Homemade Kombucha Tea

A week ago following Thanksgiving we were visiting our niece Brenda at her mother’s house and enjoying our visit very much with Cheryl & Mike too. The 3 introduced us to Kombucha Tea – we had never heard of it, but we immediately took to it! It’s tart and slightly bitter with a sweet/sour tangy vinegary taste: and we had several glasses of it. It was introduced to us at just the right time too – I had just that day said to my husband that I needed to find something else to drink besides coffee and Lipton’s Peach flavored Iced Tea all day long; I don’t drink pop, and even though I do have an occasional beer or glass of wine … I certainly can’t drink those options all day long! So Kombucha came into our lives at just the right time ;-)

And Cheryl, singing the praises of the probiotic wonders of Kombucha Tea, sent a gallon jar of homemade brew home with us to get our own stash started. Bless her :-D

So today I started our brew and it’s doing its fermenting thing right now. In about 3 days’ time we should be sampling our own fermented tea – I used loose leaf Jasmine black tea, homegrown blueberries, and grated ginger-root in my fizzy brewed concoction. We can’t wait to start sipping it! Both recipes are good ‘medicines’: blueberries are a proven ‘superfood’ low in calories and high in nutrients and are the King of antioxidant (delay of cell damage) foods – 1 cup of blueberries has 4 grams of fiber, 24% of vitamin C, 36% of vitamin K, and 25% of manganese. And 1 cup of blueberries is only 84 calories. Vitamin C can prevent and treat the common cold; can help with the absorption of iron in the body (really important to people like me who are severely anemic); also helps increase red blood cell counts, strengthen weakness in the body, ease sore arms & legs, renew flagging energy, and help with gum disease. Vitamin C helps decrease the risk of developing a urinary tract infection; can help prevent heart attacks and/or strokes; can prevent Alzheimer’s disease; can help prevent diabetes. Vitamin C may slow down the age-related progression of Macular Degeneration (loss of sight); and increases bone density. Vitamin K is essential in regulating normal blood clotting, and assists in transporting calcium efficiently throughout the body. Vitamin K is also necessary for bone health and also helps to prevent calcification (hardening) of arteries. Manganese is a trace mineral required for the body to function smoothly - crucial for a healthy metabolism & digestion, the absorption of calcium, proper function of the thyroid glands and sex hormones, and it seeks out and neutralizes rouge radicals roaming the body intent on damaging the body. Blueberries are a ((((WINNER!)))) in every sense of the word.

Ginger root is one of the healthiest and most delicious spices on the planet – even just a whiff of the freshly grated root is enough to make a person feel good ;-) Ginger has been renown since ancient days for its traditional and alternative medicinal qualities. It has been used to aide digestion, reduce nausea, and help fight the common cold. Ginger has a powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effect (prevent or stop cell damage to the body). Ginger may help to reduce muscle soreness and pain; and can help treat indigestion. Ginger may lower cholesterol levels, and improve brain function. Fresh ginger can also help lower the risk of infections as it is said to inhibit the growth of many different types of bacteria in the body; ginger is also very effective against gum diseases … and is effective against infections of the lungs and respiratory tract (perfect for people like me who have weak lungs). Ginger is another superfood that is a ((((WINNER!))))

Here is the recipe I used … again, compliments to Cheryl ;-) I am posting Amanda Maguire’s recipe at (http://www.picklesnhoney.com/2012/04/25/how-to-make-kombucha/) with my pictures that I took while making the recipe:

INGREDIENTS

·         1 Kombucha Scoby (the "mother")

·         2 C. Kombucha Liquid from Previous Batch, taken from the top of the jar

·         12 C. Water

·         5 Bags of Organic Green or Black Tea (or 5 Tbs. looseleaf tea)

·         1 C. Sugar (I used Raw Turbinado)

·         1 Gallon Glass Jar

·         Clean Cloth or Paper Towels

·         Rubber Band

·         Glass Jars with Plastic Lids for Bottling

·         Fruit for Flavoring the Kombucha (optional)

The fermented 'starter mix' from Cheryl which I am using today to start my own batch of Kombucha Tea.

Ready - Set - GO!

INSTRUCTIONS

1.   In a large pot, bring 12 cups of water to a boil.

Boiling water.

