Whole Wheat Farina

Pretty normal day here. Yesterday I was so tired I had to take a nap. I hope that doesn’t happen to me today. But if it does, I guess I’ll have to nap! ;)

This afternoon, after our schooling is done, we are going to hit the library, the post office and the thrift store. The girls want to go to the thrift store to get baskets with handles because theirs are being used to hold greeting cards we have for sale in a local book shop. When they dress up and play princess or go on a nature walk, collecting wild flowers, they just really need a basket! I’m saying that somewhat sarcastically, because they don’t really need to have a basket. But, this Mama does love seeing each girl in a straw hat wandering outside with a basket gathering treasures.

I picked my co-op order yesterday afternoon. I’ve started the alfalfa sprouts in my new Sproutmaster sprout tray. We can’t wait to eat them in a few days on sandwiches or salads! Only two things didn’t come in my order — the pineapple and the tamari sauce. So, no pineapple in our smoothies this month. That’s okay, not great, but okay. We’ll just work around it.

This morning we are eating some of the whole wheat farina I ordered. Farina is the same as Cream of Wheat, but this is the whole wheat version. I realized as soon as I got it that I might not need to buy it anymore because I can process the wheat berries in my Vita-Mix to make my own farina. The grains are just broken up into smaller pieces. Although, this farina comes from hard red wheat and I use hard white wheat. That might make a difference in flavor or texture. I’ll still give it a try at some point.

How to Cook Whole Wheat Farina

Use 3 cups water for every 1 cup whole wheat farina. Bring water and a dash of salt to a boil. Add farina and stir constantly for a few minutes until it is slightly thickened. Reduce heat to a simmer and let cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Serve with desired garnishes, such as: stevia, agave syrup, cinnamon, carob powder, chopped nuts, nut milk, or sliced fruit.

How to Grind Whole Wheat Farina (update 5-7-2007)

In the Vita-Mix, grind 2 cups of whole wheat berries at a time, on variable speed 8 for about 30 seconds. That is the consistency we like. Many different grains can be cracked for hot breakfast porridge. See Cracked Grain Cereal Mix for more information on how much and how long to grind other grains.

About Wardeh

Wardeh ('Wardee') Harmon lives in Oregon with her husband, Jeff, and their three children, Haniya, Naomi & Mikah. They garden and raise a dairy cow, chickens and goats. Wardeh is passionate about traditional cooking. She writes books and teaches online classes in traditional cooking, sourdough, cultured dairy, cheesemaking and fermentation. Follow Wardeh on Google+.

Comments

  1. Sylvia says:

    We love whole wheat farina, especially in the winter time. But I can’t help slathering it with butter and maple syrup! Which makes it not so healthy :lol:

  2. Wardeh says:

    Yeah, I know… those make it taste so good! We ate it this morning with nuts, agave syrup, coconut and raisins. I mixed carob powder and stevia with the cooking water in the beginning.

  3. Robin says:

    Yummmmmmy! I have had Cream of Wheat off and on throughout my life, but never the ww farina. We almost bought some last time at Wild Oats. We will have to try it next time we go. :)

  4. Martha says:

    Hi! We had our whole wheat farina breakfast yesterday (Sat). It was so delicious, smothered with organic coconut, raw cashews and walnuts, raisins and cranraisins, molasis and yummie soy-rice-almond-oatmeal milk (your recipe!) poured on top. Best of all, it was served to me by your Dad while I took a break to eat breakfast from washing windows and storms. Oh yes, I found that 3 and 1/2 to 1 was a good ratio for ours. Remember when we always had Cream of Wheat for breakfast on Church day?? Love, Mom

  5. Wardeh says:

    Sounds just delicious, Mother. I do remember having Cream of Wheat on Church days. Perhaps that’s why I still love it! Love you!

  6. Ira says:

    Hi Wardeh, I love your recipies, I also grind my grains on my mill esp wheat little bit coarser and I cook it as you would cook your farina, no differance and i mix my fresh ground wheat with ground Parmesan and spices to coat my chiken-delicious. God bless you
    Ira

  7. Suz says:

    I tried to follow your link to vita mix but was unable to find what I was looking for, how to make ww farina. I have a vita mix and would love to make my own maltomeal type cereal- as my children love it- but $$ often makes it unavailable. Thanks

    Hi, Suz! I guess this post of mine doesn’t actually tell how to make it, does it? I’ll update that today.

    Well, this is what to do. Grind 2 cups of whole wheat berries on variable speed 8 for about 30 seconds. That is the consistency we like. Here is a recipe of mine for mixing 14 different cracked grains together and it specifies how long to grind each grain — Cracked Grain Cereal Mix. It would also be helpful in case you want to grind other grains for porridge.

  8. Suz says:

    Thank you. I am hoping to use the wheat I have and save $$ too.

  9. Suz says:

    I am collecting ingredients and was hoping that it is possible to substitute corn meal for the corn, rolled barley- for the barley hulled, and rolled buckwheat for the buckwheat groats. Is this possible? I was attempting to make the bread with your cracked grain cereal mix.

    You could substitute the corn meal from the corn, although it will be a little finer. But in the case of corn, I think that would be fine.

    You could try substituting in the case of the others, but be aware that you should grind only very, very minimally so as not to end up with flour. Just try to chop up the rolled grains a bit. It is worth an experiment, in any case. I’m interested in hearing how it turns out.

  10. Mary Grace LaMendola says:

    Thank you for the ww farina recipe. I just finished watching my Breadbeckers DVD again and wanted to make ww farina (just bought a box of cream of wheat the other day). You offered all of the information that I needed. Loved reading your sweet family reply back and forth. If possible could you please e-mail me at * so that I might pick your brain a little more? Thanks!

    Yes, I will email you. :D -Wardeh

  11. GinnyV says:

    I know this is an old post, but I’m really glad to have found it! I was googling “how to make farina from wheat berries” and yours was one of the top posts. Funny, I should have known that one of my favorite blogs would have the info I wanted, all along! Thanks!

    I don’t have a Vita-Mix, can I use another blender? I have an Oster and a Cuisinart.

  12. Colleen says:

    I would love to do this! My kids LOVE cream of wheat, but now that we’ve started cutting down on refined, unsoaked grains, this sounds like a good alternative. I don’t have a Vita-Mix, but I do have a grain mill. Any advice on grinding to produce whole wheat farina?
    Colleen recently posted… Real Food Standby #2: SmoothiesMy Profile

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