And while the lentils and quinoa are cooking, finely slice or chop the olives and spring onions (depending on your preference - I like to cut them down the middle before slicing them, as I don't like big chunks of onion), and chop up the fresh herbs
While the quinoa is cooking. then I kept the tempo up by making a batch of my raw cacao Anzacs, Quirky Cooking's chicken stock paste & creamy brown rice & chicken soup (which is a family favourite), plus stewed rhubarb, raspberries and apple ready for breakfast in the morning
Cook the quinoa flakes as per the instructions on the packet and set it aside to cool. quinoa. These Thermomix Mini Carrot and Walnut Cakes make a great snack for the whole family and are freezer friendly too
quinoa, rinsed. Place quinoa and rice into enough water to cover and soak over night. Place quinoa, rice, water, vanilla and salt into TM bowl and cook 20 min/100°C/Reverse/speed 1. Add milk and cook a further 8 min/90°C/Reverse/speed 1. Add milk and cook a further 8 min/90°C/Reverse/speed 1
Spread them thin and cook them until just cooked, and they'll wrap around a filling. Instead, cover quinoa in water and leave overnight, strain in the morning and add quinoa to the Thermomix bowl with the chia, salt and water
Also, at times, my methods may be a little cavalier, because I'm cooking for my family and friends, just like you are - and sometimes it's easier to illustrate them, than to describe each manoeuvre in minute detail (for both of us, trust me
If you are on the fence about getting a thermal cooker (and it doesn't have to be a Thermomix, there are a number of other brands available) and have some other questions please let me know either in the comments below or shoot me off an email
Until tender but not overcooked. Place quinoa in thermoserver. When ready to cook the chicken, I placed the it on baking paper in the Varoma and with 1lt of water in the bowl I cook it for 60 minutes on Speed 3. You can cook the quinoa in the basket for the first 20 minutes of this. Only use 800g of water but then top up with boiling water when quinoa is finished. Set the timer for 20 minutes then reset for a further 40 minutes to avoid over cooking the quinoa. I then cooked the chicken in the oven at 180deg for approx. Quinoa, Carrot and Cumin Salad12 baby carrots, trimmed400g can chickpeas, drained60ml olive oil2 tbs lemon juice1 cup quinoa30g pine nuts, toastedSalt and pepper to tasteRinse your quinoa and add to Thermomix basket. Add 800g water to the bowl and cook for 20 minutes at Varoma Speed 4. 40 minutes to avoid over cooking the quinoa. 1 cup quinoa. 20-30 minutes Until tender but not overcooked
The zesty marinade helps keep the chicken tender and moist while cooking, and the subtle flavours infuse the chicken with Middle Eastern flavours, whilst the saffron gives it a delicious golden colour