By: Cindy, General Manager of Berlin Natural Bakery

I love to bake.  It almost seems like it was inevitable.  Both of my grandmother's were excellent bakers. My mom even has many blue ribbons from our local county fair that she won for her tasty baked goods.  Everything they baked was made from scratch, using sweet creamery butter, farm fresh eggs and ingredients that often came from their own farms or gardens. I can still smell the wonderful aroma of apple dumplings or cinnamon rolls or chocolate chip cookies baking in the oven when I would burst through the door after coming home from school.  It's a wonder I didn't weigh 500 pounds. 

As children...we spent our days outdoors, exploring the woods, playing with the neighborhood kids, always on the go and just having a grand time. Though we didn't need to be concerned about watching our weight in those days I can no longer just stuff as many cookies or homemade donuts (yummy), or mouth watering pie in my mouth as I once could when I was young (and I wish I still could).

My name is Cindy and for 17 years now I have worked for Berlin Natural Bakery.  Berlin Natural Bakery is the largest all spelt bakery in the United States.  Everything we bake is made using pure spelt flour (no regular wheat will be found in our bakery) and we use only the highest quality, all natural ingredients.

The recipes you find here will be based on using spelt flour or products from Berlin Natural Bakery.  Our desire is to help all who have contacted us with questions about baking with spelt. If you don't currently have spelt flour, don't despair...these recipes are easily adaptable.  For those of you unfamiliar with Berlin Natural Bakery or spelt flour, check out the website www.BerlinNaturalBakery.com.

It is my hope that this blog, and many more to be published, will convey to you that baking does not need to be difficult (even when using spelt flour) and that it can bring a whole lot of pleasure...both in the baking itself and in the joy of eating and sharing what you've created! Or, if you're like me and already love to bake, I hope to share some new and tasty recipes you'll enjoy baking.  As I share my love of baking with you, I hope you will share your life with me as well.  You may come as a stranger, but I want you to leave as a friend. 

Feel free to ask any questions, or share your suggestions and recipes.  It is a real privilege to get to know you. Now then...it's time to get started.  It seems only appropriate since this is my first blog that for our first recipe, we start with the first meal of the day as well...breakfast.  I'm one of those people who love breakfast.  This recipe comes from a friend, Christy from Zoar, Ohio which she developed using spelt flour, freshly stone ground at Berlin Natural Bakery. For the best pancakes or waffles, this recipe is hard to beat.

SPELT PANCAKES OR WAFFLES
Ingredients:
2 cups whole spelt flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon cinnamon
3 eggs
1/2 cup oil
1 1/2 cup milk (substitute whole milk with rice milk or soy milk)
1 tablespoon vanilla

Directions:
In a medium size mixing bowl, combine flour, baking powder, salt, sugar and cinnamon. 
In smaller bowl, beat eggs, add oil, milk and vanilla. 
Add contents of smaller bowl into dry ingredients.  
Stir gently till ingredients are blended together. 
Do not use mixer and do not over mix.
*Pour batter by 1/3 cupfuls onto a lightly greased hot griddle; turn when bubbles form on top of pancakes. 
Cook until the second side is golden brown or according to your personal preference. 
Serve with butter and real maple syrup.

(For Waffles: Bake in a preheated waffle iron according to manufacturer's directions until golden brown).

Well friends, that's it for this time.  The next time we gather together, I am going to share another great breakfast recipe...French Toast.  You may be thinking, "that doesn't sound very exciting", but this is not just any French toast. My daughter Alison made this scrumptious French toast for my husband and me early one morning before she had to take us to the airport.  It was oh so good and made the start of our day all that much better. 

Since I hate finding a great recipe, only to have to make a trip to the store for ingredients before I can actually make it, I thought I would share the ingredients you'll need now so you'll be ready to go when I post the next blog. Most of the recipes are things you probably have in your kitchen already (vanilla, eggs, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt), but two of the ingredients you may not have.  My daughter used a loaf of French bread that she sliced into thick pieces, but when I made it, I used White Spelt Burger Buns from Berlin Natural Bakery. May sound crazy, but they worked perfectly.  The Berlin Natural Bakery Raisin Spelt Bread would work equally well for this recipe.  You will also need a can of sweetened condensed milk.  This gives a caramelized outer covering that is...well; I'll just say this...you're going to love it!

Until next time...Happy Baking!

You can find premier spelt products made from 100% genuine german spelt in our online store by clicking the icon below!

by:  Kathleen Finn

High energy eats for kids on the run.  Great snacks to keep on hand to satisfy ravenous appetites and picky palates.

