Ancient Grains

by **steveschneider** Fri 14 Feb 2020 - 20:56

You guys get into this stuff? I don’t know if it’s just the latest trendy marketing campaign but I had this unbelievable farro with pesto dish tonight. I always thought farro was just a grain but turns out it’s an ancient grain. I guess quinoa is also an ancient grain. Who knew?

by **tGreenWay** Fri 14 Feb 2020 - 21:00

Have you tried cooking with modern grains?

by **Floyd Robertson** Fri 14 Feb 2020 - 21:02

Isn't maize an ancient grain?

by **Turtleneck** Fri 14 Feb 2020 - 21:16

Modernize your cooking, Steve!

by **steveschneider** Fri 14 Feb 2020 - 21:21

I guess if you want a modern grain you’d have to go for modern varieties of wheat.

by **steveschneider** Fri 14 Feb 2020 - 21:24

“Modern wheat is a hybrid descendant of three wheat species considered to be ancient grains; spelt, einkorn & emmer.”

by **DWags** Fri 14 Feb 2020 - 21:47

Fucking Steve

by **tGreenWay** Fri 14 Feb 2020 - 21:51

steveschneider wrote:You guys get into this stuff? I don’t know if it’s just the latest trendy marketing campaign but I had this unbelievable farro with pesto dish tonight. I always thought farro was just a grain but turns out it’s an ancient grain. I guess quinoa is also an ancient grain. Who knew?

I was friends with a Charlie Ferro in undergrad. I know it’s a different spelling, but I just checked out a couple of party pics with him in them
and — get this — his photo is grainy.
I know, right?
Chills.

by **Watch Out Pylon!** Fri 14 Feb 2020 - 21:55

What the fuck Steve?

by **Other Teams Pursuing That** Fri 14 Feb 2020 - 22:09

tGreenWay wrote:Have you tried cooking with modern grains?

by AvgMSUJoe Fri 14 Feb 2020 - 22:15

Ya know Steve, MSU is a leader in increasing agricultural production. There are hundreds of bean strains alone created at MSU.
It's like you aren't even a Spartan, Steve.
Sheesh.

by SawGreen Fri 14 Feb 2020 - 22:24

The W. J. Beal Botanical Garden has a long history of inovative research dating back to its first decade. Professor Beal conducted many studies utilizing the garden and the campus arboretum. Two of his most noted studies were the cross-pollinating of corn in order to increase yield through hybrid vigor and his famous seed viability experiment.

In the fall of 1879, Professor William James Beal buried 20 bottles containing seeds with the intent to determine the length of time the seeds of some of our most common plants would remain dormant in the soil, yet germinate when exposed to favorable conditions (Beal 1884, 1905). The experiment is the longest continuously monitored experiment in the world. Professor Beal selected lots of fifty freshly grown seeds from each of twenty-one different species (Agrostemma githago, Amaranthus retroflexus, Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Anthemis cotula, Brassica nigra, Bromus secalinus, Capsella bursa-pastoris, Erechtites hieracifolia, Euphorbia maculata, Lepidum virginicum, Malva rotundifolia, Oenothera biennis, Plantago major, Polygonum hydropiper, Portulaca oleracea, Rumex crispus, Setaria glauca, Stellaria media, Trifolium repens, Verbascum thapsus, Verbascum blattaria). A total of twenty lots were prepared by mixing the seeds in moderately moist sand and placed in pint bottles. The bottles were buried on the Michigan State University campus, uncorked and placed with the mouth slanting downwards to prevent accumulation of water in the bottles.
During the first 40 years of the experiment, germination tests were performed every five years. Originally the bottles were unearthed in the autumn, but in 1919, an early winter caused the soil to freeze solid and no bottle could be extracted until the spring of 1920 (the 40th year of the study) (Darlington 1941). Dr. Darlington, who took over the experiment from Professor Beal in 1915 decided to extend the duration of the experiment by increasing the period between germination tests to ten years in 1920. This frequency was observed until the 100 year of the study in 1980. It was then when Dr. Bandursky, who took over the experiment from Dr. Darlington after his retirement, decided to extend the period to twenty years (Kivilaan & Bandurski 1981). The 15th bottle was unearthed in April 2000 by Drs. Frank W. Telewski and Jan Zeevaart, 120 years after the bottles were first buried by Professor Beal (Telewski and Zeevaart 2002).

The moist sand was extracted from the bottle and placed onto a tray of sterile soil mix. This tray was placed in a growth chamber. After 10 days the first seeds had germinated and eventually the total number of plants reached twenty-five. All of the plants were in the genus Verbascum, twenty-three were positively identified as Verbascum blattaria. Two of the plants appear to have a slightly different foliage and will be positively identified after they bloom. Although twenty different species of seed were placed in the bottles, initially only Verbascum germinated during this most recent trial. However, after the sandy mix containing the original seeds was given a cold treatment in August, a single Malva neglecta (syn. Malva rotundifolia) germinated in September, bringing the total number of seedlings to twenty-six. In the 1980 study, three different species germinated, including Verbascum blattaria, Verbascum thapsus and Malva neglecta. The four previous trials representing 1970, 1960, 1950 and 1940 only yielded seedlings of Verbascum blattaria making this species the only one to germinate in all 15 trials. Prior to the 1940 test, several of the other species included in the study also germinated. Twelve of the plants were given a cold treatment in August 2000 to simulate overwintering in order to stimulate flowering. These plants flowered in late September and are featured on this year's cover. Five more bottles remain undisturbed in their slumber under the MSU campus, the next bottle will be unearthed in the spring of 2020.