2.   Add 1 C. of sugar to the boiling water and stir to dissolve.

3.   Turn off the stove and add 5 bags of organic green or black tea (or 5 tablespoons of loose leaf tea). I used green tea.

4.   Cover the pot to prevent the mixture from evaporating and allow it to come to room temperature. This will take some time, but it’s important that the mixture has cooled before moving on to the next step or you’ll kill all that good bacteria in the kombucha liquid.

Bringing Tea mixture to room temperature.

5.   Once the water/sugar/tea mixture has cooled to room temperature, remove the tea bags and pour the mixture into a large glass jar (I used a 1 gallon biscotti jar from Williams Sonoma).

Spongy starter floating on top of the fermented tea given to me by Cheryl; I removed it from this jar and put it into a bowl to use as starter in my new batch of Kobacha tea. I found the middle of the fleshy ‘mushroom’ and tore it apart horizontally to make 2 pieces – 1 for each ½-gallon jar. The scoby feels as weird as it looks.

Preparing the Kombucha mix; I used two ½-gallon jars because I didn’t have a large gallon jar.

6.   Using clean hands, add the kombucha scoby to the tea mixture, followed by 2 cups of the reserved kombucha. It's okay if the scoby sinks to the bottom of the jar.

Blending of the old and new teas ... with the divided scoby. The previous fermented mixture is pungent, and the scoby looks and feels like a rubberized alien entity.

7.   Cover the top of the jar with a clean dish towel or 2 layers of paper towels and secure it with a rubber band. This will keep fruit flies and other bugs out, while still allowing air to circulate.

The fermenting process begins with my homemade batch …

8.   Place the jar in a warm, dark spot (I chose the top, back shelf in my pantry) where it won’t be disturbed, and allow it to to sit for about 7 days before taking a peek. You should see a thin, cloudy-looking film growing over the top of the mixture – this is a new baby scoby!

9.   Insert a straw below the baby scoby and taste the kombucha. You'll know it's ready to bottle when it has an apple cider vinegar taste and isn't overly sweet.

10.     If the kombucha still tastes sugary, allow the mixture to ferment for 3-7 more days, tasting every so often until it meets your taste preferences.

11.     Once the kombucha is ready, prepare your glass jars. You can add a small amount of fresh or frozen fruit (for example, a tablespoon or two of blueberries, strawberries, ginger, whatever you like) to the empty jars.

The scobyless Kombucha Tea Cheryl made and gave to me ready to be poured into the fruited jars.

.Homegrown blueberries and freshly grated  ginger root - these teas are gonna be delish as well as healthy.

2 blueberry jars and 2 ginger-root jars waiting for the fermented liquid.

12.     Pour the kombucha into the jars, straining out the yeast strands if you like.

Straining the Kombucha liquid to remove the scoby debris.

13.     Fill the jars to the very top and make sure to use plastic lids (metal can erode). The less air in the jar, the more natural carbonation will take place and the more fizzy your finished product will taste. Fruit will also create carbonation.

Looking good ...

14.     Allow the bottled kombucha to ferment for 1-3 more days in a warm, dark spot, making sure to "burp" (loosen the lids a bit to release pressure build-up, then tighten up again … not too tight though) the jars every so often to release any pressure. This is important, as the jars can explode if carbonation builds up!

All the jars of my homebrewed Kombucha Tea has been prepared and set to fermenting: the large jars for another week - the smaller jars for 3 days. CAN'T WAIT!

15.     After the 2nd fermentation, move the bottled kombucha to the fridge to prevent further fermentation.

16.     Enjoy (and repeat this process for your next batch)!

NOTES

If at any point during the process you notice green mold forming in the mixture, toss it and start over. This can happen when the liquid isn’t acidic enough, which is why it’s so important to add that full 2 cups of the bottled kombucha. The time it takes for the kombucha to ferment is very much dependent on environmental factors and it’s not an exact science. If you find, for example, that the kombucha tastes acidic enough at 6 days instead of 7, for example, go ahead and move on to the bottling process. I personally find that 10 days is about how long it takes to get the right flavor. Each time you brew kombucha, a new scoby will grow on top. It's a good idea to save a few as back-ups in case something happens to your original scoby. To do this, simply add your leftover scoby to a glass jar, cover with finished kombucha liquid, and close the jar using a lid (not a towel) to prevent the kombucha liquid from evaporating (a metal lid is okay as long as the liquid isn't touching it). Store the jar in a warm, dark place.

