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”
sprout sprouts, I mean
Actually i quite liked spout spouts! c
I’m soo not Beansprouts fan lol, but it’s interesting to see how you care for them. And I’m so excited you’re writing a book. That is absolutely amazing. Congrats! And I know I would love to read it
Now that i am into the writing, I am afraid I might never want to stop! and someone has to cook! c
Oh…you’re good…
Like I didn’t already realize it…
Oh, you’re so good…
Bless You
paul
Oh Paul, you are such a darling!! c
Why is it safer to grow sprouts at home rather than buying them at the supermarket?
Sprouts go off very quickly if handled incorrectly. They need to be properly stored and properly labelled, if they sit out in the warm more than three days after sprouting they may develop salmonella if there has been contamination along the way. I just prefer to make my own, in my own clean kitchen, with my own clean hands and then I have more leeway and no risk of contamination. c
Mmmm, sprouts! My favorites are onions – had them on a dish in France a few years ago, and now I can’t get enough!
Anxiously awaiting Story Time!
Onion sprouts, Oh i want those for sure! c
Haven´t sprouted beans for ageas – what a great idea! Am so pleased you are writing The Book! I did too…still no publisher for me (don´t think you´ll have that problem) but wow, the satisfaction when it was done 🙂
i have no idea how to do the next but though tanya, The writing will take me a while of course but i am more terrified of trying to find an agent and then a publisher.. I don’t even know what the process is. And you are a great writer, maybe you should send it out again! c
Bean sprouts, yum! It looks like you are growing a combo of bean, lentil, and soy, am I right? I used to grow a similar combo but had adzuki beans instead of the soy.
My favs are broccoli sprouts because they are such a nutritional powerhouse. I also like to add a little radish for a nice tangy kick!
Any you’re right growing at home is the best way. Much fresher, tastier, and a lot cheaper.
Safer too i think. Now I shall have to get in some more seeds, I have read about the brocolli seeds, they sound good! c
Write on!
Seed sprouts, now that is something I have never thought of. No questions are dumb in my book so here comes one! Go easy on me everyone. Where do you get said seeds mentioned in your text and your readers? Are they just the same as what you would put in the ground? Okay, that’s two. My common sense here says yes. But like I said above I haven’t thought about it before. Always willing to try something new to me and fresh growth during the cold months sounds good!
Look above you harold and you will see a comment from a site called sprouting seeds. They sell them! your timing is amazing. Only sprout seeds that are packaged for sprouting or eating or there may be nasty chemicals. I am going to try to sprout some sunflower seeds next! That might be interesting. But i am definitely going to buy from the guys above too.. they just popped in out of the blue! Never sprout the seeds that you are putting in the ground, they are the same seeds but the ground ones may have been treated.. best not to.. AND all questions are good! I have a few plumbing ones for you soon..!.. c
Thanks C! I bookmarked their site.
Ask away on the plumbing questions. I’ll help any way I can.
That would be great Harold. i will be needing help with any ideas on installing an outdoor bath and shower !! Using solar water heating but not buying a fancy rig. c
I really want to try this! I love fresh sprouts. My problem is that I don’t know where to get them from in China. Might have to get mum to send some up from Oz. I miss growing my own food. 🙂
And thumbs up for starting on your book! We all love reading your work, so you have a fan base already. 🙂
Yihuuuuuuuuuu! I am so happy to hear this dear Cecilia, Good Luck for your book! Angels and muses be with you! It will be one of my best books, I am sure. Do you know we were doing these sprouts in the school when I was a little girl, it was a kind of project. But I haven’t thought this idea in my kitchen to do. This is so nice and yes, so healthy too. Why didn’t I make this… Thank you, dear Cecilia, you are so nice, everyday I note something to my notebooks. Your photographs are amazing too, well captured. Greetings and Love from a rainy, cold and dark Sunday and yes Blessing for Daisy, with my love, nia
Love love darling girl.. c
Wonderful photos… your “through the glass” shots are amazing! I sprouted a few kinds of seeds/beans over the summer and enjoyed the “nuttiness” of the flavors – mmm!
Good with everything rachel! and when the snow comes down something fresh and green is a godsend! . c
Seed sprouting…I used to do this when I lived in London and am now inspired to get this going again as the dark evenings draw in and less time is spent in the gardens. Again, brilliant pics!
very much a winter treat for us.. fresh is so hard to get all the way out here..c
A woman after my own heart! Sprouted seeds are great. I’ve added you to my blogroll in my new blog.
thank you chris, sprouts and so easy and good! and thank you.. c
I was just thinking about doing this the other day. Thank you for the informative post!
You are welcome. thank you for dropping by! c