Nothing says I love you like a bouquet of flowers just after you’ve told your girlfriend she is no longer allowed to bring liquids into your car.
Kevin was away on business this past week.
He drives a much nicer car than me. One could argue that the only reason his is better is because he takes care of his. The same cannot be said for me… but that’s beside the point.
So naturally, while he was away, I used his car.
We all know how much I love smoothies in the morning, and driving in his car was no exception to alter my morning routine.
Maybe I got a bit too excited when I reached for the cup in the cup holder.Whatever it was, it didn’t end well.
There was smoothie everywhere – in between the seat, down the seat belt buckle, all over my jeans…. everywhere.
If you know me, you know I’m extremely detail oriented in some aspects of my life [alphabetized movie collection, impeccably organized closets] but dreadfully horrible in others [cleaning 2 cups of spilled smoothie from the interior of a vehicle]
Needless to say, on Kevin’s drive home last night he found the 1.75 cups of smoothie I missed while cleaning up.
At least I got flowers out of it, right?
And to make up for it, I made him breakfast. A couple more winners like this and I’ll be back to drinking in his car in no time…
Pumpkin Pie Quinoa Bake
Vegan, Gluten Free, Dairy free
This sweet and crunchy topped quinoa bake is the perfect way to start off the weekend. And heck, who doesn’t like the taste of dessert for breakfast?
Ingredients
- 2/3 cup almond milk – I used Almond Breeze Unsweetened Original
- 1/4 cup pumpkin puree
- 1/4 cup quinoa – red or white would work
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 tsp coconut oil
- 1/4 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- pinch ground nutmeg
- pinch ground ginger
Topping:
- 1 tbsp coconut oil, melted
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- 1.5 tbsp finely ground almond flour – I used JK Gourmet
- 1/4 cup pecans, chopped
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350F and lightly oil a 4 cup casserole dish. [I used a small dab of coconut oil]
- In a small bowl combine all ingredients, minus the topping. Stir until fully mixed, then pour into prepared casserole dish.
- Cover and cook for 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile, combine all topping ingredients. After the 30 minutes are up, remove casserole from oven and sprinkle topping over top of the casserole.
- Return to the oven and cook uncovered for another 10-15 minutes, or until golden. [Mine was ready in 12 minutes]
Makes 2 servings.
Do you take care of your car by cleaning it on a regular basis, never miss an oil change?
Or do you live on the wild side and leave the cleaning and maintenance for a ‘rainy day’?
Hello, welcome to my healthy gluten-free 
{ 60 comments… read them below or add one }
Mmmm, pumpkin – right up my alley! Looks delish!
LOL!! I hope Kevin forgives you!
That bowl looks fantabulous! And delicious!
This looks amazing! What a terrific idea for quinoa in the morning, although this looks like it could just as easily be dessert.
Never miss an oil change, never clean the car. She runs good, she just doesn’t look nice
That bake looks awesome. I’ll have to see if I can trick Neil into trying it sometime!
Well that looks yummy and very healthy.
Oops!
I’m totally OCD when it comes to organization and cleanliness but w 4 kids running around I’ve had to let some things slide so I won’t loose my sanity or kill someone! 
I have to remind myself that cleaning w young children in the house is like shovling the driveway during a snow storm! my poor car is last on my ‘to clean’ list.
This breafast is going to be a frequent one in our house now! I love pumpkin & quinoa! Great topping too.
Thx for another great recipe!
I can imagine what it’s like in your home with 4 kids. Cleaning would be the last thing on my mind!
Hahaha!! This totally cracked me up! I am sure that he will be forgiving you very soon, and those flowers are gorgeous!
Love, love, love this!!! We made a breakfast quinoa, but it was more vanilla-like, I love the pumpkin in this one.
You and I sound very similar, and so does your man and mine! My husband would also be the one to find the 1.75% of the smoothies left in the car! And I would probably have thought that I had done a pretty good job cleaning it up too!
Keep up the good cooking… you’ll soon get the car back!!
OMG! this looks wonderful!
