Cranberry almond quinoa pilaf

Pilaf Armenian cuisine

This is my go to pot luck offering. It is a hearty side dish, tasty and a good way to introduce people to quinoa, if they have never tried it before. I usually make at least a double batch (leftovers keep very well, just keep the almonds separate), and if I am cooking for any vegetarians, I simply sub the chicken broth for vegetable broth. The original recipe came from the back of my 10-lb Costco bag of quinoa, so long ago, I do not remember the brand. I've made tweaks over the years and basically cook it from memory now, although I'm sure I still have the recipe clipping stashed somewhere... It's a great combination of sweet (from the cranberries), savory (do NOT omit the bay leaf!) and gentle spice (cinnamon). I've inspired many quinoa-newbies with this one!