Stale sourdough strata

A stale sourdough strata is made to use up leftovers with added eggs and cheese; and then baked in the oven. Often there will be onions or leeks; and peppers too.

This variant is spiced up with ginger, garlic and a touch of curry-powder to make it more interesting; and to add valuable nutrients.

Sourdough unlike conventional commercial bread is well known for retaining its value after it has gone stale; it is often used with soups and stews too.

As always we recommend using what is seasonal and on hand. For example at the moment we have a glut of peppadews in the garden. Remove the seeds if you don't like it too piquant.

Freshly-roasted and ground spices are always better. Commercially they grow bitter quite quickly after the bottle is opened and exposed to air.

The fragrance of roasting cumin-seeds is like incense; you can get high with a little help from spices like these. Then grind them in a coffee blender. Keep what's left in the fridge but use within a week or two at most.

Use lavish amounts of freshly-roasted cumin seeds in an authentic hummus dish; it takes only 5 minutes to make once you have the ingredients ready. It will provide some vegetable protein to go with the cheese and eggs.

Freshly-ground ginger and turmeric are far superior; for very little trouble but you do need an inexpensive planer.

• Does turmeric help with inflammation?
  

Freshly-grated ginger and turmeric

Commercial bread will raise blood sugar and often give indigestion so we have taken to baking sourdough using 100% flour in a small electric-oven; then I can indulge without guilt.

But if you are diabetic I recommend testing half an hour after the meal; one little prick of the finger. Perhaps you should be on a very low carb food package.

Home testing for prediabetes is not rocket science.

Generally sourdough has a much reduced glycemic-index, especially when baked with true wholemeal flour which has all the bran and germ; the acids released by the bacteria and all the fibre slow gastric emptying. 

Sourdough also deals with the gluten issue though you may have to prepare it the night before baking.

Indigestion

The prevalence of heartburn due to reflux is 20% in western culture; add to that the many other causes of indigestion and one realises that gastrointestinal misery is very common. I was for many years one of the victims; severe stomach pain frequently at night.

Imagine my surprise when I found that I could again eat small amounts of stale sourdough bread at night.

• One slice of real bread is enough

Proton Pump Inhibitors did not help and in any case I refused to take them any longer when I discovered that the risk of dementia is 36% higher if one starts using PPIs before 60 years of age^[3]. That's scary.

Prepared with the right ingredients this stale sourdough strata is highly nutritious, especially when baked with 100% wholemeal; that means having your own electric mill. It's not a schlep but another appliance to be stored; one that is used virtually every day in our green kitchen.

Those who are concerned about raised blood glucose should keep to one slice to limit the glycemic load. That may be difficult; this stale sourdough strata calls for a second helping.

It's interesting that in all five Blue Zone countries they leave the table slightly hungry; it is a good habit to cultivate^[1]. And they eat only bread fermented with sourdough.

Just the smell of freshly-baking bread makes it worthwhile. Once you're in the groove it takes only five minutes to prepare the dough, including milling your own flour.

Totally unrefined flour contains all the germ and bran of the grain; especially the vitamin E that naturally stops clots from forming and the lignans^[2] that every woman needs desperately.

They are oestrogen-like compounds that help prevent breast tumours by 50%; that's massive. One helping of a true whole grain daily is all that is required^[4].

It's totally false that sourdough bread made with 100% flour is heavy.

Stale sourdough strata

Made from real sourdough bread this strata is a wonderfully tasty and nutritious dish; there's nothing heavy about the loaf at all but still one slice is enough.

Stale sourdough strata is a simple dish of bread, eggs and cheese. Add leeks, peppers and your favourite freshly-ground spices to turn it into a treat.

Protein

Researchers looking at the longevity diet confirm that in childhood and old age we need extra protein; however in the middle years we should be eating rather less. And that we absolutely must keep blood-glucose under control if it's our desire to live long in the land with our marbles and joints intact.

Does being active and busy in your eighties and perhaps even nineties, and not of your sense bereft seem unattractive?

A small portion of stale sourdough strata for supper is unlikely to cause indigestion with a need for dangerous PPIs; 36% greater risk of dementia. 

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