Life Long Learners Sample Whole Grains

The participants in the life long learning class at West Virginia University know how to cook, yet love to sample new things. On this Whole Grains Sampling Day, we sampled grains A-W with the purpose of finding a new grain to enjoy.

As the instructor for this class, I was one who learned many things about grains-where they're grown, where to find them and what to do with them.  On day trips, I stopped at bulk food, gourmet food and farmers markets in hopes of finding another grain.  Recipe sources were endless-on packages, in the current magazines and on the internet.  Seems what's old-as in ancient grains-have become new again.

In the classroom, we previewed whole grains A-W. with a PowerPoint of meals I made at home.  Samples of most of the grains were passed , displaying the grain in it's dry state.  For 6 of the featured grains- I gave everyone a recipe and enough of the dry grain to prepare a recipe at home.  

  

At break. a whole grain soup, flatbread cracker and dessert were set up in a buffet in the office for participants to try.  For the Butternut Squash, Millet and Teff Soup, I used the recipe on the Whole Grains Council website, Curried Sweet Potato and Millet Soup, and substituted local Butternut Squash for the sweet potatoes.  The recipe for the Double Chocolate Cupcakes was inspired by Forks Over Knives, for which I added a touch of ground black beans to the whole grains in the dry mix.  I love the date, fig and cocoa icing in this recipe.

I'm fairly certain the enthusiastic "students" will not have to wait until next year to sample a whole grain!

Rollin' Ramen

Picnic weather has returned and this spring meal features brisket ramen, using some of the some of the wine-braised brisket and broth I made Thursday.  The recipes are from Rachael Ray's "Shortcut Suppers".  I slow cooked the brisket, then froze 2/3 of it to pull and plug into many more meals to come.  I refrigerated the broth, skimmed the fat, and will freeze some of it as well.

The meal is served with sliced grape tomatoes, Crusty Irish Soda Bread and Apple Pear Pecan Crumble.

Wine Braised Brisket

(Serves 12-15)

Mix wine, stock, paste and thyme in slow cooker.
2 cups dry red wine
2 cups low sodium beef stock
1/2 cup tomato paste
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme

Heat oil in skillet on stove top.  Add brisket.  Season and brown 6 minutes on each side.
2 teaspoon olive oil
1 (2.7 #) brisket
1/2 teaspoon Mrs. Dash


Place brisket in slow cooker.  Add vegetables.  Cook on low heat 8 hours.
1 rib celery, coarsely chopped
1 carrot, peeled and coarsely chopped
1 medium onion, chopped

On cutting board, divide beef into thirds.  Slice one piece with electric knife across the grain and serve with dinner.  Cool and refrigerate sliced meat and broth.  Cool and freeze pieces of brisket.

Brisket Ramen

(Serves 3)

On stove top, heat stock, soy sauce, pan juice and ginger.
2 cups beef stock, low sodium
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1/2 cup pan juice, skimmed of fat
1/2 teaspoon fresh grated ginger

Add noodles and cook as recommended on package.
2 ounce whole grain noodles


Stir in vegetables and beef.  Heat through out.
1/3 cup butter browned mushrooms, sliced
1/3 cup fresh peas, previously cooked
1 cup fresh chopped spinach

1/2 cup wine-braised brisket, chopped  

Place soup in thermos, preheated with steeping boiling water.

Add hard cooked egg at table-side. 
1 hard cooked egg, halved


I love the green eggs I bought this week at my local farm store.

Our picnic today was at Watters Smith State Park near West Milford, WV.  There were lots of hikers and bikers at the park today.

 
   
   

Roast 'n Rye

For this adaptation of Reuben Loaf, I chopped the St. Patrick's Day Pickled Spiced Beef (frozen leftover) and combined with aged cheddar in a rye bread dough. To the whole rye and white bread dough, I added dijon mustard and caraway seed.  This made a very happy Friday meal at the start of a warm spring weekend!

