Wheat Berries

For a family luncheon I was planning to make chicken salad. My Grandmother is allergic to rice so I was looking for something else to add to my salad mixture to add texture and to stretch it further for a large group. In the process I discovered a great new food to add to meals. Well technically since it has been around since, well forever I didn't discover it. But it has recently been brought to my attention. Wheat berries. Wheat berries are simply the whole kernel of wheat. If you have wheat in your food storage you have an endless supply of this great food and it is inexpensive. I always thought the only ways to eat it were to grind it into flour, sprout it and eat wheat sprouts or grow wheat grass and juice it. But cooking the berries is super easy and then you can add them to all kinds of meals or eat them plain. I added it to chicken salad, my turkey curry soup and ate some plain. The hubby added some to his yogurt for breakfast. They have chewy texture and slightly nutty flavor, very yummy. It would be great to add to meatloaf, hamburger patties, soups, stews, the possibilities are endless. Use it in place of rice in any recipe. They are also packed full of protein, fiber and iron. There have been many studies done showing the benefits of whole grains in our diets including lowering risks of type 2 diabetes and cardio vascular disease and the fiber increases digestive health. Here is the recipe I used to make wheat berries. You can also google "wheat berries" and find many more ideas on using them.

This recipe came from the book "I Dare You to Eat It" by Liesa Card

4 cup raw whole wheat
10 cup water
1 tbs salt

oil a large (4 quart or larger) slow cooker and fill with wheat, water & salt. Cover and cook on low all night, 8-10 hours. Cooked wheat may be bagged and stored in refrigerator for at least a week or in the freezer for months. A sandwich bag hold 2 cups.

* When I used this recipe I halved it and took about an hour off the cooking time. Next time I will just freeze individual portions to through in my recipes.

Once you have a small supply of cooked wheat berries prepared, try experimenting with adding a cup to your favorite soups, chicken salad, or casseroles. When combined with regular rice it makes a very simple but healthy pilaf. They work great in taco meat too. my using 1/2 wheat 1/2 meat it saves $$ and the family can hardly tell the difference.