HAPPY SNOWBABY

This morning we decided to take the Highlander into snow country to see how it would handle in high country weather this time of year – it handled GREAT!

And this snowbaby got her ‘snow fix’ – TWICE ALREADY before my birthday ;-) Previous snowy daytrip to Lake Tipsoo in October (https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2017/10/snow.html)

I thank Elohim every day for my husband – HE’S THE BEST! OX :-D

This daytrip was the beginning of the Shabbat weekend – PERFECT!

Once we got past Longmire the snowfall started deepening.

Love, LOve, LOVE snow!

Not too deep yet, but it's welcomed by this snowbaby.

Crossing the expansive bridge spanning the glacial fed riverbed. Despite all the packed white, there was little icy topcoat.

We have been coming here for decades and don't remember ever seeing the road this snow-packed. It's not really very icy though and perhaps that’s why it hasn’t been scraped clear by the snowplow.

Usually the snow plow keeps this road snow-and-ice-free ...

Our new car did great in the snow and ice :-D Actually it handled better than the 4x's did; even the Tundra.

BLUEBERRY-PECAN FEATHER PANCAKES

I woke up this morning itching to do something (activity helps me think through difficult situations), so I decided to make fancy pancakes – I don’t eat them because my body doesn’t process nuts well no matter how finely they are crushed, but the king of our castle does; and the process of making them will help me process yesterday’s complications.

So … I gathered the ingredients and set to work. The pancakes are good without the added berries and buts, but I wanted something festive for the holiday season. I chose pecans and homegrown blueberries. My fella tells me these pancakes are YUMMY! And I believe him ;-)

This recipe is a good pancake recipe. It makes a nice puffy pancake instead of those thin flat ones. If you prefer thin pancakes, just omit the baking powder when following the recipe ;-)

BLUEBERRY-PECAN FEATHER PANCAKES (about 10 pancakes)

2 cups all-purpose Flour – 2 TBSP. Baking Powder – 2 TBSP granulated white Sugar – 1 teaspoon Sea Salt – 2 eggs – 2 cups milk – 4 TBSP. cooking Oil – 1 cup fresh or frozen Blueberries (thawed and well drained) – ½ cup crushed nuts (I used Pecans, but you can use any type of nut)

Heat griddle to 325-degrees. To test griddle for correct temperature before dropping pancake mix, sprinkle lightly with a few drops of water – if the drops bubble and dance across the surface, the heat is just right.

Beat eggs with hand beater until light and fluffy; beat in remaining ingredients – just ‘til smooth. Don’t overbeat or you will have rubber pancakes instead of fluffy ones. Add blueberries and nuts. Grease heated griddle if necessary.

Pour about1/4 cup of batter from a measuring cup, or from a pitcher onto the hot griddle. Cook pancakes until puffed, golden brown, and dry around the edges. Turn and cook other side until golden brown. To keep pancakes hot, stack them on a hot plate with paper towels in between; place on a cookie sheet in a 250-degree oven or in a warming oven until ready to serve.

Break out the butter and syrup and dig in!

THE GOSPEL ACCORDNG TO MATTHEW

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW

Chapter 7: Yeshua said, “Don’t be finding fault with others and they will not be finding fault with you. For you will be criticized in exactly the same way that you pass judgement, and it will be measured back to you just as you measure it out to others. Just why do you take notice of a speck in your brother’s eye, but are not concerned about the stick in your own eye?Or why do you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’, when you have a stick in your own eye? You hypocrite! Pull out the stick from your own eye first, then you can see better to take out the speck from your brother’s eye!

You must not give holy things to dogs, nor cast your pearls before wild hogs. They might turn on you and tear you to pieces.

Ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks will receive, and everyone who seeks will find, and everyone who knocks will have the door opened to him. Or is there any one of you who would give your son a stone if he should ask you for bread? Or in case he should ask you for a fish, would you ten give him a snake? Well then, if you – although you are evil – know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will Elohim give good things to those who keep on asking Him?

So, whatever you want people to do to you, do likewise for them, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

Go in through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and they are many, indeed, who go in through that gate. But the gate that leads to life is small, and the way is narrow, and there are few that find it.

