Bulgar wheat pilaf

This is a recipe from my neighbor from Saudi Arabia, she shared it with me the other night and I wanted to give it a try with the family. It turned out great and the whole family loved it! It is so simple and fast and a nice change up from rice.

Ingredients:
2 C Bulgar Wheat
Approximately 2-4 cups water
Coconut oil
1/2 onion chopped
2-3 garlic cloves chopped
Salt and Pepper to taste






Directions:
1. Put the grain in a bowl and cover with hot water just until it reaches the top of the grain and let sit for about 10-15 min.
2. Meanwhile, heat oil in a pot and saute onion and garlic until fragrant and translucent.
3. When the onion mixture is done add the bulgar (which will have soaked up the water and be plump) to the pot and fill with water until it covers the mixture 1-2 inches.
4. Bring to a boil then reduce heat and simmer and cook for 15-20 minutes or so, until the water is gone and it is easily fluffed like rice.
5. Add salt and pepper and fluff with a fork.

9 Grain brekfast cereal

This is a great porridge cereal- we call it pioneeer cereal. My boys love to eat it and get really messy.
It have just a couple of ingredients and hadly any clean-up.

Recipe:
2 C water
1/2 tsp Real Salt
~3/4 C Bob's Red Mill 10 Grain Cereal
Agave, Maply Syrup or Honey
Milk of choice

 Bring water and salt to a boil and add cereal
Turn down to low and simmer covered for 5-10 min
add sweetner and milk
Enjoy!

Potato harvest soup

This is a soup that adds a lot of veggies in a very non-threatening way.  And whats more is that you can throw whatever is left in your fridge in there and it is great. Next time I think I will add some corn too.

Recipe:
6-8 gold potatoes (or any you have on hand)
red pepper
4-6 carrots
zucchini
yellow squash
onion
garlic
leafy greens (kale, spinach, chard, etc)
leftover quinoa, millet, teff, amaranth

Chop and put all but greens and pre-cooked grains in a pot and cover with water and generously salt. (If you have grains not yet cooked, throw them in there too).  Then when almost ready to serve throw in chopped greens.  Bring to a boil then simmer on low for 20-30 min.  Voila! Serve with some crusty bread.

P.S.  Some poeple would frown upon salting generously but instead of using chicken stock filled with sodium we are using ingredients we have control over. Besides when you cut out all of the refined foods and processed foods and make from scratch you don't need to worry as much about sodium content.  People with sodium issued almost always eat a diet high in processed and highly refined foods and very little fiber. NOT HERE MAN!!

beautiful blue bridal bash AND homemade chewy granola recipe

As crazy as it is, I have a niece getting married next month- a niece! I am getting older it is true.  But all that aside, we had so much fun putting together a fun and creative bridal shower for her. My mother was a great overseer and Michelle made some wonderful cupcakes while my other sister Heidi (who is our party guru), sent some fabulous deco and creativity to the mix. I made some food and did an interview with the groom-to-be which we showed at the party.  I thought I would share some of the fun.

These were yogurt, granola parfaits made with greek yogurt, banana, blueberry, and my own homemade chewy granola. The cute little flute glasses and labels come from Heidi.  She sent so many darling things.

I did make this granola at 5 am this morning and sad to say did not write down the measurements, but I will do my best to give you an idea.

Granola:

1 1/2 C oats

1 C leftover cooked red quinoa 

1/2 - 3/4 C each pumpkin seeds, pecans, dried cherries and raisins

1/4 C sesame seeds

Lay out on a cookie sheet with parchment (my friend), and cook at 350* for 20-30 min or so. Longer if you like crunchy

1/4 C coconut oil melted 

enough maple syrup and honey to make it pretty wet (sorry not sure, maybe 1 C together)

Other fun items