Maybe that sort-of-hippie friend left a box after visiting, you mistook it for couscous on the grocery store shelf or maybe you just happen to be an absolute quinoa devotee – no matter how you cut it (or mix it, cook it, eat it), quinoa is delicious and extremely adaptable. Savory or sweet, try these quinoa ideas for each meal.

Breakfast. Try oatmeal without the oats! Make your quinoa with some milk instead of water, then serve in a bowl with blueberries or apple slices and sprinkled cinnamon. Also try adding scoops of cooked quinoa into your pancakes. It cuts flour usage by half and adds a satisfying texture and flavor to this breakfast classic.

Lunch. This one's easy: Quinoa and kale salad with craisins, walnuts and the perfect citrus dressing. It's so good you could eat it for each meal. For those wanting something a little more savory, try Quinoa cooked with chicken broth or grilled with herbs and spices – tumeric and cumin are especially tasty on quinoa with peppers and a few onions. If you're a vegetarian or just want something that feels more substantive, grill a little eggplant and throw that in too.

Dinner. Of course quinoa makes for a great side, but with so much protein it could almost take over your meal, so why not let it from time to time? Stir frys are great with some quinoa, but how about making quinoa burgers or throwing some together with beans for a south of the border remix? It goes great with chili, yams, tabouli and chicken too – in fact, quinoa goes with everything!

Dessert. Here's the proof that quinoa can work in any dish for any meal. A great dessert option would be quinoa pudding, which can be done in a variety of styles, from vanilla or coconut to rum raisin. Quinoa cookies are great, especially for the gluten-free crowd. Toasted quinoa with some brown sugar, banana and walnuts makes for an excellent dessert or breakfast granola. And at the end of the day, if you're up to try making some quinoa flour there's really nothing you can't whip into a baked dish. Head to Gerhard's Appliances to grab anything you need to become the culinary master of quinoa.

Delicious, helpful, versatile – quinoa has truly redefined the meaning of super food.
 

There's no reason dessert and guilt should be synonymous. Too often we either skimp on one of our favorites or settle for something with a tasteless sugar substitute. If you and your guests share a sweet tooth, there's no reason not to break out these lighter after-dinner desserts:

Mini ice cream sandwiches. Here's the catch – these ice cream sandwiches don't actually have any ice cream. Substitute frozen yogurt between two cookies and maybe sprinkle with some semi-sweet chocolate shavings for a healthy sweet treat.

Angel food cake. Light on the fat and light on the palate, angel food cake is a perfect after-dinner course. Serve with a pile of blueberries, strawberries and raspberries – or make personal serving fruit salads and let your guests dig in.

Cookies. Try using applesauce in your oatmeal raisin cookies for a healthy twist. Honey also makes a great substitute for sugar. If chocolate chip is more your style, try using a ripe banana instead of eggs in your next batch of cookies.

Fruit salad. Always popular, but not always original – why not try this Food Network twist: segment some oranges and grapefruits and toss them with pineapple chunks. Sweeten with a little agave, whip some cottage cheese until creamy, surround a dollop of the cottage cheese with the salad and top with shaved coconut and mint leaves. The result will be as good-looking as it is delicious.

Don't be intimidated by prep time or complicated recipes – Gerhards Appliances will help make your prep and baking a breeze. Easy to make but much easier to enjoy, any of these suggestions can make a great cap to a dinner with friends. 

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but many individuals sometimes treat the meal as an afterthought when trying to beat the traffic or catch the bus. If you haven't been receiving a proper breakfast each morning, it may be time to put your Gerhards appliances to work by making some morning smoothies. Here are a few tips to make this a fixture of your morning routine.

1. Put together your ingredients at night. To make things easier on yourself in the morning, throw together your ingredients inside of your blender and leave it in your refrigerator overnight. In the morning, all you'll need to do is add ice and a splash of juice and your smoothie will be ready to go.

2. Invest in a quality go-cup. You'll want to invest in an insulated go-cup to keep your smoothie at the optimal temperature as you begin your morning commute. Pick up at least two of these vessels so you can put one in the dishwasher at the end of the day and have another one ready to go for the next morning.

3. Variety. One of the biggest benefits of a breakfast smoothie is the incredible diversity of ingredients you can work with each day. Do some research online or pick up a smoothie recipe book to find a number of great ideas that can give you the chance to try something new each morning.

