Health Benefits of Fresh Ground Flour

For those of you who are interested in improving your health and having more nutritious and better tasting breads, baked goods and other foods, this article will help you have a better understanding of the importance of fresh ground flour from whole grains.

 White flour that most everyone uses for baking lacks the germ that contains  most of the nutrition in whole grain berries. During the milling process, the germ and the bran (or outer covering) is removed and sold separately. This link provides vital information about the nutritional value of wheat germ.

http://www.wheatgermbenefits.com/

Whole Wheat Flour has more nutritional value and a richer flavor. This also applies to other whole grains such as corn, rye, etc. 

 Most of us are aware that many of our health problems are caused by refined foods. Wouldn’t it be worth it to take just a little more time and prepare our foods from fresh ground flour? 

If you buy “fresh ground flour” from a supermarket or health store, you are probably not getting as much nutritional value as you think. Not only is the quality of the flour reduced, but so is the flavor. If your flour has been sitting for an extended period of time, the oil from the wheat germ can go rancid causing a bitter taste and bad smell. Who knows how long whole wheat flour has been sitting in a warehouse or on a shelf in the store. 

Listed below is a link from Wheat Montana Farm and Bakery located in Three Forks, MT. that will give you great information about fresh ground whole grains. They supply many grocery stores and health food stores with their whole grains. All of their grains are GMO free and will give you the best baking results and nutritional value. You can order any type of grains, beans, lentils, etc for your baking needs. You will be pleased with your baked goods using their products. 

http://www.wheatmontana.com/index.php

If you have never tasted the difference in baked goods and other foods that have been made with flour as soon as it comes from the mill, you are in for a great surprise. Not only is the flavor better, the moisture is too. You will notice a big difference when  using fresh ground corn meal in your corn bread. It will be light and fluffy and not dry – much easier to swallow.

Many of the new grain mills are capable of producing a really fine flour that can be used just like white refined flour. You will notice some difference but the added flavor will make up for it. Even if you need to use a combination of white and whole grain flour to get the results you like, that is better than all refined flour. 

The multi-grain grinding features of the newer grain mills add a whole new dimension to your cooking experience. Multi-grain breads and other baked goods have great flavor and will add some variety to your diet. 


Check "Our Store" for quality Grain Mills and other baking related products.   

  http://thechefinyouandmore.blogspot.com/2013/12/our-store.html
 
Note: The link listed below explains the importance of reducing the Phylic Acid in your breads as it interferes with vitamin and mineral absorption when you are digesting your foods. There are many more sites on this subject that you can research if you would like more information.

http://www.phyticacid.org/

If you are in need of a Grain Mill to grind your own fresh flour, please check Our Store to see a list of our small kitchen appliances. We carry quality Grain Mills, Bosch Stand Mixers and Zojirushi Bread Machines.        OUR STORE

Thanks for looking.  Happy Baking, 

THE CHEF IN YOU

Just Right Sweet & Sour Sauce

If you love Sweet & Sour Chinese food you will LOVE this recipe.  It is easy to make and keeps well so you can make a large batch and have it on hand for a quick stir fry!

Mix together in medium sized sauce pan:

1 Cup pineapple juice
1 Cup unsweetened or light apricot juice (or apricot fruit pureed in a blender)
1 Cup brown sugar
1/2 cup ketchup 
2 Tablespoons vinegar (apple cider or white)
1/4 cup soy sauce (or Bragg - found in health food stores) add a little more to taste if you like.
2 Tablespoons corn starch or tapioca flour dissolved in 1/2 cup cold water.

Bring to a boil over medium low heat stirring often. Mixture should become semi-clear.

Add small amount of Chili paste if you want a hotter flavor.


Serve over your favorite Stir Fry dish. Enjoy! 

Refrigerate any left over sauce. It will keep well for several days.

Roast Beef Supreme

 

If you are looking for a great way to prepare a delicious beef roast, you will like this one. I was taught how to do this several years ago and this is the best method that I have ever found.  The flavor is out of this world. This recipe can be used for special occasions or anytime. The gravy is very brown and flavorful.

Begin by choosing a tender cut of roast such as a Sirloin Tip, etc. It is important that you know how much it weighs. (You can use this method to make a wonderful Baron of Beef or any size roast you need)

For every 5# of meat you will need to MIX TOGETHER and set aside: 

• Approximately 1/2 cup of flour (For gluten free use rice flour or bread mix)
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 2 teaspoons of pepper (or Montreal Stake seasoning - this gives added flavor)
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder (if you want to use fresh garlic,  sprinkle generous amount around over top of roast before placing in oven). 

Place top rack of oven to be low enough to accommodate roasting pan or roaster. Turn oven to 500 degrees. 

Next:  Place roast on meat paper or aluminum foil. Pour a fairly generous amount of olive oil over the meat and rub around with hands (wear disposable gloves if you like) to coat evenly.

While meat is still on paper, sprinkle part of flour mix over top and rub around. Turn over and repeat process using the remainder of the flour mixture on the bottom and sides until roast is evenly coated. Pick up any flour mixture that has fallen on paper and place wherever needed to coat as well as you can. 

Place roast in roasting pan that has been coated on the bottom with additional olive oil. Dispose of meat paper or foil and gloves.

