USING WHOLE GRAINS

How to Sprout and Use Whole Wheat in everyday foods is followed by bread and whole grain recipes, and then links to groups that teach about using whole wheat. Some recipes are not whole wheat, but I've found that most recipes can usually be made with half whole wheat flour and half white flour with no changes to the recipe. Whole wheat is usually very heavy.

HOW TO SPROUT AND COOK WHOLE WHEAT FOR EVERY DAY USE

COOKED WHEAT


















1 cup whole wheat
4 cups water, approximately

Place whole wheat in hot crock pot. Bring water to a boil. Pour hot water over wheat in crock pot, making sure to cover whole wheat and allow for triple increase of grain. Turn off crock pot and leave covered overnight. In the morning, drain the whole wheat and spoon into a plastic container. Store in refrigerator.

USES FOR COOKED WHEAT:
For warm cereal: Serve as you would oatmeal; flavoring with cinnamon, nutmeg, sugar, honey, your favorite dried or fresh fruit, and milk.
Sprinkle on fresh green salads.
Stir into yogurt before eating.
Cooked wheat can pick up the flavors of that with which it cooks.
A cup of wheat to vegetable, meat or poultry soups increases the nutritional value.
Add to your favorite tuna, chicken, and pasta casserole recipes.
Sandwich fillings, such as tuna, turkey, or chicken can have whole wheat added.
Include in spaghetti, enchiladas, or tacos, by adding the wheat to your recipe as you brown the ground beef, shredded beef, or chicken in order to soak up the flavors of the meat as well as the spices.
Run cooked wheat through a meat grinder - use it like ground beef in patties, loaves, chili, casseroles. Doesn't taste like meat, but they taste good and are so much more healthy and less expensive.

SPROUTED SOAKED WHEAT:













Place 3/4 cup of clean, rinsed, whole wheat in a quart jar. Cover with 3/4 cup of water warm water. Soak for about 12 hours, drain off the water and drink it (it has vitamins and minerals). Rinse the wheat, drain, and put the bottle in a cupboard where it is dark and warm. Don't feel obligated to handle or interfere with germinating wheat. Gently sprinkle a little water over the grain two or three times day (depending on the temperature and humidity.) There is no need for vigorous washing and rinsing. You could cover the top of the bottle with a piece of nylon stocking or gauge secured with a rubber band.

After sprouting, grind it until it looks like ground beef. Season the wheat in various ways and makes patties, loaves, and several other delicious dishes.



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MY WHOLE WHEAT AND BREAD RECIPES

Many countries traditionally used whole grains in preparing their own foods for feeding their families. Over the years many have chosen to have others prepare them for convenience sake. There are some that still grind their own wheat and prepare breads from scratch. If you would like to return to the ways of their (and perhaps your) ancestors read this page. As a meat substitute, or even as a stretcher (using half meat/half cooked wheat - recipe follows) there's no fat in whole wheat to plug up arteries, no blood to make a mess on the counter, and no E.coli contamination.


RECIPES ARE LISTED IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER




100% WHOLE WHEAT BANANA BREAD




(from the Magic of Wheat Cookery Cookbook)






5 ripe bananas
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 cup margarine
1 1/2 sugar
2 teaspoon baking soda
3 cups whole wheat flour

Grind 2 1/2 cups wheat to create 3 cups whole wheat flour. Blend together bananas, eggs, vanilla, margarine in mixer. Add remaining dry ingredients, including the flour and blend thoroughly. Pour into 2 greased bread pans (4 1/2 inch x 8 1/2 inch). Sprinkle Streusel Topping* over each loaf. (*see separate recipe) Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes and 300 degrees for 25 minutes.
Note: I’ve also used this recipe to make banana muffins, bake at 325 degrees for 25 minutes.







BANANA BREAD


I've baked banana bread for years, but my daughter Nicole gave me a recipe for a crunch topping that makes it even more delicious!


5 ripe bananas
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
¾ Cup margarine
1 ½ Cups sugar
2 teaspoons baking soda
3 Cups whole wheat flour
1 Cup chopped nuts
1 Cup raisins

Streusel Crunch Topping:
2/3 C. flour
½ C. walnuts or pecans, finely chopped
2/3 C. brown sugar
½ C. oatmeal
½ t. cinnamon
½ C. butter, melted.

Mix bananas, eggs, vanilla, and margarine thoroughly. Add remaining dry ingredients and blend thoroughly. Stir in optional raisins and nuts. Pour into 2 greased bread pans. Mix streusel crunch ingredients in a small bowl. Pour melted butter over the top and mix with a fork until resembles course crumbs. Sprinkle over batter. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes and 300 for 25 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. For muffins, bake at 325 degrees for 25 minutes.



