Archive for the ‘Berries’ Category
Creative Wheat Berry Minestone Soup
Let your imagination go wild when cooking with hard red wheat berries. I recently found this unique recipe that is a healthy nutritious food. Give this recipe a try and your family will be asking you to make this soup often.
Hard red wheat berries are high in protein, minerals and vitamins.
Wheat Berry Minstone Soup
2 Tbsp. canola or olive oil
1 lb. hamburger
3/4 cup chopped onions
1 cup chopped celery
1 1/2 quarts water
1 Tbsp. beef bouillon crystals
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/4 tsp oregano
1 cup green beans or peas
1/2 cup kidney beans
1 cup hard red wheat berries
1 cup sliced zucchini
1/2 cup shredded cabbage
1/2 cup sliced carrots
1/2 cup minced parsley
1 [15 oz.] can Italian-flavored stewed tomatoes
Brown hamburger and onions in oil; drain grease and add celery, water and beef bouillon. Cover and simmer slowly until celery is tender. Add all remaining ingredients. Cover and simmer for 15 t0 30 minutes.
Makes 8 to 10 servings.
The Facts About Organic Wheat Berries
Organic wheat berries are known to contain 50% more nutrients, minerals and vitamins than non organic wheat berries. Organic food also retains the levels of nutrients much longer.
Our bodies will be more resistant to disease as it will have higher levels of the essential nutrients it needs to fight off infection.
You will have more energy through consuming lower levels of toxins and chemicals that slow the body down.
The average non organic food contains more than 20 pesticides.
Organic wheat berries have a fuller flavor and retains its flavor much longer.
Organic wheat berries are a healthy food and can be used in salads, casseroles and baking bread.
Start using organic wheat berries in cooking for your family and provide them with nutritious healthy food.
Hard Red Wheat Berries Make Great Salads
Hard red wheat berries make great salads. They are served cold and you can use a variation of healthy food. You can create your salad by adding a combination of natural healthy food.
Hard red wheat berries give a nutty taste, delightful to your taste buds.
Here is how to cook wheat berries:
Put 1 cup of hard red wheat berries in 3 1/2 cups water in a medium pot. Add 1 tsp. salt and bring to a boil. Cook 1 hour or until berries are bursting and chewy. Remove from heat. Cool until ready to use.
Here are some ideas for the ingredients along with the hard red wheat berries. Use your imagination.
Choose your ingredients [a couple of portions] of the following:
1. 1/2 cup nuts or olives: e.g. toasted pecans, toasted walnuts, kalamata, black olives or green olives.
2. 1 cup summer vegetables: e.g. diced cucumber, tomato, sweet peppers, blanched peas, sauteed zucchini, summer squash, roasted beets or diced avocado.
3. 1/2 cup sweet fruit: e.g. segmented oranges, segmented grapefruit, raisins, currants or dried cranberries.
4. 1 cup summer greens: e.g. arugula, watercress, wilted chard or spinach.
Choose your FLAVOR PAIRINGS [one of each]
1. 2 Tbsps. Mediterranean herb: e.g. parsley, mint. oregano, margoram, basil, dill or cilantro.
2. 1 tsp. citrus juice: e.g. lime, lemon, orange or grapefruit.
3. 2 Tbsps. vinegar: e.g. cider vinegar or red wine vinegar.
4. Salt
5. Freshly ground black pepper
6. 3 Tbsps. extra virgin olive oil
Add, if you like:
1. 3 oz. cheese: e.g. cubed feta, mozzarella or crumbled goat cheese.
2. 1 allium: e.g. 1 diced shallot, 1 minced clove garlic or 1/2 red onion, diced.
3. Spice: e.g. 1 tsp. cumin or 1/4 tsp. cayenne.
4. 1 tsp. something sweet: e.g. maple syrup or honey.
Our creative wheat berry salad was made using wheat berries, watercress, arugula, cucumber, green olives, red onion, mint and crumbled feta.
Now, have fun creating your very own hard red wheat berries salad; and enjoy eating this great healthy food.
The Story Of Whole Grain
Whole grain contains valuable antioxidants not found in fruits and vegetables. It is a healthy food, high in protein and fiber.
A whole grain is a grain that has its outer covering, which is nutritiously rich in vitamins, minerals and fiber. Hard red wheat berries are whole grain.
There are three parts to a whole grain; the outer bran, the middle endosperm and the small inner germ.
The outer bran layer is rich in protein, fiber, B vitamins such as thiamine, riboflavin, niacin and folacin; and minerals such as zinc, copper, magnesium and iron.
The endosperm layer provides some protein, B vitamins and almost all of the complex carbohydrates nutrition.
The small, inner germ layer is bursting with antioxidants, B vitamins, vitamin E and minerals.
Together the nutrients of the hard red wheat berries work to protect against heart disease, diabetes and cancer. They have a positive effect on carbohydrate metabolism and help improve blood sugar control.
Eating Healthy Dried Beans
Cooking healthy food can provide you with a healthier, more enjoyable lifestyle. Cooking your own food at home is more economical and gives you the freedom to select good quality ingredients to maintain adequate nutrition and recommended vitamins and minerals.
