Recipes Using Grains

You can store certain grains like white rice, wheat, and oatmeal for up to 30 years. But, instead of letting them sit on your shelf, try adding these dishes into your family meals, and learn to use your grains now.

White rice: Try cooking rice in chicken broth instead of water. Mix diced onion and garlic in with the rice as it begins to cook. Both options make rice much more flavorful.

Horchata

Ingredients

1 cup long-grain rice, rinsed

2 quarts water

1 cinnamon stick, broken into pieces

1 teaspoon vanilla

½ cup white sugar

Directions

·         In a large saucepan, combine rice, water, and cinnamon stick. Set aside for 3 hours.

·         After 3 hours, bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 30 minutes. Allow to cool.

·         Puree rice mixture in a blender until smooth. Strain through cheesecloth or a fine sieve. Flavor with vanilla and sugar to taste. Chill, and serve over ice.

Wheat: Most of us grind up wheat to make bread, but cracked wheat berries can be cooked whole (like cooking rice) to make bulgar or they can be sprouted.

Sprouted Wheat

Ingredients

Water

Whole wheat berries

Directions

·         Place 2/3 cup wheat berries in a bowl with 1 cup water. Stir to coat grains with water.

·         Let berries soak for 6 to 12 hours.

·         Drain by pouring through a strainer, and place wet berries into a quart-sized glass canning jar.

·         Place a stocking or piece of breathable fabric over the top of the jar and use a rubber band to hold it in place. It is important that air can get into the jar..

·         Let the berries sit for 8 to 12 more hours.

·         Rinse and drain them again.

·         Repeat the last two steps once more.

·         The berries should have little sprouts by this point and can be dried, ground, and used in bread recipes or puréed into a healthy and tasty cereal.

Oatmeal: Try using oatmeal to hold together your meatloaf or meatballs instead of breadcrumbs. Try making oatmeal in your crockpot. This oatmeal cookie recipe was too good not to include.

The Shipp’s Oatmeal Cookies (FavFamilyRecipes.com)

Ingredients

3/4 c. shortening

1 1/4 c. firmly packed brown sugar

1 egg

1 1/2 tsp. vanilla

1/3 c. milk

BEAT UNTIL CREAMED THEN ADD:

3 cups quick oats

1 cup flour

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. cinnamon

Directions

·         Mix at low speed just until blended. Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls unto cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes.

·         We add different extras to the cookie base, this time we did milk chocolate chips and toasted coconut and they were really yummy. Other yummy versions:

·         butterscotch chips

·         mini peanut butter cups

·         white chocolate chips with macadamia nuts

·         raisins

·         m&m's

·         white chocolate and dried cranberry

·         chocolate, mini marshmallows, and chopped almonds