I know. It seems unlikely, doesn't it? I mean, Gillian Mc Keith and all that...

So you're just going to have to trust me. It is lovely. Nicer than rice, even. And blah blah blah nutrutionally complete or something and fairly protein-y for a carb. Oh I don't know. Google it, that's what I did.

Anyway, if you'd like to know how to cook it, listen up. Do not assume that the pack instructions will be correct, first of all. I'd actually bought a packet years ago and the instructions were to put the dry grains into a pan with some oil and 'toast' them for a few minutes before adding water and simmering. Wrong. And very much the reason why I didn't eat the stuff for two years. It was like eating spongy, bitter grit.

However, if you rinse, rinse, rinse the stuff before you boil it, that takes away that weird bitterness. You just cook it like rice, which is to say if you're me you toy with the idea of using the absorption method then lose your nerve, toss more water in and then tip it into a sieve.

We have it in place of rice now, it's deliciously nubbly and nutty. And so cute, with it's little ammonite curl. Hard to explain that, actually, but you'll like it. It's good for spoons as it doesn't fall off too easily, unlike rice or couscous, and is scoopable with tiny hands I presume.

We get the Suma Organic stuff at the greengrocers which costs about £1.50, but I noticed that the same amount costs more than twice as much in Sainsbury's so be aware that the price varies wildly.

It does make you a bit farty, though, we think, but it's a small price to pay when the suggestion of having it for dinner is enough to have your child shouting 'Keen-wah NOW, Mummy' while you're preparing it. (Not to mention all that nutritional stuff you're going to Google for as well, of course. Pace Gillian.)