Despite the fact that I have done some writing about healthy eating, there are still a whole bunch of things on the subject that I don’t know or have never tried.  (as one of my instructors at a Certified Natural Health Professional seminar said, “It’s amazing how much I don’t know!”)  One thing I keep hearing about is kefir.  Although people talk about how healthy it is, I will admit that between the name and the look of the stuff, my reaction has been quite negative.  Something that looks thick and milky and lumpy and goes by the name “kefir” just doesn’t call to my taste buds or intellect…..  (True Confessions of Supermom–I have the same squeamish reactions to weird-sounding stuff as everybody else)

However, today I read something that mentioned that kefir could be flavored with lots of different fruits, and that it’s fizzy, like soda.  Although I don’t give my children soda, they certainly have had it at various parties, pot lucks, and so on.  The reference to something soda-like but healthy has gotten my attention.  The kids would probably love it.  (especially if I called it something else)  So, now I am going to TRY to learn how to make kefir, and see how it goes.

I was referred to this site here, being told that it has everything you ever (or never!) wanted to know about kefir.  So, I’m sharing it with you all as well.  Maybe we can learn together.

If you are already a kefir-drinker please do tell us about it.  How does it taste best?  How can I get started with this?

After I tackle my aversion to kefir, I plan to try kombucha, which, again, sounds very disgusting.  (even the description grosses me out, but apparently people are into it, so I guess it’s possible that it might be good.  There’s something about leaving stuff out on the counter to rot for days, and growing bacteria, and all that stuff that strikes me as….counter-intuitive to good parenting or something….)  If I can come up with cool, fun, tasty-sounding names for these, you can be sure that I will present them in ways that make you want to try it, instead of fear that you are about to eat something that one might only experience in an unfortunate display of hospitality on a mission trip somewhere in a third world country…….

Have any of you ever tried making your own cheese?

I’m just loving reading Barbara Kingsolver’s new book Animal, Vegetable, Miracle these days.  She’s inspiring me about so many things!

When I was a young mother of only 1-3 children (back in my 20s) I did a lot of gardening, canning, and so forth.  As we added more children to our family, and things got more intense, most of those extras  were abandoned in favor of survival.    Now that my “baby” is four, there may be room for me to get “back to the earth” a little more every here and there.

Today’s reading of Animal, Vegetable, Miracle reminded me of homemade cheese.  You can get all the books and supplies from the New England Cheesemaking Supply Company.

Although I regularly struggle with whether or not I think cheese is healthy in general, I’m pretty sure that homemade cheese is healthier than store-bought.    I’m thinking that my little homeschool students and I might enjoy some good edible science experiments…..in the form of Ricotta, mozarella, and so forth.

Have you ever tried making homemade cheese?  How did it go?