Better Broccoli Casserole

Ingredients (12)

• 2 cups vegetable broth or water
• 1 cup quinoa (any color), rinsed under running water in a mesh sieve for a minute and drained
• 16 ounces broccoli florets, either pre-packaged or sliced from 2 large bunches of broccoli
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 10 twists of freshly ground black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, omit if sensitive to spice
• 8 ounces (about 2 1/2 cups) freshly grated cheddar cheese, divided
• 1 cup low-fat milk (cow's milk tastes best but unsweetened plain almond milk works, too)
• 1/2 tablespoon butter or 1 1/2 teaspoons olive oil
• 1 clove garlic, pressed or minced
• 1 slice whole wheat bread (substitute gluten-free bread for a gluten-free casserole)