I love seeing more quinoa recipes on the blogsphere. I love quinoa but I have never made it for breakfast and this looks like an amazing breakfast…and an amazing way to treat my hubby when I do something wrong
Thanks for the double tip!
wait, why did he send you flowers when he found the spilled smoothie?
haha I guess so I wouldn’t be too upset when he broke the news to me? Any excuse to give me flowers, and I’m okay with it!
I just got my very first vehicle this fall. It’s a rough and tumble Jeep Patriot and it’s fairly new. Lucky for me, it even has heated seats! (Necessary for the cold Canadian winter).
However, since it is still new and it’s freezing out, the containers of Time Hortons, reciepts, and various kinds of candy are littering the inside. Perhaps I will clean it in the summertime.
I do have rules for the Jeep, though: No food, No drink, No pets on the seats. However, my dog manages to find her way onto the seats and my Mom drinks coffee in the front seat. Oh well. Can’t win ‘em all, eh?
Congrats on the new vehicle, and good for you for setting rules. I totally know what you mean about the heated seats. We’re in Alberta [where are you?] – Kevin’s car has heated seats, mine doesn’t. In fact, my heat is broken. It only comes out warm and from the windshield vents
brrrr…
YUM! Ah, this looks so good–I can’t wait to try it! I’m a total clean freak when it comes to my house, but with my car? Eh, not so much! I keep it clean but I don’t clean it (or change the oil) nearly as often as I should! Luckily, I just got the oil changed on Friday–so I’m good for a while.
P.S. Spilling a smoothie in the car would be the worst thing every–and it’s something I would totally do!
I have just started eating quinoa and didn’t know it could be made sweet… nice!
Let me know how you like it, Eizel! Quinoa is very, very versatile.
You had me at crunchy topped. And a wheat free crunchy top? Made of almond flour that doesn’t burn as it cooks? With no refined sugar? It’s like you can read my mind!
this is so so cool!!! i LOVE quinoa in it- i would have never though of quinoa for breakki!
I know what im making for breakfast
Pumpkin makes everything better!
That reminds me… I need to get my car cleaned so they can get the smoothie off the interior of my driver’s side door…
Leanne – This looks amazing. I love quinoa and pumpkin. I can’t wait to try it. And I’m on the rainy-day side of things. We’re an outdoor-active couple with two dogs. It’s literally impossible to have a clean car for longer than a week. Between the dirty kayak oars and muddy paws… what’s the point??
I recently started eating quinoa for breakfast and am such a big fan of it – so much better than oatmeal. I will definetly be giving this a try, looks delicious!
Dang! I am sorry to hear about your smoothie “mess up” and I am also sorry to hear that that Kevin had a messy car
I understand dealing with a man who loves his car…..sigh
What a beautiful breakfast!! I am a HUGE quinoa fan and need to try this!!
xxoo
Mmm… quinoa, pumpkin, coconut oil – what a great, healthy combination! I have yet to try quinoa for breakfast, though I’ve wanted to for a while – this looks like a great recipe.
I love this idea, seems so simple and mouthwatering!
I’ve been meaning to try quinoa for breakfast. I think this will have to be the first way I try it in the AM. This looks delicious!
So glad I found your blog! it’s full of great recipes and lots of useful information – thanks!
This recipes looks delicious! I’m a huge fan of pumpkins in sweet and savoury dishes – and quinoa is one of my favourite seeds/grains (not sure which one). I will have to try it out.
Ohhh you put together 2 of my favorite things, pumpkin pie and quinoa and I sort of just love you for that!!!!
I saw this in my 225 emails in my FoodBuzz inbox (not kidding) and this was the first one I clicked on!
Good for you for only having 225 in your inbox, that’s so much better than mine! I can’t keep up with all the amazing recipes. I guess that’s a really good problem to have!
If you give the pumpkin quinoa a go you’ll have to let me know how you like it. It’s quickly become one of my favorites!
Wow, pumpkin and quinoa!! It sounds awesome. I am definitely trying this one soon!
I will be making this quinoa this weekend. However, I have a question. Lately I see coconut milk and coconut oil being used often, many times in more healthful recipes. I have always thought that anything with the word “coconut” is bad for you and to stay away from it. In a reading labels workshop I remember it being a big no-no. Has the information changed? What are the advantages of coconut oil? Is it for taste? Why not canola?
