credit – yurielkaim
I love the coincidences of these Dailiy Post one-word prompts. Just this very morning I made, for my friend-with-the-broken-wrist who is staying with me, some comfort food. Buckwheat pancakes. With my usual a-recipe-is-only-a-suggestion wantonness, adding banana and yogurt to approximate the suggested buttermilk; nutmeg because of the banana; and omitting the scant sugar, again because of banana.
While we were exclaiming over the tasty nuttiness and general comfy-feeling-makingness of these modest morning delights, we pondered – just what IS buckwheat, anyway?
Buckwheat, it turns out, is the seed of a plant called “fagopyrum esculentum.” It’s related to rhubarb, or all things (which might explain my apparently-innate fondness for it – my dad and I were the only takers of the abundant perennial patch behind my childhood home, doubtless a carryover from the war garden). Not wheat, not rye, not barley. Furthermore, despite the name, buckwheat is gluten-free. Still better, it is a high quality plant protein extremely rich in antioxidants, minerals, and soluble dietary fiber.
What’s not to love? And all this, NOT being a grain!!!
sarahscapes 
Yes and those pancakes were simply marvelous! Thanks Sarah for the yummy nurturing!
Thanks, Victoria! I still have a hard time thinking of buckwheat as an herb … but do enjoy it in every form I have yet tried. 🙂
I would love a recipe. Unfortunately, I do not B have your luck with recipe is a suggestion…;-)
I really admire people who do. And thank you for the info. I love plants.
Well, Sara – since you are so wonderful about coming by here … this is the buckwheat pancake recipe as I found it originally:
1 c buckwheat flour (I buy the unfrosted (milder flavor) buckwheat groats and just whir it to flour in my coffee grinder)
1 TPBS sugar (eliminated altogether when using banana as part of the liquid)
1 tsp each baking powder and baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 c buttermilk (I use 1-1/4 c thinned yogurt)
1 large egg
1/2 tsp vanilla (I tend to slip in a bit more…)
That’s it! Easy to prepare and easy to eat. Enjoy – and let me know if you venture into any variations of your own 🙂
Thank you very much! Happy pancakes:-)
And you, Sara 🙂