Sharing Kefir Grains

Fermented foods are so good for you. They are becoming more and more available in stores. However, like most things the ones you find in stores have lots of added ingredients (especially sugar). Fermenting at home allows you use quality ingredients and have only what you want in there.

One of the easiest ways to get started on fermenting your own foods is with milk kefir. Milk kefir grains multiply fast and are great to share with others when yours grow. Many times I have shared my kefir grains with family and friends. It is an easy and quick way to get started on fermenting foods yourself.  Kefir has way more probiotics than yogurt and a great deal of fiber as well. It is a nutritional powerhouse for your gut. Just google it and you will find a wealth of information!

So for those of you just starting out, here is a quick reference on how to take care of your kefir grains:

1. When you first get your grains you will want to put them into a glass jar. I use pint mason jars. But many people use the larger quart size, it just depends on how much kefir you want to make. You will put the grains in the jar with whole milk. Use milk that has NOT been ultra-pasteurized. The less processing the better. The amount of milk again depends on how much you want to make. I generally make 1.5-2 cups at a time. Then you will cover it lightly with a breathable cloth or coffee filter. I also like to add a little note as to when I placed it in the jar (day and time). Then let it sit on the counter for 24-48 hours depending on how thick and tart you want it. Longer time will make it thicker but also more tart. Have fun experimenting with what you prefer. The temperature in the room will also affect how fast it ferments. I generally try for about 36 hours but life happens so it does not always happen that way!


2. When you are ready, strain the kefir into a new jar. I like to use a spoon to mix the grains and kefir in my strainer to make them strain faster.

3. Put a lid on your jar of strained grains and place them in the fridge if you are not ready to use them immediately. Then take your grains, add them to a new clean jar with milk and start over. Super easy!!

Some helpful hints:

• If you forget them for a few days no worries. Just strain it and start over.
• If you are going on vacation or want to put your kefir on hold for awhile you can store them in the fridge. Just place the strained grains in a jar with fresh milk, cover them with a lid and put them in the fridge. They will need to be fed so you should re-strain them about every 2 weeks and add fresh milk.
• The grains are pretty resilient. Don't worry, they are hard to kill. But if you lose them, no worries it's easy to get more.
• If you are fermenting other foods or have compost in your kitchen make sure they are not close to each other.

I love to use my kefir to make smoothies. (That is my personal favorite.) Others people like to drink it straight and find they prefer it more tart. Kefir can also be substituted in any recipe for buttermilk.  I also use them to make pancakes! Have fun and enjoy the good health!

 Blessings!

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Treat your Feet with These Easy Recipes

Spring is coming! We have had some unseasonably nice weather here in Minnesota and people were wearing shorts and flip flops. This brought me to a startling realization....my feet were badly neglected. So I took action today to get them ready for the next warm up.

First up, the foot soak. This is a nice treat for sore aching feet. I used our epsom salts we keep in the bathroom and soaked in a nice warm foot bath while reading up on some bee books. If you do not have ready to go salts or need to know how to use up the last tiny drops in your bottles, you can check out my post here. For a simple recipe see below.

Essential Oils with Epsom Salt:

1. Find a large jar with a tight lid. You can make more than one jar if you wish to have salts for different uses. Such as a relaxing jar ( with oils like lavender, stress away, orange, etc) and one for sore muscles (with oils like peppermint and panaway).
2. If you have empty essential oil bottles you would like to use, remove the tops and place them in the bottom.
3. Fill most the way with epsom salts.
4. If you do not have empty bottles or want to add more. Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil for each cup of salt to your preference.
5. Cover the jar tightly, gently shake to combine and allow to sit.
6. When you are ready to use your epsom salts, add 1/4-1/2 cup into your bath. (For a small foot bath a few tablespoons will work.) 

So gather your supplies, a towel and something to read.  Insert your feet and chill!

Once your feet are good and soaked, grab your scrub. This will moisturize and exfoliate your feet. Take about a tablespoon and rub it all over your feet. Paying special attention to the problem areas. Give yourself a nice foot massage while you are at it. You deserve it! (Bonus if you have someone who will do it for you!!)

When you are done you can rinse off in the foot bath before toweling off. Don't wash off the oil. That is supposed to be there! Let it soak in. You are mostly just rinsing off the sugar. Don't have a scrub? Here is an easy recipe:

Sugar Scrub:
1/3 cup sugar
2 Tablespoons of natural vegetable oil (such as olive, almond, grapeseed or sunflower)
1-3 drops of essential oil (for this recipe I used lemon essential oil)

Mix the above ingredients and put into a glass jar. Store in a dark area.

Once your feet are rinsed and dry it's time to pamper them with the best love- the magic healing lotion bar! You can find out how to to make make one here.

Now don't you feel fabulous?

Have a great day.
Blessings!!

If you enjoyed this post, I’d be very grateful if you’d help it spread by emailing it to a friend, or sharing it on Google+, Twitter or Facebook.