BLUEBERRY COFFEE CAKE (PASTEL DE ARÁNDANOS)

2 c. flour
1 1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. butter or margarine
1 t. baking powder
2 eggs, separated
1 c. milk
1 t. vanilla
2 - 2 1/2 c. blueberries

Combine flour and sugar in electric mixer. Cut butter into small pieces, adding piece by piece while mixing on low speed, until flour mixture becomes crumbly. Reserve 3/4 c. crumb mixture for topping. To the remaining mixture, add baking powder and mix. Mix in blueberries. In another large mixing bowl, whisk the egg whites until soft peaks form. Set aside. In small cereal bowl, combine egg yolks, milk and vanilla. Carefully stir wet mixture to dry mixture, some of batter may still be dry. Pour batter into egg whites and gently fold into the batter. Spoon batter into a greased 13×9 casserole dish. Sprinkle reserved crumb mixture over the blueberries. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 - 40 minutes, until lightly browned and fully cooked.

BLUEBERRY MUFFINS (MUFFINS DE ARÁNDANOS)








2 c. flour
1 1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. butter or margarine
1 t. baking powder
2 eggs, separated
1 c. milk
1 t. vanilla
2 - 2 1/2 c. blueberries

Combine flour and sugar in electric mixer. Cut butter into small pieces, adding piece by piece while mixing on low speed, until flour mixture becomes crumbly. Set aside 1/2 c. crumb mixture for topping. To the remaining mixture, add baking powder and mix. Stir in blueberries. In another large mixing bowl, whisk or beat the egg whites until soft peaks form. Set aside. In small cereal bowl, combine egg yolks, milk and vanilla. Carefully stir wet mixture to dry mixture, some of batter may still be dry. Pour batter into egg whites and gently fold into the batter. Spoon batter into well- greased muffin tins. Sprinkle each muffin with reserved crumb mixture. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes, or until lightly browned and fully cooked. (Makes 12- 18 muffins) Muffins tend to stick to pan.



BREAD MACHINE


I've been baking and baking since I had my children home for the holidays (2010) - I
finally tried the whole wheat, based on the original variations I read posted on

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Best-Bread-Machine-Bread/Detail.aspx

I omitted the gluten, powdered milk, and didn't use "bread flour" although the comment said it was "essential" it be bread flour - simply because I didn't happen to have it on hand. It came out excellent and the family thought it tasted better than the white bread... So I baked another loaf.

Shared it at the monthly DUP meeing and as I said there, "wow - I feel like I'm Patrice Ringger because everyone is asking for my recipe!" Doesn't happen very often and I'm happy to share. Patrice suggested I try using the dough setting and making rolls.

The whole wheat bread machine recipe of the bread I shared at the DUP meeting today is the second recipe, but the white bread is just as good. I mill my own wheat so it tends to be a bit courser than store bought. But the bread was soft and great for sandwiches, French toast, etc.... I am new at this bread machine adventure and had tried several recipes. This one rises and is soft and delicious. I added the brown sugar. I am not sure if it is the ingredients or if it's the method that makes this recipe successful. I have a feeling it's having the yeast activate for 15 min that does the trick. If it doesn't foam up much, I wait longer. My machine looks like in the photo and I just press start. I've never tried doing anything except plugging it in and pressing start.


Here is my recipe

Best Bread Machine Recipe
Adapted by Amelia for Whole Wheat


WHOLE WHEAT SUGGESTIONS:

1-1/3 cups warm water (about 115°)
3.5 tsp bread machine yeast
1/4 cup sugar
2 Tbl brown sugar

1/4 cup oil
2 cups flour
2 cups whole wheat flour
2 tsp salt

Place the water, sugars and yeast in the pan of the bread machine. Let the yeast dissolve and foam for 20 minutes. Add the oil, flour and salt to the yeast.
Select Basic or White Bread setting, and press Start.



BUÑUELOS (for Posadas)



¾ Cup milk
¼ Cup butter
2 eggs, beaten
3 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
oil for frying
cinnamon sugar

In sauce pan melt butter in milk and cool. Stir in beaten eggs. In separate bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, and salt. Add milk mixture and mix well. Knead until smooth. Shape into 20 balls and let rest 5 minutes. Roll each into a 4-inch circle. Fry in deep hot fat until lightly browned, turning once. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.

