Patty's week without shopping

I know the posts usually say posted by Kristi but I hope you guys all realize that I post other people's ideas too.  Here another GREAT one from Patty W (Country view) and our stalwart Stake RS president.  I just love this lady, I think I'll take her some wheat berry cookies - can you make wheat berry cookies?  I actually kind of liked the things - my husband on the other hand has not so found memories of "rubber wheat balls" that his Mom made when he was a kid.

"rubber wheat balls"

I'm sure the reason more of you have not sent us your experience living off your food storage is because you are graciously waiting for me to be first, so I will. 

I knew we could go for a week without having to go to the store and wondered if I would get any insights from the experience.  I did. 

One not terribly important one was I needed a 100 watt light bulb for a bathroom and only had the efficiency kind that don't give off as much light as I like.  I will be buying light bulbs the next time I go to the store. 

The second thing I learned was I couldn't make my food sample for the preparedness fair because I had signed up to make the Sausage Wheat Berry Casserole but didn't have any sausage.  We don't usually eat sausage so I had to go buy some.  For the future I have looked into freeze dried sausage and this is what I found.  It lasts 25 years unopened and 1 year after opening.  It is expensive.  One company sells it for a little over $40.00 for 1.81 lbs in a #10 can.  A pantry size can sells for a little over $20.00 with a quantity of .64 lbs.  Another company has 34 oz. in a #10 can for a little under $40.00--the better deal.  I'll think about this one for a while, but will probably buy some real sausage, vacuum seal it for a longer freezer life and store it in the freezer.

The third thing I learned, and probably the most important for me, was I don't like wheat berries that much.  Oh sure, I could learn to like them when I run out of everything else, but when stressed with the emergency, I want something closer to comfort food or at least something familiar.  I won't be serving wheat berry recipes to Wally any time soon, but I am glad I have them.  I am also glad I now know how to fix wheat berries and think they will be great to add (probably in small quantities) to just about anything (my daughter found a recipe for, and made, wheat berry pudding).

Fourth, I have decided I am low on some of the canned goods I use all the time and will start buying double what I usually buy at the next case lot sale.  With my luck, the big emergency will come just days before the much awaited case lot sale.  If that happens, I guess I will boil some wheat berries.

What are Wheat Berries and How Do I Cook Them??

OK last post today, I promise.  I posted all of those recipes for the wheat berries with the instruction for making wheat berries and then thought to myself - "self, do you have any idea what you are talking about?"  so I googled wheat, berries, over and over.  Here's what I learned

1. Wheat berries are wheat grains, you soak, steam, boil them to prepare them and they get softer.  (Very familiar to us Mormons who commonly store wheat, so I don't think we need instructions on where to find them in health food stores - just go to your local case lot sale and you can pick some up.)

2. They are a whole grain so they are healthy - duh! 
               from nutritionist Leslie Beck

• Wheat berries are whole, unprocessed wheat kernels that contain all three parts of the grain, including the germ, bran and starchy endosperm.  Only the hull, the inedible outer layer of the grain, has been removed. As a result, wheat berries retain all of the grain's vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals.  All wheat products are made from wheat berries, including white and whole-wheat flour.
• Wheat berries, like all whole grains, get the nod for their exceptional nutrient profile.  They're high in fibre, low in calories and packed with vitamins and minerals.  A half-cup (125 ml) serving of cooked wheat berries is a great source of manganese, selenium, phosphorus and magnesium.  Wheat berries also contain lignans, phytochemicals thought to guard against breast and prostate cancers.
  Whole grains are the corner stone of a healthy diet.  Canada's Food Guide recommends that half of the grain products you eat everyday be whole grain.  
  Wheat berries contain gluten, so they're not suitable for people with celiac disease.

