So This Is Christmas

Merry Christmas is such an infectious feeling I like to feel that way all year around.

So if you are visiting just before Christmas, just after Christmas or even here on Christmas day I am sure you will find something of interest for you and in the spirit of Christmas.

It may be said that Christmas is no longer a celebration but this must be spoken by people that have never had trouble closing their eyes on Christmas Eve in an expectation of what maybe left for them on the carpet under the tree.

I continue to look forward to the surprise on my Grandchild's faces to this day at Christmas events.

Merry Christmas - Merry Christmas - Merry Christmas

Thursday, July 25, 2013

Is Spelt The Best Whole Grain Flour For Baking?

By Michael Obrien


Most people have eaten bread, but there are many people who are unsure about the types of flours. For instance, some don't know what the best whole grain flour for baking is. Opinions may differ, but some think it's spelt. The great thing about it is the taste. And because not enough people are getting fiber in their diets it could help boost your daily fiber intake.

The best advice that can be given to folks that are new to the area of baking is this: do not complicate matters. Baking can be rather frustrating at times, but by choosing spelt you'll be picking a very popular product, one that is versatile enough to be used in sandwiches and pie crusts. The taste is very, very mild and is a little sweet.

It's a very old variety of wheat and because of that there are plenty of recipes around. The oldest accounts of its use go back as far as the Bronze Age in Europe. If you have no idea what it looks like then be on the lookout for a grain that has a reddish color. Some say it resembles a hybrid of sunflower seeds and barley.

The taste is something most people remember when they think of spelt. This is because, unlike some whole grains, the taste of the bread it makes is soft, mild and sweet. The one drawback, if it can be called as such, is that it isn't totally free of gluten, though is contains a relatively low amount when compared to other flours.

If one word can be used to describe it then that word would probably be versatile. Muffins, breads and even pie crusts can be made with it. Of course, you may wish to mix it with the normal wheat flour if you want some of the goodness of whole grains and some of the flavor of white bread. If you feel like experimenting, why not try making pie crust with 100% spelt, or, if that's too adventurous, then mix crackers in with the dough.

If you're a veteran of using the product then you could graduate from making bread and turn to other things. A yeast-less pizza is something you could try at home. The dough will probably take far less time to make and cook because of the lack of yeast. You can also make dense and moist cookies, ones which differ a little from the traditional cookie because they tend to hold a puffy shape.

Bear in mind that spelt does have gluten, albeit a smaller amount than traditional flour. If you want to use yeast with them you can, just make sure at least half the dough has flours with gluten.

Spelt may well be the best whole grain flour for baking, but what is best for you is really down to personal taste. If you want low of no gluten then go for flours made from oats, barley and rye. You may even think about mixing them with spelt as a low gluten alternative.




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