CHICKEN or BEEF ENCHILADAS w WHOLE WHEAT














3 lbs chicken
[or 1 lb ground beef]
1 cup cooked whole wheat
1/2 onion
16 oz tomato sauce
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp. salt
dash cayenne pepper
1 lb Monterey Jack cheese
1 lb cheddar cheese

Boil chicken at a high boil for 30 minutes. Skin, bone, and shred with fork. Stir in cooked whole wheat. (see separate recipe for cooked wheat) [If using beef, brown ground beef with cooked whole wheat, drain fat. ] Combine meat with onion. Heat tomato sauce and spices. Grate and combine cheeses. Heat tortilla on skillet, fill with 2 tablespoon filling and some cheese. If too much filling is used, they don’t stay rolled. Roll and place in 9x13 casserole. Pour tomato sauce on top and additional cheese. Garnish with black olives. Bake for 30 min, at 350 covered with foil.

CINNAMON FEATHER LIGHT MUFFINS

1/3 Cup shortening
½ Cup sugar
1 egg
1 ½ Cups flour
1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
½ cup milk
½ cup sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ cup butter, melted

In a mixing bowl, cream shortening, sugar and egg. In separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder, salt, and nutmeg. Add dry mixture to creamed mixture carefully alternating with milk, just until damp. Fill greased muffin tins 2/3 full. Bake at 325 for 20- 25 minutes or until golden. Let cool for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, combine sugar and cinnamon. Roll warm muffins in melted butter and then in cinnamon sugar. Make 8-10 muffins.

CORNBREAD

1 Cup flour
1 Cup cornmeal
¼ Cup sugar
1/2 tsp salt
4 teaspoons baking powder
2 eggs
1 Cup milk
¼ Cup oil

Combine all the dry ingredients in one bowl and the wet ingredient in another. Slowly and carefully combine the two mixtures, but do not over-beat or the bread will fall during baking or not rise. Pour into greased 9x9 inch square pan or 12-muffins tin. Bake at 475 degrees for 20-25 minutes. (muffins only 15 min)

CROISSANT CINNAMON ROLL

4 to 5 cups bread flour
¼ cup shortening
¼ cup dry milk
1 tablespoons sugar
¼ teaspoon salt
2¼ cups water
3 packs ( ¼ -ounce each) dry yeast

Roll-in butter:
4 sticks cold butter
1/8 cup bread flour sifted
Cinnamon/sugar

mix:
1 cup sugar
1 tablespoon cinnamon

Sift the bread flour and set aside. Dissolve yeast in warm water (110 to 115 degrees). Cream the shortening, dry milk, sugar and salt. Alternately add the yeast/water mix and bread flour to the creamed shortening. Add the extra -cup if flour seems really sticky. Let dough rest for 30 minutes in a bowl in the refrigerator. While dough rests, mix together the roll-in butter and flour until smooth. After dough has rested, roll out dough to a rectangle, about 16 inches by 12 inches on a floured surface. Roll out butter mixture to about ¼ -inch thickness on a floured surface. Pick it up and maneuver it on top of the dough. It should be smaller than 16 inches by 12 inches because you want to leave a 1-inch border around the dough. (The butter has to be cold enough to roll out, which can be tricky. You can add a little more flour to the butter or try putting it back into the refrigerator, but if you really can't get the butter to roll out, use a spatula and spread it over the dough.) Do a tri-fold. Fold the dough on one short side over the middle, then the second short side over that. Roll out dough lengthwise to same size as before.
Fold again. Place dough on floured sheet pan, cover and let rest in refrigerator for 30 minutes. Repeat tri-fold method once more.
Roll out dough to rectangle once more. Brush melted butter (lightly) over entire rectangle.
Sprinkle cinnamon-sugar mixture over entire rectangle.
Roll dough tightly (like a jellyroll) or as you would for cinnamon rolls. Cut roll into -inch or 1-inch pieces, depending on size of roll desired. You will have a loose end on each piece; tuck loose end underneath each roll. Let rise on baking sheet until doubled in size, 45 minutes to 1 hour. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes or until light brown. Prepare caramel and spread on top after baking. Prepare cream cheese icing and spread on top. (You may use the caramel topping only.)
Makes 12 huge or 24 large buns.

FOR CARAMEL TOPPING:
1 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
¼ cup sugar
¾ cup honey
¼ cup heavy cream
Toasted pecans, optional
Combine butter, sugars and honey in a large pot. Bring to a boil.
Stir once or twice. Boil for 4 to 5 minutes (watch carefully to avoid scorching). Remove from heat and swirl in cream. Be very careful because hot mixture will splash up. Add pecans, if desired. Brush on hot rolls.
Brush with caramel sauce. Add the cream cheese.

FOR CREAM CHEESE ICING:
1 cup cream cheese
¼ cup butter, softened
2 to 3 tblspoons powdered sugar
Cream the cream cheese until soft. Add softened butter. Add powdered sugar to taste.

