Recycle your juiced veggies!

Summer and Mother Nature courtesy of my Local Farmers Market is cranking out the Fresh, Organic Produce in overdrive. Proverbs31Woman recently got me thinking about ways to make my produce last longer and avoiding food waste. I started considering all the fruits and veggies I buy, especially carrots, kale, apples, stone fruits and peppers (sorry that was a little drool on the keyboard). These goodies mostly go to support a new juicing habit I started with the encouragement and great recipes from a good friend of mine back in Mississippi and after seeing the documentary "Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead". Turns out most children and adults in the US don't get enough fruits and veggies, and with my sons Autism based sensory challenges I have a VERY hard time getting him to eat these foods. So ... I decided we would invest in a juicer.


In case you have never juiced FYI : It is EXPENSIVE and time consuming . . . but it is worth it !

1. I had to hold a garage sale to afford our new juicer Omega 8006

2. It requires lots of fruit and veggies (4 carrots, 2 peaches, piece of ginger + 2 oranges = 8oz of juice)

3. It requires time to wash, cut and juice all those fruits and veggies.

4. You have a lot of left over skin, peels and pulp.

Now it was #4 on my list that got me thinking. I want to use as much of that expensive produce as possible ... so I gathered up some of my favorite recipes from my kitchen and around the web.

Check back soon for some of my favorite ways to make those leftovers really "a peel-ing ".

Kefir and Community

I've been making a lot of Water Kefir these days. I know your thinking okay...?! 
Water Kefir, how and why would you make Water Kefir? You've seen Commercial Milk based Kefir in the refrigerated section at the store and you know it's healthy but what are the benefits of the new Water Kefir stuff? Well I am by NO means an authority but here is a simple run down:

1. It's NOT milk based = that means Great probiotics without dairy.
2. It's simple = Water and Sugar plus minerals or fruit.
3. Great for your digestion = Kefir will jump start your healthy summer plans. 

There are wonderful quick tutorials available here Flavored Kefir in under 2 minutes and Kefir basics a little more in depth and I would encourage anyone with questions to check these out.

My personal recipe both pretty simple and a little different than both videos:

2 Tbsp Organic Cane Sugar
6 Tbsp Water Kefir Grains
1 Pint Filtered Water
1/16 tsp Organic Dulse leaf Granules

I use a Zero water pitcher to filter our tap water. Mix the sugar and water and warm in the microwave 15 to 20 seconds. I then add the Dulse to replace minerals removed by filtering and last add the Kefir. A little cloth or paper towel over the lid add your canning ring and allow to ferment for 2-3 days. Uuummm!

Important FYI :

DON'T USE METAL SPOONS OR STRAINERS ... Kefir Grains HATE Metal !
Water & Milk Kefir grains aren't the same ... Water Grains make Water Kefir !

Please feel free to contact me to share recipes or grains. 

Happy, Healthy, Bubbly Summer !