Yes, yes I know what you are about to say. Just last week I would not even admit that autumn/fall was on its way, let alone begin to talk about winter. Now I am heralding the plummet, discussing sub zero temperatures, when only yesterday I was talking about a gypsy summer. What is she like. I can hear you say. Yes I heard that too!
Well, I am distracted. I am writing you a wee story and it is not ready. So I am popping this wee very important post in between. I will send your story into your little boxes tomorrow. It is another one of those little memories. It has been shuffling about in the front of my brain, peering down into my eyes, lifting my eyelids with its naughty little fingers and getting in the way of my REAL writing: that embryo Book. So out it must come. You may all thank yourselves that I have begun my true writing of The Book, at last. It is because of the constant washing in encouragement from my blog family that I have taken that shuddery breath and finally started the Real Work. 
So today we are going to look at one of the best winter vegetables that you can grow at home when it is howling with winter outside. Winter makes me shudder. I am not built for the cold. Not the cold that we face out here on the plains anyway. In the winter I will be sending you photographs of Daisy with her eyelashes covered in sparkling ice. Blinking and clinking.
So to Beansprouts. We can all grow them. Just get a lid with holes in it. And a nice clean jar. Pour some organic dry sprouting beans into the bottom of the jar, usually I use the blue Ball Jars but the beans do not photograph as well through the blue! I love to eat Mung Beans but almost any seed will sprout, just ensure that they are specifically packaged as food. Cover with water and leave overnight. Drain.
I sit my jar on the kitchen bench with a TeaTowel draped over it. Rinse the beans two or three times a day, leaving them to drain upside down in between. No sitting them in standing water except for the first night.
You can start munching on them once they sprout. You choose how long you will let them grow. Then into the fridge. Beansprouts are live food so eat them soonest rather than latest. I usually have two jars going in succession. Once they have sprouted they really need to be consumed or refrigerated soon after. 
Quite possibly the cleanest and best food you can eat. They go with everything. Massively better for you than dried seeds. High in Vitamins C, K and Folate. Plus Protein and of course fiber. On a personal note I would not buy sprouts in a supermarket. I grow them myself and store them in the refrigerator for up to three days. It is safer.
See you tomorrow!
c
The Kitchen's Garden 
65 responses to “Celi Diet: growing good food in subzero temperatures”
Love the photos!
Thank you! Lovely subjects! c
We used to do a lot of sprouting, it goes in phases. Made a fabulous bread using fresh sprouts and grains and orange juice that we used to love too but that wouldn’t be in your current remit so I’ll keep quiet about it 🙂
wow Joanna, when I am back to the bread scoffing (in small portions) i shall get back to you about that loaf, it sounds divine! c
I am so glad to read that you’re writing a book — and Zia will be happy to hear it, too. She loves your writing but, then again, we all do. So, just to keep things straight, this Spring, you and Daisy will be delivering wine, cheese, and now a book. I hope we have an early thaw …
I shall have to make some kind of saddle bags for Daisy i think, so she can carry all the ravioli back! c
I hope ChgoJohn is right, but I guess that means you and Daisy will have a BIG tour to be making! Don’t forget to bring the sprouts along too. 😉
Oh true, i will sew in another pocket for the sprouts, we will need them to munch on as we go.. c
I’m very excited that you’re writing a book. I still think about that story you wrote recently about cooking for the elderly. It just touched me so. 🙂 I’m looking forward to more! And we made that Welsh rarebit you asked about – yum!
Oh thats right.. your adventures into welsh food! I have another story for you tomorrow.. so drop back in if you have time.. c
Oooooooo writing a book! Hurrah! Now in the meantime what does a body have to do to get some honey? 🙂 I used to eat sprouts all the time but lost interest in them for some reason. Great pics t
Thanks Miss T. Sprouts come and go with me too. I just forget to make them anymore. I tend to get into them when there is nothing much fresh around.. Like soon.. c
What wonderful pictures, now go finish your story! I mean pretty please.
Since you ask so nicely!Katherine! c
The photos make everything look delicious! Great post!
Thank you yummy, the pics certainly carried the post! c
My wife does a lot of sprouting for our salads and such. Have you ever tried sunflower sprouts? I much prefer them to most other types. Winter cold isn’t so bad for us anymore, only gets to zero once or twice a winter. We lived in Craig, Colorado for 10 years and one winter we had a week of 50 below zero. It got up to 20 below in the daytime. Brrrrrrr! Looking forward to the book! 🙂
No i have not tried sunflowers sprouts but I will now. they are my favourite seeds, And how could you possibly live in 50 below, that is outrageous.. I am so glad you don’t live there anymore! terrifyingly cold to a little Kiwi like me! c
I’m so impressed and proud that you’re writing a book… and you must tour Canadian bookstores with it, sprout jar in hand:)
Oh I would love to go to canada i will mention that to my agent.. oh drat.. i haven’t got one yet!! Ok back to the writing.! c
We sprouted seeds last Spring for the Girl Scout troup that I lead – it wasn’t the most successful. I should try your mung bean suggestion. Oh, and as for you writing a book: HORRAY!!!!!! I can’t wait to read it!
Yes do try it again Gretchen, mung beans are very reliable to sprout and ted tells me sunflower seeds are good too!.. c
We want the book…we want the book! Meanwhile, I’ve nominated you for an award in my next post Cecilia!
Oh thank you , that is so cool.. and I had better get writing!! c
Beautiful pictures!
Thank you Mad, hope you have a great weekend! c
I’m going to have to try this with my crew. We have a few houseplants and a teeny weeny windowsill garden for kitchen herbs, but nothing that is actually “food” growing around our house when the cold comes. I think I’ll set them each up with their own little jar to sprout, and then let them help me make salads with imported greens. Yum!
That is a great idea Desi, remember to drain them upside down between washings (the kids will love washing them) .. so they do not get waterlogged and rot.. and the exciting thign for kids is that they can wash them as often as they want, as long as they are gentle.. c
You are so fabulous! These are just the thing to keep my little one growing things all winter! My spout spouts, as it were….And wishing you all good things for The Book
Perfect for kids Natalia, and kids love crunchy food too! c