Insert a meat thermometer if you have one so that the tip is in the center of the roast. Place roaster in preheated 500 degree oven. Shut the door and set timer for 30 minutes. This process sears the outside of the roast to seal in the juices and starts the browning process. At the end of 30 minutes, turn the oven down to 250 degrees and leave until desired temperature is reached. 

• For Rare: 145 to 155 degrees F.  (about 25 minutes per pound)
• For Medium: 155 to160 degrees F.  (about 30 minutes per pound)
• For Well Done: 165 to 170 degrees F. ( about 35 minutes per pound)

It is best to not open the oven door while roast is cooking. If you place the thermometer so you can see it through the oven door you can see where the temperature is. 

You should have plenty of time while the roast is cooking to have the rest of your meal ready. Remove roast from roaster and keep warm in oven.The drippings in the roaster will make a delicious brown gravy because of the browning of the flour. Skim off extra grease but leave the brown drippings. Add water or potato water and thicken with flour dissolved in a little cold water - or use a brown gravy mix with appropriate amount of cold water added.

Remove roast from the oven the last minute before serving and slice.

Enjoy!!  The pictures do not allow you to savor the flavor - you need to taste it yourself! 

"Food For Thought" Articles

How to Properly Dispose of Used Cooking Oil & Other Fats

• We are posting this blog to help solve a problem of knowing what to do with unwanted cooking oil and other fats. Have you ever watched in horror to see someone pour leftover grease and oil down their kitchen sink! Not only will this plug their drain but this causes problems with city waste disposal and rural septic tanks.

• The best way to solve this problem is to save empty cans or glass jars with lids to collect cooking oil and grease from cooking hamburger, bacon, chicken, deep frying and etc. It is best to let it cool a little to prevent burns, then pour your unwanted grease or oil into a can or jar and keep it in the refrigerator or freezer. (Putting the can or jar in your sink while pouring is safer and will keep unwanted grease from your counter top). 
  
• It might be helpful to label the container so family members will know what it is. You can dispose of it on garbage day. This will also help with any ant problems if it’s not in your waste basket to attract them.

• If you have large amounts to dispose of, if you can find a place locally that recycles oil that is the best option. Larger amounts of cooking oil can be recycled into biodiesel. There are places and businesses that will gladly take your oil if you search for them.

                Hope this helps, THE CHEF IN YOU team




What About Those “Dish Cloths”?

• Do you ever think about how much you use and depend on your dish cloth? Do you use it all day and save it for the next day, waiting for it to turn sour to signal that is time to send it to the laundry? Do you ever wonder if it could be the cause of “food poisoning” or just another round of the “stomach flu”? That could very well be the case. You wouldn’t think of eating food that had been setting on the counter for hours or even days! Food particles that are collected in your dish rags are living in a warm, humid environment that is perfect for breeding germs, mold and other unhealthy and undesirable creatures. Every time you wipe your table or counter tops, you are spreading those unwanted germs around even more. Changing your dish cloths often during any cooking or canning process is also very important. 
• A good rule of thumb would be to change “dish cloths”  with every meal if it has had a lot of use.  Using a piece of paper towel to clean up milk, eggs, meat and other traces of food that can cause serious problems will also help. Keeping a spray bottle of vinegar, diluted chlorine bleach, or essential oils on hand to spray the counter top, cutting board, or table top during the clean-up process is a good idea. Disinfecting wipes are also very useful and effective.

THE CHEF IN YOU
 

Zojirushi Bread Maker

The high quality Zojirushi Bread Maker is designed to give years of service. It will make and bake a 2# traditional shaped loaf of bread or smaller.  Make and bake your favorite recipe for whole wheat or white bread, or use the dough cycle for rolls, pizza dough, cinnamon rolls, bread sticks, hamburger or hoagie buns, sourdough, cakes, meatloaf, jams, etc. Your possibilities are endless.

Features:

• Mix and bake to your specifications. Choose from many preset cycles or customize your own. The control panel is easy to read and program.
• Easy to use. Just pour ingredients into the pan and follow the directions. The Zojirushi  comes with an instruction manual.
• Crust control adjustments allows you to select your preferences.
• Control panel is easy to read and program.
• This new model lets you open the lid during operation without resetting the cycle.
• The Zojirushi has the added feature of memory for 3 of your favorite recipes, one touch programing, delayed start (up to 13 hours) and a timer. (Timer works for all bread cycles except Quick and Sourdough cycles)
• Twin paddles for superior kneading action to develop the gluten and create great texture.
• Nonstick pan inside dimensions are 5”wide X 8.75” long.
• High domed lid allows enough room to keep your bread from sticking if it rises a little too high.
• Beefed-up pulleys and belt drive for a long trouble free life.
• Quiet performance - even though it has a lot of power.
• Equipped with a 10 minute memory in case of power failure so your bread will not be ruined if the power goes out.

Choose from two new finishes: The BB-CEC20WB (white with gold accents) or the BB-CEC20BA (Black upper & Stainless lower look.) Functionality is identical for both.

• Electrical: 120V, 700 watts
• Warranty: The Zojirushi bread machine has a full 1 year manufacturer's warranty. It is designed to give you many years of service.

How do you pronounce Zojirushi?  (You can just call it a “Zo” or say zo-jih-ROO-shee.)

BB-CEC20WB (white with gold accents) 

       $254.39 FREE Shipping & NO tax!

                                               





BB-CEC20BA (Black upper & Stainless lower look) 

       $254.39 FREE Shipping & NO tax!