Small gate

Wide gate

Be on the lookout for false prophets who come to you dressed up like sheep, but at heart are like devouring wolves. You can recognize them by their fruits. Do men pick grapes from thorn trees, or figs from thistles? No! The fact is that every good tree bears good fruit, whereas a rotten tree produces poor fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, and a poor tree cannot produce good fruit. Every tree that does not produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Yes, you can recognize them by their fruits.

Not every one who says to Me, ‘Adonai, Adonai’, will get into the kingdom of heaven, but only they who do the will of Elohim. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Adonai, Adonai, did we not prophesy in Your Name? And do many miracles in Your Name?’ And then I will say to them very plainly, ‘I have never known you; go away from Me, you lawbreakers!’

Everyone, therefore, who hears these sayings of Mine and obeys them, will be like a wise man who built his house on a stone foundation. And the rain fell, and the river rose, and the winds howled and beat against the house, and yet it did not fall; for it was built on a rock. But, on the other hand, everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, but does not follow them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. And the rain fell, and the river rose, and the winds howled and beat against the house, and it fell with a great crash.”

When Yeshua had ended His sermon, the crowds were much astonished at His teaching. For he did not teach them as their own scribes, but as One Who had authority.

**Matthew 6: https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2017/11/thursday-bible-study_23.html

Switching Floral Arrangements Out …

Tonight I changed the floral arrangements, exchanging the Fall arrangements for Christmas arrangements. I pretty much stuck with poinsettias because I like that flower. Next year I may try something else, but for this year poinsettias reign ;-)

Our bathroom: Red Poinsettias with Gold berries. Simple, but effective.

A little more color in the spare bathroom because it’s so white in there: Red Poinsettia with pistachio hydrangea, a gilded pinecone, and a pine sprig.

Small kitchen Ivy Basket: Dark Red Poinsettias, a gilded pine cone, and a pine sprig.

Large Kitchen Ivy Basket. Red & White Poinsettias, white winter berries, gold berries, a gilded pine cone, a pine sprig, and several gold filigree branches.

A new White Christmas Cactus with a pale pink throat and a fuchsia tongue.

CHRISTMAS DÉCOR Pt. 2

Sunday morning we put the final decorations up for this year – despite the skimpy trims this year, our home is quite festive without being kitschy with decoration overload. I like foil garland at Christmas time because it’s so bright and cheerful, but it was hard to find! Most stores didn’t even carry it (they had garish foil decorations like foil wreaths, Christmas balls, snowman faces, ect.; but NO foil garlands), and those that had wanted $10 for a measly 2 ft. long garland!; a few claimed they were bought out early – like before Thanksgiving. My husband, bless him, drove all over town and walked every store with me, and we finally found some at the Big Lots store and snapped 3 garlands up; brought them home, and put them up … waaaaaaaaaay high up ;-)

Christmas Foil Garland strung along the upper walls. Livingroom. Dining room has same set-up ... the rest of the rooms were strung with a different color and different style garland.

Christmas Foil Garland strung along the Foyer closet and upper entry arch. Back Door.

Christmas Evergreen Garland I brought from the other house; we strung it along the upper archway between kitchen and Dining room. Kitchen side.

Evergreen candle set in kitchen window. An old and dear friend gave this candle set to me about 30 years ago. I put it out every Christmas season.

Handmade plastic canvas snowflakes hung in kitchen window. I need to take these ones apart and make new ones – these are showing wear and tear. I don't have the pattern anymore, but they should be easy to replicate following the design.

Well, I better end off here tonight: gotta be up and out the door tomorrow morning bright and early, which means we gotta be in bed early tonight :-(

http://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2017/11/holiday-anticipation-in-full-swing.html

HOLIDAY ANTICIPATION IN FULL SWING

Today I started decorating the house in earnest. As soon as I finished my morning joy juice (aka coffee), I got dressed and ran into town to get some wreath trims at the $ Store:

Battery operated trimming Light Strands. Only a dollar at the $ Tree. 3 strands worked, 1 went in the garbage because the connecting wires weren’t connecting no matter how Hubs and I fiddled with it. It was a factory junker.

These little strands of lights were perfect for the wreaths: they weren’t too long, and they weren’t too short – they were just right ;-)

Breaking the glittered snowflake trims down with my handy needle-nosed snips I filched from Hubs ...