Thanks for your answer.
Hi Magretta, I just wrote a post about the benefits of coconut a week or so ago, http://www.healthfulpursuit.com/2011/03/coconut-muffin-tops/
Coconut is much healthier than canola as it’s heat stable, increases your bodies ability to burn calories, and wont turn rancid when it’s heated (as canola oil does). Check out that post and let me know if you have any questions. Good luck with the quinoa bake!
Hi Leanne,
This looks SO yummy! Quick question: Is there any good substitute for the coconut oil? I have everything else on hand, but not that. I have olive, canola and almond oil. Would the almond work?
Thanks!
Hi Shari, almond oil would be really nice in this. I’d say go with almond oil! Let me know how you like it
This looks awesome! Been browsing your blog all morning, lots of recipes to try!
I’m running my first full marathon this weekend, eep! So I’m definitely going to make that runner’s cookie. Good luck with your training!
This post made me smile – I, too, alphabetize movies (and CDs) (is there any other way, really?) and have a perfectly organized closet…
Thanks!
I made this today and what a treat! It was still really wet after 30 minutes so I continued baking for another 15 minutes, then added the topping and baked an additional 15 minutes. I didn’t have almond flour so I ground oats and used hazelnuts, My topping did not look as pretty as yours but it tasted wonderful. I used stevia extract and 1/2 teaspoon of honey but I’ll leave the stevia out next time. It was just sweeter than I like.
Your site is lovely. Very glad I stumbled on it. Will be trying many more of your recipes so thanks for sharing.
Thanks for letting me know the changes you made! I’ll have to give the hazelnut topping a try, that sounds delicious!
I’ve been wanting to try quinoa, and this recipe has motivated me! Since I’ve never used (or tasted!) quinoa before…do I cook it first for this recipe?
Also, I couldn’t find almond flour. Can I make it by using my blender? Can I sub. another type of flour?
I’m not vegan, just trying to eat healthier.
Thanks for all the inspiration!
Hi Gail! Please let me know what you think about quinoa! You don’t have to cook it before hand. You can crush almonds yourself for this recipe, no problem.
This sounds and looks great! I don’t have pumpkin puree but I do have sweet potatoes I can use so I’m going to try it with that.
Linking to this one too tomorrow – LOVE!
I’m so honored! Can’t wait to see it up
This looks wonderful, I am going to try this weekend. I am so inspired by your site, so many fabulous recipes to try out. I’ve got to try your pumpkin smoothie as well!
I’m all over this one, I’m such a quinoa nut!
I’ll let you know how it turns out =)
xoxo
Jen
I think that I’ve printed out everyone of your recipes! I went grocery shopping to get the things that I need to make my week’s worth of meals that are primarily coming for your blog. I was wondering though, can I supplement TRUVIA for the maple syrup and if so how much would be equivalent to your measurements. Thank you for your help! And thank you for sharing your inspiring story and scrumptious recipes!
Hi Andrea
great to hear that you like my recipes! What’s on the plan for this week? It really depends on the recipe when replacing the stevia with maple syrup. If it’s a baked good, it could get a bit tough. If it’s something like a smoothie, stir-fry, or grain dish, you should be okay.
Thanks! I have quite a few of your breakfast dishes planned out…they sound delish! I made a protein smoothie and added oats into like you did in one of yours. I also had oatmeal with some pureed pumpkin and a little FAGE greek yogurt. So yummy! I have to say, I’m a little hesitant when it come to grains…I don’t think my belly likes them very much. I haven’t had them in a while and thought I’d give them a try again. (TMI alert) I get very bloated, distended, gassy, constipated and retain water. And then I end up having severe cravings for more and sweet stuff. It’s a vicious cycle. I’ve found that it’s better if I just stay away…but I wanted to try again. I did have a basic allergy test done at my doctors and everything came back in normal range. I think it has everything to do with the oral contraceptive that I’m taking. I was fine before I started…but bc my mother passed of ovarian cancer and my grandmother of breast cancer…my doctor stongly feels that I should be on it as a preventative…keeps the ovaries quiet. I do take a liquid Magnesium Citrate supplement and a mulitvitamin. I’ve tried all of the probiotics and prebiotics and it seemed to make me more constipated. Magnesium has been the only thing that has helped and of course limiting starchy carbs and grains. When I stumbled upon your blog I was intrigued by your story bc it sounded so similar to mine…except w/o the pain. I read how you where creating your meals and thought that I should give it another go…but I struggle with it. I wish that I could go off the pill, but I’m not sure if it’s worth the risk. So in the meantime, I continue to try and find balance and what works for my belly & digstive system. I’d like to find a good meal plan routine that works for me. There’s so much out there and am overwhelmed. I appreciate your blog and I look forward to reading what you post and your new recipes!
