Are You Interested in Grains?

A little bit about grains. Extracted from “Baking Management” article “Understanding alternative grains” .  See the entire article at: http://bakingmanagement.com/ingredients/understanding_alternative_grains_1108/

To offer a brief summary, it tells us not all grains are created equal. Some have more minerals and antioxidants than others. The grains often referred to as “ancient grains” (spelt, amaranth, buckwheat, millet, quinoa, sorghum and teff) are a great alternative to wheat.

We need different grains in the same way as we need a variety of veggies. Eating a variety has been documented to reduce heart disease, reduce diabetes risk, and reduce the risk of certain cancers. The different grains offer different beneficial properties. Some are closer to complete proteins than others, e.g Quinoa. Some have more calcium and magnesium.  Different grains are better suited for different things. As per the article referenced, Amaranth and quinoa are not the best choice for baking, but would be wonderful in a more “savory” dish.

The article also refers to a “World of Grains” cookie by Mars Co. which contains whole oats, amaranth, quinoa, rye, brown rice, barley, millet and buckwheat. There’s a load!   The article should be of interest if you try to make flour substitutions in your baked products.

 

 

What’s for lunch?

Oh you know what lunch was.   Spinach salad with all the fixin’s. 1/4 cup of Chickpeas (garbanzos), couple of slices of defrosted Tofurky found in the freezer.  Glazed the salad with the Maple Fig dressing from Maple Grove Farms.

Tofurky and Garbanzos

A Bump By Big Foot

I was on my way back to work today and stopped while waiting for a truck to find parking. As I was waiting, I was looking around, taking in all the whiteness around me… and BOOM! My foot slid from the brake and caught the accelerator. I had my wide Merrells on and the snow had collected on the bottom. I hit the guy in front.  I was SO nervous. He got out, inspected his truck … muttered “I only have 1500 miles on it”.  long pause…… “Looks like you put a little dent in it”.  I felt awful and was thinking “no – no – please. I’m late…where’s my insurance card… oh NO!”  He then so kindly said, “why don’t we forget about it”.  Oh my dear sweet man!  Thank you – a thousand times over.  I offered to buy him lunch. No, he wouldn’t take it. I even pulled up after he parked his truck and offered again… No – he insisted, let it go.  Thank goodness for angels!

Tonight we will be going to one of our favorite dining places just down the road, Valley View.  Will offer up the goodies tomorrow. TGIF!

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Getting Lost In Your Own Town

When Ted and I go for long walks on the weekend, we go down all sorts of different streets in Utica.  He has lived here all his life so they are all familiar to him and tells me wonderful stories of things that happened here and there as he was growing up in and around the neighborhood.  Ted went to school at Thomas R. Proctor High School and Shane and I walk past it almost every morning.  I, however, did not grow up in Utica and even though I have lived in East Utica for many years, I went to High School at New Hartford and lived in South Utica, where I used to do most of my walking.  From our current home, some of the side streets are still a mystery and I have no clue where I’ll end up.  That happened this morning.  Shane and I were walking along and decided to take a somewhat different route, past Proctor but diving down one of the side streets which seemed to lead to the familiar light we typically pass. It didn’t and I soon found out that it was a long road to no where. Kind of a bummer when your nose and chin are beginning to ache with cold.  It was 14 degrees outside. Luckily, there was no wind.  We obviously made it home but from now on, I think I might stay on the “path well trodden”.

It’s Friday and a day off from sweaty aerobics and weights.  Just the walk with Shane, 3.6 miles. When I got home the Romba had done it’s job in the dining room. I whipped out the regular built in vacuum cleaner and NOTHING. It wouldn’t turn on.  That’s one more appliance that has decided to call it quits.  You know we STILL don’t have a dishwasher. The service guy forgot to order one part!  No vac. No dishwasher. We’re simply falling apart.

A calming breakfast was in order.  I had Bob’s Red Mill 5 Grain Hot Cereal. The five grains are Whole Oats, Wheat, Rye, Barley, Triticale, Flax. The nutrition for this cereal is 120 cals. per 1/3 cup (dry), 1.5 fat, 24 carbs, 5g Fiber, 5 protein.

I made them with water, splash of soy milk, 1 TBS peanut butter melted into the cooking oats.  The protein shake was a Smooth Banana Dymatize Whey Isolate, and FUZE.  My fruit: A lovely crisp, sweet apple. 

I have a check up with my CRT eye doctor this morning. Then it’s on to a busy Friday and hopefully better results than the earlier part of the week, work wise.  It’s been troublesome this week.

Have a super Friday!

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