Kiddies and Parents will love this sweet recipe!

 
If you have kids like mine, than you definitely know Dora the Explorer. Turning on The First Day of School or Explore the Earth is a sure way to get my dear two year old to quiet down during an important phone call, or to get her to stay at the breakfast table to eat that last bite of eggs.  Since my family knows how much my little one adores Dora, it was of no surprise that she was inundated with Dora gifts out of the wazoo for Hanukkah and Christmas. One gift that she got was the Dora & Diego Let's Cook book.
My daughter is very picky with food. However my mother thought that if a food was "Dora endorsed" then she may be willing to give it a try. As we flipped through the book, the little one was captivated with the pictures and wanted to know what was going on in the pages {we were off to a good start}. The first thing I noticed were the recommendations and guidelines for cooking with young children in the preface to help make the experience enjoyable for both the adults and children alike. The first recipe that we decided to try was the Incan Quinoa Pudding. We had the little one hold and pour the ingredients, stir when appropriate, and help serve into a bowl for tasting. She loved participating and enjoyed doing something a little different to help break up the day. Unfortunately when it came time for the taste test, she screamed at the top of her lungs and didn't want to have anything to do with it {that's a two year old for ya}. After the adult taste test, it was decided that we will make it again and hopefully have better luck with the kiddie next time.

Let's Make it! Vamonos!

Incan Quinoa Pudding

Ingredients:
3 cups apple juice
1 cup quinoa
1/2 cup chopped dried apricots
1 cup low-fat milk, plus 2 to 3 tablespoons
2 eggs
1/4 cup honey
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
2 small bananas, sliced
1/4 cup dulce de leche or caramel ice cream topping, warmed
{optional for adults - for chocolate lovers, we added one Hershey's Kiss on top along with the dulce de leche topping}

1. In a large saucepan on medium-high heat, bring apple juice, quinoa, and apricots to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 15 to 20 minutes or until quinoa is tender.
2. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, whisk the 1 cup milk, eggs, honey, and cinnamon until well blended {kids help}. While stirring, slowly add egg mixture to cooked quinoa. Cook, stirring constantly, for 3 to 5 minutes or until thickened. {Pudding will coat the back of a spoon.}
3. Transfer pudding to medium bowl; cool slightly. Cover surface with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 to 3 hours until fully chilled.
4. To serve, spoon into dessert bowls. Top with banana slices {kids help}. Thin dulce de leche with 2 to 3 tablespoons of milk, if necessary. Drizzle pudding with dulce de leche.

Makes 8 servings.

{Source: Dora & Diego Let's Cook, page 108}