Patrons learn to whEAT REAL at Bartlett Library program

Bartlett Library patrons were able to learn all about grains at the program "The Goodness of Grains" on Wednesday, June 29.

Kim Nordin, owner of whEAT REAL, demonstrated how to prepare delicious, nutritious foods by grinding whole grains.

Nordin's love of grinding grains started when she was a young girl baking with her aunt. They ground grains while talking and playing games. Nordin then explained how everyone expects a grinder to be "a big machine that I keep in the garage, but really it's a relatively small appliance that sits on the kitchen counter."

Nordin passed around a few vials to show what whole wheat is made up of, such as bran, middlings, wheat germ and wheat germ oil. When whole wheat gets processed through factories, it loses all of those components, making the end result be white flour. She also passed around examples of spelt, millet, kamut, quinoa, barley and chia.

At the end, Nordin explained a few of her favorite recipes such as "Millet Patties," "Quinoa Burgers," "Super Awesome Crackers" and more. She then passed out samples of her crackers, which were made up of spelt, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, flax seeds and sea salt.

Biting into the cracker, patrons could taste the myriad of seeds and the flavors they offered. Nordin said she loves these crackers so much she could eat the whole batch in one sitting.

An upcoming Adult Services program is "Keep Calm & Color On" on Saturday, July 9 at 2 p.m. Come and experience the latest trend in relaxation: Adult Coloring Books! Studies show coloring has a calming effect on the adult mind and helps to promote overall wellness. Coloring pages from books designed for adults as well as colored pencils, markers and crayons will be provided, but feel free to bring your own.

For more information and a complete listing of scheduled programs, call 630.837.2855 or visit www.bartlettlibrary.org.