Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Perfect Quinoa Bowls


The superfood of the Andes is, as everybody knows, kosher for Passover because. . . Come on! Those Andean Jews weren't about to be growing any treyf quinoa. Natch.

So. Perfect Quinoa Bowls. Yes, this used to be called "Make Your Own (Quinoa) Sundaes," and yes it's a recipe you've seen before. But it is such a persistent favorite that I'm putting it up on this site, to claim for my very own. The quinoa-cooking method alone is worth a look. I never make it any other way. [Note: I backdate recipes when I add them. So all the older stuff will say "November 2005," but it's not really from then. It's just so it doesn't gum up the current posts. If that makes sense.]

Chappy Pesach, dear ones.

In other news: how about Goldfinch winning the Pulitzer? Right? But you already read and loved that and you and your dad already complained to each other at length about the ending, and you need another book. So read Home Away. It's like A Year in Provence, but refracted through anguished domestic comedy and very mild alcoholism. In other words, my life (except in France). Plus, every time you read about the husband character "Bill," you can imagine the guy who lived next door to you freshman year, the one who was crazy nice and kind of dorky and later turned out to have been a secret hunky catch all along. In other words, Bill is a real person, and he lived next door to me freshman year.

Also (Lean in for this. I am going to whisper, because of my superstitious nature.): I am publishing another book! With Little, Brown! And it's because of you, it just frankly is. When I was making a long and labored case to my new, lovely, wonderful editor there, I sent so many cut-and-pastes of things you'd written--things like "Write another book!" and "What's with not ever writing another book?"--that she finally said, kindly and gently, that she thought she had enough material of that type. (I omitted all the comments that were like, "Enough already with the mildly alcoholic comedic angst. I just need a chicken recipe.") So, as always, thank you, thank you, thank you. The book should be called: The Kids: They're great. They're annoying. I'm afraid they're going to die. Instead it's going to be called, in a similar vein, Field Guide to Catastrophic Happiness. It will come out in spring of 2016. Knock wood. Thank you, my darlings. xo

79 comments:

  1. Christina4:44 PM

    The fact that you're publishing another book is the best news I've heard all day. And it's been a really great day!

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  2. Am I for real the first poster after such an announcement?! I don't even know what to say! Congrats! Yay! I can't wait to read it. How soon can I put it on my Amazon wish list? That is WONDERFUL news. I read your first book after I'd had my son, but when I found out I was pregnant with my daughter, the VERY. FIRST. THING. I did was dig out your book to reread it. I gifted a copy to a friend who loved it just as much. You really do need to keep writing and spreading your ideas and letting us know it's ok. All the anxiety, the achy happiness, the too-quick tempers, all of it is ok. Thank you!
    Also, I love the quinoa bowls. I'm still trying to win the kids over, but surely they'll come around.

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  3. Mary G.4:47 PM

    Yay! Another book!!!! But please, in the future, have mercy on your older followers - I can barely read the last paragraph :)

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  4. AAHH! A new book! So exciting!

    Now, where do we send quotes to get you a cookbook deal because I'm on board. I make these quinoa bowls a lot, especially for an easy summer dinner. I admit, I often put out a bowl of (not Kosher) crumbled bacon for topping to make them more appealing to the little ones.

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    1. Thanks for your bacon comment, which truly made me laugh out loud!

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  5. Hooray! Your writing is always tasty stuff.
    @Mary G. hold down the Ctrl key and press the + on the number pad to enlarge your screenview. (Unless you're on a Mac.)

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  6. I am finally down to double digits on the library waiting list for Goldfinch, but I'll put Home Away on reserve, too. But I promise to buy your new book. Can hardly wait!!

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  7. Ooh, started reading Home Away at amazon and noticed the kindle version is selling for a mere 3.99, so snagged it. FYI to other blog readers! I have no idea how long that price will last.

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  8. Yay for your new book! I can't wait to read it!

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  9. Anonymous6:29 PM

    YAYY!!! So excited for your new book :) :) :)

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  10. Is it 2016 yet?! I can't wait for another book!

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  11. Anonymous7:51 PM

    um, hello, BIG CONGRATS on the book. You inspire me!

