This is a recipe which was found in a fabulous book called 'Quinoa 365: The Everyday Superfood', by Patricia Green and Carolyn Hemming. It is reprinted with their permission, and we encourage you to go to their website (listed at the bottom of this article) if you like to order their popular book.

Cathrine continues:

I got the recipe from one of my relatives and it's definitely worth trying. I've made it three times so far and each time to rave reviews. Very rich, very dark, very moist. Yum.

Ingredients:
2/3 cup white or golden quinoa
1 1/3 cups water
1/3 cup milk
4 large eggs
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
¾ cup butter, melted and cooled
1½ cups white or cane sugar
1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt

Method:
Bring quinoa and water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Cover, reduce to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes. Turn off the heat and leave the covered saucepan on the burner for another 10 minutes. Fluff with a fork and allow the quinoa to cool.

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease two 8-inch round or square cake pans. Line the bottom of the pans with parchment paper.

Combine the milk, eggs, and vanilla in a blender or food processor. Add 2 cups of cooked quinoa and the butter and continue to blend until smooth.

Whisk together the sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl. Add the contents of the blender and mix well. Divide the batter evenly between the 2 pans and bake on the center oven rack for 40 to 45 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove the cake from the oven and cool completely in the pan before serving. Frost if desired.

Store in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week or freeze for up to a month.

Cathrine's additional note: For a festive cake I spread unseeded raspberry preserves mixed with some icing between the two layers and ice the cake with chocolate icing.

Editor's Note: As a courtesy to Patricia Green and Carolyn Hemming, the authors of Quinoa 365: The Everyday Superfood, we strongly suggest that you have a look at their website: http://www.quinoa365.com and buy that book! It'd make a great gift for any special occasion.