Dried beans are high in fiber, high in protein and low in fat and calories. Start cooking healthy food today and enjoy making this delicious recipe using dried beans.
Broccoli Bean Bake
1 1/2 cup cooked dried northern beans
6 cups broccoli florets
1 small onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
3 Tablespoons butter or margarine
1 teaspoon oregano
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
2 cups [8 oz] shredded cheddar cheese
3 Tablespoons dry bread crumbs
Cook dried northern beans according to directions; then drain.
Place broccoli in a saucepan in 1 inch of water. Bring to a boil, then cover and simmer for 5-8 minutes or until crisp-tender.
In a skillet, saute onion and garlic in 1 Tablespoon butter. Spread in a greased 11 x 7 x 2 baking dish.
Drain broccoli and place over onion mixture.
Top with beans. Sprinkle with oregano, salt, pepper, cheese and bread crumbs.
Melt remaining butter and pour over the top.
Bake uncovered at 375 degrees for 20 minutes or until heated through.
Makes 8 servings
Why Are Organic Wheat Berries Healthy?
The most important reason organic wheat berries are healthy are because they are grown in organic soil.
Feeding the soil with organic matter of ammonia and other synthetic fertilizers has proven to increase nutrients in organic wheat berries, with higher levels of vitamins and minerals.
Growing commercial wheat berries in soil with chemical fertilizers has taken its toll with a loss of top soil. There also is a disturbing loss of micro nutrients and minerals in the wheat berries.
Organic wheat berries have a fuller flavor and are lower in nitrates and higher in antioxidants.
Organic wheat berries can be cooked as a whole grain cereal or pilaf, sprouted for salads, juiced, or milled into flour with your home miller.
Whole Grain Wheat Berries
What are whole grain wheat berries? Whole grain is a grain that still has its outer covering which is nutritionally rich in vitamins, minerals and fiber.
These grains are composed of nutritious carbohydrates which are made with all three parts of the grain.
The outer bran layer is important because it is rich in protein, fiber, B vitamins such as thiamine, riboflavin, niacin and folacin, and minerals such as zinc, copper, magnesium and iron.
The middle endosperm layer provides protein, B vitamins and almost all of the complex carbohydrate nutrition.
The small inner germ layer is bursting with antioxidants, B vitamins, Vitamin E and minerals.
Together, the nutrients of the whole grain work to protect against heart disease, diabetes, cancer and weight control. Whole grains have a positive effect on carbohydrate metabolism and help improve blood sugar control.
People who eat whole grains regularly have a lower risk of obesity and lower cholesterol levels. By eating three daily servings of whole grains our bodies are protected against disease and improve our immune system which in turn stabilizes the blood sugar level.
Whole grains are a nutritious healthy food that have valuable antioxidants not found in fruits and vegetables as well as B vitamins, vitamin E, magnesium, iron and fiber.
Start eating whole grain wheat berries and for a longer healthier lifestyle.
Healthy Nutritious Organic Wheat Berries
Organic wheat berries are a healthy food with more nutrition and flavor than other wheat berries. Studies have proven that organic food has increased nutrients with higher levels of vitamins and minerals.
Organic food products reduce health risks. Organic certification is our assurance that products have been grown and handled according to strict procedures without persistent chemical inputs.
There are higher levels of antioxidants in organic food.
Studies show that infants are exposed to hundreds of harmful chemicals in utero. Our nation is now reaping the results of four generations of exposure to agricultural and industrial chemicals. Pesticides can adversely affect the nervous system, increase the risk of cancer and decrease fertility.
Let us start today eating organic wheat berries. They are great for cooking and baking. They are a nutritious flavorful healthy food.
What Are Hard Red Wheat Berries
What are hard red wheat berries? Wheat berries are the whole kernels of wheat. They can be cooked and eaten like rice or can be added to rice. Wheat berries, red or white, can be ground to make whole wheat bread, or can be added as whole wheat in bread dough.
Wheat berries are in the USDA’s top food pyramid. Grains are the world’s plentiful food and take first place in the diet of nearly every culture.
Hard red wheat berries are more nutritious and more flavorful than other wheats.
Wheat berries are the top grain in American diets. Not only is it the most plentiful - stretching over the middle of the United States - it is one of the most versatile grains.
Wheat berries have the unique baking value of protein gluten which is the elastic substance that sticks together. This protein gluten allows the bread to rise and holds its shape.
Wheat berries are rated according to the “hardness” of the grain, which is determined by the amount of gluten it contains. Harder wheat has more gluten therefore having a higher protein to carbohydrate ratio. Hard wheat berries are used in bread and pasta.
Grind Whole Wheat Berries
Whole wheat berries are a nutritious healthy food but the vitamins and mineral dissipate quickly once the wheat has been ground into flour.
Within the first 24 hours the flour has lost 45% of its nutrients and by 72 hours it has lost a whopping 90% of the nutritional value of the whole wheat berries.
No wonder we have to take nutritional supplements to get our daily required nutrition.
Grinding your own whole wheat berries will give you optimum nutritious healthy food as well as the wonderful freshly ground taste of whole wheat berries.
Start enjoying the benefits of grinding whole wheat berries today.