“When Autumn leaves are falling, and thanksgiving time is near,
It warms the heart to think of those, who mean so much through out the year!”
Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Thanksgiving is the only time when all members of a family gather together. The holiday is a time of family reunion.Thanksgiving is celebrated every year on the fourth Thursday of November. The month of November is autumn in the United States. Read more about Thanksgiving in foot notes.

Turn your Thanksgiving feast into Traditional as well as healthy this year. Where as Traditional Turkeys, Mashed Potatoes ,Green bean casserole and Pumpkin Pies cannot be skipped, Adding few healthier recipes on to your table would be a smarter choice to balance everything.

Pilaf is a dish in which rice is cooked in a seasoned broth. In some cases, the rice may also attain its brown color by being stirred with pieces of cooked onion, as well as a mix of spices.Mushroom and Quinoa Pilaf is inspired by my own recipe Mushroom Biryani which I made few months ago. I slightly changed the recipe making it more healthier by replacing rice with Quinoa and reducing the Quantity of Oil and spices.

INGREDIENTS

1 cup Quinoa
1 cup Sliced Mushrooms
1 cup sliced Onions
1/2 cup Green Peas
1/3 cup Fresh tomato Puree ( optional)
1 handful of fresh mint leaves
1 Bay leaf
2 Blackcardamoms
salt to taste
1 table spoons Olive oil( or ghee)
1/2 inch cinnamon
3-4 cloves
2-3 pepper corns
2 green cardamoms
1tsp. red chili powder
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
1/2tsp. coriander Powder
1/2 tsp. Cumin powder
1 tbsp. lime juice
water – 2 cups ( approx)

METHOD
1 Quinoa is cooked just like rice. In In a big pan heat water and add Bay leaf, black cardamoms, salt , Quinoa and cook it. If you think it is still liquidy, just cook for few more minutes with lid open.
2. Heat 1/2 tsp oil in a pan and saute Mushrooms in it. Cook Mushrooms till they become soft and then take them out in a plate.
3. Now in the same pan add the rest amount of oil and add cinnamon, green cardamom, cloves, peppercorns and add onions. Sauté till onions change colour.
3. Add Turmeric powder, red chili powder, coriander powder, cumin powder and stir for a while. Add tomato Puree and little water and cook well. Add mushrooms and mix well.
4. Add mint leaves and green peas and mix well and add lime juice.
5. Now spread Quinoa on top of this mixture evenly.
6. Cover the lid of the pan and Cook for 10 minutes on low flame. Garnish with fresh cilantro leaves if you want and serve hot with chutney and yogurt and Enjoy!

Thanks,
Swati.

FOOTNOTES

ABOUT THANKSGIVING
The month of November is autumn in the United States. Autumn is the season when crops are gathered. When the first European settlers in America gathered their crops, they celebrated and gave thanks for the food. They thanked God for the success of the harvest. Many people continue to give thanks on the holiday, but it may not be for a good harvest.“So Thanksgiving for me is about giving thanks, and really embracing loved ones and things.

Thanksgiving is also a time when Americans share what they have with people who do not have as much. All across the country, thousands of groups provide Thanksgiving meals for older adults, poor people and the homeless. Many Americans give turkeys or other food to these organizations; schools organize food collection drives for Thanksgiving. Some people spend part of the holiday helping to prepare and serve meals.
Source of Information
Wikipedia and learning English