Buckwheat

for cereal, a rice substitute, or for a snack

Feeling a little stressed? Buckwheat, a.k.a. kasha, is fabulous for mood, especially if you are prone to low-blood sugar. This nutty, tender fruit seed (no, it's not a grain) is cheap, easy to cook, gluten-free and extremely high in manganese. Manganese promotes the health of your nerves, maintains healthy bood-sugar levels, and helps protect against those nasty, cancer-promoting free-radicals.

There are many ways to cook buckwheat "groats" as they are called, and come in different grinds: fine, coarse, and whole. You can find buckwheat boxed or in bulk. My personal favorite is whole, cooked like rice and topped with butter, but there are many other recipes out there. Cook it for dinner; feel less stressed in the morning!

Here's a simple way to cook it that you can use as a cereal or rice substitute:

• 2 cups of water (or stock)
• 1/2 teaspoon of salt
• 1 cup of whole Buckwheat kernels

Boil the salted water

Add the buckwheat

Bring back to a boil and then simmer for 15 minutes, or until tender

Cover the pot, but leave a small vent

Top with butter and salt to taste

Serves 2-3

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