Chani's Kimchi

I use the recipe from Nourishing Traditions as a guide, but pretty much use whatever I have on hand that I think might go well in the mix. Most of the time I end up making sauerkraut, because I'm lazy when it comes to grating carrot, which really makes the kimchi in my opinion. Sauerkraut is simply cabbage, whey, salt and caraway seeds. Sometimes I add a little garlic to spice it up a bit. Jono enjoys it with his eggs in the morning and the kids like it on salads too. But they all beg me for kimchi, and so it has become a bit of a treat in our house! Here is my (very loose) recipe.

Channi's Kimchi

1 head of cabbage (small, or half if it's anything like the giant monster cabbages that are growing around here lately!)
3 or 4 grated carrots (and someone to grate them for you if your lucky)
1-2 Tbs grated fresh ginger
2 cloves of garlic, sliced and diced
a pinch of cayenne pepper (more if you like HOT)
4-5 Tbs whey (mine comes from raw kefir cream cheese)
1 Tbs sea salt

(radishes go nicely in this too)

Ok, so the first thing it remember is use plastic or wooden or ceramic bowls and utensils, not metal. The salts and fermentation will corrode it. Metal knives are fine to chop but once everything is in, I use the end of my rolling pin to pound the juices out. So get all the ingredients (except the whey) in a large plastic bowl and pound away! You want to release as much juice as possible, and then add in the whey. Start packing the kimchi into a glass jar (like in the picture, or one with a screw on lid would be fine) using the rolling pin, or your (clean) hand to squish it all down. You want the juices to rise to the top and cover the mixture. Once it's all in, leave about an inch or so on the top, because it will expand a bit during fermentation, and close the lid. Leave it on the bench for 2-3 days, not in direct sunlight, and then enjoy!

A frugal (and fun!) way to buy nuts

At this time of year (post xmas) there are whole nuts galore for sale in the supermarkets! I picked up a bag for $2.50 that was at least twice the price before the day. All you need is a nutcracker and a few little willing hands and you have lovely nuts straight from the shell for a fraction of the price of the ones you buy pre-shelled in the packets!

Raw kefir cream cheese

This is one of the easiest (and most delicious!) raw things you can do in your kitchen. All you need is kefir, a linen cloth and some kind of flavouring should you desire.

Kefir some milk, at least 1 litre is probably a good quantity. When it is ready, line a plastic or ceramic bowl with a clean linen cloth (teatowel size). You can use cheesecloth or cotton, both work just as well. Pour kefir into cloth and then gather the corners together and tie up with a piece of string or an elastic band. I then tie the bundle to a cupboard handle and let the whey drip down into the bowl. This takes about 24 hours. When it is dry, strape the cream cream from the cloth and store in a plastic container in the fridge. I stir in sea salt, cracked pepper and chives! Serve on toast, with crackers or just on it's own...it is marvelous!

You can drink the whey, or use it in recipes in place of stock or water, for lacto-fermenting vegetables, making ricotta cheese or as a sourdough starter. Sometimes I have a problem with bugs getting into the whey (especially in summer) so I generally refrigerate the bulk of the whey before I go to bed at night and then give anything extra I find in the morning to the pets or chickens and ducks (they don't mind the bugs!)

I learned all about kefir cream cheese from Abby Eagle at Rejoice in Life

Gluten Free Rasberry Almond Cake

 This is truly delicious and ridiculously easy! I made a cream cheese icing from kefir cream cheese (recipe for that to follow soon!)

Recipe from 4 ingredient Gluten Free

225g almond meal
2 cups frozen rasberries, thawed and pureed
6 eggs
1 cup sugar (I use less, like about half)

beat eggs and sugar together until fluffy, add almond meal and rasberries. Stir in well, pour into prepared baking tin, bake for 1 hour at 160C. When cool ice.

Cream cheese icing - 1 cup (or less, depending on what you have on hand) cream cheese, 2T sifted icing sugar, squirt lemon juice. Spread over cake, refrigerate until ready to eat!

Coconut Oil

 There are many health benefits associated with adding organic coconut oil to one's diet. I use coconut oil to fry eggs and even put a little in my home made cat food for our kitties. I have been using it as a moisturiser for my face for about 3 years and I love it so much! Here are some interesting facts from The Coconut Research Centre about the use of coconut, in one form or another, in our diets.

