Hi Sweet Friends, Hope you will give Milk Kefir a try. It's my all time favorite form of cultured dairy. If you have any questions, please leave them here in the comments. I'm happy to help!! Love, Mary
Hi Mary, I know I'm late to the party, but I'm vegan and wonder if I could use this to ferment nut milks? Any info on that? Per your water kefir video I am going to try that to make some flavored water drinks, maybe ginger or grape etc. Thanks for always being so informed and upbeat!
@@sarahdee374 have you heard of Cultured Food Life? look up Donna Schwenk. she has alot of different videos/info on making kefir from non-dairy sources! Good luck on your journey!
I like blending my kefir with some berries (blueberries and strawberries work well), or fresh/frozen mango, to give it a flavor "pop". Add sugar, or Stevia if you prefer your drink to be sweeter. It's so yummy! Also, if you take the whey out of a double fermented batch, you can put 2 to 4 tablespoons of whey in homemade mayonnaise. (The amount should be higher for super large batches of mayo.) After you've thoroughly mixed in the whey, leave the mayo out on the counter for 4-6 hours to ferment. Not only does this ferment your mayo, but now instead of needing to be used in 2 days, the mayo will stay fresh in your refrigorator for 2 months. (I use a Sharpie to write the date I made the mayo on the jar.) This mayo tastes awesome and is MUCH cheaper than buying it off a grocery store shelf. Enjoy!
Hey Mary! Russian viewer here! In our country kefir seems to have been a staple off-the-shelf beverage since forever. In soviet times it was pretty much the default cultured dairy drink. A bottle of kefir and a French loaf used to be a typical students’ lunch on a budget. However in the 90s yoghurt entered the market and stole kefir’s glory. It’s really curious how in the US kefir is seemingly a rather new “hip” healthy product. In Russia it feels quite the opposite: cool kids drink yoghurt while kefir looks like a boring old-fashioned “your grandma’s” choice :) I really like your videos. Thank you for inspiring me to rediscover kefir as a DIY project!
People look at me weird when I make and talk about kefir. No one really knows much about it. I feel like in US we don't drink probiotics the way we should. Most countries have probiotics with their meals
I recently saw a video blog from an American going round a Russian supermarket. He showed the fridge with a Kefir drinks in it. I was amazed at all the different Kefir products. I can’t get it in my local supermarkets in Southern Scotland. Maybe I’d have better luck in the cities. I’ve just received a starter pack which I got on line so I’m going to give it a go.
Hello @Mags Wilson 👋 I'm for essex in the UK 😊 In the main big supermarket chains tesco, Sainsbury's etc they have it on the shelves but it very expensive or weirdly highly processed. Were did you get you but the starter from please? They seem to be quite expensive. Take care
I'm American, first time I ever had kefir was buying it by mistake in Latvia, I was looking for cream for coffee at a grocery store lol Well, its not good in coffee but loved it otherwise! I make it now, quite a bit cheaper than store bought here in the US.
Mary, my orthopedic surgeon recommended knee replacement surgery last year. I hesitated and started making my own kefir 6 months ago. As a result , inflammation to my knee was reduced to the point that I no longer had pain. The surgeon told me last month that he no longer recommended surgery. 10 out of 10 would recommend making kefir. Be sure to ripen it for an extra 24 hours to get the most out of it.
I have the same knee problem and I have been really fatigued recently.I changed the milk in my grains for the first time yesterday and made a protein shake with the old milk. I did exercises today and then changed my milk again and made a protein shake. After drinking this i realised i had had the energy to do some exercise after months of feeling shattered.It could only of been the Kefir milk as nothing else has changed.This is amazing 👏🇬🇧🙏
Great inspiration! I have ongoing work injuries from 4 years ago. Pain has kept me in fear and from exercising regularly and living a normal life. I exercised other day after not exercising for a few weeks. I did SO MUCH more than I could normally do with no pain at all. I've been Wondering why that is but after reading your stories, I'm thinking now that its gotta be bc of the kefir I've been drinking the past week. Thank you so much for your stories! Just what I needed 😊 My outlook has improved!
