FriendshipGarden

michael · super moderator Joined: 13 Oct 2007 Posts: 981

So did you reach for that box of overprocessed trash? I don't have that in my house. They bring in critters like the grain moth. Let's see, I have cornmeal, large flaked oats and spelt. I have heard that oatmeal is good for lowering cholesterol. So what are you cooking up in the way of wholesome grains? Do you do it often?

Here is a suggestion: all those grains the cereal boxes tout as so good for you are available at many health food stores, or even better conventional grocery stores, so why not cook them up in their unprocessed form for breakfast!

Grains like millet, oats, spelt, kamut and even rice can be made into tasty hot cereals with relative ease and speed (OK, some of them aren't the speediest in the world, but if you set the alarm 5 minutes earlier for prep and have them cooking while you're drying your hair, you won't even notice).

Before you go to bed throw some oats or millet or whatever in a bowl with some water. Wake up, drain 'em and stick 'em on the stove for 10 minutes or so with a pinch of unrefined sea salt in some water (don't use the soaking water for cooking or you defeat the point of soaking). When it's done add some dried fruit, butter or cream (the fat helps you assimilate all the vitamins from the grains and makes it into a complete protein), maybe some unpasteurized honey or some maple syrup and BLAZAM! You've got breakfast!

Article Here
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GardenTalker · Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2008 3:07 pm Post subject:

Sigh.... I cook oatmeal now and then but I like my cereal out of the box. I've switched to Total right now, but have heard than Bran Buds are one of the better cereals, health wise.
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CJ · Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2008 9:44 pm Post subject:

HI, I'm new here but I thought I would weigh in on this one, I've been on the whole grain thing for a couple years now and I think it makes a
difference. Even took to making my own bread, with a bread machine. You can at least control what is put in. I've been trying the oatmeal thing for a couple weeks now...I'm hoping it will make a difference when I have to to the doctor's again soon. Wink

GardenTalker · Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2008 1:52 pm Post subject:

Hey, jump right in, good to have you.
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Durgan · Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 3:55 am Post subject:

I cook for two minutes a bowlfull of large flattend oats every morning. This is eaten with whole milk and a little sugar.

Then I have a bowlfull of cooked and blended soy beans. This I have eaten for 25 or so years without fail, and am still kicking. Later in the day I drink my blended 'juice'.

Then my second meal of the day is whatever is going. I only eat two meal per day. Here is the method.

http://aewox.notlong.com A method of consuming more fruit and Vegetables.

The selection can be anything, that is available. My consumption is about a liter a day of the current mixture. The mixture keeps in the rerfrigerator with no sign of deterioration for about a week. Often a glassfull is taken with meals.

While visiting Japan about 30 years ago, I discovered the people were eating soy beans in various guises. The beans were roasted, fermented, and prepared in more a traditional manner. I preferred the fermented form, but this was not available in Canada.

Here is a description of the Japanese methods.
NATTO is a traditional Japanese food made from fermented soybeans, popular especially at breakfast. A rich source of protein, nattō and the soybean paste miso formed a vital source of nutrition in feudal Japan. For some, nattō must be an acquired taste due to its powerful smell, strong flavor, and sticky consistency.
http://eimiew.notlong.com Pictures, annotated of Natto making at home. The first effort. This I started recently, but I probably prefer the method below.

I decided to implement soy beans in my diet, and experimented until this method was incorporated.
http://ohtucu.notlong.com Pictures of the process.

About seven cups of dried soy beans are washed, boiled for about 10 minutes and washed again.
Some sugar and molasses is added and the beans are cooked by gently boiling for about six hours.
The beans are then blended in their own water and put in jars for refrigerated storage, until used.

These beans are eaten like cereal, along with flattened oats for breakfast daily. It makes a delicious, nurishing meal, and gives sufficient nutrients to last most of the day. This has replaced the tradition breakfast of bacon and eggs. I have been doing this for about 25 or more years.

I consume about a liter (cooked) in four days, and about 30 kilos per year. Buying in bulk 10 litre bags cost about 15 cents a kilogram. They are much more expensive buying in small quantities from a bulk food store.
Such is my experience.
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GardenTalker · Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 1:45 pm Post subject:

Wow - I'm impressed.... think I'll stick to my cereals and fruit Smile

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busyfingers · Joined: 20 Jan 2008 Posts: 7 Location: Ontario, Canada

This is my usual breakfast. I cook steel cut oats, enough to last about 4 days and store in the fridge.
After the oats are cooked I add a handful of raisins and dried cranberries. Each morning I take out some and heat up in the microwave and add soya milk, ground flax seed and cinnamon. I also take Norweigan cod liver oil, liquid and eat an orange immediately after. Sometimes I cook large flake rolled oats or Red River cereal and add all the things I have mentioned above. I feel this is very healthy and mid-morning I will have an apple or banana or some other fruit.
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michael · super moderator Joined: 13 Oct 2007 Posts: 981

Hi busyfingers. That is indeed healthy. I used to buy the Red River cereal you speak of, but didn't realize you could still buy it. What store do you buy in from or is it available in all grocery stores? Now I just get my grains at the Bulk Store. I get the steel cut oats and the large flaked rolled oats too. There is such a big selection.

Have you ever made cornmeal porridge? Add raisins, vanilla and a sweetner. I use honey (since I produce my own), to sweetner everything when needed.

Nice to have you here. Smile

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licquorice · super poster Joined: 13 Oct 2007 Posts: 111

busyfingers · Joined: 20 Jan 2008 Posts: 7 Location: Ontario, Canada

I buy steel cut oats at the Bulk Barn. Instead of being made into flakes the oats are cut into pieces. I use Scottish Oat meal that is similiar in texture and also get it at the Bulk Barn.

I would like to have the recipe for cornmeal porridge, Michael if you could post it for us here.

You are fortunate to have your own supply of honey. I use honey alot also and I understand a person should buy honey that is local to their area as that is the most benificial for ones health.
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York339 · Joined: 22 Nov 2007 Posts: 25 Location: Victoria, B.C.

One boiled egg, 2 sausage links, one slice of toast, glass of apple juice.
Cheers, York

michael · super moderator Joined: 13 Oct 2007 Posts: 981

cityms · Joined: 13 Oct 2007 Posts: 68 Location: Toronto, Ontario

Here in Ontario all those healthy grains - flax, kamut, amaranth, spelt and so on - are available in boxed cereal form at the Health Stores and are very nutritious, nor do they need to be cooked. Also Granola.
Sugar is minimised in natural grain cereals like these or honey or raw sugar are used in lesser quantities than commercial cereals.
Mind you, I too like my oats cooked in a light porridge in winter, it doesnt take long to cook with the natural quick cook oats.
Another healthy breakfast is a smoothie blended with whey powder and ground flax and/or flax oil, and a banana.

Prairie_gal · Joined: 11 Jan 2008 Posts: 54 Location: Alberta, Canada

Hi All,
Lately, I have been having yogurt, berries, and a FEW bran buds, mix....then a brisk 8km walk. Lots of water afterwards..... I can see the results already. Lunch salads, Supper whatever I want, in moderation.

Unfortunately, I do good in the summer and then fall into my bad "comfort food" habits. Vegitate, hibernate...,mode
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