Chocolatey Breakfast for my Valentine

Ginger?  Check.  Local apples?  Check.  Gluten free breakfast?  Got it.

 

But wait!  It's the day before Valentine's Day.  Some chocolate is in order.  I went with a bit more of a healthier approach with how I added my chocolate.  Not with chocolate chips, or carob chips.  But with some Amazing Grass Green Super Food that I was lucky enough to win from Lindsay over at Cotter Crunch.  I won an assortment of bars, drink supplements, and meal shakes last week, and they happily arrived at my door a couple of days ago.  I'm pretty excited to see what other recipes I can conjure up using what I won. I liked that this chocolate drink supplement was all natural -- no fructose, no processed things that I can't pronounce.  Something nice for my body and my sweetheart on Valentine's Day.

My grain of choice here is buckwheat.  Although it has "wheat" in its name, buckwheat actually contains no gluten, so it's safe for celiacs and gluten troubled folks.  It's actually not a grain at all, but a fruit seed, related to the lovely spring vegetable rhubarb.  It's also a complete protein -- meaning it contains all of the essential amino acids, much like quinoa.  That's great news for vegetarians!  High in fiber, rich in disease-preventing lignans, full of antioxidants -- buckwheat is a big bowl of love for your body.

If I remember, I soak my buckwheat over night.  Why?  According to the wonderful Nourishing Traditions,

 "All grains contain phytic acid (an organic acid in which phosphorous is bound) in the outer layer or bran. Untreated phytic acid can combine with calcium, magnesium, copper, iron especially zinc in the intestinal track and block their absorption. This is why a diet high in unfermented whole grains may led to serious mineral deficiencies and bone loss...Soaking allows enzyme, lactobacilli and other helpful organisms to break down and neutralize phytic acid. As little as seven hours of soaking in warm acidulated water will neutralize a large portion of phytic acid in grains. The simple practice of soaking cracked or rolled cereal grains overnight will vastly improve their nutritional benefits."

-Nourishing Traditions,  Sally Fallon, Mary G. Enig - NewTrends Pub. (1999)

So, this Valentine's meal takes a bit of preparation.  What you'll need:

• 1 1/2 cups of buckwheat (kasha)
• 1 apple
• 1 teaspoon ginger
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• Some form of chocolate
• a pinch of salt
• 1 teaspoon of butter

Take 1 1/2 cups of buckwheat or kasha cereal, and soak it in 2 1/4 cups water before you go to bed.
Upon rising, drain the soaking water and rince your buckwheat once. Pour the buckwheat into a sauce pan with 3 cups of water, and crank the heat to medium.  Add a teaspoon of ginger, a teaspoon of cinnamon, a pinch of salt, and a chopped up apple.  Once the water has started boiling, things should take around 15-20 minutes to cook up.  I usually add a bit of butter into the mix.  Yes, the real thing.

How you add chocolate is up to you.  Carob powder or chocolate powder will work.  Or maybe a grated bit of chocolate bar.

How do you like your chocolate?  What's your favorite kind?  Dark, milk, or carob?

However you like your chocolate, have a happy Valentine's Day!