Cheddar Quinoa Cakes

Last night, I ventured into the dark space that has become my kitchen.  With our schedule being so hectic lately, it hasn’t seen much use.  But last night, the reclamation began.

I started by dusting off this bag of quinoa in my pantry:

And ended with these amazing little cakes:

Cheddar Quinoa Cakes with Pesto (Pin-spired by SpoonForkBacon)

• 2 c. cooked quinoa
• 2/3 c. shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 egg, beaten
• 3 T. corn flour
• 1 T. pesto
• 1/2 T. EVOO
• salt & pepper to taste

Combine all ingredients in a medium mixing bowl.  Heat up oil of your choice (I used canola oil because it’s what I had on hand) in a pan for about 5 minutes.  Then, form the mixture into patties and cook over medium heat for about 5 minutes each side.  I flipped mine when they turned a nice golden brown color, but the timing will change depending on the oil you are using.  Since I had to cook these in 2 batches, I placed the finished ones on a cooking sheet lined with paper towels in a 200F oven.  They stayed warm and I was able to absorb the excess oil.  Super easy!

I garnished with a mix of pesto, olive oil, and a dab of mayo.