kefir (not southerland)

kefir is a delicious beverage. it’s made from fermented sugar-water, or milk usually.  i like milk kefir.  it’s become very very popular lately.  it is riding on the coat tails of the probiotic yogurt wave.  you know the one- Jamie lee Curtis and her poop commercial… kefir is actually a better solution for getting the good bacteria that helps you digest.  many people swear by this and it is all over the grocery stores now.  i make it at home because it is”cleaner”. at home it’s only milk and whatever i add to it.  commercial kefir is full of sugars and preservatives.  i like it because it’s good for me and since i use whole milk as food for the little kefir grain-babies it tastes great!  also, i can have it without feeling too guilty about having whole milk!  there are many more benefits of kefir, but this post is not to convince you to try kefir. this post is to show you how i grow kefir at home and to show you some pictures of what to do if you decide to try growing kefir at home.

i say “grow” because the grains are actually living little bacteria and they have to eat.  milk kefir eats milk.  but i am getting ahead of myself…

my last batch of kefir grains did not survive the shoulder surgery/move out/remodel/move in of the last half of last year, so i ordered some off the internet.  usually kefir grains are ‘gifted’ to you from a friend, but none of my friends had any. after research and reading reviews i ordered milk grains to restart my kefir.”marilyn the kefirlady” turned out to be the best (according to various reviews and she had some available. so i sent my $20. cash to her and she sent this:  

also included was a booklet on the care of kefir and some recipes.  she has a wonderful FAQ section, and offers to answer all questions via email or phone!  how cool!

according to instructions i should be able to make drinkable kefir immediately. (in 24 hours)  so as instructed, i put the grains in a super clean dry jar and covered them with 2 cups of milk.  now you cover the top of the jar with some cheese cloth and place it on the counter for 24 hours.  every so often give it a little swish around the jar and let it sit….

after 24 hour you have to drain off the new kefir, and transfer the grains to a clean jar.

here are the grains close up after draining.  don’t rinse (not even with milk) and don’t squish.  all these little grainy things are baby kefir grains. they will grow big, quickly, and then you will have plenty to share.

in their new home… with kefir to drink!

i keep my drained kefir in a nice jar in the fridge.  though it is deelish, and i love it- i make much much more kefir than i drink. it is so much fun to me to grow the grains and share them… so if you are looking, if you want kefir grains RIGHT NOW. email marilyn the kefir lady.  but if you can wait, check with me in a month or so.

oh by the way.  marilyn is right.  her grains produced sweet drinkable kefir in the first batch.  yummmmm…..   http://kefirlady.com/