Rye Loaf

(Serves 5)

In electric mixer with dough hook in place, slowly add warm water to a dry mix of rye flour, dry yeast and sugar.  Beat at medium speed 2 minutes.
1 cup whole rye flour
1 tablespoon 3/4 teaspoon dry yeast
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 cup warm water (125 F) 

Add caraway seed, salt, mustard, buttery spread and 1/2 cup all purpose flour.  Beat at slow speed 2 minutes.
1/2 teaspoon caraway seed
Smidgen salt
1 tablespoon dijon mustard
1 tablespoon Earth Balance Buttery Spread
1/2 cup all purpose flour

Gradually add additional flour, kneading until dough leaves sides of bowl.  Place dough in bowl greased with olive oil.  
1/4 cup all purpose flour
Cover and let rise 45 minutes.  Punch dough down.  On parchment paper dusted with flour, roll dough into a rectangle, about 1/2 inch high. 

Spread beef down center 1/3 of dough.  Sprinkle beef with cheese.
1 1/2 cup roasted beef, chopped
3 ounce aged cheddar cheese, shredded
Cut dough on each side of center into 1/2 inch strips.  Overlap dough strips to resemble a braided top.  Cover and let rise for 45 minutes.

Beat egg.  Brush dough with beaten egg.
1 egg 
Bake at 375 F. for 30 minutes.

  

Diabetic Friendly Cook Book "Switches It Up"

Corinne Trang's recipes in this new American Diabetes Association cookbook takes readily available ingredients and transforms recipes into flavorful meal combinations.  In each of the recipes, she suggests how to combine 3 recipes from the booklet to create a colorful meal.  Our dinner tonight features the 3 recipes she suggested as a pairing.  The poultry dish was similar to recipes we'd prepared.  The couscous-cranberry combination was all new (and very tasty) as was the smokey bean soup.  We both enjoyed the offerings.

Our menu:

Curried Spiced Turkey Tenderloin

Smoked Tomato Bean Soup

Quinoa with Spinach and Dried Cranberries

 Curried Spiced Turkey Tenderloin

©2017 by Corinne Trang. Reprinted with permission from The American Diabetes Association. Switch It Up is available at ShopDiabetes.org, in bookstores nationwide, or by calling 1-800-232-6733.”

(Serves 3)

In a small bowl, mix curry, ginger and garlic.

1 teaspoon curry powder

1/2 teaspoon fresh grated ginger

1 teaspoon minced garlic clove

Drop tenderloin into bowl of turn to cover with spice mix..

6 pound turkey tenderloin

Place on a baking tray covered with non stick aluminum foil.  Bake at 325 F. until thermometer inserted into center of tenderloin reaches 165F, about 45 minutes.  Slice thinly with electric knife.

Smokey Tomato Soup 

©2017 by Corinne Trang. Reprinted with permission from The American Diabetes Association. Switch It Up is available at ShopDiabetes.org, in bookstores nationwide, or by calling 1-800-232-6733.”

(Serves 3)

Saute celery, shallots, carrots and peppers in olive oil, stirring frequently.

2 teaspoon olive oil

1/3 cup celery, diced

2 tablespoon shallots, diced

1/3 cup carrots, diced

2 tablespoon orange and red sweet peppers, diced

Add spices.

1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika

1/4 teaspoon cumin

1/2 teaspoon oregano

Add beans, water and bouillon cube.  

1/3 cup great northern beans

2 cups water

1 vegetable bouillon cube, low sodium

Cook until beans are soft, about 1 hour.

Stir in tomatoes.  Heat throughout.

1/2 cup diced tomatoes, no added salt

Garnish with fresh cilantro

Fresh cilantro, garnish 

Quinoa with Spinach & Dried Cranberries

©2017 by Corinne Trang. Reprinted with permission from The American Diabetes Association. Switch It Up is available at ShopDiabetes.org, in bookstores nationwide, or by calling 1-800-232-6733.”

(Serves 2)

Heat oil in stove top skillet.  Add quinoa.  Stir to toast.  Add water and dried cranberries.  Heat to boiling.  Lower heat.  Cover and cook 20 minutes, until water is absorbed.

1/2 teaspoon olive oil

2 tablespoon quinoa

3/4 cup water

1 1/2 tablespoon dried cranberries, chopped

Mix quinoa and berries with spinach.  Dress with lemon juice.

