We are on a bit of a 'health-kick' here right now - we've invested in a juicer, a manual grain-mill, and we are sprouting seeds, making yoghurt and kefir, brewing kombucha, and having all sorts of fun! My 12yos is even growing wheatgrass to juice (though I am the only one who is willing to drink the stuff!)

I discovered that grain is easier to store for longer than flour, and there are advantages to milling your own grain in that the nutrients present in the flour begin to disappear after the first 48 hours after milling. I'm reading a book called "Nourishing Traditions" (I'll review later) which talks about the necessity of soaking grains the old-fashioned way, so we'll try that sometime too.

This got me to thinking about Välling - the staple drink for babies in Sweden. I thought it was something you had to buy ready-made, but then I found a recipe:

Skrädmjölsvälling 1port

Ingredienser

Skrädmjöl 2-4 tsk
Vatten 2 dl
Salt

Gör så här

Koka upp tillsammans under omrörning och söta gärna med honung eller fruktsaft. Önskad mängd vatten kan naturligtvis bytas ut mot mjölk.

Basically, what you do is boil 2-4 teaspoons of flour, it can be wheat, whole wheat, rye, or oat, with 2dl water or milk. Stir constantly. Add salt and sugar (honey) if you want to and think the taste requires it.

Basically, I don't recommend it - paediatricians in the UK and the US (and, I suspect, the World Health Organisation) don't recomment wheat for babies under 8 months old, and don't recommend putting any cereal, no matter how thin, in a baby's bottle due to the risk of choking.

Another interesting fact that I discovered when my brother was diagnosed with Crohn's disease is that it is a disease commonly found amongst Swedish and Jewish people, and the suggestion at least on the Swedish side is too early introduction of wheat - before a baby's digestive system is mature enough to stop the wheat particles from entering into the bloodstream.

Nevertheless, Välling is something so homely and conforting I can't imagine Swedish people giving it up any time soon!

If you're in the US, you can try and buy Välling at http://www.scandiafood.com/ (Just don't give it to your kids ;)