How Important Are Grains INCLUDING recipes

[PAHaworth]

HOW IMPORTANT ARE GRAINS?
Grains make up the most abundant foodstuffs in the world, and for many populations they truly represent, the ‘staff of life.’ What an array in variety they present: barley, wheat, oats, rye, corn, rice, millet, buckwheat! Unfortunately, many areas of the earth feed the bulk of their grain to the livestock and eat their nutrients second-hand - in meat products.
START YOUR DAY OFF WITH GOOD CEREALS
Although cereals fit into any meal and into a variety of dishes, we commonly associate them with breakfast. Perhaps the limited variety and the way they are served has produced such a monotonous breakfast menu that many families scarcely bother with planning for this most important meal of the day.
If time is the limiting factor before the workday or school day begins, begin your breakfast preparation the evening before. The table can be set. Cereals can be almost completely cooked so as to require only heating to serving temperatures to finish them in time for breakfast.
In this section you will find wholesome ideas for a variety of cereals, along with other ideas that will make your breakfast truly the “wake up-meal” of the day!

GRANOLA
5 cups porridge oats 1 cup wholemeal flour
½ cup sugar 1 tsp salt
½ cup veg oil 1 cup wheatgerm
½ cup cold water 1 cup dried coconut
METHOD: Mix oil and water together. Mix all dry ingredients together. Mix in oil and water mixture. Place on baking trays and cook for l½ hours at 25OF, Gas Mark 2.
DATE BUTTER
½ cup ground almonds 1 cup dates
½ teaspoon grated lemon rind (optional) 1 cup apple juice
METHOD: Simmer dates in the juice, stirring and mashing until smooth and thickened like jam. Add a spoonful of water if necessary. Add ground almonds and flavourings.
DATE JAM
½ cup dried apricots
1½ cups dates A bit of grated orange rind (optional)
1½ cups apple juice
METHOD: Soak apricots and dates overnight in the juice. Mash all ingredients, add more juice if necessary. For this, a blender can be used.
STEAMED WHOLE BARLEY
1 cup whole barley 5 cups water 1 tsp salt
METHOD: Put. all together in the top part of a double boiler. Cook in double boiler for 2 hours. If you don’t have a double boiler, cook in a heavy bottomed pan until all water is absorbed. Prepare at night, reheat in the morning. Serve with fruit (fresh or dried) or yoghurt.
MIXIT HOT CEREAL (4 servings)
½ cup rolled wheat 1/2 teaspoon salt
¾ cup rolled oats ¼ cup wheatgerm
3½ cups boiling water
METHOD: Sprinkle rolled wheat arid rolled oats in the salted boiling water; stir; cover. Simmer 1O minutes longer. Stir in wheatgerm just before serving. Serve warm with milk. Raisins, chopped bananas, or dates are delightful sweeteners.