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  12. THAT'S TOO LONG TO WAIT!! ;-) But, YAY!! SO EXCITED FOR YOU!! AWESOME!! sorry for the extreme enthusiasm and all of the CAPS... :)

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  13. Anonymous8:55 PM

    Congratulations!! What great news that another book will be coming our way. Can't wait!!
    Suzanne

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  14. Anonymous9:33 PM

    OH THANK GOD. I am in need of something good to read! Thank you!

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  15. Best. News. Ever.

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  16. Woo hoo!!! Will shove whatever book is currently next to waiting for birdy over now. :)

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  17. miryboo10:05 PM

    Yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  18. Erin in CA10:24 PM

    So excited to read about your book deal! I routinely send anyone expecting their second child your first book. (And you have my permission to quote me to your editor.)

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  19. Yay!!! Yay!!!! Yay!!! A new book:) The best news I've heard all day!

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  20. Huzzah, another book!!!!! That is fantastic, terrific, wonderful news. I'm pleased as punch! (It's a good thing it was such good news or I might have had to complain about my million-year old eyes and how (even with glasses) they could barely make out that teeny-weeny type.) I am so glad that I have been, in the way a reader does, taking this ride with you. I think we are all (can I speak for us?). Congratulations and mazel tov!

    -Loren

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  21. ack. I meant, "I think we all are."

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  22. Yay!! A new book!

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  23. Anonymous11:49 PM

    Catherine!!!! Huzzzzzzzaaaaaahhhhh! This is such great - and my God, long-awaited - news!!!!! A new book from you! Glory be!!! I cannot wait. I will pre-order the second I can do so. Will you tell us when we can do so?

    Also, I love the title.

    Also also, I loved The Ghost of the Mary Celeste, thank you. Though I have to say that after finishing it (I gulped it down, stopping frequently to think, Wow that's some gorgeous writing, and then diving back in), I kind of felt emotionally devastated. I mean, how many sympathetic wonderful characters had to die in that sea anyway, huh?!?

    And I just got Wonder from the library, am very excited.

    May I also recommend an amazing new book of essays, ones that I think you would love? About the limits and possibilities of empathy and human connection, all told in heartbreakingly beautiful, tender, funny, honest, vulnerable prose? It's by Leslie Jamison, called The Empathy Exams, and it's just wordlessly good. And I just think you would like it.

    I won't lie: Leslie is my kin and I love her. But I also think that it is a generously beautiful book, and the kind you/we benandbirdy types would enjoy. There are reviews of it out and about (NYT among others), if you wanna look before leaping.

    Yay about your new book!

    ps. One last thing: we made the spelted donut cake, exactly as you prescribed, for my birthday on Sunday and it was fabulous.

    ~kelda

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  24. YAAAAAAAYYYY!! I really had to lean in. Eyes are getting old. I can't wait!!! Every time I read Waiting for Birdy and then see a recent picture of Birdy I scream a little at how old I've gotten since I "met you." Obnoxious quotes for member of the Catherine cyber-stalker club who feel like we know you in real life! Is it 2016 yet?

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  25. Congratulations on the second book! I was just thinking about Waiting for Birdy the other day (I saved it carefully to read during my last pregnancy, fretting because once I'd read it, I wouldn't still have it ahead of me to read) and wondering if there would be another bundle of joy in the future!

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  26. I am so thrilled to hear you are writing another book. I literally jumped up and down when I read that part! SO EXCITING for all your readers! Thank you for sharing so honestly and letting all us moms know we are not alone. I can't wait!!
    Side note: I read The Goldfinch and did not love it. I appreciated the beautiful way it was written, but the story? Not so much. I feel like there must be something very wrong with me.

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  27. Oh!!!! So excited for you! And for the rest of us lucky readers! I still have my dog-eared (signed!) copy of Waiting for Birdy that carried me through those early sleepless nights of babyhood. Can't wait for the book release and congratulations!!!! (If only I still lived on the East coast and could enjoy another book reading/signing...maybe Chicago this time around?)