Coconut In Traditional Medicine
People from many diverse cultures, languages, religions, and races scattered around the globe have revered the coconut as a valuable source of both food and medicine. Wherever the coconut palm grows the people have learned of its importance as a effective medicine. For thousands of years coconut products have held a respected and valuable place in local folk medicine.
In traditional medicine around the world coconut is used to treat a wide variety of health problems including the following: abscesses, asthma, baldness, bronchitis, bruises, burns, colds, constipation, cough, dropsy, dysentery, earache, fever, flu, gingivitis, gonorrhea, irregular or painful menstruation, jaundice, kidney stones, lice, malnutrition, nausea, rash, scabies, scurvy, skin infections, sore throat, swelling, syphilis, toothache, tuberculosis, tumors, typhoid, ulcers, upset stomach, weakness, and wounds.

Coconut In Modern Medicine
Modern medical science is now confirming the use of coconut in treating many of the above conditions. Published studies in medical journals show that coconut, in one form or another, may provide a wide range of health benefits. Some of these are summarized below:

• Kills viruses that cause influenza, herpes, measles, hepatitis C, SARS, AIDS, and other illnesses.
• Kills bacteria that cause ulcers, throat infections, urinary tract infections, gum disease and cavities, pneumonia, and gonorrhea, and other diseases.
• Kills fungi and yeasts that cause candidiasis, ringworm, athlete’s foot, thrush, diaper rash, and other infections.
• Expels or kills tapeworms, lice, giardia, and other parasites.
• Provides a nutritional source of quick energy.
• Boosts energy and endurance, enhancing physical and athletic performance.
• Improves digestion and absorption of other nutrients including vitamins, minerals, and amino acids.
• Improves insulin secretion and utilization of blood glucose.
• Relieves stress on pancreas and enzyme systems of the body.
• Reduces symptoms associated with pancreatitis.
• Helps relieve symptoms and reduce health risks associated with diabetes.
• Reduces problems associated with malabsorption syndrome and cystic fibrosis.
• Improves calcium and magnesium absorption and supports the development of strong bones and teeth.
• Helps protect against osteoporosis.
• Helps relieve symptoms associated with gallbladder disease.
• Relieves symptoms associated with Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and stomach ulcers.
• Improves digestion and bowel function.
• Relieves pain and irritation caused by hemorrhoids.
• Reduces inflammation.
• Supports tissue healing and repair.
• Supports and aids immune system function.
• Helps protect the body from breast, colon, and other cancers.
• Is heart healthy; improves cholesterol ratio reducing risk of heart disease.
• Protects arteries from injury that causes atherosclerosis and thus protects against heart disease.
• Helps prevent periodontal disease and tooth decay.
• Functions as a protective antioxidant.
• Helps to protect the body from harmful free radicals that promote premature aging and degenerative disease.
• Does not deplete the body’s antioxidant reserves like other oils do.
• Improves utilization of essential fatty acids and protects them from oxidation.
• Helps relieve symptoms associated with chronic fatigue syndrome.
• Relieves symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (prostate enlargement).
• Reduces epileptic seizures.
• Helps protect against kidney disease and bladder infections.
• Dissolves kidney stones.
• Helps prevent liver disease.
• Is lower in calories than all other fats.
• Supports thyroid function.
• Promotes loss of excess weight by increasing metabolic rate.
• Is utilized by the body to produce energy in preference to being stored as body fat like other dietary fats.
• Helps prevent obesity and overweight problems.
• Applied topically helps to form a chemical barrier on the skin to ward of infection.
• Reduces symptoms associated the psoriasis, eczema, and dermatitis.
• Supports the natural chemical balance of the skin.
• Softens skin and helps relieve dryness and flaking.
• Prevents wrinkles, sagging skin, and age spots.
• Promotes healthy looking hair and complexion.
• Provides protection form damaging effects of ultraviolet radiation form the sun.
• Helps control dandruff.
• Does not form harmful by-products when heated to normal cooking temperature like other vegetable oils do.
• Has no harmful or discomforting side effects.
• Is completely non-toxic to humans.

See this Research link to read some of the published studies regarding the above mentioned uses of coconut products.