Archive for the ‘Mill’ Category

Whole Grains; a vital part of a plant-based diet

The CDC, FDA and many other American government agencies are taking a serious look at supporting a plant-based diet. Why the sudden turn? Perhaps they are finally realizing that a plant-based diet has long time been recommended by experts in the fight against cancer, diabetes and obesity. All of which are hot topics and health concerns in America.

It's no secret that fruits and vegetables (in their most pure, unprocessed form) fall into the plant-based diet category (a blueberry pop tart is not a fruit). The issue gets a little cloudy with grains.

Organic Spelt

Grains are a plant and part of a plant-based diet if eaten WHOLE. Grains in the form of white, dead, processed flour are not the whole part of the plant that is meant to be consumed but only the endosperm (or starch) portion of the grain. White flour products do not qualify as part of a plant-based diet; whole grains do.

Much of the time the whole grain must be milled into flour for use, but the fact that the whole grain is being used means the entire plant is being consumed thus adding much needed nutrients to your plant-based diet. Grains used in this manner rather than white flour are the basis for the whole food pyramid.

For more information about why using the whole grain is best for your health as part of a plant-based diet, watch the following video: http://www.youtube.com/thewheatguy#p/u/42/y_GR4nLsLJs

Wondermill (electric) & Junior Deluxe (manual) MILLS ON SALE!

The sale will end August 31, 2010 or while supplies last!

wondermill The Wondermill (electric) Is down from $269.95 to $239.95 Save: 11% off and Shipping to the lower 48 US States is FREE

Jr. DeluxeThe Wonedermill Jr. Deluxe (manual) Is down from $219.95 to $199.95 Save: 9% off and Shipping to the lower 48 US States is FREE

Here's a vide to see my favorite hand mill in action….

As an authorized dealer we are at the mercy of the timing of the manufacturers (can't put items on sale until they do). I didn't want to hesitate to get you all the word as soon as I knew….

These will be on sale unil August 31, 2010 or while supplies last.
Often suply runs out before sales end…so you may not want to wait.
Call during business hours if you have questions: 828.536.4988
M-Th 9-5, Fri 9-4 Eastern Time

Why do I mill at home? – Part 1

Okay, I will be the first to admit it, I was not raised to be a domestic person. When I first heard of milling grain at home I was puzzled and thought it was a far fetched idea, time consuming and a big mess. It didn’t take me long to see how wrong I was.

One tip to answering those questions of ‘You do what?’ and ‘Why bother?’ is to know the two biggest benefits of milling at home. First are the health benefits and second are the storage/cost effect benefits. In this tip we will focus on the health reasons.

When grains are processed into flour for shelf storage, most of the grain ‘parts’ are removed to slow the spoilage time. When those things are removed, the flour is stripped of the Wheat Bran, Middlings, Wheat Germ and Wheat Germ oil. As we read that list – we see at least three things that are now sold in health food stores across the world. The Bran and Middlings provide the fiber (and more), the Germ and oil provide the vitamin E (and more), two things missing in the typical diet of the twentieth century.

The additives to ‘dead bagged flour’ can be just as bad or worse than what is missing. To make that white appearance, at first the manufacturers were actually using chlorine bleach! Now a new chemical has been approved., but chemicals are chemicals and not found IN the grain. Since the grain is stripped of so many nutrients in the processing – synthetic vitamins have been added. Personally, since I wouldn’t eat polyester, I also don’t want synthetic vitamins.

This is simply the tip of the health iceberg when it comes to the reason to mill grains at home. The list related to your families health goes on and on. Check out some of our other articles and studies for the healthy reasons to bother with milling at home. At least this is a tip to help you answer those questions when friends and family think you’ve slipped back into the dark ages.

Want more? Watch this vidoe:

Best Blessings!
Donna Miller, Owner of MILLERS GRAIN HOUSE

.

Tip #2 to milling grains for fresh flour – measuring.

Level off at the top to measure correctly!

Level off at the top to measure correctly!