CUCHUCO (wheat soup)

Country of origin: Colombia














1 pound beef (ground or stewing)
1 large beef bone
2 1/2 quarts water
1 onion
3 sliced carrots
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 cup whole wheat (soaked in hot water overnight)
2 Tablespoons salt
2 potatoes peeled & cubed
1 cup fresh or frozen peas

Combine the beef, bone, water, onion, carrot, and garlic in a deep saucepan. Bring to a boil and skim the top carefully. Cook over medium heat for 1 hour. Add the cooked whole wheat stirring constantly. Cook over low heat for 30 minutes longer. Add the salt, potatoes, and peas. Cook for 20 minutes or until the potatoes are tender. The meat should be cut into small pieces and served in the soup.



DEE-LICIOUS WHOLE WHEAT BREAD
(from the Magic of Wheat Cookery Cookbook)


1 3/4 cup milk (scalded)
2 tsp salt
1/3 cup olive oil
1/3 cup honey
1/2 cup water
2 eggs
2 Tablespoons yeast
6 cups whole wheat flour, approximately

Mill 6 cups of whole wheat. Pour slightly cooled milk in mixing bowl. Add salt, oil, honey, water, eggs and yeast. Add 3 cups of whole wheat flour and blend together. Add 3 more cups of flour or enough to knead at the proper texture in the mixing bowl. Knead 10 minutes.
Cover with kitchen towel and let rise until doubled in bulk. Knead once again with dough hook, just until all the air is out of the dough. Form into loaves and place in a well-oiled bread pan. Let rise again until almost doubled in bulk. Put in a COLD oven and turn the temperature to 350 and bake for 1 hour. These loaves are very tender.

Note from Amelia:
I use this bread recipe to make “Cinnamon Break-aparts.” Instead of forming into loaves, I grab a small piece of the dough, roll in cinnamon-sugar, and place in a greased, round, glass casserole dish, ( Can also use a cake pan, loaf pan, or whatever you have.) I continue making little balls of dough and just place them on top of the previous, until all the dough is gone, filling whatever pan I’ve chosen to use. This creates a loaf of cinnamon rolls that you “break apart” to eat. If necessary I fill 2 pans. Bake as directed above. While still warm, I sometimes glaze the top with a mixture of 1 cup powdered sugar and a few drops of milk – just enough to make a runny consistency. I stir with a fork and then, as I wave the fork back and forth above the break, I allow the fork to drip glaze over the Break-aparts. Children love to pull these apart and eat as a snack or dessert with milk.

DINNER ROLLS for Nicole's Thanksgiving
(from the kitchen of Launa Haslam - teacher at South Jordan Elementary)
We made these on Thanksgiving 2009 at Nicole & Mandy's house. Mama came with us that year to Utah and had a glorious time. We did our traditional Thanksgiving hike and everyone enjoyed it. These rolls were absolutely wonderful! Can't eat just one!

1 cup sugar
1 cup margarine
3 cups milk
1 cup hot water
4 eggs
11 cups flour
4 1/2 Tablespoons SAF instant yeast
(Told it HAS to be SAF and can be bought at Trader Joes in California or Macey’s Grocery Store in Utah, or online, but I just used regular yeast and they came out fine.)
4 teaspoons salt

Combine margarine, milk, sugar, and water. Heat in microwave until
warm, about 2 - 3 minutes. (Do not get too hot.) Using a mixer with
bread hooks, start mixing. Add eggs and half of the flour. Mix well.
Add yeast and salt, continue mixing. Add remaining flour. When mixed
in, turn to high speed and let knead for 11 minutes. Let dough rise
in mixer for 5 to 10 minutes, until puffy. Turn out onto floured cloth
(or floured board) and divide into flour balls. Using a rolling pin,
roll first ball into a circle the size of a pizza. Using a pizza
cutter, cut circle into twelve wedges. To form a roll, take wedge of
dough, turn it over and flold in wide corners so they meet. Then roll
up like croissant. Place on 24 inch greased baking pan. Let rise about
15 minutes until puffy. Bake at 375 degrees for 12 - 15 minutes or
until dark golden brown. Rub top of hot rolls with squre of margarine.

SWEET ROLLS: The previous recipe is also good for sweet rolls. After
mixing, roll dough into a large rectangle. Spread dough with two
squares of softened butter or margarine and top it with either sugar
and cinnamon or brown sugar and cocount. Roll like a jelly roll. Cut
with string or dental floss about 1 inch thick. Place on greased pan
close to each other so they will rise tall and spread out flat. Bake
until dark golden brown. Let cool. Frost with cream cheese frosting.
(Beat: 8 oz cream, 1/2 cup butter, 2 lbs powdered sugar, 1 teaspoon
vanilla, drops of milk until it makes a fluffy consistancy.)

