Cranberry Vanilla Quinoa

5 minutes prep time, 6-8 hours slow cook time |  Serves 2

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup quinoa
• 21/2 cup vanilla-flavored almond milk, plus more as needed
• 1/4 cup dried cranberries
• 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract (or scrape 1/4 tsp vanilla paste from a split whole vanilla bean
• 1/8 tsp stevia (optional)
• Slivered almonds, for serving

Directions

1. The night before: Rinse quinoa in a mesh strainer to remove bitter coating. Oil crock of your slow cooker. Combine quinoa, milk, cranberries, applesauce, vanilla, and stevia in slow cooker. Cook on low for 6 to 8 hours. 
    
2. In the morning: Stir quinoa, and taste and adjust seasonings, or add more liquid. Top with slivered almonds. 

From The Vegan Slow Cooker by Kathy Hester ($19.99, Fair Winds, 2011) [PHOTO credit: Bill Bettencourt]