Quick review of the "why".... Wheat was created to sit on the shelf for decades without rotting. There is a coating of phytic acid on the outside and there are enzyme inhibitors in play to keep food from decomposing before its time.
As you know, if a food doesn't rot easily outside your body, it won't decompose or digest easily inside your body. So, traditional cultures right up until the first couple of decades of the 1900s all soaked their grains before cooking. We lost this wisdom with the advent of "quick", "convenient" modern, industrial food. Now we even bake this unsoaked grain at high temperatures, add some chemicals and intensely refined sweeteners and wish our bodies luck at actually absorbing something good. Hmm...
So, think about it the night before and soak your grain on the counter prior to cooking. Simple, and super revealing as you see what the soaking liquid unveils.
The recipe below is a pancake recipe. We also use this as a flat bread. There is some concern and research about the down sides of industrial revolution yeasts (can you say "quick") and so my preference is for a sourdough or a flat bread to keep my body in balance.
One of these pancakes with some real butter and real maple syrup and you will feel well-fed till lunch!
Pancakes
2 cups freshly ground flour
2 cups water
2 T cider or lemon juice (or kefir or yogurt)
Soak overnight or up to 24 hours in a covered glass bowl. I just put a plate on top to be environmentally clean and avoid any toxins from plastic wrap.
In the morning:
Drain off liquid and blend in:
2 eggs
½ t sea salt
1 t baking soda
2 T melted butter
Cook as usual in a a good quality oil such as coconut oil or butter.
Enjoy!
We also use this soaked grain as a base for healthier chocolate chip cookies by adjusting the liquids in the recipe a bit and then adding a simple gluten free flour like rice flour (or whatever is working well for us that week). We don't really use a recipe, just mix and play with the basic "Toll House Cookie" recipe till it looks and tastes about right.
When it comes to comfort food--these cookies are a simple use of soaked grains that will actually make you feel better longer!
