Amaranth

I tried a new grain the other day, amaranth. It's a very nutritious grain. I was thinking I was going to just cook it and eat it for breakfast topped with some nuts, coconut, and honey. But when I cooked it, I changed my mind. It's a very smelly, sticky grain. So I had to find a way to use it. I worked it into 3 recipes: pancakes, bread, and muffins.

Pancakes
1/2 c. white flour
1/2 c. barley flour, or other whole grain
1/4 c. cooked amaranth
1 T. coconut oil
1 T. baking powder
1/4 t. salt
1/2 t. vanilla
3/4 c. milk
1 egg

Mix all ingredients together and cook on a griddle over medium heat. Top with unsweetened applesauce or berries.

Apple Muffins
3/4 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. white flour
1 c. wheat flour
1 t. soda
1 t. cinnamon
1/2 t. salt
1/4 c. coconut oil
2 eggs
3/4 c. applesauce
1 t. vanilla
1/2 c. cooked amaranth
1/2 c. buttermilk
1 apple, peeled and chopped

1. Preheat oven to 400. Grease a 12 muffin pan
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flours, soda, cinnamon, and salt
3. In a large bowl, whisk together the oil and sugar. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing after each.
4. Whisk in the applesauce, vanilla, and amaranth.
5. Whisk in the flour mixture in two batches, alternating with the buttermilk.
6. Mix just until combined. Stir in apple chunks.
7. Bake 20-25 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack in the pan.

I really liked these, but I think next time I would put in 2 apples instead of one.

Bread recipe to come soon.....