A breakfast smoothie is a great way to start eating healthier and place the proper emphasis on starting the day off right. By planning ahead and picking up a selection of delectable fruits and veggies to blend together, you will have far more energy when you venture into the office each day.

Burgers are an American tradition, but like many foods in our culture, they're probably not the healthiest dishes to eat on a regular basis. However, over the past few decades, there has been an explosion of interest in chefs that can create vegetarian or health-conscious meals that are based on old favorites. While you may have tried turkey or black bean patties, a Portobello burger is a fabulous change of pace. It's the perfect quick and easy recipe when you want to start a vegetarian night during your work week.

Portobello mushrooms are highly versatile ingredients, and you can choose to grill them on your new Gerhards appliance or explore a myriad of marinades and toppings to enhance their flavor. Ideally, grilling them will help them achieve the consistency you're looking for from your burger and it will help add a delectable smoky flavor. Like any burger, the bun you put it on is also important, so consider a whole wheat variety to add to your dish's use of all-natural and healthy ingredients.

Marinades can be a versatile idea to enhance the flavor of your Portobello burgers and give them a unique twist that your family will love. The Food Network suggests a balsamic vinegar-based marinade that's accented with spicy mustard, black pepper, olive oil and salt. After letting these mushroom caps marinate for two hours, you can throw them on the grill to cook for about three to four minutes each side and then put them on a roll with your favorite toppings.

Last but not least, you can explore a variety of toppings when whipping up your Portobello burgers. Fresh sliced avocados, gouda cheese, pesto spreads, spinach, arugula, red peppers or anything else that piques your interest can probably work with your burger. It's best to experiment with a few of your ideas to find the right combinations that your family will love.

Whether you're looking to start a vegetarian night each week or simply trying to find healthier recipes for your spring and summer barbecues, grilling up a few Portobello caps could be a wonderful way to get the ball rolling. Of course, the best way to do this is by investing in a charcoal or gas grill, or one of the many Gerhards appliances that can improve your culinary capabilities in the coming seasons.

If you have a seasonal gathering on the horizon, you may be wondering what sorts of side dishes you can break out upon your guests' arrival. The old standard of cocktail shrimp is always a great go-to, but some people may not like the taste of cold shrimp and cocktail sauce. If you'd like to reinvent the recipe and make it a bit healthier, your new Gerhards appliances will play an important role in creating the dish.

Start with a bag of cooked shrimp and allocate the amount you'll need to give each guest a thorough helping. In a bowl, dust the shrimp in cumin, thyme, salt and a touch of black pepper. Take a non-stick pan and coat it with olive oil and cook each of the shrimp until they are brown on both sides. Cooking them really shouldn't take long, as you are only trying to warm them up and give them a bit of color.

Before you start this process, you should create a delectable dipping sauce for your guests to enjoy. A cilantro lime dip could be a great choice with your spices, and all you'll need is a cup of light sour cream, the juice of two limes and a quarter of a cup of chopped cilantro. When all of these ingredients are mixed together, you can serve your dip in a large bowl and place the shrimp on the side to improve the visual interest of your platter.

This is a surprisingly healthy, fresh and festive twist on cocktail shrimp that your guests are sure to enjoy. Best of all, you can put your new Gerhards appliance to work and create a fabulous addition to your table spread that will wow your friends and family.

With Mother's Day little over a week away, you may be wondering how you're going to commemorate the occasion for the most important woman in your life. While flowers and sweets are a great step in the right direction, giving your mom a chance to relax all Mother's Day morning while you make her breakfast could be a nice break from her usual routine. Instead of pancakes and bacon, whip up a frittata for your whole family, and put those Gerhards appliances to good use.

If you consider yourself a breakfast expert, this is a recipe that just about anyone can pull off. First, ask your mother what sorts of meats and veggies she would like in her frittata. You can use everything from asparagus to smoked salmon, so make sure you have a wide variety of ingredients to work with. After browning these ingredients in a cast iron or similar oven-safe pan, blend together six eggs with a sprinkle of parmesan cheese, salt and pepper.

Before you pour in the egg mixture, turn your oven on the broil setting to have it ready for your pan. When the eggs begin to set at the bottom of the pan, you can then transfer it to the oven for about three to four minutes, or when it is lightly-browned. You can choose to make one large frittata for everyone in your family to share, or use a smaller pan so you can create individual portions.

Set up your dinner table and create an elegant spread with fresh-cut flowers and everything your mom will need to unwind on her big day. This is a great way to make Mother's Day all the more special, and you'll get to show off your culinary abilities in the process.