A few months ago, I was trying out a new recipe, when DH2U asked me what I was making. The ingredients in front of me triggered a flashback: I must have been 10 or 11, and I was standing in the kitchen with my mom “helping” her make dinner. She was making a pasta dish (I’m sure she called them “noodles” so I would know what she was talking about). I asked her what she was making, and she told me that it didn’t have a name. That didn’t work for me, and I got all whiny about how I was hungry and didn’t want something yucky. That is when she told me it was “Homemade Hamburger Helper”. It makes me laugh now that she had to sell it to me that way to ensure I would eat it and quit being such a brat! Honestly, parents, how do you not kill your kids?!?!?!? As a result of this memory, I ended up describing the new dish I was creating as Homemade Hamburger Helper with Quinoa.
It was delicious! It has become one of my go-to meals, as it is relatively quick and highly nutritious and filling.
I first found the recipe on 5DollarDinners.com. As is usually the case, I made modifications, including swapping ground turkey for the beef, using fresh instead of canned tomatoes (thank you garden!), and adding tons of veggies.
I’ve never posted a recipe on here before, but I really wanted to support The Fitness Cheerleader’s 30 Day Fitness Challenge and take part, so here is my entry.
Homemade Hamburger Helper with Quinoa
Ingredients
1 lb. ground turkey
1 large onion, chopped
1 cup broccoli, chopped
1 cup mushrooms
1 zucchini, diced
1 cup bell peppers, green and red, diced
2 cups fresh tomatoes, diced
1/2 cup tomato sauce
1 4-oz. can chopped chilies
1 cup quinoa
1-1/2 cup vegetable broth
1-1/2 T. chili powder
1 tsp. ground cumin
Directions
1. Brown ground turkey and onion; drain excess fat.
2. Add other veggies and saute for a few minutes.
3. Rinse quinoa in sieve/colander. (I have always skipped this step because I don’t own a colander that the quinoa doesn’t slide right through. I’ve never found it to be bitter as a result)
4. Add tomatoes, chilies, quinoa, broth and spices to ground turkey mixture and simmer (covered) for about 15 minutes. Uncover and cook until all fluid is absorbed, normally another 10-15 minutes.
I love this dish… and discovering new ones. What is your current favorite dish?
Grown Up, Now What? 
WOW! That looks delicious!! My kids LOVE beef and quinoa – I’m sure they’ll love this too! (Oh and my kids are lucky to still be alive – there are some days where I wish I could shove them back in me).
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Thanks, Janice! I hadn’t realized how close I must have come to death growing up until I wrote this! You confirmed my suspicions.
I think I’ll make your Greek Quinoa Salad this weekend. It looks so yummy!
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I love how Quinoa soaks up all the yummy liquid. I must make Quinoa tomorrow. Love it. My mom likes to tell me that the reason that parents cry at major life events of their children is that they are so proud that they didn’t kill them before they got to finish whatever the goal was. 🙂
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I’m making quinoa this weekend as well. I found some excellent recipes thanks to the 30 Day Challenge.
I love your mom’s take on crying at events! It sounds like something my mom would say!!!
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If I had a favorite dish lately it’s gone from my mind after seeing this – it looks so good. Something simmering…mmmmmm. I haven’t had something simmering for such a long time. Thanks for sharing Tammy.
Last night I grilled some shrimp. I seem to be doing that a lot lately. Grilling.
that and trying new ice cream flavors.
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How can you go wrong trying new ice cream flavors? I want that job!!!!
I’d love for it to cool down so I can stop simmering (stove top and in my own skin) and bake!!!!
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