Comfort (& Quinoa)

We had a great time in Texas, but we were so so SO glad to be home. There's just something about your bed, your kitchen, your coffee mug. It's just so comforting. To make it even better, we finally put up our Christmas tree! I'm pretty much done Christmas shopping and my goal is to have all the presents wrapped by the end of next week. I can do it.... right? Anyways, it was so comforting to be home and to have our cozy Christmas tree up that classic comfort food was definitely in order Friday night.

But before we get to the food, let's clear something up. This is NOT a casserole. That's right, you heard me. You may think to yourself that it looks an awful lot like a casserole. And it's even baked in a casserole dish. But it is NOT a casserole. Casseroles are disgusting conglomerations of random things that no one ever wants to eat. Which is why this is a "Cheesy Bake". So much better, right? Spread the word-- casseroles are on the way out. Make room for the new Cheesy Bakes!

Cheesy Broccoli Quinoa Bake (adapted from Eating Well, Living Thin)

- 1 cup Quinoa
- 1 Head of Broccoli
- 1 Small Onion
- 1 Large Carrot
- 1 Can "Cream of" Soup
- 1/3 Cup Plain Greek Yogurt
- 2 Tbsp Milk
- 1 Tbsp Crushed Garlic
- 2 tsp Thyme
- 2 tsp Red Pepper Flakes
- 1 Cup + 1/4 Cup Shredded Cheese
- Salt and Pepper to taste

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Cook the quinoa according to package directions. While the quinoa is cooking, cut the head of broccoli into florets. You don't need to be exact. Leave some stems on, some florets can be bigger than others... we'll fix all that later. Blanch the florets in salted water until tender (about 5 mins).

Dice the onions and carrots and saute with garlic until onions are translucent. Cut the cooked broccoli florets into small pieces. Once you start running a knife through them, they should just fall apart into little bits. Mix the next 6 ingredients plus the 1 cup of cheese in a large mixing bowl.

Note: I used cream of potato soup because that's what was in the cupboard. But feel free to use cream of broccoli, cream of mushroom... the world is your oyster. I'm usually against processed food and canned soup (SO much sodium). If we weren't so pressed for time, I would have attempted the recipe for homemade "cream of" soup included in the original recipe referenced above. Also, I used half cheddar cheese, half swiss cheese in this recipe. But again... we're all about whatever's in the fridge at our house.

Combine quinoa and vegetables with the wet ingredients in the mixing bowl. Pour into a casserole dish and spread evenly. Use the remaining 1/4 cup of cheese to sprinkle over the top. Bubbly, cheesy toppings are always bueno. Place the dish in the oven for 20 minutes or until cheese is bubbly and quinoa mixture is heated through. Casa Wright recommends enjoying this recipe while sporting your favorite Snuggie for maximum comfort-ness.

Here's hoping all the sweet magic of Christmas gladdens your heart while we wait to welcome the Lord! A very Merry Christmas from our house to yours. Cheers!