Easy Country Cream of Wheat

by Jared Neibaur

Something that has been lost in today's fast-paced world is breakfast. On the farm breakfast is still the most important meal of the day. Cream of wheat is one of those traditional country breakfasts that brings the heart home. (Even if we hated it as a kid.) I have recently discovered that a fantastic cream of wheat can be made from fresh coarse-ground wheat that can taste so good, even the young connoisseurs will approve. The best part about this simple recipe is that the simple ingredients make a very healthy start to your day.

The start to my cream of wheat is a locally grown hard white wheat which gives the dish its light milky color. This wheat is grown by a family in my area who has been a friend to my family for all of my growing up years. Check out their website here. You can use any kind of whole wheat really, but the hard white wheat yields some really amazing results. 

The second secret to making any whole wheat dish taste good is to grind your wheat fresh and use it as soon as possible. I could go on about how all wheat flour, white or whole, loses effectiveness and nutrients as they sit, but what I am most concerned about here is the flavor. Whole wheat just tastes better when you eat it the same day you grind it. If you try it once you'll notice the difference and never go back. This is one of those secrets of country living that helps me understand why my ancestors were so happy in their day. 

The third thing I learned is that the outcome of the recipe relies on the texture of the ground wheat. I like my cream of wheat creamy, not chunky, but if you grind it too fine you will lose any texture and it will seem like whole wheat custard or gravy. I first tried my wheat grinder and found that it was a little too fine textured. I then tried a blender and got a lot of big chunks (some people like it) until I learned what to watch for. Just realize that the coarseness of the grind will affect your water to wheat ratio. The coarser the grind, the more grain you will need to add.

 I did some searching and I found this hand grinder that is a great value for the price. This would be a handy grinder to have for grinding small amounts of any grain.

Well you have read this far, I should give you the recipe before you give up on me. The amounts vary depending on servings you choose. You can also add a little less liquid for a thicker consistency.

1. Heat water or milk (or a combination of both), and salt over medium-high heat until it boils.
   
2. Add wheat to boiling liquid slowly while stirring to avoid lumps.
   
3. Stir Constantly until thickened, 3-4 minutes. 
   
4. Serve immediately with a dab of butter (butter makes all the difference) and desired mix-ins.
   

Classic Mix-ins

• Honey
  
• Brown Sugar
• Maple Syrup
• Strawberry or Raspberry Jam

Healthy Mix-ins 

• Butter ;)
  
• Cinnamon
  
• Fresh Fruit
• Granola

Kid Friendly Mix-ins

• Any mentioned to the left
• Chocolate Syrup
• Creamy Peanut Butter
• Fresh Bananas