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  28. !!! This is the best news! I have a six-week-old baby and your writing has gotten me through endless nights of nursing. I've already read Waiting for Birdy twice since I had my daughter, and I can't tell you how reassuring it's been to know that this wild spectrum of feelings is normal. In the first week I cried because the fact of everyone's mortality suddenly hit me like a ton of bricks, and then also because the Chinese food was taking a really long time to be delivered, and then again out of gratitude that we didn't have twins. Anyway...this was all a bit rambling but I cannot wait to read more of your beautiful writing!

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  29. WHOOO HOOO! So happy for you, and for all of us readers...happy Passover, Easter, and thank you for the alcoholic comedic angst. It is a nice change of pace here in Colorado, where everything has the mildly pot smoking variety of comedic angst.

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  30. Sarahd9:46 AM

    Hooray! So happy for you! And us because we get to read it! Yay!

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  31. A NEW BOOK!!! YAY!!! It's like having a child out in the world, a piece of your soul unprotected, for people to pick and and uplift. I'm so glad you're willing to go through the cycle of writing, so much like a pregnancy, for US! Thank you. (Because, we all know, unless you write The Goldfinch, it isn't a ton of money. But maybe enough for a mudroom?)

    Much love and happiness!
    Charlotte

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  32. Yum! The "bowl" is my new go-to Sunday night dinner (much to my children's angst, especially since last week I made them with chickpea tofu, which tastes really good, but makes you feel sort of weird eating it). Can you do one with millet next? Mine came out in a solid pan-shaped block of starch (possibly because I was on the phone and not paying attention to the time while I was cooking. I've heard--from Sparrow in an issue of The Sun from sometime in the last couple of years--bring to a boil and then let sit is a better way to go). Also--yea a new book! Can't wait!!

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  33. I am SO THRILLED that you have written a new book that I have to stomp on your superstitious whisper with ALL CAPS. Like Pia above, I discovered your writing when my now-15-month-old was new, and it was truly a lifesaver. I don't know anyone who captures the adventure of parenting with the same perfect blend of humor, joy and kvetching as you. But 2016 is too long to wait! We will be voting for a new president by then and my boy will be almost FOUR! Maybe send a copy of the manuscript to a few of your loyal readers?

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  34. Oh, yay! So excited :) Please let us know as soon as we can pre-order, because that's one of my favorite things ever! Silly, and I'm not sure why, but it is.

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  35. ANOTHER BOOK!!!! Awesome!

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  36. dale in denver4:59 PM

    Terrific news on the book! I thoroughly enjoyed The Goldfinch. Beautiful writing. Loved Boris - have a colleague that he brought to mind.

    I love the quinoa sundaes, as does my husband! My 3 sons? Well, it's been a while since we've had them so it might be time to try them again. Especially since they cannot get enough of your Mexican Chicken Salad. Seriously, we set it up like a sundae bar so everyone can add what and as much of what they want and they tell me we must have it every week. And by golly, we have for the past 2 months. Seems they now all like and appreciate cilantro, so I suspect these will go over well now. We also love the Sweet Potato sundaes. Maybe it's just that my kids enjoy assembling their own. Either way, you are a genius for the delicious recipe or the fabulous idea.

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  37. Quinoa Schminoa, how bout that book! Halleluah! I love the title.

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  38. Wonderful news! Congratulations! The "should be called" title cracked me up.

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  39. Cant wait for that book, congrats!!! I would love to LOVE quinoa but I've tried it three times and was bitter and uninspiring-what am I missing?? I know it's really healthy....

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  40. Anonymous7:28 PM

    Yay! This is wonderful news! I can't wait to read it.

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  41. Heather8:35 PM

    a new book! you made my day! now, if only I could bring myself to like qunioa

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  42. I've read Waiting for Birdy too many times to count. Now I can put down my ragged copy and do some waiting myself.... for your next book! Thrilled!

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  43. HUZZAH! A BOOK! So pleased for you

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  44. Congratulations!!!! I'm so excited. And the first title you wrote is the story of how I daily feel as a mother. Thank you, as always, for articulating that for me.

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  45. Kristi12:27 AM

    Congratulations to you! Yippee for us!

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  46. Missy6:24 AM

    I am so excited to hear that you are writing another book!!! You have no idea how important your writing is to me, it sustains me and I can't wait to get my hands on it! Thank you!

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  47. KerrMama9:25 AM

    Huh-YAAAAAAYYY! I'm so excited for you about your book deal! You go girl!