ENSALADA TROPICAL (fruit salad)

3 bananas
1/2 head of cabbage
1 can pineapple cubes (drain)
1 cup shredded coconut
1 cup cooked whole wheat
1 cup mayonnaise (or to your taste)

Peel and slice bananas into bowl. Shred cabbage thinly. Drain pineapple. Mix all ingredients together. Keep refrigerated until ready to serve. May add other seasonal fruits.

GLUTEN


9 cups whole wheat flour
4 1/2 cups warm water

Put flour and water in the mixing bowl and knead with dough hook for 10 minutes on low. Remove dough hook. Fill bowl with water, covering the dough. Knead gently by hand until water is white and starchy. Pour off starchy water into another bowl for future use. Remove dough mixture from bowl, a handful at a time. Place a colander in large container and knead dough by hand while singing under a trickle of warm tap water. As the starchy part washes out, the gluten will remain in your hand. It is a brown rubbery substance. Take about 10 minutes. Put the gluten in a colander or on a plate until you have washed all of the dough. Makes about 2 1/2 cups of gluten.

USES: Meat alternative or meat extender in stews, ground beef for spaghetti sauce, sloppy joes, enchiladas, or tacos. Stretch out gluten into pieces, clip with kitchen shears, stretch again and flavor. Can flavor gluten by kneading onion soup mix into dough or simmering in a hot beef soup base.

KING ARTHUR DINNER ROLLS

1 packet "highly active" active dry yeast; OR
2 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast; OR

2 1/2 teaspoons instant yeast
7/8 to 1 1/8 cups lukewarm water
3 cups Flour1 1/4 teaspoons salt
3 tablespoons sugar6 Tbl unsalted butter, room temperature
1/4 cup nonfat dry milk1/2 cup instant mashed potato flakes

If you're using active dry yeast, dissolve it with a pinch of sugar in 2 tablespoons of the lukewarm water. Let the yeast and water sit at room temperature for 15 minutes, until the mixture has bubbled and expanded. If you're using instant yeast, you can skip this step. Combine the dissolved yeast (or instant yeast) with the remainder of the ingredients. Mix and knead everything together—by hand, mixer or bread machine set on the dough cycle—till you've made a smooth dough. If you're kneading in a stand mixer, it should take 5 to 7 minutes at second speed, and the dough should barely clean the sides of the bowl, perhaps sticking a bit at the bottom. In a bread machine (or by hand), it should form a smooth ball. Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl. Cover the bowl, and allow the dough to rise, at room temperature, until it's nearly doubled in bulk, about 1 hour. Rising may take longer, especially if you've kneaded by hand. Give it enough time to become quite puffy. While the dough is rising, lightly grease two 9" round cake pans, or a 9" x 13" pan. Gently deflate the dough, and transfer it to a lightly greased work surface. Divide it into 16 pieces. Shape each piece into a rough ball by gathering the dough in the back of the roll as to create a somewhat smooth top by pinching the dough together with your finger tips., then rolling it under the palm of your hand into a smooth ball. Place eight rolls in each of the round cake pans (or all 16 rolls in the 9" x 13" pan), spacing them evenly; they won't touch one another. Cover the pan(s) with lightly greased plastic wrap, and allow the rolls to rise till they're very puffy, and have reached out and touched one another, about 1 hour. While the rolls are rising, preheat the oven to 350°F. Bake the rolls until they're a deep golden brown on top, and lighter on the sides, about 25 minutes.

KOLACHES

(adapted from recipes found in Texas Monthly and the Houston Chronicle)

1 package of active dry yeast
1 cup of warm milk
1/4 cup sugar
3 cups of all-purpose flour
2 eggs
3/4 cup of melted butter
1 teaspoon of salt

In a large bowl, combine yeast, warm milk, sugar and one cup of flour. Cover and let it rise until doubled in size. Beat together eggs, 1/2 cup of melted butter (reserve 1/4 cup for brushing on the pastry) and salt. Add egg mixture to yeast mixture and blend. Stir in about two more cups of flour, 1/2 cup at a time. The dough should be soft and moist. Knead dough for about 10 minutes on floured surface. Don't worry, it’s a joy to knead as the dough is smooth and highly malleable. Put dough in a greased bowl and let rise covered until doubled in size—about an hour. After dough has risen, punch it down and pull off egg-sized pieces. In your hands, roll pieces into balls and then flatten to about three inches in diameter. Brush with melted butter. Place flattened pieces on a greased cookie sheet, cover and let rise again for another half-hour. After second rising, with your finger gently make an indention in the center of the dough (be careful not to flatten it too much) and fill with one tablespoon of fruit filling (recipe to follow) and sprinkle with posypka (recipe to follow). Bake in oven at 375 degrees for 12 to 15 minutes. Brush with melted butter when you take them out of the oven and serve warm.