Hi Leanne, found you through Becky. This sounds so great, I’ve been trying to find something tasty enough to get my daughter to revisit quinoa. She eat meat, but only occasionally and I’m always looking for recipes to get a little more protein in her.
-Gina-
Hi Gina, thanks for stopping by and saying hi
Becky is fabulous, isn’t she? Have you tried giving your daughter fruit shakes made with pea protein, hemp protein, chia seeds, or sprouted rice protein? Usually kids have pretty good reactions to those proteins, provided your daughter isn’t allergic to peants. If she is, pea protein isn’t recommended when they’re under 5 or 6. Protein can be a tricky one for the little ones. I’ve heard a lot of moms have success with my quinoa flake bakes: http://www.healthfulpursuit.com/2011/04/apple-quinoa-flake-bake/ they replace 1/4 cup of the fruit puree with 1 egg. Best of luck!
I made this recipe and it tasted great. loved the almond flour touch. my only thing is the quinoa took forever to cook and solidify in the oven. (more than 2 hours). next time i have to cook the quinoa beforehand, it’s just too long – do you have a suggestion on how much milk to add with cooked quinoa (since it won’t absorb it all like the uncooked does?).
I’m sorry it didn’t work for you Heather, did you keep it covered? Maybe the lid wasn’t tight enough? If you’re going to pre-cook maybe just 1/4-1/2 cup of milk would do the trick
Heather – I just made it this morning, & used the ‘tip’ I learned with oven baking rice – bring some of the liquid to a boil first! I used! I used 1/4 C boiling water & 1/4 C chocolate hemp milk (yum!) … It turned out perfect (I covered for the first 1/2 hour, & then uncovered, as per inst) ….
I mixed my ‘dry ingredients’ first, & added ~ 1/4 C shredded coconut, some cacao nibs, & topped with a blend of toasted sunflower seeds/shredded coconut & the oil (skipped the extra maple syrup – did add some to the bake)
Leanne, I also the way you think/cook – SO much like what I do!!
Sounds really good! I like the changes you’ve made!
I have tried this recipe and we love it!! I also love the raw blonde nanaimo bars. I plan on making more of your recipes! Thanks a bunch for doing this.
Oh I’m so glad you like them, Mandy!
Oh my gosh! You cook like me – Whoot Whoot!
I adore quinoa, and just got a bag of sweet potatoes at the Farmers Market (gopher nibbled, so FREE from the farmer!!) …. I went GF 2 years ago w/ my daughter & her family. I babysit her 5 month old, & make her lunch most weekdays – this will be fun to share with her (w sweet p or squash)
I’m not great about keeping the car clean try to remember to be “timely” w/ oil changes, etc …
Last year my daughter & hubby passed me their old car when they inherited one. My granddaughters called “the stinky car” since they had spilled SEVERAL drinks in “mama’s
… I scrubbed, aired, spritzed w/ essential oils, aired, burned incense, and now its fine!
Their dad’s car was always cleaned out, and he’d tease my daughter “if you CARED about your car”…. but laundry?? Separate Farms from lights?? Doesn’t everyone have pink T-shirts and undies??
Separate DARKS from lights! Silly spell check!
I just made this, and it was supposed to be for bfast tomorrow. I stuck a spoon in it to try and, and stuck it in again, and again. I may as well just eat it for dinner tonight. This is very yummy! Thank you so much for sharing!
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