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  48. NOT that I don't love your recipes and use them at least once a week...but a new book!! YAY!!

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  49. Yea for us! Congrats to you!

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  50. I am so so so excited for you and for us. YAY!!!! And let me tell you, I had the pleasure of working with the wonderful Laura T. ever-so-briefly back when I was writing (or belly-aching) my way through my book and she was a godsend, pure and simple. I'll save her editorial notes for life, they were that good. You are a lucky lady to have her! And we are lucky that you're writing another book! Yay again! xo

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  51. Yay! Sign me up for a pre-order! I loved Waiting for Birdie, I love every receipe of yours I've ever made (and so does my family). I loved every reading recommendation from your posts.....except The Goldfinch, which I HATED. Please, people, don't judge me.

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  52. YAY YAY YAY!!! grinning from ear to ear right now :) (oh, and the quinoa is good too ;)

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  53. Anonymous10:12 PM

    I will line up to buy that...xoxoxo!!

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  54. Anonymous11:47 PM

    OMG! Ecstatic over here! "Waiting for Birdie" is so close to my heart. My favorite memory is when my husband read it out loud to me on our babymoon. In the days after my first son was born, it was my lifeline because no one else understood what I was going through. I buy it for all my pregnant friends and know they will find laughter and consolation in abundance. I'm so happy to get another book!

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  55. YAYYYYY!!!!!!! A book by you will be a BEAUTIFUL thing. So until then I will go see about this book you have recommended. -Tia

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  56. As soon as I read this, I emailed my BFF and freaked out with happiness over the news of your upcoming book (so did she). But HOW will we possibly be able to wait that long for it?!?

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  57. Anonymous11:30 AM

    Excellent news! --Cathy K

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  58. annette6:51 PM

    Love the title (even if you might be joking)

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  59. Delanie11:30 AM

    SO excited to read this!!!! I can't wait to get your new book! Seriously, I am thrilled.

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  60. A new book!? That is so exciting. :) I will be buying it, for sure. So excited!

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  61. A book! A book! Hurray!

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  62. shannon H.6:22 PM

    A wonderful surprise on this Easter! Thank you!!! Can we pre-order now?!?

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  63. Anonymous11:03 AM

    Such a perfect title!

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  64. Yay!! This is wonderful news! It's funny, although quinoa is undoubtedly great, I did wonder how it happened to generate so many comments! :)

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  65. Anonymous4:33 PM

    Very excited about your news, but I had zoom in several times so my 51 year old eyes could hear your whispering. Love all the titles, my suggestion would be "We hold their hearts in our hands" from a babycenter post 12 or 13 years ago. I'll preorder it, whatever the title. I'm going to make some rhubarb crisp with myer lemon cream to celebrate your good news! I am a devoted fan.

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  66. Anonymous4:41 PM

    Yay!

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  67. Anonymous5:26 PM

    excellent title, btw.

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  68. shari7:15 PM

    Awesome!!!!!!!!!

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  69. Cannot wait to buy your new book!

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  70. Yay!! Too early to pre-order??

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  71. Anonymous11:44 AM

    I L.O.V.E. your title, you have to find a way to squeeze it in somewhere on the book jacket. (Look at that, I just assumed you will come out in hardback first!) Have fun writing it! I can't wait to read it.
    XO BethY

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  72. Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful!!! So thrilled for you....love your writing, your recipes, your children, now your wonderful new book....so, so happy!!!!! xoxoxo Kathleen

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  73. So, so exciting! My hands did a happy dance in front of the computer screen. I can't wait! Except I guess I can! Because I have to! But that is the only reason that waiting is possible. :D :D :D

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  74. Oh yes, marv. You are the best and now (in two years) I can stop trying to convince people that really serious, inspiring, funny stuff happens on a mommy blog about cooking and can just hand them your book. In other news I wanted to email you because I am reading this book? And I think you would like it? Sea of Hooks, by Lindsey Hill. Go.

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  75. Anonymous8:32 AM

    Excellent! Hoping for years that you'd come out with a new book!

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  76. oh my gosh! i am so excited you're publishing another book!!! i have read and re-read 'waiting for birdy' so many times and i still laugh out loud every time!

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