Quinoa and butter

A random assortment of ingredients and access to a friend's food processor left me mulling over my few options for baking. I had no sugar and no flour around (it's bad, I know), and since I had not planned on baking in these few free moments I happened upon, I was not about to waste them by running out to get ingredients. Food processor + quinoa = quinoa flour.  I guess necessity really is the mother of invention...

Chocolate Chip Quinoa Bars
1 stick butter
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 c + 1 tbsp  100% pure maple syrup
3 tsp peanut butter
1 2/3 c quinoa flour (see below)
1/4 tsp cinnamon
jam or preserves (I used raspberry/blackberry)
1/2 c chocolate chips or chunks (more or less)

Preheat oven to 360º F

-In a bowl mix the butter, vanilla, and maple syrup until thoroughly combined, then mix in the peanut butter
-Add the quinoa flour and cinnamon and mix well
-Stir in the chocolate chips until dispersed throughout the batter
-Line a baking dish with parchment paper and press the batter into the dish evenly
-Spread a layer of preserves evenly across the top of the batter and bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden

Quinoa Flour
Place about 2 cups of quinoa into a food processor and process on high for segments of 30 seconds to 2 minutes until it becomes a fine powder (there may be larger bits dispersed, that's okay too!). Make sure to stir up the contents occasionally to grind evenly.

Enjoy!