@@ToastingMyJam360 it’s fantastic isn’t it Shannon. I have been making Bulgarian yoghurt also and ACV. Tomorrow i plan to do sauerkraut, I’m not really a fan of it but i really need to heal myself as i don’t want a knee replacement and i will never get rid of my COPD but i hope it won’t get worse or my cataracts either 🙏
@@iluv2worship thank you but i live in UK,and at the moment it is free on NHS (it’s not free really as we’ve paid in all our lives)myself for 52 years.i have an appointment in a few days for an eye test so hoping they are the same or better 🙏🙏🙏.Have a lovely day 💐 UPDATE. My left eye is slightly worse, but i have only been on kefir a short while,feel better and lots more energy 🙋🏻♀️🙏
Mary, I think the metal reacting to fermented foods came about when so much of our kitchen utensils were made from Aluminum. Cultured foods do react to aluminum, but I have not found any reaction at all with stainless steel. I make kefir regularly and have for many years. I also use a canning jar and plastic lid and I use a stainless steel spoon and have never had any problems with it. I wish more people knew about kefir and how healthy it is. It is really a superfood. Thank you for the video.
Hi Donna!! You hit the nail on the head - it's the aluminum!! I am so glad you like kefir!! I love it too - and you are right - it really is a superfood!! I like water kefir too and am making a video about that now. I think it is so much better - and easier - than kombucha. I don't like dealing with the socby!! It can become like a little tire!! LOL!! Thanks for visiting and commenting!! Love, Mary
you'r such a warm and lovely person, i really enjoy watching your videos and learn a lot! i never knew you can sift the grains and store them in water( great tip). At one point i was making so much kefir, too much to drink it all.so i stopped making it. but thanks to you i'am going to start again.
Rebeca an - Hi Rebeca, Thank you SO much for the kind words!! You made my day!! I am so happy to hear that you will be making kefir again!! Love, Mary❤️😘❤️ Oh!! And I just edited this to add...If enjoy making other traditional foods, I have a playlist of my videos titled "Mastering the Basics of Traditional Real Foods Cooking". It's a series of 15 detailed videos that covers How to Make Bone Broth, Cultured Dairy, Ferments, Sourdough Starter (my foolproof stater), Sourdough Bread, and How to Soak and Sprout Grains to Make your own Sprouted Flour at Home. You can search for it on my main UA-cam home page if you scroll down. (Sorry to not put a direct link but I don't think YT likes us to put links in comments.) Please let me know if you have any questions. I'm so happy to help! And I’m so glad you’re here!! Love, Mary
I am drinking Kefir every evening for four years now. It's so delicious and best of all very healthy! My joints are much less painful and my digestion works like a clockwork.
I just bought a bottle of Kiefer at the store for the first time and drank it in and within 40 minutes I went to the bathroom wonderful which I had wonderful for months and months then about less than 12 hours I like I haven’t had energy for like two years seems and all of a sudden I had to get up on a high deck and usually I crawl to get up struggle to stand up but BUT all of a sudden I jumped up on that deck like nothing then I know there’s something great about this stuff I was in shock and still am I’m drinking it every day for the past two days and Expecting for great results for the future
Mary, I love watching your videos! You are amazing! My husband and I have been drinking kefir for a couple of years in fruit smoothies. We love it that way. I have also tried the kefir cheese and whey sodas on occasion. I find kefir is so forgiving of how you make it. When I don’t need to make more, I just store it in the refrigerator in milk and I don’t change it before fermenting. Of course it’s only in the fridge a few days. Once, however, I left home for over a month when my dad was ill and I thought my kefir would surely be dead. When I got home, I put fresh milk on the grains and started fermenting. After two or three times, it was back up to speed and going strong. I have also over fermented, but just shake it up and strain it. If it’s a little tart, you never know in a smoothie. Also, I have a straining tip that I really like. I use a silicone baster instead of a spoon to separate the grains. It’s gentle and cleans the grains up nicely. Thanks again for your wonderful videos!