3. Cooking instructions For stovetop cooking first rinse berries, then bring 2 ½ cups of water to a boil for every 1 cup of raw wheat berries.   Add wheat berries to boiling water, and stir until water returns to a boil.  Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 45 minutes to 1 hour or until wheat berries are tender.  Remove from heat, drain off any excess water and fluff.  1 cup of raw wheat berries will yield 2 ½ cups cooked wheat berries. **update 4/16 - when I made them it was 1 cup wheat berries = 2 cups wheat berries, so it must depend a bit on how long or maybe the time of wheat???

usu extension suggested other ways of cooking:

In a pot with a fairly tight lid, combine 3 cups of water, and 1 cup of wheat. Bring to a boil. Allow to simmer ½ hour. Turn off the heat and allow the wheat to stand 8-12 hours. Drain any remaining liquid. Use or store in refrigerator, tightly covered, for no more than one week.

Thermos cooked: Put wheat and 2½ cups boiling water in a quart-sized thermos. Screw the top lightly and leave until morning.

Slow cooker method: Simmer ingredients on high for approximately 2-3 hours. Turn off the slow cooker and let it sit overnight untouched.

Apples and Wheat Berry Salad

printable recipe

3 C. cooked wheat berries (see below)
1 C. diced celery

2 lg. red apples cored/dice 
1 1/2 tsp. lemon juice

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

3/4 C. mayonnaise

3 T. sugar

1 C. raisins

Combine celery, apple, raisins and wheat berries.
Make dressing of mayonnaise, sugar, lemon juice

and cinnamon. Put over fruit. Refrigerate 2-3 hours.
Can serve on bed of lettuce and sprinkle with chopped
walnuts or grated cheddar cheese. Serves 6-8

Directions for Wheat Berries

Bring water to boil, add wheat. Boil for approx. 30 mins.
until some kernels begin to split.

Sloppy Joes with Wheat Berries

printable recipe

2 lbs. ground beef

1 medium onion chopped

2  11.5 oz. cans tomato juice
2 cans tomato sauce

1 C. chopped green pepper
3 t. Chili powder

2 t. salt

pepper to taste

1/2 T. brown sugar

3 - 6 C. cooked wheat berries (see below)

Add chili powder and sugar. Simmer 20-30 min. 'til
desired thickness. Serve on buns or over rice.

Directions for Wheat Berries

Bring water to boil, add wheat. Boil for approx. 30 mins.
until some kernels begin to split.

Tuna Salad with Wheat Berries

printable recipe

4 C. cooked wheat berries (see below)
4 T. chopped green pepper (optional)
2 6 oz. cans of tuna

10-12 T. Mayonnaise

1/2 C. chopped onion

1 1/2 C. chopped celery

Keep refrigerated. Flavor is better if made the night
before. Can use ham, bacon bits, shrimp or cooked
beef or chicken. Add salt and pepper to taste

Directions for Wheat Berries

Bring water to boil, add wheat. Boil for approx. 30 mins.
until some kernels begin to split.

Sausage and Wheat Berry Casserole

2 1/2 cups cooked wheat berries (see below)

1/2 lb. pork sausage or 1 pkg bacon

1 medium onion, chopped

1/2 cup green peppers OR 1/4 cup dehydrated peppers + 1/2 cup hot water

1 tsp seasoned salt

Black pepper to taste

1/2 tsp. garlic salt

1/2 tsp. Italian seasoning

1 - 16 oz. can diced tomatoes

1 cup tomato juice

1 cup mild cheddar cheese

Brown sausage in a large skillet. Add onions and peppers. Cook over medium-low heat

until tender. Stir in all the seasonings, tomatoes and tomato juice. Simmer another

5 minutes. Stir in cooked wheat. Cover and simmer 15 minutes until wheat is hot.

Sprinkle top with cheese before serving. Serves 6

Note: You may also stir in 1 -2 cups cooked rice for a variation

printable recipe

 

Directions for Wheat Berries

Bring water to boil, add wheat. Boil for approx. 30 mins.

until some kernels begin to split.

Carrot, Pineapple & Wheat Berry Salad

2 ½ cups finely shredded carrots
1 20 oz can crushed pineapple, well drained
2 cups cooked wheat berries (boil till soft but not split then use when cooled)
½ cup mayonnaise or vegenaise
1 tsp honey
1 cup miniature marshmallows (optional)
Combine all ingredients. Chill 1 hour minimum.

printable recipe
from: Stake Taster Table before General RS Meeting