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Bird Seed Cereal
In my Seattle kitchen, you’ll always find a huge bin of my favorite healthful cereal in the freezer and a smaller amount secured in a covered jar in the fridge. My kids affectionately call this cereal “bird seed” because of how it looks. Most mornings I put about half a cup of this dry, mixed up concoction into a cereal bowl, pour in a half cup of hot water or milk and stir, cover the bowl and stick it back in the refrigerator. I eat it several hours later. This morning I topped my cereal with some thick tangy Greek yogurt and homemade applesauce. Often I sprinkle the cereal with chopped pears and a little homemade granola or even poached fruit.
The only challenging part about making this cereal is gathering the ingredients. A quick trip to the health store or coop is needed to hunt down the more exotic seeds and granules. It’s worth it though – the recipe produces a large amount and lasts me for a couple of months. Unless, of course, one of my children visits and swipes it from the freezer. Despite the fact that they mock the appearance of this cereal mix, my entire extended family LOVES it!
“Bird Seed” Cereal
Ingredients:
- 2 oz milk thistle seeds (These are kept with the bulk tea sand spices at my co-op)
- 1/4 lb. flaxseed
- 1 pounds rolled regular oats, barley flakes or kamut flakes-or a combination
- ½ pound of oat bran cereal
- ¼ lb. Soy lecithin granules (found in the refrigerated section – I use Bob’s Red Mill brand)
- 2 oz organic chopped unsulphured apricots or dried unsweetened cherries or currents
- 2 oz organic sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds
- 2 oz chopped walnuts
- 1 ½ cups organic wheat germ
Instructions:
Grind flaxseed and milk thistle seed in a coffee grinder or blender. You may have to do this in batches to ensure the seeds are thoroughly ground. Add to the rest of the ingredients in a large mixing bowl, combine well and put in a covered container in a cool, dry place. This recipe can be doubled if you have freezer space (it must be kept in the refrigerator or freezer).
Note: the formula for this cereal came from my late sister-in-law, who was told by her Bastyr trained naturopath that it boosts immunity. I did a little research to investigate the ingredients and they are, indeed, very healthful:
- Lecithin granules: Contain essential fatty acids along with the fish-oil-like, omega-3 linolenic acid
- Milk Thistle Seed: Purported to support liver functions
- Flaxseed: Filled with omega 3 fatty acids
