[sunnykerr]

The shrimp-quinoa salad is, unsuprisingly, made up of shrimp and quinoa.

It also has bell peppers, celery and oranges in it.

I don't know, those are all things I like separately, and usually that means I'll like them together as well.

Last week, I loved my quasi-Waldorf salad, so I would imagine this will more of the same.

[There You'll Be]

Oh that's so good that you loved it.

Your salad that is.

What is quinoa?

[sunnykerr]

Quinoa is the seed of a grain plant.

According to the Wikipedia page, it's not a proper cereal because you eat the seed and not what it eventually grows into, like you do with wheat, for instance.

Apparently, it's very similar to buckwheat, only I've never had buckwheat as far as I know, so I can't tell you much about that.

It's small and round and you put it in boiling water, which is absorbs.

It doesn't get bigger so much as much more tender and edible.

The consistency is kinda like rice, only again it's small and round, so the texture is more subtle.

It doesn't taste like much either, but it does take on the taste of whatever you put on it (like salad dressing and such).

You can eat it cold or hot.

And it's very high in protein for a grain.

[There You'll Be]

Thank you SO much Sunny!

It sounds like something I'd really like in a meal with other ingredients.

I've never had buckwheat either.

Hm, I need more protein in my diet for sure.

[sunnykerr]

Quinoa's not cheap up here.

It's getting better and I'm finding more options and sources, making it more affordable.

But I don't have quinoa around all that often.

It certainly can be used for all kinds of meals.

Usually, I add it to my pasta salad and such.

With the shrimp, though, I really enjoyed the overall taste.

Like I said, quinoa doesn't taste like much, but with the shrimp, it had a subtle taste I really enjoyed.

[There You'll Be]

I didn't know it was expensive.

I've never seen it, and I wouldn't know where to look for it in a grocery store.

Or is it only sold in specialty shops?

I am glad you're finding some deals.

And yay on you really liking it in the shrimp flavored meal.

[sunnykerr]

Quinoa's not caviar expensive, but it's more expensive than rice or couscous.

So it's just not something that I eat as much as I will once it gets more affordable.

It's available in grocery stores, but there are less options in terms of brands, which is probably why it is expensive.

In the meantime, quinoa is one of those items where I'm always looking for sales and comparing prices.

One of the larger grocery chains around here has the most affordable quinoa, but I need a ride to get there.

So I've just learned to use strategy.

[There You'll Be]

Strategy is an excellent thing.

I will have to check and see if our small stores even carry it.

We have one specialty shop in town, and they might, but they are super expensive.

So I'll use your strategy, and check around for the best price.

That is if any of them carry it.

[sunnykerr]

You might want to check out Walmart, too.

Don't they carry groceries as well?

But, yeah, strategy is a huge part of how I organize my food, from the grocery shopping part all the way through cooking and eating.

It's the only way I've been able to figure out how to always have something to eat.

And it's also a good way, for me anyway, to eat mostly healthfully.

[There You'll Be]

Our Walmart has 5 short aisles of food stuff.

That includes soda and candy, chips, and then some basic real food.

It's not a Super Walmart, with the grocery side.

We have to go to Hendersonville for that.

That's awesome that you figured it out.

I suck at it.

Seriously. I don't eat well, or often.

When I know I need to.

[sunnykerr]

Well, maybe no quinoa for you.

At least, not right now.

It's okay.

You can eat whatever you want, really.

And I'm not saying that I get miracles done here.

I'm just trying to make good choices for myself.

Because I see what a difference it makes for me.

I'm certainly not always successful.

I'm trying, that's all.

[There You'll Be]

See, that's what I lack.

Trying.

I haven't really tried.

I will get a good, healthy meal once in a while, but never really try.

[sunnykerr]

The result is the same, I think.

I don't eat as healthfully as I should either.

But I try.

Hence the long mid-posting absence tonight.

I finally got down to business and made that salmon "shepherd's pie" with a middle layer of squash, leeks, carrots, celeriac, celery, onions and mushroom.

It took an age.

That's another reason why I don't cook as much as I should.

Even with my "drop everything into the pot and go" approach, it still takes an age.

But I had to do it tonight.

Tomorrow's garbage day and I didn't want those vegetable remnants to hang around for a week, you know?

[There You'll Be]

I wondered if you got a call or something.

Now I know.

Cooking does take a while.

You have to let me know how it is.

I definitely get not wanting the veggie remains sticking around another week.

Well, do they come once a week there, too, for garbage pick up?

[sunnykerr]

Yeah, garbage pick-up is once a week.

Except for dangerous products or big items (like furniture), which are picked up once a month.

The rest of the cooking will wait till at least Friday night or the weekend.

We'll see what I manage to do, but the ball is officially rolling here.