Kefir. Kefir is weird.

I first heard about Kefir through a friend who had grains to give away because she was moving.  And she was cute and fit and fun and funny.  And I thought, Kefir must be the same as her, why would it be any different?!  I researched it and thought - DUH!  That's awesome!  I need to get me some of that! It's good for you in so many ways, primarily to me it was the helping to regulate blood sugar AND the probiotic part.

  Well, I was lazy and didn't get the grains from her before she left.  BUT then I saw the local Farmer's Market sold a couple different versions.  I thought on it for a good few months, ok, like 9.  Then, one fine Saturday morn, I jumped in.  I made the investment in the Milk Kefir Grains, not fully understanding what I as getting myself in to, but committed because of all the wonderful health benefits - primarily because my Hubby would benefit from it also!  

I jumped right in and gave it a go.  Here's instructions.  The photo on the left is about 2-3 days in to the Reactivation process from dehydrated grains.  It took a good 5 days for it to start really making Kefir.  The photo on the right was about 5-6 days in.  

When I tried Kefir the first time, it wasn't too bad.  But it was barely even a spoonful of a taste.  The hubs took a wiff of it and about passed out.  (It really doesn't smell that bad!  Just not what you're expecting a Milk product to taste/smell like - yeast!)  When I've tried to drink it plain, I. just.  cant.   I'm trying though.  I really am.

Here's the things that have worked successfully:
Instant pudding - substituting SOME of the milk, no more than half.
Mac N' Cheese - the milk portion
Bread recipes
Pancakes
Mug cakes
SMOOTHIES, endless smoothies.

And when you let your kefir sit out too long, it turns in to cheese.  And I've put that cheese in pastas and burritos so far, both successful.

Here are some more recent pictures of my Kefir.  It's a lot more than a spoonful!  It's been getting bigger since week 6.  I'm excited to share more grains with family and friends!

I don't know how to say this part, but it turned my baby's poo bright green. I'm nursing my 15 month old still. and I read it was beneficial to the baby also!  The night after the first time I had it, she went #2.  and I honestly don't know how to describe it without sharing the picture.  SO, if you don't want to see a picture of bright green baby poo, DO NOT SCROLL DOWN.  You've been forewarned.  But, all I can think was that kefir did it's job!  She's had a healthy colon for a while!  My hubby too!

 and there you have it.