Dip and Sip

Chilled dips and blended drinks are a pleasing change of pace from the lunchbox doldrums. *Pineapple-Yogurt dip:  Mix together 2 tablespoons of pineapple juice concentrate, 1 cup plain yogurt, 1/8 teaspoon vanilla and 1/2 cup finely chopped fresh pineapple.  Serve with sliced fruits or berries. *Peanut butter - orange dip:  Mix 1/2 cup peanut butter with 2 tablespoons orange juice concentrate, 1 tablespoon brown sugar and 1/3 cup orange juice.  Run through food processor and accompany with crackers or sliced fruit. *Smoothies:  Combine 1 cup of apple or orange juice with blueberries, raspberries or strawberries, add ice, a touch of yogurt or silken tofu and blend.  For a creamier drink, replace juice with milk - regular, soy or rice.

Stay Cool

Entice kids to help you assemble these chilly treats. *Popsicles:  Blend ice cream or frozen yogurt with milk, soy milk or rice milk and pour into popsicle molds.  Use molds to make fresh fruit juice popsicles as well. *Fresh Fruit Salad:  Cut up apples, pineapple, bananas, oranges and berries.  Throw in dried cranberries or raisins, add sunflower seeds or silvered almonds.  Top with a dollop of yogurt. *Berry Parfaits:  Loyer fresh raspberries, cherries, or blueberries with granola and yogurt or freshly whipped cream.

On the Run

Traveling near or far by car, bike, train or plane?  Keep small hands busy with a selection of sturdy snacks. *Make your own snack mix with a combination of nuts, dried fruit, carob or chocolate chips and cereal pieces.  Try a savory selection of several cereals, pretzels, nuts and rice crackers. *Dried Fruit - banana chips, mango and apple, papaya, pear or peach slices *Plain popcorn sprinkled with brewer's yeast or parmesan cheese. *Baked pita or bagel chips. *Bake your own potato, beet or sweet potato chips.  Slice vegetables thinly, drizzle with olive oil, spinkle with salt and pepper and bake in oven at 350 degreese until crispy.
Share
Healthy Snack Tips provided by Nature's Food Market, Berlin, Ohio.  www.naturesfoodmarket.com

Finally, the GMO issue is being exposed.

Read more

By:  Joy Schrock, President of Berlin Natural Bakery

Spelt (triticum Spelta) is an ancient grain, literally thousands of years old...the third original grain after emmer and einkorn.  Referred to many times in the Bible, "spelten cakes sustained Moses and the Children of Israel on their exodus out of Egypt". Spelt originated in the fertile crescent region also referred to as the Garden of Eden.  Over time, spelt "naturally" made its way to the mountainous and undulating region of Southern Germany and the neighboring areas. Spelt thrived in this region due to the medium altitude and heat stress free climate.   Spelt made its way to America not through natural migration, but in seed form amongst the valuable possessions of its many immigrants. In Europe spelt is the creme de la creme of grains...in a class of its own.  Perhaps it is because spelt is native to their region...they've been eating it for centuries and actually know what it is.  In Italy, it is referred to as farro...used to prepare gourmet dishes of all types.  In Germany spelt is referred to as dinkel...Germany's premier grain of choice. Spelt is higher in nutritional value than that of common wheat, higher in water solubility making it easier to digest and invaluable to those that suffer with certain wheat allergies/sensitivities. The only thing that exceeds it's nutritional value is its taste.  Slightly nutty, slightly sweet...sure to please even those with the most discriminating of palettes. You can find premier spelt products made from 100% genuine german spelt in our online store by clicking the icon below!

All of us at Berlin Natural Bakery welcome you and thank you for allowing us the opportunity to share our passion for the Natural Health Industry with you.

Our passion for the Natural Health Industry does not just include a passion for spelt.  It also includes:

- Industry news

- New products and product reviews

- Insight into the issues that we face in the natural health world...retailers, distributors, mega manufacturer's, FDA, etc.

- Keeping you up to date on natural health issues that could effect you and your life.

- Debunking the myths in natural health and evaluating the latest trends

- Spelt recipes that we've developed as well as recipes that our customers have been kind enough to share with us over the years.

- Guest blogs written by industry leaders, manufacturers, retailers, doctors, acupuncturists, wellness experts, plant breeders and scientists.

This blog is not an effort to convince you about our philosophy...it is to educate you, challenge your thinking and to give you additional information that may not be easily available to you.

We will also be sharing information from our heritage, our community and our company.  Providing you with an insight into Amish life unlike what you will find else where such as...

- Story of an Amish family...what it is like growing up in an Amish home, what they believe and the traditions that they observe and why.

- Amish recipes that are loved in the community

- Home Remedies and Household tips

We are committed to providing you with an enjoyable experience when you visit our blog.  We hope you share your thoughts and suggestions with us.  We want to get to know you, what matters to you and how we can help increase the quality of the lives of you and your families.

To stay up to date with us and our blog please feel free to follow us on twitter, become our fan on facebook, and get blog updates delivered right to your e-mail. All of this can be found on the right side of this blog!

Peace and Blessings, Joy Schrock President Berlin Natural Bakery