Sprouting Or Fresh Grinding And Culturing Whole Grains
Sally Fallon, in her book, Nourishing Traditions, shows us why our ancestors had far fewer diseases than modern people. As I said above, they eat seasonally and regionally, with whole grains and vegetables as the basis of their diets, but the other huge key to their vital longevity is that they soak & sprout OR ferment their whole grains.
Unsprouted OR unfermented whole grains and flours contain phytic acid, which is in the bran of all whole grains and will bind with minerals in our intestines and inhibit their absorption, ultimately leading to degenerative bone loss and tooth decay. Soaking whole grains for 24 - 48 hrs OR culturing (fermenting) whole grain flours / steel cut oats, etc. neutralizes the phytic acid making the grains nutrients available to the body and it’s complex carbohydrates easier to digest. People who eat sprouted or fermented grains as a staple have strong teeth and bones late into life. Some Examples: Vikings and other European people fermented their wheat flour to make sourdough. Even American pioneers were famous for their sourdough breads, pancakes, and biscuits. African natives and the Welsh ferment corn or millet for several days to make porridges. In India rice and lentils are fermented to make idli and dosas. Indigenous Native Americans and Central & South Americans soak their corn with lime-water for days before it is ground - Mexican corn cakes (pozole) are made from fermented corn. Also, very importantly, they don’t eat processed & pasturized foods - refined flour, refined sugars, refined salt, refined vegetable oils, pasturized dairy products & honey, etc.
Thanks to our years of study and experience, Don & I are more and more sure that living and eating in the ways of indigenous people is the way to true health & vitality of mind, body and spirit. Those of us who choose these ways are a healing influence to our friends, families, neighbors, co-workers, and even people we have only brief encounters with. If you are one of these people who choose to live and eat in harmony with nature, everyone inside your sphere of influence, as well as Mother Earth herself, is blessed by you.
I recommend culturing the 2 cups amaranth flour 24 hrs ahead of time. Mix until just blended: 2 cups fresh ground amaranth (or packaged amaranth flour) with 1/2 cup water and 1 cup plain, cultured yogurt OR 1tsp acidophilus powder or two capsules of refrigerated probiotic opened & mixed with 1.5 cups water. Let the mixture sit for a day, covered, at room temperature so the yogurt cultures can neutralize the phytic acid in the whole grain flour and break down the complex starches. It’s much more digestible & the nutrients are better assimilated this way. The next day, make your cream mix in a small saucepan over low heat: 1 ½ sticks butter OR 2/3 cup virgin coconut oil, 15 drops Nu Naturals brand Vanilla Stevia,1 tsp almond extract and beat in one egg. Turn off the heat & whisk in ½ tsp each aluminum-free baking soda & whole sea salt, 1tsp ground coriander, & ½ tsp ground nutmeg. Combine cream mix with cultured flour mix until evenly blended & add any nuts, fruit, coconut, etc.(pecans are great!), so is unsulphered coconut, and dark chocolate chips (preferably malt-sweetened) or carob chips. Place heaping spoonfuls on a buttered baking sheet and bake at 375 degrees for 12-15 minutes.
Also, instead of nutmeg/coriander/almond extract/dried coconut/nuts/chocolate chips, you can get creative and use: pumpkin pie spice & allspice/ vanilla or almond extract/Sweet Leaf brand English Toffee stevia/finely diced fruit like apple, pear or persimmon OR coriander/vanilla extract & vanilla stevia/fresh, dried or frozen berries. Have fun!
As always, Don and I welcome any questions you may have via phone or email. For more information on the ancient whole foods philosophies we teach about, see the “about the food” page of my website www.cookwell.org.
We hope to see you sometime soon. Maybe on a Thursday night to share lots of learning, laughter and incredible food.
Namaste ~
Courtney & Don
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