HOMEMADE ACTIVATED CARAMELIZED BUCKWHEAT

Crave something snack-y? I do! Sometimes I open the pantry and stare at it at it blankly, searching for something instantly satisfying. I also love a bit of crunch to top off my smoothies, porridge and even baking. 

These little activated dehydrated seeds of deliciousness hit the spot. Buckwheat is a great source of protein and magnesium, containing eight essential amino acids and is known to balance mood, mind clarity. It provides calcium, manganese and vitamins B and E. Buckwheat is particularly high in flavonoids - phytonutrients that protect against disease by extending the action of vitamin C and acting as antioxidants. While many people think that buckwheat is a  grain, it's actually a fruit seed related to rhubarb and sorrel. If you are sensitive to gluten, buckwheat is A - Okay!

You'll need

1 cup raw buckwheat groats
3-4 Tbsp raw honey or maple syrup  (I avoid agave, click here and here and here to see why)
2 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp Maca Powder *
1 Tbsp Mesquite Powder *
A pinch of Himalayan or sea salt

* If you don't have these superfoods on hand, just up the cinnamon, tasting as you go. You could get creative with other spices like nutmeg & cardamon? Haven't tried that myself but it sounds good!

Here's how we do it

1. First, activate your buckwheat - this is simply the process any seed must go through in order to sprout - rain saturates dormant seeds, releasing their protective coating allowing them to grow. 'Activating' mimics this natural process, releasing enzyme inhibitors so the seeds' nutrients are more available to our bodies. Soak 1 cup of buckwheat overnight. In the morning, drain and rinse super super well because buckwheat releases alot of thick goopy slime that you will want to wash off. Soak again for another 8 hours or so (from morning to evening).
2. Once activated, drain and rinse well. Place the buckwheat in a bowl and stir in the honey, salt, cinnamon, mesquite and maca powder. Mixity mix.
   
3. Lay flat on dehydrator sheets and dehydrate at 40 degrees overnight*
   
4. Wake up in the morning and enjoy crunchy flavoursome buckinis! It's a yummy cereal on it's own, served with almond milk, berries and banana. Or, you can sprinkle it on your smoothies, over yoghurt, porridge or add to baking for crunchy texture.
   

*If you don't have a dehydrator, set your oven to the lowest temperature and leave the door open a jar. They should take about 8 hours to dehydrate.