Kefir Madness: Pretty Plum and Gorgeous Grapefruit

The star of the show: water kefir “grains”!

Summer is water kefir weather. Those hard-working, gelatinous “grains” (actually a Symbiotic Colony of Bacteria and Yeast) turn sugar water into a sparkling probiotic beverage. While a water kefir first ferment (1F) doesn’t have much personality, the second ferment (2F) is where the fun happens!

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Farm Ferments: Revitalizing Rejuvelac

Yes, I have a “thing” for alliteration…it’s just part of being a logophile. I also wear a t-shirt that illustrates the importance of a properly-placed comma; am an Oxford comma adherent; and I ferment things. Multi-dimensional, I am. Enough about me, though – did you know that you can make a tasty, rejuvenating probiotic beverage from wheat berries?

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Ferment Update: Bell Peppers

It’s been a week, and the lacto-fermented bell peppers are coming right along. I burp them a couple of times a day to release some pressure, and am always happy to see the bubbles rise from the bottom of the jar to join the fizzy head at the top!

This particular recipe uses kombucha vinegar – something I keep a lot of on hand all the time – and it consistently creates a very active ferment. This time, I didn’t fill the jars quite as full…so neither overflowed and made a mess. Restraint pays off! Continue reading “Ferment Update: Bell Peppers”

Farm Ferments: Kkakdugi (깍두기) – Korean Radish Kimchi

These jars of Kkakdugi will magically transform into probiotic goodness

Sometimes, food that smells really funky tastes incredibly delicious…like the Korean fermented vegetable dish called kimchi. I suppose kimchi may be an acquired taste: it’s fragrant with garlic and fish sauce, odors that some may find offensive – and it’s delightfully spicy. As a ferment, it’s full of probiotics, and the fermentation process lends it a piquant tanginess that teases the palate. In the past, I’ve purchased very fine pre-made kimchi from Korean stores, but why buy when you can make it yourself?

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