Wednesday, October 30, 2013

It's {Easy} To Make Kefir


I've been making cultures lately, which means I've been growing probiotics in my kitchen, which means I've been feeding sugar to health-promoting bacteria, so it can grow and participate in our continuing quest for natural, healthy practices.

Which means: my prince doesn't eat yogurt.

For the past few months, a couple of times a week, I've made homemade crock pot Greek yogurt. I eat it with blueberries, cinnamon, and honey.


A few weeks ago I learned to make water kefir.

It's easy.

What is water kefir, you might ask? The easy answer: water kefir is a fermented beverage full of beneficial bacteria, AKA, probiotics.

More specifically, water kefir is a beverage made from a culture starter, that ends up full of probiotics, and eventually, carbonation. Water kefir has similar benefits to yogurt, but without the milk, so it can be tolerated by people with milk allergies. Many people have used it to eliminate soda from their diet. Others have solved problems with seasonal allergies and digestive issues by drinking kefir. It is also touted as an aid to diabetics, a way to lower cholesterol and blood pressure. The list goes on...

I'm such a newby  at making kefir, I am not going to go into details. (Instead, I will share links for more information.) Just to familiarize you, here are the basic steps:

My first batch of brew, the Grolsch  bottles
and my kitchen mantra.
  1. Purchase the starter "grains."  I bought mine here.
  2. When they arrive, you will re-hydrate the grains in sugar water, following the directions in the package. 
  3. When your grains are ready, you will feed them more sugar water. After 24-48 hours, you will pour off the kefir and restart your grains in another sugar water solution (and on and on for years to come, if you like).
  4. At this point, you will drink your kefir, mixed with juice, or in a smoothie, or mixed with vanilla extract, etc.
  5. You can use the kefir to make soda, by CAREFULLY following the instructions *below.  
  6. If you plan to make kefir soda, you will need a few of Grolsch-style, airtight bottles
  7. You will need a few other readily available supplies, so I recommend reading through *these instructions before you begin. 
Making kefir is one of those things that seems complicated in the explanation, but is very simple in the "doing." I hope you give it a try.

For a detailed and very interesting article on the benefits of eating probiotics, please click here: (Mercola.com).

For a great source of supplies to make cultured foods, please click here: (Cultures for Health).

For a great blog post about making kefir, including recipes, click here: Crunchy Betty.

Today's breakfast:
Home grown egg, home grown radish, and water kefir ?
Yep!
About 31 days of EASY: 
So many things in life are hard.  And some of those hard things are necessary. But why make things harder than they need to be?  For 31 days, I'll be writing about ways to bring ease.  I would be honored if you came along on my journey.  Pack light. 

If you want to know more about the 31 Day Blog Challenge, click here:
Nesting Place: It doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful.

or here: Why 31 days?
Many Blessings to you.



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Precious Readers

My Father's Words

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud, it is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices in the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." Love never fails

Father's Love Letter

An Intimate Message from God to You:

My Child,

You may not know me, but I know everything about you. Psalm 139:1

I know when you sit down and when you rise up. Psalm 139:2

I am familiar with all your ways. Psalm 139:3

Even the very hairs on your head are numbered. Matthew 10:29-31

For you were made in my image. Genesis 1:27

In me you live and move and have your being. Acts 17:28

For you are my offspring. Acts 17:28

I knew you even before you were conceived. Jeremiah 1:4-5

I chose you when I planned creation. Ephesians 1:11-12

You were not a mistake, for all your days are written in my book. Psalm 139:15-16

I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live. Acts 17:26

You are fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:14

I knit you together in your mother's womb. Psalm 139:13

And brought you forth on the day you were born. Psalm 71:6

I have been misrepresented by those who don't know me. John 8:41-44

I am not distant and angry, but am the complete expression of love. 1 John 4:16

And it is my desire to lavish my love on you. 1 John 3:1

Simply because you are my child and I am your Father. 1 John 3:1

I offer you more than your earthly father ever could. Matthew 7:11

For I am the perfect father. Matthew 5:48

Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand. James 1:17

For I am your provider and I meet all your needs. Matthew 6:31-33

My plan for your future has always been filled with hope. Jeremiah 29:11

Because I love you with an everlasting love. Jeremiah 31:3

My thoughts toward you are countless as the sand on the seashore. Psalms 139:17-18

And I rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17

I will never stop doing good to you. Jeremiah 32:40

For you are my treasured possession. Exodus 19:5

I desire to establish you with all my heart and all my soul. Jeremiah 32:41

And I want to show you great and marvelous things. Jeremiah 33:3

If you seek me with all your heart, you will find me. Deuteronomy 4:29

Delight in me and I will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4

For it is I who gave you those desires. Philippians 2:13

I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine. Ephesians 3:20

For I am your greatest encourager. 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you. Psalm 34:18

As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to my heart. Isaiah 40:11

One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyes. Revelation 21:3-4

And I'll take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth. Revelation 21:3-4

I am your Father, and I love you even as I love my son, Jesus. John 17:23

For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed. John 17:26

He is the exact representation of my being. Hebrews 1:3

He came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against you. Romans 8:31

And to tell you that I am not counting your sins. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19

Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19

His death was the ultimate expression of my love for you. 1 John 4:10

I gave up everything I loved that I might gain your love. Romans 8:31-32

If you receive the gift of my son Jesus, you receive me. 1 John 2:23

And nothing will ever separate you from my love again. Romans 8:38-39

Come home and I'll throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen. Luke 15:7

I have always been Father, and will always be Father. Ephesians 3:14-15

My question is…Will you be my child? John 1:12-13

I am waiting for you. Luke 15:11-32

Love, Your Dad.... ...Almighty God

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