We all love quinoa with its mild, buttery taste. We love the fact that it’s a complete protein and cooks quickly. It’s fun to know that it was revered by the Incas who thought quinoa gave them superhuman powers more than 5,000 years ago.

The walnut growers in California are happy as clams that science has proven walnuts to be an important and healthy part of a daily diet. According to Dr. Sheila G. West, of the Vascular Intervention Health Lab, Penn State University, "There is a good amount of epidemiologic and population-based evidence that people who consume nuts, and walnuts in particular, have less cardiovascular risk, that walnuts’ fatty acids, the omega-3 fatty acids, help protect people against heart disease."

And walnuts are cited as the best single source of antioxidants, surpassing even rose hips, according to a study from the Universities of Minnesota and Oslo.

Serves 8

4 c water	1 can Eden organic chickpeas
2 c organic yellow quinoa	1 c minced red onion
¼ cup organic red quinoa	2 c walnut halves & pieces
1 lb organic green beans, trimmed	1 tb ea black pepper, salt
¼ c extra virgin olive or walnut oil

Bring water to a boil and add quinoa. Stir, cover pot, lower heat and simmer for 20 minutes. Turn off heat and let stand covered for 15 minutes. Turn quinoa out into large mixing bowl and let cool to almost room temperature. Using a heat resistant rubber spatula, turn quinoa in bowl every so often to allow heat to escape. (You can prep the rest of the dish or dance around the living room in the meantime.)

Place green beans in a pot with a cup of water. Cover pot and bring to a boil. Lower heat and steam beans for two minutes. Drain beans in a colander. (Save liquid – drink, or to add to soups.)

Once quinoa is near room temp, add green beans, olive or walnut oil, chickpeas, minced red onion, walnuts, salt and pepper. Toss and taste. Naturally add whatever else floats your boat. I like to chop in hard-boiled eggs.

Why Eden organic beans? Eden uses kombu to cook their beans. Kombu is a type of seaweed that makes beans easier for us to digest. So if you don’t eat beans because you’re afraid of gas, try these!