Kefir: A Fermented Beverage

kefir grains

I have always been intimidated by the fermentation process. For one, I am a very visual person & need to see these processes first hand. I also want a taste to see if it's something I want to invest my time in.

1/4 cup sugar

sugar & filtered water

The other day a friend was offering up some kefir grains to a group I meet with & everyone else was so excited. I'm thinking in the back of my head - I must be missing out on something because I'm not even sure what that is! Still hesitant, I decided to bring some home.

separated grains

My first experience with kefir water was surprisingly delightful. I added half a squeezed lemon & it tasted like lemon italian soda water. It is slightly bubbly, with a balance of sweet and tart.

add juice to fermented water

Kefir water can be flavored using fruit juice, herbs or dried fruits. You can simply add fresh juice from a lemon or a juice concentrate like cherry or grape. You can get really creative and make vanilla creme soda or even root beer.

one for today, another for tomorrow

Cultured foods and beverages are an easy, inexpensive way to get probiotics into your belly. Kefir grains consist of several strands of bacteria and yeast existing in a symbiotic relationship. These probiotics live off the sugar water and will grow and multiply giving you an endless supply. The term Kefir grain describes the look of the culture only, they do not actually contain grains.






I started from grains already in water, so here is what I do to keep them growing:

1. separate grains from water by pouring liquid through a sieve
2. add juice to this liquid. it can be consumed immediately or seal it and wait another 24 hours for less sweetness and more bubbles
3. in another jar dissolve 1/4 organic sugar with filtered water
4. add 3 tablespoons of grains and cover with cheesecloth
5. leave on the counter for up to 48 hours and repeat

NOTE:If you are going out of town or need to slow down the process put the grains in a sealed jar with sugar water and put in the refrigerator until you get back.

Weston A. Price: Healthy 4 Life

The Weston A. Price Foundation is my go-to place for all things health. The Foundation is dedicated to educating the population on nutrient-dense foods, organic farming, pasture-fed livestock, community-supported agriculture (CSA), honest labeling and informed parenting.

happy cows

So many people are confused about what to eat. They crave one thing, their doctor says eat another and yet they are still sick.

As an alternative to the USDA's low fat, high-carb dietary guidelines, the Weston A. Price Foundation proposes a Healthy 4 Life dietary plan.

urban garden

The biggest difference between the two is the mistake the USDA makes by omitting saturated fats (butter, egg yolks, whole milk, full fat cheese and yogurt, and especially animal fats like bacon and lard) from a healthy diet.

The Healthy 4 Life dietary plan is a true healing diet. If you are looking for a plan to follow, look no further. The education that goes along with this dietary plan is priceless and could just save your life.

serenbe farmers market

If you are looking for more details on nutrient-dense foods and healthy recipes, Sally Fallon's book -  Nourishing Traditions: The Cookbook that Challenges Politically Correct Nutrition and the Diet Dictocrats is a must.

happy baby

Crazy Cauliflower and Curry Coconut Quinoa

Well, if the name of this recipe isn't a enough, you will get plenty of healthy benefits by eating this quick veggie dish.

high protein vegetarian meal

Cauliflower: a cruciferous vegetable high in estrogen lowering phytonutrients. Should be lightly steamed or stir-fried preferably in coconut oil


Spices: add a depth of flavor while being natural anti-inflammatory agents


Cumin - helps enhance immunity, increase metabolism, prevent digestive disorders
Coriander - helps control blood sugar and cholesterol levels
Garam Masala - a mixture of cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, cumin, black peppercorns
Chili Powder - a blend of peppers containing Capsicum which gives it heat
Tumeric - contains Curcumin which gives it a bright yellow color


Coconut: high in medium-chain fatty acids, provides energy and fuel for the brain


Quinoa: a seed high in protein usually eaten as a grain replacement

garnish with raisins and green onions

Crazy Cauliflower and Curry Coconut Quinoa

Cauliflower:

1 head organic cauliflower, chopped

2 tablespoons organic coconut oil

2 green onions, chopped

1 teaspoon each or to taste
      - cumin, coriander, gram masala, chili powder, turmeric

Salt to taste

Stir-fry cauliflower in melted coconut oil until tender

Add in green onion last couple of minutes

Quinoa:

1 cup organic quinoa

2 cups organic canned coconut milk

1 teaspoon yellow curry powder

salt to taste

Bring water and quinoa to a boil.

