Wheat - the staff of life

Our ward recently started a Self-reliance enrichment group. Each month, someone is assigned a specific storage item. They shop around for the best deals and pass along the info to everyone else. We just spear headed a bulk wheat order, (we got a GREAT price on 45lb buckets from Wheatland seed) which culminated in the purchase of about 1000 buckets of wheat. (about 370 for our neighborhood) The truck arrived yesterday at noon, and because we don't have a fork lift - we got to unload all of the buckets by hand. It was a lot of WORK!

Since many people were hesitant to buy wheat, and many people voiced the concern, "what would I do with it?" we decided to have last night's enrichment focus on a few quick and easy ways to use wheat in everyday cooking.

First we displayed and demonstrated several ways to crack and grind the wheat. WE had on display several electric grinders, a hand grinder, a coffee grinder, a regular run of the mill blender (won't grind but will crack the wheat), and a super duty vita-mill which will crack and grind into flour.

Then we had one sister do a bread making demonstration.

After that, I demonstrated making blender wheat pancakes. (they are good, you should try them). I shared that cooked cracked wheat is great for stretching your meat budget. They each got to taste sloppy joes, spaghetti sauce, and tuna that I made of a mix (about 1/2 and 1/2) of meat & wheat. Time and time again people kept saying, "wow! I could eat this;" or "this is good. I can't even tell there's wheat in it." We had a "cracked wheat casserole, super delicious "whole wheat pecan cookies," and oatmeal cinnamon wheat pancakes. We also had some "Morning Moo" powdered milk mixed up so that people could sample that.

It all went over really well. Tenille (head of the self-reliance group) has been hearing repeatedly that people just don't feel it is important to invest in a good grinder. After last night, I would say that the majority (if not all) of the sisters left with a desire to get a grinder and a lot of easy and delicious ways to begin incorporating wheat in their diets. There were so many positive responses, and people were genuinely surprise that they liked the food. After we finally got the kitchen cleaned back up and I finally FINALLY got home at 9:30, I got the best surprise of the day. Running in and out trying to help with the wheat project, trying to get all the food prepared, etc... I left the kitchen in a WRECK! I was THRILLED to come home to find it cleaned up. Not only that - Tim had all the kids pick up their rooms too. It was amazing! and a very welcome surprise!