Kolache filling

1/2 pound of dried fruit such as apricots or prunes.
Sugar to taste
1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon
Lemon zest

Method:
Soak the dried fruit in water for a few hours or overnight.
When fruit is re-hydrated, cook on low for 15 minutes, adding sugar to taste (I find the fruit sweet enough so I don’t add sugar, but you may prefer it sweeter), cinnamon and lemon zest. Mash with a potato masher until you have a puree.

Posypka
Ingredients:
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
1 tablespoon butter
1/8 teaspoon cinnamon

Mix all ingredients until crumbly.

This recipe makes about 18 kolaches, depending on how large you make them. And the variations are endless. For additional flavor you can soak the dried fruit in tea such as Earl Grey or you could sprinkle goat cheese on the apricot kolaches before baking. You can also make sausage and jalapeno kolaches by wrapping the three-inch flattened piece of dough around a two-inch piece of sausage and a couple of pickled jalapeno slices.
From: http://homesicktexan.blogspot.com/2007/03/sweet-escape-kolaches.html





PICADILLO con trigo

(also called Goulash or Irish Stew – depending on your background)
6 potatoes
3 carrots
1 pound ground beef
1 cup cooked whole wheat
1/2 medium onion
1 bell pepper, sliced
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
8 oz. tomato sauce

Slice potatoes and carrots and place in boiling water. Meanwhile, Combine ground beef and cooked whole wheat (see separate directions for cooked wheat). Brown ground beef. Do not drain grease. Add chopped onion, bell pepper, and spices. Drain potatoes and combine with beef mixture. Stir in tomato sauce and cover until heated through. May be served topped with cheese and eaten with tortillas. There are various versions of this dish, as it is a dish used to present a dinner with “what’s left over.” So any fresh vegetables or meat may be added to recipe.


Pizza Dough "Cindy's"
from the kitchen of Angelique Edginton

1 Tbl yeast
1/4 cup warm tap water
2 Tbl sugar
2 Cups milk
1 Tbl butter
2 teaspoons salt (measure over sink)
5 - 6 cups of flour (Angelique highly recommends Gold Medal Flour)


Measure yeast, water, and sugar into mixing bowl.
Pour milk into a small microwavable bowl and place butter in milk. Microwave for approximately 30 seconds, just long enough to melt or soften butter.
(Angie said this is a great time to put away the ingredients you have already used. Cleaning up as you go keeps your kitchen organized.)
Add to milk to mixing bowl. Measure salt over the sink so when it spills over, you have one less mess to clean. Sprinkle into mixing bowl and start mixer.

If you are using a Bosch mixer:
Add 4 cups of flour and mix until the dough becomes sticky. Add 1 more cup of flour and continue mixing until it pulls away from the sides of the bowl. You may need to add a bit more of the flour.
If using a regular mixer:
Add 2 cups of flour and mix until sticky. Add 3 more cups of flour, 1/2 cup at a time, as it mixes until it pulls away from the side of the bowl.

Dough should be a bit sticky. Too much flour will result in a heavy or cracked pizza instead of a soft crust.

Flour note: Angie said that they tried using a different brand of flour and Gold Medal flour really did make a difference. She said it’s worth the extra price to have a good product.

Flour board and lightly knead for a few minutes, adding only as much flour as necessary to make dough soft and easier to work with. You may not need to use all 6 cups of flour.

Divide dough in half. Stretch out with your hands and place on greased cookie sheet or pizza pan, or ungreased pizza stone.

Add pizza sauce, cheese, and your choice of toppings. Bake at 350 for 10 – 12 min. For a crispier crust, bake at 425. Makes 2 large pizza's. May also cut small 3-oz. pieces, about the size of your fist, to create individual pizzas.



POPPYSEED MUFFINS
(Cyndi Olsen shared this recipe when I organized a muffin exchange)



3 c. flour
2 1/4 c. sugar
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 cup poppyseeds
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 tsp. almond extract
1 1/2 tsp. butter extract
3 eggs
1/8 c. (2 T) oil
1 cup applesauce
1 1/2 c. milk
Sliced almonds to top muffins with (optional)

Blend dry ingredients, except for almonds, in large bowl. Add remaining ingredients. Mix by hand. Put in well greased (I used spray olive oil) or paper lined muffin tins. Fill almost full, 1/4 cup. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes. Yield: 24 plus. Freezes well.