Simmer 20 minutes until water is absorbed & seeds sprout a tail

Quinoa can be soaked, sprouted and eaten raw for even more healthy goodness.

Garnish with raisins and green onions for an added touch.

Go Outside and PLAY!

little dude

As a child I spent my summers outside on my dad's farm. There was no cable TV, no computers or video games. Just 25 acres of hills, animals, a creek, a pond and each other. Meals were made from scratch and we all sat down at the table together to eat. I loved my summers, there was never a dull moment, I was never bored.

serenbe

Raising a child with a sense of adventure, to love and respect nature is just as important to their brain development as the food they eat. 


I came across this book, Last Child in the Woods, on the shelf of a sweet little bakery at Serenbe a couple of years ago. Richard Louv talks about saving our children from nature-deficit disorder. He says that all children need to be out in nature, not just the ones with parents that love nature - all children.

cloudland canyon

My husband and I love to go camping in the cool months. We started including our daughter when she was 6 months old. She absolutely loves it. She loves going on hikes, and swimming in lakes, cooking over a fire and sleeping under the stars.


There is so much to teach a child in the woods:


1. respect of all creatures
2. respect for nature
3. how to start a fire
4. survival skills
5. how to play without toys

loving nature

Even if you don't want to spend the night in the woods, you can always go take a hike!

My Backyard Foraged Meal

baby chicks last Easter

Last year we bought 7 little chicks and raised them in our guest bathroom (not recommended). Of those seven chicks 2 were females - sorry roosters. 

the tractor coop

We bought a blueprint to build the Garden Ark chicken coop. We decided to make it portable so they wouldn't kill our yard with all the scratching they do looking for bugs. 

year old chickens this Easter

We ended up adopting another female, so we had 3 layers each giving us an egg every 26 hours. (Just FYI, you do not need a rooster for the hens to lay eggs. You only need a rooster to fertilize the eggs to make more chicks.)


So we have had PLENTY of eggs. 

fresh eggs

One of my favorite things to make is an Easy Egg Bake. But the simplest things to make are Hard Boiled Eggs. Talk about fast food you can eat in the car -  just grab & go!

a foraged meal

Egg Salad is another favorite, especially over a bed of freshly picked arugula. So between our chicken's eggs and greens from our urban garden, I made myself a meal.

Popsicle Time

Move over King of Pops, this momma's making her own popsicles!

non-dairy popsicle

There's nothing better than something cold after a hot day in the sun. I prefer ice cream to popsicles, but dairy and I don't really get along. So I bought a popsicle making kit at IKEA to make my own.

I used to love pudding pops - remember Bill Cosby's commercials? 

Here is my version...

just add bananas

Momma Jen's Non-Dairy Pudding Pops:
2 ripe bananas
1/2 cup organic coconut milk
2 tablespoons raw chocolate powder
1 tablespoon raw local honey


1. Blend like a smoothie in a Vitamix
2. Pour into popsicle molds
3. Freeze
4. Eat

Homemade "LARA BARS"

Homemade "LARA BAR"

What is a LARABAR anyway? Basically it is a granola bar minus the granola. It is just fruits, nuts,  spices and some even have chocolate. 


This allows them to be gluten-free and grain free for that matter. They are good for everything from a snack on-the-go to a guilt-free dessert. 


You can buy them in bulk at Costco, but the most cost efficient is to make them yourself. Dekalb Farmers Market has the best selection of dried fruits at the best price - yes, it is worth the drive.


Here is our favorite "LARA BAR" recipe:

our favorite ingredients

1 cup of pecans
1 cup of dates
1/2 cup tart cherries
1/2 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
1/4 cup dark chocolate chips
1 tablespoon almond butter


1. process pecans only for 30 seconds
2. add in the rest of ingredients 
3. process until everything comes together




Don't feel like you have to stick to any recipe, make them your own way. Try adding blueberries or apples, almonds or walnuts. Create a yummy treat today & ENJOY!