Quinoa Mac and Cheese

Finals week is wrapping up, marking the end to another gloomy winter quarter.  To celebrate, I had a couple of friends, Laura and Andrea, over for dinner.  Last week, during the a dreadful dead week, they had me over for dinner, and it was the bomb dot com.  I wanted to reciprocate and had I recently found a recipe for quinoa mac and cheese on pinterest, and I knew I had to try it!

Quinoa Mac and Cheese
2 teaspoons olive oil
1 medium leek, halved and sliced
1/2 cauliflower head, cut into florets
1 small sweet potato, cut into small chunks
1 1/2 cups quinoa, rinsed and drained
Salt
a few grinds of seasoning salt
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 large eggs
1 cup milk of your choice
1 1/2 cups grated cheddar cheese
Bread crumbs for topping
Any optional toppings

1) Heat oil in medium saucepan over medium heat.  Add the vegetables; cover and cook for five minutes, or until tender.  Stir in the quinoa and garlic.  Cook uncovered another three to four minutes (or until the grains are opaque).

2) Add three cups of water and season with salt and seasoning salt.  Cover and reduce heat to medium-low.  Simmer five to ten minutes more, or until most of the liquid has been absorbed.  Remove from heat and let sit for five minutes.

3) Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Coat 13 x 9 inch dish with cooking spray.  Whisk together eggs and milk in large bowl.  Fold in quinoa mixture and cheese.  Stir very well and let some of the cheese melt.  Transfer to prepared baking dish.  Sprinkle with bread crumbs.  Bake 30-35 minutes (or until edges are browned).

I had no idea what this was going to taste like, but it turned out pretty dang good! The picture certainly doesn't do it justice.  Thank you Laura and Andrea!