Crunchy Wheat Snacks

My kids like these crunchy wheat snacks.  They assumed they wouldn't because this snack is basically just wheat, but they came back for more.  And more.  And said things to me like, "I can't believe it's just wheat, but it's really good."  And "I can't stop eating this."

Whole wheat berries are a great thing to store (because they can store about 30 years!) and because they're packed with nutrition in their whole-grain state.  (I wrote about that here.)

These simple snacks can be made savory or sweet, and to me the savory ones resemble tiny corn nuts.  Give this a try with different seasonings and see what's your favorite.  My sons like the version with salt and ranch dressing mix, and my daughter and my husband like the plain salt ones.  I'm partial to the cinnamon-sugar ones.

The savory flavors would also make great a salad topping.  Like "think outside the box" croutons.

CRUNCHY WHEAT SNACKS

pictured here:  salt and ranch dressing mix
pictured below:  cinnamon-sugar

PREP TIME:  about 1 hour
COOK TIME:  4-5 minutes (repeated 3 times)

INGREDIENTS

• 1 c. wheat berries (Wheat berries are just wheat in whole grain form.  Find them in the bulk foods section of a health food store, or order online here or here or here.)
• 3 c. water
• 6 Tbsp. oil
• seasonings of your choice, such as salt, dry ranch dressing mix, garlic salt, seasoned salt, or cinnamon-sugar

DIRECTIONS
Place wheat berries and water in a medium pot.  Bring to a boil over high heat.  Boil 5 minutes.  Reduce heat to low, cover the pot with a lid, and simmer for 45-50 minutes.  Drain off excess water.  In a large skillet, heat 2 Tbsp. oil over medium heat for 3 minutes.  Add 1 c. cooked wheat berries to the hot oil.  Cover with a lid and cook for 4-5 minutes, shaking the covered skillet every 30 seconds so the wheat will fry evenly.  Drain on a paper towel to remove excess oil.  Sprinkle with your choice of seasonings.  Repeat twice more (using the remaining 2 cups of cooked wheat berries).  Store in an airtight container.

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Cherry Cordial Cookies

These cookies!  Ah!  I'm in love with this combination of chocolate and cherries.  I also love how simple they are to make while still being elegant enough to give away at Christmastime. 

Add in some pantry-friendly twists and you've got the perfect recipe.

When I think of cherry cordials, I think of a maraschino flavor.  This cherry flavor is different--the cherry here comes from cherry preserves and dried cherries.  So delicious!

See the dried cherries in the cookie itself?  That decadence in the middle is cherry preserves mixed with melted chocolate chips.   By the way, you'll have a little bit of it left over.  I suggest putting it over ice cream, but I'm not saying you can't just eat it with a spoon.

CHERRY CORDIAL COOKIES

PREP TIME:  15-20 minutes
COOK TIME:  10-12 minutes

INGREDIENTS

• 1 package (17.5 oz.) sugar cookie mix
• 3/4 c. chopped dried cherries (about 4 oz.)
• 1/2 c. butter flavor shortening (original recipe:  1/2 c. softened butter)
• equivalent of 1 powdered or freeze-dried egg, rehydrated (original recipe:  1 egg)
• 3/4 c. cherry preserves (about 8-9 oz.)
• 1  1/2 c. chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS

Combine in a large mixer bowl the cookie mix, cherries, butter flavor shortening, and egg.  Beat until well-mixed.  Shape into 1-inch balls.  Place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets.  Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes.  While baking, make the cherry chocolate centers by microwaving the preserves in a medium bowl for 1 minute, then stirring the chocolate chips in until melted.  Remove the cookies from the oven when ready, then make an indentation in the center of each warm cookie using the back of a tablespoon.  Fill the indentations with the chocolate-cherry mixture.  Cool completely.  Makes about 2 dozen.

Try this recipe, then comment and let me know how you like it!  And Pin it to Pinterest to save and share using the image below.

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