~ ~ SPROUTS ~ ~

I've already started Sprouting! 😃 WooHoo!!

I usually wait until a warm spring day, but, since we're still practically knee deep in snow here in Duluth, Minnesota, I have to conclude that Spring Fever has hit me early this year.  I keep looking at my snow-covered deck, overlooking the frozen creek, wishing I could be out there reading a book with a big mug of tea. . .

I'm so grateful to my sweet, hippie sister-in-law, Carole, who introduced me to avocados, macrame', sun tea, and especially sprouting.  She's no longer with us, but at least daily, I'll see or do something that brings her right back to me, in memory.  RIP Sweetie. . .Until We Meet Again!

My favorite seed, bean, grain to sprout would, hands down, be lentils!  This time I used fancy, $$ French lentils, but the green or brown whole lentils you can buy for under $1.00 a bag in the grocery store are wonderful!  I started these on Friday and they're ready today.  The smaller the seed or bean, the quicker they're ready for a salad, sandwich, or to top a big bowl of soup.

You've probably heard of Ezekiel Bread * The inspiration for this sprouted grain bread goes all the way back to the book of Ezekiel in the Old Testament of the Bible!!  It's in the freezer section of co-op's, health food stores and even most supermarkets.  It's not gluten-free, and also not cheap, but the slices are thin and it's a very heavy bread, so a little goes a long way.  It's made from sprouted grains that are ground into powder, not regular flour.  I love a slice of it toasted, with crunchy peanut butter, drizzled with honey - or as a crispy-healthy base for avocado toast.

This link ** tells you what you need to know to sprout lentils.  If you dig a little deeper, she also has other great tips, ideas and recipes.

Today I added vegetables (cauliflower, purple shallot, cashews, pumpkin and sunflower seeds) to a big handful of lentils and called it Lunch! Have fun with this! Even if you're not into plants or gardening, this is a simple, gratifying way to grow something really healthy, right in your own kitchen. . .Lin

Bird's Nest

A Nancy-Kinda-Breakfast - My daughter is the one who got me thinking: 'cottage cheese for breakfast!' This is a high protein, but, no-animal-died-to-provide-this, breakfast. A win-win!

Start with 1/2c cottage cheese, a big handful of fresh, mixed sprouts (crimson clover, fenugreek, weed (!) and radish seeds found in NOW Healthy Foods' Zest Sprouting Mix) and top with a free-range, hard boiled egg and a sprinkle of Rosemary Seasoning over all.

To drink? Today it's a glass of shaken, not stirred, pineapple juice and black cherry juice. Just the juice, no perservatives or sugars added. Cottage cheese, not just a side dish anymore :o) . . . Lin

Sprouting

Seed, bean and grain sprouts contain a high amount of good natural plant protein.  Sprouting jars with instructions as well as seed mixtures can be purchased at your local co-op or health food store or you can combine your own.  Keep the sizes similar since smaller seeds take only a couple days to sprout while bigger grains and beans take twice this long.  Sprouts are wonderful on salads and sandwiches.  If you love fresh crunch in a salad, try sprouting. . .Lin

Sprouting Seeds and Grains

When sprouting seeds to eat raw in salads or on a sandwich the first thing to remember when using more than one kind of seed is to pick those that are similar in size.  Alfalfa and radish for example, are small and will sprout quickly in 2-3 days.  Mung bean and peas both take a day or two longer and are a good pair.  This time I used tiny red beans and very small mung beans I found in an Asian Market along with lentils from the grocery store.

1T  tiny red beans

1T  tiny mung beans

2T  lentils
fill jar with water - cover with cheesecloth

For the first 24 hours, soak seeds in a jar in a dry place away from direct sunlight.  After the first day, rinse and drain a couple times a day until the seeds sprout.  Continue with this until the jar fills up.  Then pour the sprouted seeds into a colander and rinse well.  Some of the seed hulls will wash away in this process.  The sprouts are now ready to put on a sandwich or in a salad.  Sprouts are very high in protein and an excellent choice for someone wanting to decrease or eliminate animal protein in their diet.  Another great thing about sprouts is you can grow them fresh, in your kitchen all year.  They're fresh, crunchy and each have a distinctive earthy flavor. . .Lin