whole Wheat recipes

By Molly Burke, FoodCorps service member

As Chicopee students know well by now, whole grain flour is healthy for us because it has fiber, unlike enriched flour, and the vitamins and minerals it contains are retained from the whole grain itself, and therefore better for our bodies than eating enriched flour fortified with micronutrients during processing. The fiber helps slow down the digestion of sugar in our meals, putting us at a lower risk of high blood sugar. Meals with whole grains instead of enriched give us a greater feeling of satiety and a kind of slow-release dose of energy for hours, versus a quick spike in energy that leaves us hungry again soon after eating it. It's a good idea to stay away from enriched flour in general, but that doesn't mean swearing off baked favorites like pizza and cupcakes. It simply means making smart substitutions to incorporate whole grains. The following recipes for whole wheat cupcakes and pizza dough are easy and delicious ways to make our favorite foods healthier for us!
​Whole wheat vanilla cupcakes (adapted from simplywhisked.com
Makes 24 cupcakes
Ingredients:

• 3 cups whole wheat pastry flour or 1 ½ cup whole wheat flour plus 1 ½ cup all-purpose flour
  
• 1 tbs baking powder
  
• ½ tsp salt
  
• 1 ⅓ cup sugar
  
• 1 ½ cup butter or butter substitute, room temperature
  
• 4 large eggs
  
• 1 tbs vanilla extract
  
• 1 cup milk or non-dairy milk
  

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Line 2 cupcake tins with cupcake liners or spray the tins with non-stick cooking spray.
   
2. In a large bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, and salt and stir to combine. Set aside.
   
3. In a second large bowl with an electric mixer, cream butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, ~ 2 minutes.
   
4. Add the eggs one at a time until mixed.
   
5. Add the milk and mix until smooth.
   
6. Fill the cupcake liners until ⅔ full. Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
   
7. Remove from oven and cool in the pan for 10 minutes before removing from pan to cool completely before frosting.