I bought these a few days ago while passing through Oregon because I knew they would look good on the wreaths. 2 bunched trims broke down into a total of 9 glittery snowflakes. Some glitter fell off while I was snipping the bunched snowflakes apart, but they were still pretty sparkly and that’s what I want … snowflakes tucked into the wreath greenery that look like they have fallen, got caught, and been kissed by a frosty breath of winter air …

GREAT deal!

And a bonus of 6 glittery branches that will look cool tucked here and there into the wreath too :-D

Then I focused on snipping these trims down ...

After the snowflakes were divided and placed by the wreaths, I flexed the needle-noses and got busy snipping these trims:

I don't know what these silvery thingees are supposed to be, but they caught my eye and I figured they'd add some pizazz to the wreaths - so I bought them.

And of course I had to have holly; even if it is silky fabric and plastic berries … and pinecones too!

Gotta have the holly at Christmas time!

Gilded pinecones for added festivity :-D

More Berry sprigs for filler ...

Then the special trims - mistletoe, 2 doves, and a cardinal on a frosted pine sprig: no snipping required for these delightful trims ;-)

Mistletoe sprigs for love, 2 Doves for devotion, and a Cardinal bird on a sprig of frosted pine simply because I miss seeing the bright and lively birds in the Winter time here. Hubs has never seen a real one, and I’m sad about that because they are really pretty – the Cardinal bird is similar in size and shape as the black hooded Blue Jay here - but bright red in Minnesota, and with a red crest instead of a black hood. The Pine Grosbeak here is considered a PNW cardinal type bird, but it really is not the same at all.

Cardinal bird.

Pine Grosbeak bird.

The Cardinal and frosted pine sprig were a clip ornament, so I left it as it was and just clipped it to a wreath. Then I pulled the florist tape off the mistletoe and divided the sprigs among the 2 wreaths:

Separating the mistletoe.

I laid the plain-jane wreaths out on the dining room table and got busy with arrangements. The wreath greenery was so thick that the trims were fine just tucked in place among the greenery covered wire branches. ((((YAY!)))) In no time at all the wreaths were strung with lights, decorated with trims, and placed on the doors :-D

MOD Lighted and trimmed Back Door Wreath. Carport. I LIKE!

MOD Lighted and trimmed Front Door Wreath. Sidewalk. I LIKE!

My wreaths were done for about $15/EA give or take, and a little elbow bending, but with all humble modesty, I do think they look better than the tacky prefab wreaths selling for $40. MPO

Lighted door wreath and lighted Front Porch Garland Swag. Looking good :-D

Next came the Front Porch Christmas Mat ...

… and the lighted Stars of David were hung outside and inside - Hubs made these a few years ago:

The largest of Bob’s Lighted Star of David stars was hung on the outer edge of the carport.

The 3 smaller lighted Stars of David were hung inside; we think they look fine.

I hope the weather holds so I can rake these fallen leaves and use them to mulch my flowerbeds and my 2 Patio Apple Trees overwinter …

Then it was time to get busy around the house – I started with the fireplace; taking down the Fall flower arrangement and putting the Christmas flower in place. This is my birth month, so I really go all out and leave everything out until after the New Year rings in. Tablecloths were hauled out and put into use (the ONLY time a tablecloth ever graces our table; LOL):

The Hanukkah Menorah up and ready to be fired up December 12th.

Poinsettia Doily I made a decade ago.

I bought this before Thanksgiving, so I am hoping it will thrive and survive through December.

The narcissus is my birth flower … and I do love them, but I prefer poinsettias through the month of December - I love these flowers but I have a hard time keeping them alive after the first 2 weeks. Come January I start checking the areas where I planted the daffodil bulbs and wait with baited breath for the first showing of the daffodil leaves ;-)

The 12 Days of Christmas tablecloth was spread on the dining table, topped with a candle centerpiece.

Festive Corner Table with Christmas Cactus: the cactus can be pretty fickle, so I am hoping it blooms by Christmas: it looks so nice with it’s pretty blossoms in full bloom.

So ... that’s how my day went today. Active; very active. Productive; gifts for everyone squirreled away. And escalating anticipation – a celebration of Yeshua’s BD as well as my own BD ;-)

Well, I better shuffle off to Buffalo and catch some ZZZ’s. We’re going to be visiting with friends and family tomorrow afternoon and I want to be sharp and attentive, so this night owl needs to hit the rack and wind down. TTYL