Culinary Medicine for the Body, Mind, & Soul
KEFIR
Makes: 16 fluid ounces
Serves: 4
Time to Make: 5 minutes
Good for the Body, Mind, & Soul
Contains Dairy
MILK KEFIR
I seriously LOVE fermented foods and beverages. I’ve been fermenting milk kefir for a few years now and this truly is an incredible beverage. I think it is probably the most amazing ferments of all of them and strongly recommend this to anyone and everyone, which I probably sound like a broken record to most of my family, friends and neighbors when it comes to kefir. I’ve even created policies and procedures around this powerhouse beverage in the healthcare industry and this was before I started making it myself.
Having professed my love, it can be a little labor intensive and I get it, we are BUSY! So, this is an option for the DIY person and if at the end of all this, you don’t want to make, I still recommend having some kefir in your daily diet. Many grocery stores have it regularly stocked in the yogurt section, so grab yourself a bottle and tell your body, welcome!
PREPARATION
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Place the kefir grains in a glass container with a lid or cheesecloth/coffee filter, I love Fido jars for this ferment.
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Add the milk
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Cover the container with its respective lid (Fido jar), or cheesecloth/coffee filter and secure with a rubber band.
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Leave on a counter at room temperature for 24-72 hours. The temperature will determine the ferment time. Ideally 65-75 degree F. A warmer environment will speed the ferment, cooler temp will lengthen the time.
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Once the kefir is a little thicker in consistency, it’s ready to strain the grains.
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You can use a mesh strainer and place on top of a jar. Gently pour the kefir milk into the strainer covered jar. This action will collect the grains. You may need to remove the grains and place in another FIDO jar or fermenting jar if the grains have grown where you are capturing more than 1-2 Tablespoons (or a great gift for a friend/neighbor).
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Once all the kefir grains are strained away and in your fermenting jar, repeat the process and add more milk.
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Enjoy!
Flavor Kefir
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If you want to add some flavor to your kefir, this is where it will work.
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I love blending fresh, seasonal fruit and enjoying the varying flavors. This will only last about 48 hours, so drink up!
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You can also add dried fruits, spices and herbs, again, it won’t last as long, about 48 hours.
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You can use plain kefir in several other applications, check out a few I’ve listed as it’s my go-to for many places that I use dairy.
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Enjoy!
GOVERNMENT WARNING: (1) According to the Surgeon General, women should not drink alcoholic beverages during pregnancy because of the risk of birth defects. (2) Consumption of alcoholic beverages impairs your ability to drive a car or operate machinery, and may cause health problems.
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Welcome to Health-Crush Nutritional Label for this meal. See how it fits into your daily nutritional needs. This meal includes all the ingredients above, so any deviation can alter the nutrition. As always, should you have any questions, please consult with me and/or your medical professional.
