| HOW TO MAKE SPROUTS AT HOME Compared to yard gardening, kitchen gardening is a cinch. By learning how to sprout seeds, fresh vegetables are only 2-3 days away. The only equipment needed is a quart jar, a piece of clean nylon net and a strong rubber band or metal bottle ring. Pick broken seeds and foreign objects out of seeds to be sprouted. Avoid using old seeds as they take longer to sprout or might not sprout at all. Do not use pre-packaged seeds for planting as they have been treated with poison. Place desired amount of seeds along with 2 cups warm water in the quart jar. See amount of seeds per jar below. Secure the net over the mouth of the jar with a strong elastic or bottle ring. Soak seeds at least 8 hours. After seeds have soaked for 8 - 12 hours, rinse through the netting and drain well, still keeping the seeds secured in the jar. Don't soak seeds for over 20 hours. You will drowned them. Place jar on its side in a warm, dark place. Do not let the seeds dry out and do not expose them to sunlight. Rinse seeds through the netting at least 3 times a day with warm water, always draining well. Do not use hot or cold water. Hot water will kill the sprouts and cold water retards their growth. When sprouts attain desired length, store unused sprouts in the refrigerator. Always rinse stored sprouts once a day in cold water and use them within one week. CAUTION: Don't sprout tomato or potato seeds. The sprouts are poisonous. When adding sprouts to yeast goods, do so as late as possible in the mixing process, then be sure the dough is warm and working. Do not allow dough to sit too long with sprouts added as the dough may sour. AMOUNT OF SEEDS PER QUART: Alfalfa - 1 tablespoon. Takes 3 to 5 days to sprout. Harvest when sprouts are about 1 inch long. Allow the sprouts to green in the sunlight as soon as 2 leaves appear. Use alfalfa sprouts in salads, sandwiches and juices. Lentils - ½ cup. Takes 2 to 4 days to sprout. Harvest lentils at ½ inch. They taste great in salads, casseroles, soups, juices and can be used as a vegetable. Mung bean - ¼ cup. These are the familiar sprouts you find in the super markets. Mung beans take 3-4 days to harvest at about ½ inch. Good in salads, omelets, soups, and many oriental dishes. Tritical - 1 cup. Sprouts in 2 to 3 days. Harvest at ¼ inch. Good in bread, snacks, granola and pancakes. Wheat - ¼ cup. Sprouts in 2 to 3 days at ¼ inch. Great in bread, snacks, soups, granola and pancakes. Adzuki bean - ½ cup. Takes 3 to 4 days at ¼ inch. These sweet red beans taste good in salads, casseroles and soup. Radish seeds - ¼ cup. Takes 2 to 3 days to sprout. Use radish sprouts just as soon as two leaves appear. They get quite nippy if you leave them too long. Use in salads and soups. GOOD LUCK AND HAVE FUN! |
|