Eat Grains

Archive for the ‘organic wheat’ Category

This could be either a really long post or a short and simple one. I'm not sure how it will turn out. What I mean is I could make it long, but the outcome is quite simple so it could be brief. Anyway, here goes nothing…. ?????? ????? ????

Several years ago I was diagnosed with gluten sensitivities and told to omit all gluten and wheat from my diet. Anyone who has had this diagnosis knows a couple of things: 1) the symptoms that brought the diagnosis and 2) the difficulty in giving up foods that contain gluten.

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The symptoms range from bloating, intestinal issues, and shortness of breath after eating, headaches, dizziness and foggy thought process. Sometimes the symptoms included are other bowel movement problems (ranging from both extremes) and skin rashes.

The choices? Well…there aren't many…and what there are cost a bundle.

For 3 months, I purchased odd replacements for breads and went without gluten while absolutely killing our grocery budget. The truth is, the foods didn't taste of feel (texture) good and they cost a LOT more than traditional foods that contained gluten. I was growing discouraged…and felt doomed to a life of restriction. ?????? ????? ????

Then I decided that to broaden my choices, I'd make things at home. After finding that most of the 'fours' I needed were either not available or were also too high in price, I decided to try milling at home to have access to the rice and bean flours needed. Some recipes were….okay….others….downright gross……but…..I gained one really amazing bit of relief!

I decided to mill my own wheat flour. I figured after several months of doing without, it was worth a try again. Much to my surprise, with my home milled, organic flour and only 4 more simple organic ingredients, I could eat bread with NO symptoms. NONE.

This leads me to my belief that it is not the gluten that is my problem. The problem is the PROCESSING of the wheat. The stripping of the flour or adding of synthesized ‘enrichments’ or the additives to the pre-baked bread or all three were what aggravate my insides.

To this day, years later, I can eat my OWN minimal ingredient home-milled bread with no problems, but have instant issues if I eat bread bought at the store or from a restaurant. This is just one of the reasons I keep home-milling.

My diagnosis of gluten sensitivity was key in leading me to eat healthier wheat!

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.

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This question came to me from a dear lady who has just grown leaps and bounds in her knowledge of eating healthy and caring for her family! Hopefully her question and the following answer will help inspire you to 'think outside the bread-box' and make more whole wheat breads for many options!

Question: " hi could you tell me how to make your bread in to a sub bread – I mean how do you make the long subway bread?"

Answer: A regular loaf recipe will make 4-6 sub rolls. You can decide what size you want – 4 rolls would make bigger rolls each than 6.

Divide the loaf after the first rise into 4 or 6 equal portions (weighing helps that) then roll each out on a greased surface like you would make a short snake with playdoh or a cigar shape.

Then set all 4 or 6 into a glass pyrex baking dish (like a casserole size, not a 9 x9 – but bigger rectangular one) with a little room to rise.

Before they rise, right after shaping, you can brush with olive oil and garnish with a bit of sesame seeds and Parmesan and Italian herbs for that 'subway' type taste. (o:

Let them rise at least 30 minutes just like the bread, or until doubled (sometimes it is a little longer for subs because you broke up the yeast).

When risen, bake as you would the bread – center rack, 350, for about 17-18 minutes.

Have fun!!

Hot dog buns are done the exact same way, just 8 of them (smaller) same recipe. Hamburger buns the same just shape like 8 hockey pucks (o:

Blessings dear Sister!!!
Donna

If your mornings are as rushed as ours are, there is a way to make a great warm, wholesome, whole grain breakfast without the long prep time. You can even use your own recipe!

First simply substitute the flour in your recipe for 100% freshly milled flour. It's whole grain and provides all the nutrients intended in the grain.

Now, get your recipe, a zip lock bag, a measuring cup or bowl with a lid.

In the zip lock bag, put all your dry ingredients and shake.

In the bowl/covered measuring cup, put all your wet/moist ingredients and mix.

Pop both into the refrigerator and in the morning, combine just until moist.

Place in greased muffin tins in a 400 degree oven for 20 minutes!

Tah-Dah! Fast food that's good for you!

A word about the 'pastry flour' from fresh milled grains.

You can mill pastry flour from soft wheat (vs. the hard wheat that make good loaf bread) but it will not be silky smooth like bagged flour because the hulls (aka: bran., fiber) are not separated. You could sift it to get some of them out, but then again that is tedious and may not be necessary. For a texture of a pastry good that we are 'used to' it may be that you would have to use 1/4-1/2 of the flour as bagged organic pastry flour (still missing vital oils and oxidized but does lack chemicals and bleach) and the remaining part as freshly milled (to at least add more nutrients and fiber). Otherwise, the pastry flour straight from the soft wheat as milled is a whole wheat and will be a bit more dense than say a croissant type texture.

The way I look at it, even if 1/2 the recipe is freshly milled soft wheat, then you are getting more nutrients and bran than the usual pastry flour with it's bleach and oxidized nutrients. Also if you go organic vs. regular bagged pastry flour, you are avoiding the chemicals and added synthasized viatmins that your body doesn't recognize anyway.

Happy Milling!
Donna Miller

http://www.millersgrainhouse.com/store

This is the eve of the New Year, 2009. One of the resolutions for many people is to eat more healthy and take charge of thier nutrition. Today I was asked a very simple (yet also could get confusing) question: How do I eat more whole grains?

The FDA has said to make at least half of your grain choices 'whole grains'. This is certainly good advice to follow, but why stop there? Why not make MOST of your grain choices whole grains? Many people don't know where to start. Let me give you some ideas:

1. Eat brown rice (not par boiled) instead of white rice
2. Eat only whole wheat bread (or at best home mill your flour from the whole fresh grain!!)
3. Whole rolled oats (also known as 'old fashioned') are a whole grain. Choose them over instant.
4. Ditch the pancake and muffin mixes and use at LEAST half whole wheat for the flour
(again home milling means you can use ALL whole grain flour) – see a video I did on 'Make a-head Muffins" here.

These are just a few suggestions to get started. Once your diet starts to include more whole grains, you will find more ways everywhere to add them to your menu! Don't forget the POPCORN!

Best Blessings!
Donna Miller

http://www.millersgrainhouse.com/store