Apr. 27, 2008 - ~Mondays Menu~sprouting/Thrice a Week Cooking
I love this time of year! Along with our recent herbal investigations, we have begun sprouting as well. So far so easy. The health benefits of sprouting are amazing and it's unreal how easy it is! Did I say that already?
So before I share this weeks Thrice A Week Cooking menu, here are some pics and information on our recent sprouting adventures......
This week we decided to try our hand at sprouting lentils and wheat berries. We had practiced with the lentils before, but this was our first time with the wheat. Imagine the taste of watermelon and that is what the sprouted wheat berries taste like. Really - they are that good!
When we poured out the sprouts the children began devouring them like candy! Problem was- I had to stop them because I am sprouting the wheats to make a malt for a bread we are trying. Guess I'll have to make another batch!
Sprouting is very easy (if it weren't I don't know that I could do it). We simply put about 1 cup of wheat (or lentils) along with 4 parts warm water in a mason jar and let them soak for 8-12 hours. Once they finish their soak time, just pour out the soaking water (or reserve cuz it's full of nutrients!) and rinse with cool water and drain. We did 2-3 rinse and drain sessions a day and today (day 2) had these wonderful wheat sprouts. For draining, we just perched our mason jars on their sides inside a soup bowl! No special equipment.... just free nutrition!
Now that I've got my wheat sprouts, I am going to dry/roast them for several hours and then blend into a very tasty flour with my every-day blender. This is like a sweet wheat flour and I will be mixing it with freshly ground wheat flour, as well as wheat germ, for the recipe I am making. Pancakes are probably next on my list since there's no need for sweetener when using sprouted wheat flour (sweet!). Sprouted almonds are soon coming!
*Sprouting generates significant increases in vitamins A,B,C,and E, as well as in the amino acid content of the seed. For people on weight control diets, sprouts are a happy discovery. Because the growing sprout uses up the starch in the seed, sprouts are very low in carbohydrates. *After soaking the seeds, pour off the water and reserve it for cooking soups or drinks! It has a mild flavor and some nutrients. (Rodale's Basic Natural Foods Cookbook)
Now.....Thrice A Week Cooking:
Dinner Meals:
Monday: Baked Chicken Cacciatore w/lots of fresh veggies
Tuesday: Re-runs
Wed: Red Beans and Brown Rice w/salad
Thursday: Re-runs
Friday: Pizza Night
Saturday: Beef and Barley Bake
Sunday: Re-runs
Breakfast and lunch as usual.
