Five Grain Hot Cereal Recipes

SOFT MULTIGRAIN BREAD

Steps:

• Place cereal mix in a large heatproof bowl (you can also use the bowl of your stand mixer). Pour boiling water on top. Let the mixture cool until a digital thermometer reads about 110°F (43°C). This usually takes 20 minutes. Pay attention to the temperature because if it's too hot, it will kill the yeast. If it became too cool, however, it's not a problem- the dough may just take a few extra minutes to rise.
• Whisk the yeast, sugar, and all of the warm water/cereal mixture in the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with a dough hook or paddle attachment. Cover and allow to sit for 5-10 minutes or until foamy and bubbly on the surface.
• Add the butter, salt, and 1 cup (about 130g) flour. Beat on low speed for 30 seconds, scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula, then add another cup of flour. Beat on medium speed until relatively incorporated (there may still be chunks of butter). Add all of the remaining flour and the seeds/nuts (if using), then beat on medium speed until the dough comes together and pulls away from the sides of the bowl, about 2 minutes. If it seems too sticky, add more flour, 1 Tablespoon at a time until it begins to pull away from the sides of the bowl. *If you do not own a mixer, you can mix this dough with a large wooden spoon or rubber spatula. It will take a bit of arm muscle!*
• Keep the dough in the mixer (and switch to the dough hook if you used the paddle) and beat for an additional 2 minutes OR knead by hand on a lightly floured surface for 2 minutes. Dough is soft, yet heavy.
• Lightly grease a large bowl with olive oil or nonstick spray. Place the dough in the bowl, turning it to coat all sides in the oil. Cover the bowl with aluminum foil, plastic wrap, or a clean kitchen towel. Allow the dough to rise in a relatively warm environment for 1-2 hours or until double in size. (I always let it rise on the counter. Takes about 2 hours. For a tiny reduction in rise time, see my answer to Where Should Dough Rise? in my Baking with Yeast Guide.)
• Grease a 9×5 inch loaf pan.
• When the dough is ready, punch it down to release the air. Lightly flour a work surface, your hands, and a rolling pin. Roll the dough out into a large rectangle, about 8×15 inches. It does not have to be perfect- in fact, it will probably be rounded on the edges. That's ok! Roll it up into an 8 inch log and place in the prepared loaf pan.
• Cover shaped loaf with aluminum foil, plastic wrap, or a clean kitchen towel. Allow to rise until it's about 1-2 inches above the top of the loaf pan, about 1 hour. (See photo above for a visual.)
• Adjust oven rack to a lower position and preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). (It's best to bake the bread towards the bottom of the oven so the top doesn't burn.)
• Bake for 35-40 minutes- if you notice the top browning too quickly during bake time, loosely tent the pan with aluminum foil. How to test for doneness- give the loaf a light tap. If it sounds hollow, it's done. For a more accurate test, the bread is done when an instant read thermometer reads the center of the loaf as 195°F-200°F (90°C-93°C).
• Remove from the oven and allow bread to cool for a few minutes before slicing and serving. Feel free to let it cool completely before slicing, too.
• Cover leftover bread tightly and store at room temperature for 2-3 days or in the refrigerator for up to 10 days.

MULTI-GRAIN HOT CEREAL (SLOW-COOKER)

Steps:

• dump everything into a lightly greased, large crockpot.
• Cook on low overnight (about 6 hours was enough for me); or on high for 4 hours.
• The original recipe suggests adding additional dried fruits, like raisins or cranberries in the last hour before serving. I topped mine with some maple syrup.
• *I used a brown, long-grain basmati rice, but I'm sure any length rice would work fine. Also, I didn't have any apples, but I had some dehydrated apple-chips which I crushed and tossed in -- they worked great.

BOB'S RED MILL 5 GRAIN COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda and salt.
• In another bowl, cream butter and sugar until smooth, then blend in water and vanilla. Beat eggs and add to butter mixture. Stir flour mixture into the egg and butter mixture. Add cereal and all remaining ingredients. Mix well.
• Drop by rounded spoonfuls onto the prepared cookie sheets. Bake 10-12 minutes. When done, edges should be lightly brown.

5 GRAIN CROCK-POT HOT CEREAL

Steps:

• Mix first 7 ingredients together and store in an air-tight container for future use.
• When ready to cook, mix one cup of grain mixture with 3 cups of water.
• Cook on low overnight in a crock pot OR bake, covered, overnight in a 200 degree oven.

HOMEMADE MULTI-GRAIN HOT CEREAL

Steps:

• NOTE: Measurements above are arbitrary. Feel free to omit any grain or substitute your favorite grain(s).
• In Dutch oven on medium heat, lightly toast the hardy grains (such as brown rice, whole barley, buckwheat groats) for approximately 8-10 minutes or until fragrant.
• Keep stirring grains constantly so they don't burn.
• Add remaining grains and toast another 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Cool mixture slightly.
• Process grain mixture in batches in food processor, grain mill or blender fitted with steel blade. Grind grains to medium coarse consistency (grainy but not powdered.) Transfer ground grains to airtight container and store in refrigerator or freezer.
• To prepare hot cereal*: To 1 cup of rapidly boiling water add 1/3 cup scant of cereal. Continue boiling 30 seconds, breaking up lumps with a fork. Reduce heat, cover pan and simmer cereal for 10-12 minutes.
• *For thinner consistency cereal either increase water or reduce amount of cereal.
• Season with salt to taste.
• Add your favorite toppings such as cinnamon, flax seeds, milk, etc.