Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards | Re: Applesauce Pancakes

Hi - just thought I'd give you guys a little buckwheat background.

It's the triangular seeds of an herb "Fagopyrum". It is NOT a member of the family of cereal grasses to which wheat belongs. Buckwheat originates in Central Asia and Siberia, where it grows wild. Its use as a cereal is recent, compared to rice, barley and millet. Buckwheat was introduced into Europe during the early 15th century and the first settlers brought it to the New World.

Buckwheat is a plant that likes a cool climate and will grow on the poorest and most arid soils. It is the staple grain of Russia and Poland, where millions of acres are put under buckwheat cultivation. The familiar Russian and Polish name for cooked buckwheat is KASHA. Jewish cookery, which uses buckwheat extensively, also uses this term.

Buckwheat is also consumed in Germany and France (Susaloh and Claire take note), the French name being SAYRASIN. In the US, buckwheat is used mainly as flour for pancakes.

The bran is removed and the remainder of the kernel is used to make flour or groats. Buckwheat groats may be brown or white and also whole-kernel, coarse, med, or fine. The med is the most popular.

If anyone is interested, I have a few buckwheat recipes: Kasha, country-style buckwheat groats, buckwheat cakes and baked buckwheat pudding. I'm sure they can be revised to fit IBS guidelines.

Happy buckwheating!

Sharon

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Sharon
"Anything Chocolate"...that is all!

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