Sorry folks, this post is not complete.  I lost most of it when the electric went out on Thursday.  I will re-do the rest and get it to you--just haven't had time yet...but I will get there.  I figured some is better then none.  Check back after Tuesday for the rest of the info on Barley and Rye.  Plus more recipes.

Teff

Teff is a delicious grain with high quality complex carbohydrates, proteins, minerals and fiber. Teff grain can be eaten as cereal or polenta.

Ivory and brown teff are sweet tasting grains unlike any other. Brown teff has a subtle hazelnut, almost chocolate-like flavor and a moist texture similar to millet, but more exotic. Ivory teff has a milder flavor than the brown. Tinier than a poppy seed, teff is a nutritional powerhouse. An eight-ounce serving of teff yields 32% of the USRDA for calcium and 80% for iron. While not a complete protein like quinoa, a 2-ounce serving of teff has 7 grams of protein, equal to an extra large egg. Teff is low in fat (1 gram per 2-ounce serving), and high in fiber (8 grams per 2-ounce serving). And that’s not all. Teff is a good source of niacin, thiamin, riboflavin, zinc, magnesium, copper, manganese, boron, phosphorous and potassium.

In all grains, nutrients concentrate in the germ and the bran. With teff the germ and the bran make up almost the whole grain. Since teff is too small to hull, it can’t be refined or lose nutritional value. Teff is also gluten free.

Both the ivory and brown teff grain have the versatility of corn meal and millet. Delicious in porridge, stews, stuffing, and pilaf, teff is delicious cooked alone or in combination with other grains and vegetables. Cook 1 cup teff with 3 cups water or stock. Season with one or more of the following spices for a tasty dish: cinnamon, ginger, garlic, cardamom, chilies, basil and cilantro. Teff is quick cooking, too. No need to pre-rinse, teff comes clean, already passed through a series of screens after the harvest. Teff is ideal for a fast meal, ready in 20 minutes. And when it comes to making pastries, ivory and brown teff flour make superb pancakes, piecrusts, and cookies.

Teff grain and teff flour are wonderful alternatives to wheat, barley and rye for folks with a gluten-free diet. Teff flour will expand food choices beyond potato, corn and rice flour.

Millet and Teff with Squash and Onions

Measure 1 cup of millet.
Rinse millet until water is clear.
Put in a large pot.
Add 1/2 cup of teff grain
pinch of sea salt
1 sliced onion
1 butternut squash cut into bite sized or larger chunks
(cut the skin of the squash off too)
4 1/2 cups of water

Stir and gently mix up the ingredients. Simmer 20 minutes or until all the water is absorbed.

Teff Polenta
Flavored with sweet juicy tomatoes, fresh basil, garlic, and decorated with bright green peppers, here is an irresistible summer repast. Serve garnished with grated Fontina, Parmesan, Manchego, or sliced rounds of chevre.

Serves 4-6

2 cups water
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
8 cloves garlic, thickly sliced
1 cup coarsely chopped onions
1 cup coarsely chopped green peppers
2/3 cup teff grain
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
2 cups coarsely chopped plum tomatoes
1 cup coarsely chopped fresh basil

Boil water.

Place the oil in a 10-inch skillet, and warm over medium heat. Add garlic and onions, and sauté, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes, or until fragrant. Add peppers, and sauté for 2 minutes or, until bright green. Stir in the teff.

Turn off the heat to prevent splattering, and add boiling water and salt. Resume heat and let it simmer for 2 minutes. Add tomatoes and basil. Cover and simmer for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the water’s absorbed. There may be some extra liquid from the tomatoes, but as long as the teff is not crunchy, the polenta is done. Taste and adjust the seasonings, if desired. Transfer it to an un-oiled 9-inch pie plate. Let it cool for about 30 minutes. Slice and serve.

Pancakes
Combine these dry ingredients in a large bowl without sifting:
2 cups of teff flour
1 tbsp. of baking powder
1 tbsp. of arrowroot
1/2 tsp. of sea salt

Add:
2 tbsp. of canola oil or unrefined corn oil
2 1/4 cups of fruit jiuce (apple, pear or any flavor juice you like)
OR 1 cup of juice and 1 cup of amasake (rice nectar)
1 tbsp. of pure vanilla

Mix the wet and dry ingredients together. Brush a large frying pan with canola oil.  Cook as usual.  Makes 15 pancakes.