Literature Cited

Beal, W. J. 1884. The vitality of seeds. Proc. Soc. Promot. Agric. Sci. 5:44-46.

Beal, W.J. 1905. The vitality of seeds. Bot. Gaz. 38:140-143.

Darlington, H.T. 1941. The sixty-year period for Dr. Beal's seed viability experiment. Amer. J. Bot. 28:271-273.

Kivilaan, A. & Bandurski, R. S. 1981. The one hundred-year period for Dr. Beal's seed viability experiment. Amer. J. Bot. 68:1290-1292.

Telewski, F. W. and Zeevaart, J. 2002. The 120th year of the Beal seed viability study. Amer. J. Bot. 89(8): 1285-1288.

Visit Dr. Telewski's Research Page

by **steveschneider** Fri 14 Feb 2020 - 22:55

AvgMSUJoe wrote:Ya know Steve, MSU is a leader in increasing agricultural production. There are hundreds of bean strains alone created at MSU.
It's like you aren't even a Spartan, Steve.
Sheesh.

Might be a good opportunity for someone from our ag college to join the board and educate us on ancient grains and modern grains.

by **Nordic** Fri 14 Feb 2020 - 22:59

steveschneider wrote:
AvgMSUJoe wrote:Ya know Steve, MSU is a leader in increasing agricultural production. There are hundreds of bean strains alone created at MSU.
It's like you aren't even a Spartan, Steve.
Sheesh.

Might be a good opportunity for someone from our ag college to join the board and educate us on ancient grains and modern grains.

Da fuq, that's what I thought you were gonna do?

by **Cameron** Fri 14 Feb 2020 - 23:12

I think if you're consuming a lot of grains, you're probably doing it wrong, regardless of whether they're ancient or modern.

by **steveschneider** Fri 14 Feb 2020 - 23:26

Cameron wrote:I think if you're consuming a lot of grains, you're probably doing it wrong, regardless of whether they're ancient or modern.

I had a garden bowl with kale, farro, seitan and pesto. I thought it was pretty healthy.

by **The Pantry** Sat 15 Feb 2020 - 0:02

steveschneider wrote:
Cameron wrote:I think if you're consuming a lot of grains, you're probably doing it wrong, regardless of whether they're ancient or modern.

I had a garden bowl with kale, farro, seitan and pesto. I thought it was pretty healthy.

You grew pesto?

by **Cameron** Sat 15 Feb 2020 - 1:07

steveschneider wrote:
Cameron wrote:I think if you're consuming a lot of grains, you're probably doing it wrong, regardless of whether they're ancient or modern.

I had a garden bowl with kale, farro, seitan and pesto. I thought it was pretty healthy.

That sounds awful.

by **Other Teams Pursuing That** Sat 15 Feb 2020 - 1:34

Seitan is actually pretty solid.

by **Rocinante** Sat 15 Feb 2020 - 3:07

You guys leave steve alone.

by **steveschneider** Sat 15 Feb 2020 - 5:33

Cameron wrote:
steveschneider wrote:

I had a garden bowl with kale, farro, seitan and pesto. I thought it was pretty healthy.

That sounds awful.

What’s so awful about ancient grains and fresh vegetables?

Reminder to self you are talking to someone that enjoys Mountain Dew and whiskey and gin and cranberry juice.

by **Cameron** Sat 15 Feb 2020 - 9:09

steveschneider wrote:
Cameron wrote:

That sounds awful.

What’s so awful about ancient grains and fresh vegetables?

Reminder to self you are talking to someone that enjoys Mountain Dew and whiskey and gin and cranberry juice.

First and foremost, there seems to be a distinct lack of deliciousness there. Secondly, I'm also generally in the school of thought that says you should avoid carbs as much as possible.

by **NigelUno** Sat 15 Feb 2020 - 9:17

steveschneider wrote:You guys get into this stuff? I don’t know if it’s just the latest trendy marketing campaign but I had this unbelievable farro with pesto dish tonight. I always thought farro was just a grain but turns out it’s an ancient grain. I guess quinoa is also an ancient grain. Who knew?

What # meal is this? I didn't see it on the drive thru menu.

by **steveschneider** Sat 15 Feb 2020 - 12:04

Cameron wrote:
steveschneider wrote:

What’s so awful about ancient grains and fresh vegetables?

Reminder to self you are talking to someone that enjoys Mountain Dew and whiskey and gin and cranberry juice.

First and foremost, there seems to be a distinct lack of deliciousness there. Secondly, I'm also generally in the school of thought that says you should avoid carbs as much as possible.

