Kefir - A Whole New Adventure

It looks like cauliflower but it is loaded with all sorts of good bacteria for you.  A friend of mine who is having similar kidney problems suggested that I started looking into taking kefir. I know you can buy kefir in the store, but I am always leery of anything "store bought" and you know HOW I love making anything on my own.

So off to the Internet I trotted and, lo and behold, I found a woman in Indiana that was sharing her kefir grains for the price of postage.  A new adventure was born.

"Growing" kefir is so easy!!!   The picture above are live kefir grains.  As I said above, they look like cauliflower.  All you do is dump the grains into a clean mason jar, fill the jar about 3/4 full with good whole milk (I am using goat's milk since that is all I have), put the lid on the jar

and let the jar set out on your counter or some place relatively warm for about 12 to 24 hours.  When you see the grains floating at the top, it is time to strain the kefir into a separate bowl and start a new batch (i.e., put the grains into a clean mason jar and fill with milk).  The kefir is the "fermented" milk.

I usually pour the kefir into a half gallon mason jar and store that in my refrigerator.  The consistency is similar to buttermilk.  In fact, you can use kefir in place of buttermilk in any of your recipes.

I have just touched the tip of the iceberg with kefir.  Stay tuned for more recipes and ideas about using kefir.  If you are interested in obtaining some of my grains, please send me an email at BDGoats@yahoo.com.  I will only charge you for the postage ($6.85).

My Mother-iin-Law's Macaroni & Cheese Recipe - the best!!!

This is the best macaroni and cheese recipe you will have ever tasted and it is so easy!!  You can whip this up in a matter of minutes (well, not counting the time it takes to cook the macaroni!)

Preheat oven to 350

Cook 1 pound of elbow macaroni according to the directions on the box.  Drain.

Put 1/2 of the macaroni in a large baking dish.

Sprinkle with salt and flour and dot with butter.

Place sliced Colby Longhorn cheese on top of macaroni.

Repeat this for the second layer (below is a picture of the beginning second layer)

I didn't have the Colby longhorn cheese, so I just used regular Colby cheese, don't think that will make much of a difference.

Crush Ritz crackers on top and dot with more butter

Fill the dish with milk (about 1/2 gallon)

Bake for 30 to 45 minutes. until the top is brown.

This is the BEST macaroni and cheese you will EVER have. 

ENJOY!!