Measure correctly to avoid excess flour after grinding.

One of the BIGGEST reasons for grinding grains is the immediate release of all those nutrients. If you end up with a cup or more of flour just sitting there, oxidizing, dying and loosing nutrients…it not only wastes precious fresh flour – it defeats the purpose. A good rule of thumb to follow is: Grains usually produce half again as much as you put in the mill. For example: 2 cups of grain will produce approximately 3 cups of flour. Write the amount of grain next to your recipe once you have perfected it. Waste not want not!

Basic Whole Wheat Bread: More than loaf bread

You can stretch your budget and your menu with the one basic bread recipe that we send out with every newsletter.

Freshly Milled Whole-wheat Hotdog Buns

Freshly Milled Whole-wheat Hotdog Buns

"How?" – you may ask. Simply look at the lump of dough differently.

The Basic "Fool Proof" Bread Recipe we send out second in our newsletter series can be shaped into:

~ Burger Buns
~ Hot Dog Buns
~ Hoagie Buns
~ Bread Sticks (filled and twisted or just plain, warm and toasty)
~ Bread Bowls for Chilli and Soups
~ and SO many more potentials….

Even once made they can become other things if not used up:
~ Croutons (any of the above)
~ Garlic Bread (best for the hot dog/hoagie buns)
~ Toasted Crackers (slice thin [if not split for burger or hot dog] and butter/toast)
~ Open Faced Cheese Bread (Top with mixed cheeses and broil) to go with soups

So even as simple as the ONE recipe may be. Don't get stuck with it ALWAYS just being a loaf of bread! Shape and use it in multiple ways!

Best Blessings!~
Donna Miller

Donna Miller is an author, teacher and entrepreneur. Her favorite roles are that of wife and mother to three home-school graduates. The Millers own and operate Millers Grain House which offers Organic and Chemical-free Whole Grains, Bosch Mixers, the NutriMill, instructional tutorials, recipes and more.

Savings on Grains and Supplies


OTHER VIDEOS...

Whole Wheat Pizza Crust Part-1

Whole Wheat Pizza Crust Part-2

Whole Wheat Pizza Crust Part-4

 

Organic Grain at LOW Co-op Prices

We are now offering Organic Whole Wheat, Spelt, Oats, Rice and Beans to the public at wholesale prices. 

We ship fresh "organically grown" whole grain right to your kitchen. We also offer electric and manual wheat mills and grain grinders for those who are interested in milling your wheat.

Join our e-mail list, and receive instant notification when we are offering specials, or get new items in. 

We will also send you some of our favorite fresh grain recipes and training tips for you to try.

 

Email:
Name:
  • What’s Wrong with a Typical Storage Food List?
    I got an email the other day from a loving and well meaning friend who was sharing how to buy storage food cheaply over time. It was a wonderful gesture and right in line with the need to prepare. Honestly, though, it got me thinking and wondering what’s wrong with the typical food storage list. […]
  • Water, water everywhere nor any a drop to drink.
    This line from the poem The Rime of the Ancient Mariner rings more true when thinking of surviving difficult times. As we’ve stated before in at least one email that has gone out to everyone who subscribes, water is more VITAL than food when surviving is the issue. A human body can last at least […]
  • Learning Survival Skills, Techniques and Planning
    Although I would not classify what our family does as being ‘Survivalists’, we do factor that portion of planning and preparing into our ‘Prepping’ lifestyle. The skills, tools, techniques and planning it takes to survive in difficult times have been lost due to the over abundance of conveniences. Even if you don’t plan on ‘roughing […]
  • Long-Term Workable Pantry TOOLS.
    It all sounds nice and good to say ‘Build a Long-Term Workable Pantry” but if you don’t know where to get the tools to do so, it can be a bit frustrating. Our hope is to give you some realistic options to choose from. We’ve touched on how to go about it and some steps […]
Milling Grains Radio Show
Get Adobe Flash playerPlugin by wpburn.com wordpress themes