1/2 cup fresh spinach, stems removed and chopped

Juice of 1/2 lemon

Serve with crumbled cheese.

2 tablespoon crumbled bleu cheese

               

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact Dalyn A. Miller Dalyn Miller Public Relations 617-504-6869 DMiller@DalynMillerPR.com PIECE TOGETHER INCREDIBLE, BALANCED PLATES BY UNDERSTANDING HEALTHY EATING SWITCH IT UP A Fresh Take on Quick and Easy Diabetes-Friendly Recipes for a Balanced Life by Corinne Trang February 2017 The biggest challenge facing most people is how to get creativity and diversity into their diet, particularly when they are preparing meals daily. the trick is to incorporate a repertoire of simple recipes, using readily available ingredients that can be mixed and matched to create innovative dishes that become favorites. In her new book SWITCH IT UP [Feb 2017, $14.95 US] Nautilus Book Award winner Corinne Trang has created a treasure trove of core recipes with the goal of achieving a balanced and healthy lifestyle. Corinne inspires readers to break the cycle of cooking "dinner time fixtures" by including some new, and many familiar, ingredients and sharing her unique approach to savoring the methods by which a food is prepared and presented. A healthy lifestyle begins with understanding balance - replacing dishes that are unhealthy or hard to digest with smaller, varied plates creating consciousness while eating. Best of all, there are plenty of options for vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike! Inspired by cuisines from around the world, Corinne brings a new appreciation to the table with dishes like these: Fennel Salad with Blood Orange Eggplant, Tomato, Mozzarella Napoleon Baby Bok Choy Stir-Fried with Ginger and Garlic Spicy Miso Guacamole Calamari in Tomato Sauce with Basil Curry-spiced Chicken Breasts Pan-seared Pork Tenderloin with Sautéed Apples Apple Cranberry Pecan Crisp Recipes use easy-to-find, staple ingredients, along with the American Diabetes Association's approved meal exchanges and detailed nutrition information. SWITCH IT UP introduces the concept of mixing and matching dishes and opens the door for new combinations for any meal. The leftovers from a recipe you include for dinner can be combined with another recipe for tomorrow's lunch to create an entirely new flavor profile. SWITCH IT UP takes readers on a journey of new and bold tastes using ingredients that will elevate creativity in the kitchen, a bonus for family and friends.

About the Author Corinne Trang is the award-winning author of nine cookbooks, including 2013 Nautilus Award-winning Asian Flavors Diabetes Cookbook, as well as Essentials of Asian Cuisine and Authentic Vietnamese Cooking. Trang is a frequent television and radio guest and has appeared on NBC's Today Show, CBS's Early Morning Show, Martha Stewart Living, PBS, FOX News, ABC, CNN, Lifetime, Discovery, Food Network, Sirius, Business Talk Radio, NPR, and Bloomberg. She has written for numerous publications including: Saveur, Food & Wine, Fine Cooking, Island, Gourmet, CookingLight, and Bon Appetit, and has taught and lectured internationally. For more information, visit www.corinnetrang.com. * * * About the American Diabetes Association The American Diabetes Association® is leading to fight to STOP DIABETES® and its deadly consequences for those affected with diabetes. The Association funds research to prevent, cure, and manage diabetes; delivers services to hundreds of communities; provides objective and credible information; and gives voice to those denied their rights because of diabetes. Founded in 1940, its mission is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. For more information please call the American Diabetes Association at 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383) or visit www.diabetes.org. Information from both of these sources is available in English and Spanish. SWITCH IT UP A Fresh Take on Quick and Easy Diabetes-Friendly Recipes for a Balanced Life by Corinne Trang February 2017 American Diabetes Association $14.95 US Original Trade Paperback ISBN: 978-1-58040-549-2

MEDIA CONTACT – BOOK REQUESTS, EXCERPT PERMISSIONS, INTERVIEW SCHEDULING: Dalyn A. Miller, 617-504-6869 / DMiller@DalynMillerPR.com Dalyn Miller Public Relations represents a variety of lifestyle-focused clients and products including experts and authors in the categories of diet, health, fitness, cooking, spirituality, sex, self-help and more. If this project is not appropriate to you or your demographic, we may have one (or more) that is appropriate.