Hey Everyone,

In the spirit of Earth Day, we thought we'd share a green living, healthy food and wine recipe you can try over the weekend.

Buying seasonal, local food is a boon for the environment for a lot of reasons. Since most food travels many miles to reach your table (1,500 miles, on average), locally sourced food cuts back on the climate-change impacts of transportation. Local food also generally uses less packaging, is more fresh, ultimately tastes better, and comes in more varieties. Hit up a local farm stand near you to purchase the ingredients if possible.

Quinoa Casserole

Ingredients:

• 1 cup quinoa
• 1/4 cup dried currants
• 1/4 cup sunflower seeds
• 2 Tbls olive oil
• 1 cup celery, chopped small
• 2 medium carrots
• 2 small zucchini
• 1 summer squash
• 1 1/2 - 1 3/4 cup boiling water
• Feel free to substitute veggies, or add mushrooms & onions

Spices:

• 1 or 2 bay leaves
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 tsp ground coriander
• 1/2 tsp paprika
• a pinch of cayenne
• 1/2 tsp dried ginger, 
• 1/2 tsp ground cumin
• 1/2 tsp rock salt
• 1/4 cup minced parsley or cilantro
• fresh ground pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Heat olive oil on medium in a large sauté pan or frying pan
2. Chop celery in small pieces
3. Peel and chop carrots in 1/2 inch pieces
4. Chop zucchini and summer squash in 1 inch pieces
5. Boil water, add quinoa, simmer 12 min covered, let stand for 5 min
6. Stir fry celery until transparent, then add carrots (stir fry five minutes)
7. Add zucchini (stir fry one minute)
8. Add the spices, except for the fresh herb and salt, lower heat and stir
9. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 
10. Add all ingredients into a casserole dish
11. Stir in 1 3/4 cups boiling water, cover, and bake 20 minutes. 
12. Before serving, remove the bay leaves and cinnamon stick
13. Stir in the minced fresh parsley or cilantro, fresh ground pepper
14. Serve

Suggested Wine Pairing:

Crisp Sauvignon Blanc with aromas of lemongrass, peach flavor and a round body.

While you're making the meal, play some tunes!
 
Our pick is Pearl Jam (an all-time favorite). The alt-rockers fit the green bill. Interesting fact: For the past two decades, Pearl Jam has spent over $200,000 to improve forestry in Washington State to donating $100,000 to several groups that focus on climate change as part of the band's Carbon Portfolio Strategy.

Pearl Jam continuously donates large sums of money to Madagascar and Ecuador's rain forests in order to offset the carbon emissions that they've created on their tours as well.

Rock out with this recipe!

Cheers,

The Hello Vino Team