SKY HIGH BISCUITS(biscochos)




3 Cups flour
4 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
2 Tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1/2 Cups butter
1 egg
1 Cup milk
1 extra egg, beaten

In a bowl combine flour, baking powder, sugar salt and cream of tartar. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse cornmeal. In separate bowl beat egg and milk thoroughly. Keeping the dry & wet ingredients up to this point is important. Make a well in the middle of the flour, pour in milk-egg mixture, stirring quickly and briefly. Knead lightly on floured board. Add as little flour as possible. Roll or pat gently to 1 inch thickness. Cut into 1-2 inch biscuits using a biscuit cutter or a glass dipped in flour. Separate on a cookie sheet. (To make biscochos, brush biscuits with beaten egg, using a pastry brush. This will create a shiney finish to the bread.) Bake for 12-15 minutes at 350 – 275 depending on your oven.

SOPA DE TORTILLA con Trigo

(Whole Wheat Tortilla Soup)
1 lb ground beef
1 cup cooked whole wheat
1/2 medium onion
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cumin
4 cups water
1 (16 oz) can corn
1 (16 oz) can green bean
1 (16 oz) can kidney beans
12 tortillas, cut & fried
avocado

Combine ground beef and cooked whole wheat (see separate directions for cooked wheat). Brown ground beef. Mix in diced onion and sprinkle with spices. Stir until onion appears clear. Add 4 cups water, bring to boil. Add vegetables. Simmer for 30 min or more.
Cut up tortillas into strips. Fry in oil.
Place tortilla strips in bottom of bowl and serve soup over tortilla strips.
Garnish with slices of avocado & hot sauce.

SOPAPILLAS
Joanne Ross (from Better Homes & Gardens, Mar 1965)

When I was organizing a monthly cooking group in my home, Joanne came over and taught us how to make these. This recipe is a traditional Mexican recipe, but I had never made them before.

2 cups all purpose flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon shortening
1/2 cup lukewarm water

Serve with honey!

Cut in shortening with dry ingredients till shortening resembles corn meal. Gradually add water, stirring mixture with fork. (Dough will be crumbly.) Turn dough out on lightly floured surface; knead till smooth ball is formed. Divide in half; let stand for 10 minutes. Roll each half to 10x12 1/2 inch rectangle, about 1/16 inch in thickness. Cut in 2 1/2 inch squares. Fry 3 or 4 at a time in deep hot fat (400') about 30 seconds on each side. Drain on paper toweling. Roll sopapillas in cinnamon and sugar mixture (2 teaspoons cinnamon to each 1/2 cup sugar). Makes about 40 sopapillas. (I like to tear off corner and pour in small amount of honey. My children loved to have these as a treat with hot chocolate on cold winter evenings.)

STONE GROUND 100% WHOLE WHEAT MUFFINS


1/4 cup shortening
1/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
3 teaspoons baking powder
2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cup milk

Cream together shortening and sugar. Add eggs and beat well. In separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder, salt. Stir into creamed mixture alternately with milk. Stir only enough to dampen flour. Over mixing will cause the muffins to not rise. Gently fill greased muffin pans 2/3 full. You can either bake at this point or sprinkle Streusel Topping* over each muffin. (*see separate recipe) Place in cold oven and bake for 25 minutes at 400 degrees. Makes 12 muffins.

*Streusel Topping (optional, if you want sweet muffins) Nicole Miles
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
3 Tablespoons whole wheat flour
2 Tablespoons butter
1/3 cup chopped walnuts

In small bowl combine sugar and flour using a pastry blender or forks. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in walnuts. Sprinkle over bread, muffins, or rolls before baking. Variation: I’ve also added 1 package of flavored instant oatmeal to the flour mixture. The fruit-flavored ones are my favorite.


TORTILLAS DE HARINA (flour tortillas)





4 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup shortening or margarine
very cold water

Stir salt and baking powder into flour. Cut shortening into flour mixture until it resembles cornmeal. (shortening or lard makes the softest tortillas) Add water 1/8 cup at a time or less until it forms a dry dough. The water must be very cold in order for dough to be easier to work with. Roll into 1 inch balls. Roll out with rolling pin until very flat. Cook in a skillet using medium high heat until tortilla rises forming air pockets. Turn over once to cook opposite side.




TORTILLAS DE MAIZ (corn tortillas)

4 Cups masa harina flour(flour for making tortillas or tamales)
1/2 cup shortening or margarine
3 cups water

Cut shortening into flour until it resembles cornmeal. Add water 1/8 cup at a time or less until it forms a dry dough. If it is too moist, it will stick and not make tortillas. Roll into 1 inch balls, flatten by pressing between hands or using a tortilla press. Cook in a skillet using medium high heat. Turn over once to cook opposite side. Note: various brands of tortilla flour can be found in the Mexican food section of your grocery store.