I think farro is a super food and very healthy.

by **Rocinante** Sat 15 Feb 2020 - 12:07

There’s no such thing as superheroes steve

by **Nordic** Sat 15 Feb 2020 - 13:36

Cameron wrote:
steveschneider wrote:

What’s so awful about ancient grains and fresh vegetables?

Reminder to self you are talking to someone that enjoys Mountain Dew and whiskey and gin and cranberry juice.

First and foremost, there seems to be a distinct lack of deliciousness there. Secondly, I'm also generally in the school of thought that says you should avoid carbs as much as possible.

Fruits vegetables and whole grains are good for ya brah

by **I.B. Fine** Sat 15 Feb 2020 - 14:23

Nordic wrote:
Cameron wrote:

First and foremost, there seems to be a distinct lack of deliciousness there. Secondly, I'm also generally in the school of thought that says you should avoid carbs as much as possible.

Fruits vegetables and whole grains are good for ya brah

Especially when you mix a steak and a beer with 'em. Dance

by **Nordic** Sat 15 Feb 2020 - 14:40

I.B. Fine wrote:
Nordic wrote:

Fruits vegetables and whole grains are good for ya brah
Especially when you mix a steak and a beer with 'em.

Yeah buddy

by **steveschneider** Sat 15 Feb 2020 - 17:37

I.B. Fine wrote:
Nordic wrote:

Fruits vegetables and whole grains are good for ya brah
Especially when you mix a steak and a beer with 'em.

I don’t eat as much red meat as I used to but when a steak is offered up I take it everytime. Made a shepherds pie with beef the other week it’s dynamite meal int he winter and incredible with beer.

by **Turtleneck** Sat 15 Feb 2020 - 17:42

steveschneider wrote:
I.B. Fine wrote:
Especially when you mix a steak and a beer with 'em.

I don’t eat as much red meat as I used to but when a steak is offered up I take it everytime. Made a shepherds pie with beef the other week it’s dynamite meal int he winter and incredible with beer.

Discussing pie making was retired when Guest's name was retired and put on a banner. -1 for Steve.

by **Other Teams Pursuing That** Sat 15 Feb 2020 - 17:42

What's the gametime meal today, Steve? Pad Thai (with tofu, meat is murder) here

by **Turtleneck** Sat 15 Feb 2020 - 17:45

Other Teams Pursuing That wrote:What's the gametime meal today, Steve? Pad Thai (with tofu, meat is murder) here

Yup, and dairy is assault.

by **The Pantry** Sat 15 Feb 2020 - 21:09

Went to my son's for dinner. He makes killer ribeye. Does it on the stove in hot cast iron for a couple minutes a side then finishes in the oven. Have to admit they are better than my grilled steaks.

by AvgMSUJoe Sat 15 Feb 2020 - 21:30

Ruling on the bag of microwave popcorn I just polished off with my kid...
Is it only ancient if it came out of like a jiffy pop?

by **steveschneider** Sat 15 Feb 2020 - 21:43

Other Teams Pursuing That wrote:What's the gametime meal today, Steve? Pad Thai (with tofu, meat is murder) here

Had a garlic, pasta dish with broccoli and parmesian on it. We got this killer olive oil out in California that we put on it.

by **Cameron** Sat 15 Feb 2020 - 23:39

The Pantry wrote:Went to my son's for dinner. He makes killer ribeye. Does it on the stove in hot cast iron for a couple minutes a side then finishes in the oven. Have to admit they are better than my grilled steaks.

steveschneider wrote:
Other Teams Pursuing That wrote:What's the gametime meal today, Steve? Pad Thai (with tofu, meat is murder) here

Had a garlic, pasta dish with broccoli and parmesian on it. We got this killer olive oil out in California that we put on it.

Pantry > steve

by **steveschneider** Sun 16 Feb 2020 - 8:07

Cameron wrote:
The Pantry wrote:Went to my son's for dinner. He makes killer ribeye. Does it on the stove in hot cast iron for a couple minutes a side then finishes in the oven. Have to admit they are better than my grilled steaks.

steveschneider wrote:

Had a garlic, pasta dish with broccoli and parmesian on it. We got this killer olive oil out in California that we put on it.

Pantry > steve

You on the joe Rogan carnivore diet? You eating elk meat and drink turmeric coffee?

by **steveschneider** Sun 16 Feb 2020 - 8:14

steveschneider wrote:
Other Teams Pursuing That wrote:What's the gametime meal today, Steve? Pad Thai (with tofu, meat is murder) here

Had a garlic, pasta dish with broccoli and parmesian on it. We got this killer olive oil out in California that we put on it.

Forgot the skillet toasted pine nuts and a whole wheat penne pasta.

by **Cameron** Sun 16 Feb 2020 - 10:17

steveschneider wrote:
Cameron wrote:

Pantry > steve

You on the joe Rogan carnivore diet? You eating elk meat and drink turmeric coffee?

I'm not on the carnivore diet, I've never had elk, and I hardly ever drink coffee. I'm just saying a nice steak blows pasta and broccoli with "killer" olive oil out of the water.

by **Other Teams Pursuing That** Sun 16 Feb 2020 - 10:17

Steak is the most overrated meat in my opinion.

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