rimmed baking sheet lightly with vegetable oil. Whisk 1 large egg white in a large bowl until frothy. Add the walnuts, pistachios, peanuts and rice cereal. In a small bowl mix the light brown sugar, salt and cinnamon. Sprinkle the nut mixture with the sugar blend and toss to coat. Spread the nut mixture evenly on the baking sheet and bake, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes; let cool on the baking sheet. Then, add the dried cranberries and toss to combine.  Makes 4 (1lb) jars.

On Sunday evening I thought that I should start my week full of energy, so I made this delicious, slightly sweet bread. Ideal for Holiday baking too! It´s an easy, one bowl, no-mixer batter. Ready in less than 1 hour. Here is the recipe:

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cup flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 cup unsalted butter
3/4 cup superfine sugar
3 eggs, beaten
1 tablespoon lemon zest
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/3 cup pistachios, finally chopped

Lemon glaze: 1/2 cup superfine sugar, 1 tablespoon lemon juice (or as needed for consistency)
1/3 cup pistachios

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Grease and flour an 9x5 inches loaf pan and set aside.
In a large bowl, sift the flour with the baking powder. Mix in the butter, sugar and eggs and stir until ingredients are just combined. Add the lemon zest and juice and pistachios. 
Put the mixture in the pan and cook in prehated oven for 40-45 minutes until firm and golden brown. 
Let cool in the pan for 10 minutes and then transfer to a rack. 
For the glace: mix sugar and lemon juice in a small bowl until obtaining a thick paste. Spoon the glaze over the bread and sprinkle with pistachios. Serves 12. 

I had it with a fresh homemade orange and peach juice!
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