Recipe Friday: Wheat Berry Pilaf

I made this dish last week and as I was eating it for leftovers for lunch yesterday (warmed with milk, as the author suggests---fantastic breakfast!)  I thought it would be a good one to share.  WARNING: This takes awhile to make, but it's just simmering time, not hands on time.  Hands-on time is actually very minimal.  I like this because it's slightly sweet, due to the cinnamon stick.  It comes to us from my favorite cookbook, The Vegetarian Mother's Cookbook by Cathe Olson.  This was my first experience with wheat berries, and I found them in bulk at the Raisin Rack.  I'm not sure if they carry them at "conventional" grocery stores.  I wasn't really sure what to look for, since they do sound like a fruit, but in fact,  wheat berries are the whole grain form of wheat - the whole complete grain before it has undergone any processing. How's THAT for whole foods?!?!
 

Wheat Berry Pilaf

Ingredients:
 1 C wheat berries
3 C water
Pinch of sea salt
1 cinnamon stick
1/3 C each, golden raisins, dried cranberries
1/2 C chopped almonds, toasted
1/2 TBSP butter or olive oil

Directions:
Soak wheat berries for 8 hours or overnight. Drain.  Place in heavy-bottomed pot with water, salt and cinnamon stick.  Cover and bring to boil.  Reduce heat and simmer 1 1/2 hours until tender.  Stir in remaining ingredients.  Cover and let sit 10 minutes.  Remove cinnamon stick.