PROBIOTICS for you and your chickens

[emarble]

Quote:
I would not put any flavoring in until after culturing. I don't know how much milk to put in. I started out with a grain that my sister gave to me(thanks Sarah!). I sometimes do as little as a cup to a quart. Maybe I'm just not fussy. I bet Ernie or Andrea can help with this one!!
Ginny

When I first got my grains I got a Quarter cup and started the first day with 2 cups milk (I actually did it by the directions!! THAT Hardly ever happens that I follow exactly but this time I did) So now that I have patted myself on the back!!! LOL!! I started with the 2 cups next and YES I thought it was nasty the first day and thought wow I will never be able to drink this but decided to keep at it!!!

The second day after straining the grains I did Not wash the jar(From then on I do wash the Jar about every other time) just scooped it out good added my grains back and added 3 cups of milk to the grains (Stir after adding milk) and put it on the counter and let it set over night Strained and tasted and it was a little better! (Each day got a little better) So by the 4th day I was up to 1/4 cup of grains to a quart of milk and I had read enough to know that you needed to let it AGE in the refrigerator for a couple of days (NOW also I waited till I got almost a full cup of grains before I seperated them and by that time I was starting to drink at least 8 to 10 ounces a day (That was about a month ago and the grains grew that fast! (NOTE: I am using whole milk so the growth rate might be different too) The grains have to have an adjustment time to adjust to the type of media you are using IE WHOLE MILK/2% ETC.) Mine took about at least 1 to 2 gallons of milk to adjust themselves and start to really taste good! By that time I was already adding Protein Power and Fruit to experiment and the chickens and cats and dog had eaten a lot of Kefir BTW!! I now have a lot of grains and am in the process of learning how to ship and WISH ME LUCK!!

BTW I tried the orange peel and cinnamon bark in the Kefir Not Bad and I really don't like cinnamon (Going to try the Ginger next time and see if I like it Cause I love the taste of GINGER!!

BTW Feather baby you can add vanilla extract after you have cultured and strained and it will not hurt the Kefir! The only thing you have to be careful with is the grains after it is cultured you can do almost as you wish (Be carefull of crockery though because some of the older have lead in them and the lead will leach out into the kefir

Ernie

 

[AndreaS]

Quote:
I'm pretty sure you want to wait to add any flavorings until after you have removed the kefir grains, and let the flavors steep while its ripening. I don't know however, if the alcohol in vanilla extract would interfere with the living stuff that remains in your strained kefir.

For amount of milk, I read 7-8 times the amount of
your grain. I'd do no more than a cup to start with, but I'm new at this too......just going by what I've read.

Oops, just realized Ernie had replied while I was typing. I'd trust his opinion on the vanilla!

 

[AndreaS]

I bet vanilla and Ginger would be good together, Maybe in a smoothie with mango and banana!

 

[emarble]

Quote:
I'm pretty sure you want to wait to add any flavorings until after you have removed the kefir grains, and let the flavors steep while its ripening. I don't know however, if the alcohol in vanilla extract would interfere with the living stuff that remains in your strained kefir.

For amount of milk, I read 7-8 times the amount of
your grain. I'd do no more than a cup to start with, but I'm new at this too......just going by what I've read.

Oops, just realized Ernie had replied while I was typing. I'd trust his opinion on the vanilla!

Andrea
Hi that is quite ok every opinion is valuable and important here and all suggestion! The alachol in the vanilla will be fine as real kefir contains a certain amount of alc anyway so all that it can do is make it better!! I am going to add some to this batch that I am growing tonight and also going to split off the orange and cinn and put half with vainilla and let it set for a couple of days and do a taste test on it!! I also bought some frozen fruit and going to try it! I have really gotten used to the taste of it and kinda like it! Like I said the longer you make it the better it taste and 50/ 50 is a little too much

Ernie

 

[emarble]

Quote:
Featherbaby It Will be FIne: The Vanilla in the aging Kefir in the fridge will be fine! The first couple of batches you will probably want to give to the chickens (IT will be fine for them )as it takes time for the grains to adjust to the New Milk that they are getting so don't be discouraged just keep trying and IT WILL BE FINE! For your first mixture with 2 tablespoonsof grains us 2 cups of milk and in 24 hours strain Put your grains back in the same Jar (DO NOT RINSE THE FIRST FEW TIMES) add 2 cups of milk and do the same again! About the 4th time strain use a clean jar or wash that one and put the grains back in it and add 3 cups of milk! About day 4 try it and see what the taste is! ALways stir before straining this mixes the whey and the culture and makes straining easier!! If you ever have Problems you can always PM or email me and I'll help!!

Be brave and experiment You can't kill the Kefir by adding normal foods and spices while aging in the refrigerator just don't add anything while you have the grains in it!!

Ernie

 

[WisconsinChickenWhisperer]

What an interesting thread! I've been following it since it started. I already make my own yogurt, but had never tried Kefir before, so I bought some at the store. It took a little getting used the taste-a little tart-but by the time I finished my first 6 oz glass, I was hooked! So, I found this on Ebay last night: seems like a reasonable deal, plus they selll organic loose teas, and any Kefir or Kombacha equipment (strainers and the like) that you may be looking for. This auction runs for 27 days, and is for both Kefir grains and a Kombacha mushroom w/starter tea:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...akeTrack=true&ssPageName=VIP:watchlink:top:en

Hope the link works!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Thanks Wis. great thread.

 

[emarble]

Well I am embarking on a new Journey! (Not really) I am experimenting new things with the Kefir is what I am up to much to the dismay of my wife (I have almost taken over the Fridge) I have 4 quart jars of Kefir aging in the fridge 1 with Ginger 1 with orange peel/cinnamon/vanilla extract 1 with just vanilla and 1 with agave nectar! OK so I am a rebel and don't believe the only use cane sugar thing! The orange peel and cinnamon was not bad but thought I'd try something different so I added Vanilla (Didn't have a vanilla bean so i just added Van Extract OK) Besides Featherbaby wanted to know so I'll try it first and see so I can report on it (Always the adventurer LOL)

Ernie

 

[Miss Lydia]

That sounds so good, I just had some keifer with strawberries, not homemade though, I sure do want to try this though. The vanilla sounds yummy

 

[emarble]

Something That I failed to mention earlier was that the aging the Kefir in the Fridge actually hasa mellowing effect! It takes the bite out of the Kefir and makes it much more pallatable!! It just keeps getting better and better! I am going to try the cheese receipt though It sounds really great! I am hoping that it has a taste similar to Chieve!! I Love Goat Cheese Mmmmmmmm!!

Ernie