The cook behind the crown
Hi, I’m Mandi.
I’m a Texas runner, triathlete and lifelong food lover who refuses to choose between eating well and eating happily. God Save the Quinoa is where I share the recipes that make that possible: flavor first, easy enough for a weeknight, and good enough that nobody calls it health food.
What you’ll find here
I eat pescatarian (it would take an army to keep me away from sushi), but my husband, Greg, eats everything. So most recipes here are vegetarian or pescatarian, with plenty of meat options too. Greg is also my most honest taste tester, so every recipe has been through a tough panel of judges.
How it started
I started cooking to eat better and stop spending a fortune on takeout. Before long, my recipe book was bursting at the seams, with meatless and meat-eater notes scribbled in every margin. On Valentine’s Day 2014, Greg surprised me with a camera, a food photography book and the domain for this blog. The rest is delicious history.
The house rules
- Flavor comes first. Always.
- Pizza night and quinoa can coexist.
- If it needs 27 ingredients and a culinary degree, it doesn’t make the cut.
- Good food should leave you feeling good, never guilty.
A few fun facts
- I’ve lived in Texas my whole life.
- Gig ’em! Fall Saturdays are reserved for Aggie football.
- I’ve finished 14 half marathons, and counting.
- Greg talked me into one triathlon. Now our garage is full of bikes.
- Every morning starts with something active, whether it’s the gym, a bike ride or a run. The 5 a.m. alarm is worth it.
- I’m a doodle lover through and through. Our sweet Maggie will always have my heart, and these days Winnie rules the house.
- My favorite place in the world is Telluride, Colorado, where Greg proposed.
- I’m a huge busy body. Sitting still has never been my strong suit.
Work with me
I partner with a handful of brands each year whose products earn a spot in my kitchen. Got a project simmering? Let’s cook something up together.