Peanut Butter Cookies

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a large bowl combine without sifting:
1 1/2 cups of teff flour
1/2 tsp. of sea salt

In a food processor or another way blend:
1/2 cup of maple syrup
1/2 cup of corn oil or canola oil
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup of peanut butter
(This recipe works best with peanut butter that is not fresh ground).

Mix the wet and dry ingredients together. Shape into walnut-sized balls, then flatten them gently with a fork. Bake for 15 minutes. Makes 2 dozen.

Dessert Pie Crust

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Wihout sifting, combine:
2 cups teff flour
1/2 cup maple syrup
1/2 cup unrefined corn oil or canola oil
1/2 tsp. sea salt

Without rolling or refrigerating, press dough with your fingers into a pie plate.
Bake for 10 minutes, add filling.

Teff Brownies
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 egg white
1 teaspoon vanilla
2/3 cup teff flour

5 tablespoons cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
Chocolate chips, added topping (optional)

Grease an 8 x 8 inch glass pan and preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large mixing bowl, use a fork to stir together the melted butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla.

With a beater, mix in the teff flour, cocoa powder, salt, and baking powder. Pour mixture into pan. Spread evenly. If you want more chocolate flavor, sprinkle chocolate chips across the top.

Bake 45 minutes, or until the edges are brown and a fork inserted into the middle of the pan comes out clean. To prevent dryness, DO NOT OVERBAKE.

Flax

Benefits of Flax seed

Its high content of alpha linolenic acids has made the ancient flax seed become our modern miracle food. Alpha linolenic acid (ALA) is a type of plant-derived omega3 similar to those found in fish such as salmon. Benefits of flax seed as shown in many studies include lowering total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels. Other benefits show that flax seed may also help triglycerides and high-blood-pressure. It may also keep platelets from becoming sticky therefore reducing the risk of a heart attack.
Aside from alpha linolenic acid, flax seed is rich in lignan. Lignan is a type phytoestrogen (antioxidant) and also provides fiber. Researches reveal that lignan in flax seed shows a lot of promise in fighting disease

Moderately include flax seed in your diet. Indeed, a lot of food products contain flax seed such as bread, cereal and bakery goods. Bakers may use flax seed flour or include flax seed in baking.

Note: flaxseed oil is not the same as flax seeds. Flax seed oil is a concentrated source of ALA, which has been questioned for its potential association of increasing prostate cancer risk.

Sprinkle ground flax seed on your cereal and salads. Substitute flax seed mixture for eggs in home baking such as muffin and pancake (1 tbsp milled flax seed, plus 3 tbsp water = 1 egg). Final products will have less volume and taste gummier. Include in other recipe when nutty flavor is preferred
1) Put it On or Mix it In With Other Foods

Such as:
· Yogurt and fruit
· Cottage or ricotta cheese and fruit
· Yogurt or ricotta
· Smoothies and shakes
· Mix it into pancake, breads, muffins and other batter, or other baked goods (you'll probably need to add a little more water)
2) Make a Sweet or Savory Instant Porridge or "Mush"
The idea here is to pour boiling water over flax seed meal to make a kind of porridge that can be flavored in many ways, both sweet and savory. The amount of water will vary according to taste, but about twice the amount of water as flax seed meal is a good starting place. I also like to add a pinch of salt, and if I am going to the sweet side, a little sweetener as well. Let it thicken for a couple of minutes while the seeds absorb the water. If it's too thick and "gel-like", add more water.

Here are some ideas for "mix-ins" for flax meal.

· Peanut butter and cinnamon
· Any nut butter
· Cinnamon, sweetener, and butter
· Chopped Nuts
· Berries
· Chopped Apple and cinnamon
· Chopped Peaches
· Sugar Free Maple Syrup
· Other sugar-free syrups
· Unsweetened coconut
· To make it deluxe, add sugar-free chocolate with the coconut
· Coconut milk and sugar-free jam (raspberry is good)
· Butter
· Shredded cheese
· Shredded cheese and chiles (or pepper cheese)
· Cheese and chives
· Cheese and garlic