I’m not exactly sure how, when, and why quinoa got to be so popular. “It’s not a grain!” they say. “It looks like couscous but it’s not couscous!” someone else shouts. “Is that quinoa? Omg I looooove quinoa,” says annoying person #3. Look, it took me a long time to see The Godfather movies and it took me a long time to jump on the quinoa train. I’m sorry! I don’t know what deterred me from just buying a box since I also see it everywhere I go. From the recipes that go viral on Pinterest to Dean & Deluca’s overpriced pre-made pint containers to my brother’s kosher idea to invite it to our seder table earlier this year, it seems everyone and their mom (yes, even my mom) can already tell you how they like their quinoa. How do you like yours? I sincerely want to know. Here’s the recipe for my first quinoa ever.

For starters, you need Quinoa. Here’s 1/2 cup Black Quinoa.

(Black Quinoa per my brother’s recommendation, a real Quinoa Convert ever since he married a Vegetarian.)

I let it soak in a cup of broth for about 15 minutes before turning up the heat and watching it come to a boil. (Yes, my watched pots boil.) Once it boiled, I turned the heat down to medium/low, stirring it occasionally for a good 20-25 minutes.