Basic Cream of Wheat

[ChefTessBakeresse]

Cream of Wheat...Starting With Wheat.




Sometimes I do some simple basics, not only because we live on simple basics around here, but also because I know a lot of cooks who need the basics. I originally started this blog for my kids and students. Any student needs the basics in order to have a good foundation. This one is for my beginners. I love you guys! Cream of Wheat made from the whole grain at home, is nutritionally the best option. I think the flavor is off the charts. There isn't a hint of bitterness from rancid old ground wheat if you make it fresh. It's sweeter from the fresh wheat. It has all the benefits of whole grain! I know my kids are more apt to eat it if they help grind it. It's a funny thing. The other plus? At my local health food store, a pound of wheat is just under 50 cents. That makes 15 servings of hot cereal. How's that for cheap eats?

Here's my hand grinder. It's not the fancy amazing model, but it does the job for cream of wheat. Oh the nice model is on my list of things to get. Right now we make due with this guy.



I love hard white wheat, but red would work here. You could also add other grains like barley. Malt-o-meal is just that...barley and wheat. They toast the barley before they grind it.



I grind it once on a rough setting. If I cooked it at this point it would be called "cracked wheat". It's much more coarse, but a wonderful texture.



I run it through the mill on a finer setting. Did I mention my kids love to watch this process? Especially if I say things like "stop...save me! I'm too devastatingly beautiful to be put through the grinder". They laugh hysterically.



At this point, it looks like commercially prepared cream of wheat.



I like my cream of wheat not too thick and not to thin. Call me Goldie-locks. It takes 1/3 cup of the cream of wheat to 1 cup of water. I also use a pinch of sea salt.



Bring the water and salt to a boil. Add the cream of wheat in a stream, whisking with a whisk. Stir for 5-7 minutes until thick. It will look like this...



Serve with honey and cinnamon if you want or enjoy the savory version with pepper and butter.



Simple basics. There you go.