Howard-Hill Vineyard

Why soaked grains?  Since our son was 10 months old and came to live with us from a foster care situation, he has been sick.  He has suffered from asthma, recurring staph infections, perpetual ear and sinus infections and gastrointestinal issues including reflux, continual diarrhea and vomiting when he ate.  Coming from a foster care perspective, I really didn't have a choice but to explore every medical option available to us.  He had ongoing appointments with a pediatrician, gastroenterologist, pulmonologist, internal medicine, immunologist, allergist and an infectious disease specialist.  Countless tests, vials of blood work, endless paper work, exhausting daily medications and a lot of waiting and tears later, all we were told is that his immunities were low and not functioning but there was no definitive reason as to why.  The answer was always the same...take this new medication, it will help or one more sinus surgery to clear out excess tissue ...

I am an all or nothing kinda girl.  I  get an idea into my head that excites me and I want to only do that RIGHT NOW!!  This way of thinking has caused me to spend money on lots of things I didn't really know what to do with such as a new sewing machine, sewing table, patterns, thread, sewing videos and fabric.  3 years later, I still don't know how to thread my bobbin :)  This is just one of many examples Mostly, I do it with food .  My heart longs for the way that we people ate about a hundred years ago.  All natural, with no fillers or preservatives.  No cancer causing chemicals or hardly recognizable man made junk that make our food "taste good" and last for months on the pantry shelf.  I have read too many Little House on the Prairie books in my homeschooling lifetime and I totally idealized this in my head.  It's hard work eating this way but nevertheless, my heart always goes back to wanting to feed my family foods that are...

Amazingly simple recipe to add to your breakfast menu.  Soaked grains have been proven to easier to digest than unsoaked.  Soaking grains reduces phytic acids and tannins as well as  encouraging the production of beneficial enzymes.  Soaking the grains breaks down gluten which aids in digestion.  We have found that soaking grains has really helped promote health in our home.  We struggled for years with our son that ongoing health issues that included repeated sinus infections and digestion and absorption issues.  I usually double this recipe for an easy last minute breakfast. - 3 Cups of freshly ground soft white spring wheat - 1 3/4 Cups of raw milk - 2 Tbl of Coconut Sugar or Sucanat - 3 Tbl of acid medium (I generally use apple cider vinegar) - 3 tsp of yeast - 2 tsp of aluminum-free baking powder - 2 tsp of Celtic sea salt 1. Combine the first 4 ingredients, cover and let sit for at least 12 but up to 24 hours. 2. After your...