WAFFLES







1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
2 eggs
1-3/4 cups milk
1/4 cup cooking oil or butter, melted
1 teaspoon Mexican vanilla

Plug in waffle maker. In a medium bowl stir together flour, sugar, and baking powder. In a small bowl beat eggs. Stir in milk, oil, and vanilla. Add egg mixture all at once to flour mixture. Mix well.Use a ladle to pour about a 1/2 cup batter onto grids of a small "Purchased-at-Walmart-the-day-after-Thanksgiving-for-$5" waffle maker. Close lid. Bake for about 4 minutes. When done, use a fork to lift waffle off grid. Makes about 12 square waffles.

Variation: Buttermilk Waffles:Prepare as above, except reduce baking powder to 1 teaspoon and add 1/2 teaspoon baking soda. Substitute 2 cups buttermilk or sour milk for the milk.

WHOLE WHEAT PINTO BEAN BREAD


2 ½ cups lukewarm water
1 package dry yeast
3 Tablespoons honey
3 Tablespoons corn oil
2 ½ teaspoons salt
1 cup thoroughly mashed or liquified cooked pinto beans
¾ cup mashed potatoes
3 cups unbleached white flour
4 cups whole wheat flour

soften yeast in 2 ½ cups warm, not hot, water, then add honey and 1 cup white and 2 cups whole wheat flour. Mix. Cover. Set in a warm place until light and spongy. Beat in remaining ingredients with wooden spoon except 1 cup white flour. Turn out on floured board and knead in last cup of white flour. Continue to knead for seven minutes. Set aside to double in bulk. Shape into amount of each loaf desired. Set on board and cover with towel. Leave 10 minutes. Grease pans, then shape into loaves and place in pan. Cover and let rise until bread does not spring back when pressed with finger. Place in preheated oven and bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes. Then reduce heat. Bake at 350 degrees until nicely brown. (about 40 minutes).

Whole Wheat Zucchini/Pumpkin Bread



2 1/2 c. wheat flour
1/2 c. corn meal
2 t. baking soda
1 t. ginger
1 1/2 t. cinnamon
1/2 t. cloves
1/2 t. nutmeg
1/2 t. salt
2/3 c. oil
2 c. unrefined sugar
2 c. zucchini or mashed pumpkin (or a combination)
4 eggs
2/3 c. water
1 c. raisins or currants (optional)
1/2 c. walnuts (optional)

Mix wet ingredients first -- add dry ingredients. Stir in raisins &/or walnuts, if desired. Pour into 4 mini-loaf pans or 2 full loaf pans. Bake full loaves at 350 degrees for 1 hour (mini-loaves for about 45 minutes). You can also make these into muffins -- bake for more like 15-20 minutes. You can even scoop them onto a baking sheet for cookies -- bake for 8-10 minutes.

LINKS TO LEARN ABOUT USING WHOLE WHEAT

WHOLE GRAIN COUNCIL RECIPES & SUGGESTIONS
Maybe you've begun eating whole grain breakfast cereals and whole wheat bread, or tried brown rice once or twice. That's a good start… but now it's time to learn about the universe of new tastes you've been missing out on.
http://www.wholegrainscouncil.org/recipes

EATING WELL HEALTHY RECIPES
Whole grains provide a healthy boost of vitamins, minerals, fiber, antioxidants and phytonutrients and are also rich in carbohydrates, the body’s main fuel supply—no wonder we need to eat more grains.
http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/collections/healthy_whole_grains_recipes.html












WHOLE GRAIN RECIPES 101
I focus primarily on natural, whole foods and ingredients.
http://www.101cookbooks.com/whole_grain_recipes/

WHOLE WHEAT COUNCIL RECIPES
Looking for more delicious and nutritious wheat-based recipes?http://www.wheatfoods.org/Recipe-Recipe/Index.htm





HILLBILLY HOUSEWIFE WHOLE GRAIN RECIPES
Processed food, including processed flour aren't really all that good for you, so I've gotten into the habit of using mostly whole what flour. We now enjoy its more complex and nutty taste. Give it a try and see if your family doesn't enjoy this healthier variety as well. Here are some great recipes to get you started.
http://www.wheatfoods.org/Recipe-Recipe/Index.htm

RECIPE LAND WHOLE GRAIN RECIPES
http://www.recipeland.com/category/view/?cid=127



LISTING OF CROCKPOT RECIPES FROM 50 PLUS COOKING CLUB
Crock pots give busy families the opportunity to use whole foods & grains, toss them in the crock and come home to a great tasting dinner. Here is a link to a website that contains 100's of recipes using a crockpot.
http://www.50plusfriends.com/cookbook/index.html


LISTING OF BREAD RECIPES FROM THE 50 PLUS COOKING CLUB
http://www.50plusfriends.com/cookbook/breads/index-3.html