Spring has Sprouted!

I love sprouts.  They are easy to grow, give you fresh organic produce in about 5 or 6 days, and are delicious and nutritious. 

Alfalfa sprouts are particularly easy, and fast.  The seeds can be purchased at any organic food market - and are quite inexpensive.

They contain a variety of valuable nutrients including calcium, folic acid, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, phosphorus, potassium, silicon, sodium, and zinc.  Alfalfa is the only plant that supplies the full range of vitamins, from A, B complex including B12, C, E, and K. 

All you need to grow them are:

• a jar
• an elastic band
• a piece of fine mesh or an old nylon stocking

1. Make sure the jar is clean.
2. Put a couple of teaspoons of seeds into the jar and fill it with lukewarm water.
3. Put the mesh over the top of the jar and secure it with the elastic band.
4. Let the seeds sit on the counter form 2 to 6 hours, then drain.
5. Rinse them twice a day for the next several days.
6. When leaves have begun to form, they are ready to eat.
7. Rinse the seed coverings away, drain and refrigerate uneaten sprouts in a sealed container.  You can keep them in the fridge for about 2 or 3 days.

Day 2, seeds are swollen

Day 3, seeds have germinated

Day 4, they are getting 'legs'

Day 5, leaves beginning to form and seed covers separating

Day 6, after rinsing and separating from most of the seed coverings.

The are now ready to eat.

And become garnish on a lunch salad

or on scrambled egg whites.