Hi Mary xxx How long do the grains last before needing to be thrown away? I have just found your channel and I'm binge watching your videos from the beginning. I'm so glad to find you as your videos are a nice long playing time and you are so sweet and I'm very grateful too as I'm 43 years old female and I'm in the UK. I've never been taught anything in how to cook, keep a house, how to wear make up or anything as my mum isnt/wasn't that type of mum. Her mum never taught her anything either, I had a stroke at 29yrs old and I now live on my own and have carers coming in and I'm fed up with either being offered cereal or toast of instant noodles as they are quick to make even though the carer is allocated here for 30mins a time they never stay anymore than 10mins (I have to pay all my disability payment and that was meant for me to get any medication, supplements, specialist foods I need as I've got many digestive and health problems. But now I'm paying it to carers that don't care) I've had enough and trying to understand what food is and what I should eat, but find it hard as I have ibs, celiac disease so I've around your channel and you are gently teaching me how to live. I'm ever so grateful xxx 🤗❤ This kefir is very interesting. take care xx
You NEVER throw them away. They get better and better ove the years, and they also get more numerous. Then you divide them up and you have two batches.
I am so glad that I am not the only person binge watching Mary's videos. I have made my own yogurt for a number of years. As well as recently learned making kombucha and no knead bread. I have a dear friend who has gotten me into fermentation as well. She is excited to share her knowledge about the process with me. So between my friend and Mary I'm becoming a ferment enthusiast. Mary's Italian pickles are my next project. And I'm excited to get my kefir grains next week.
Hi Mary, I use a stainless steel tea ball on a chain for my kefir grains. Makes it eazy peazy to retrieve the grains. I reuse it several times before washing the tea ball too. I have never had a negative outcome or any problems at all.
The traditional food community is so lovely, with both sharing their knowledge and Keifer grains, kombucha scobies and even seeds. 💕 so wonderful. Lol ‘ thanks Mum, I don’t drink’ oh bless him 😂 I had no idea you could dehydrate the grains, what great information 💕
Hi Mary. I will give milk kefir a try. Since a couple of weeks I make bread and yogurt by myself. I love your videos, because I learned so much. God bless you and your family. Greetings from Germany from a huge fan of yours. 😘👋
Mary I am watching your videos from Colombia, South América and I am learning so much. Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge and wisdom to improve people's life. God bless you Mary.
Can't wait to make kefir, signed in for your cream cheese, and just kept watching. You are full of joy and enthusiasm, it seems in the last kefir video you had a hard time containing the joy, it was bubbling over, just like the kefir!!! I am grinning joy is contagious.
Have you tried buttermilk yet? I love making it because it's easier than kefir. I use the yogurt function in my instant pot. You don't need to use a machine to make it. It just makes the process faster. I am looking forward to trying to make cottage cheese with it.
Yes, I found that while I used metal my grains weren't growing (duplicating), but when I transitioned to plastic they started growing amazingly. So, I find that they prefer plastic.
Celeste Binus - Thanks so much for visiting. I have heard some folks say that. Glad you found it to be the case and your grains started to grow. BTW - Do you enjoy making other traditional foods in addition to cultured dairy? If so, I have a playlist of some of my videos titled "Mastering the Basics of Traditional Nutrient Dense Foods Cooking". It's a series of 15 detailed videos that covers How to Make Bone Broth, Cultured Dairy, Ferments, Sourdough Starter (my foolproof stater), Sourdough Bread, Soaked and Sprouted Nuts and Beans, and How to Soak and Sprout Grains to Make your own Sprouted Flour at Home. You can watch it here: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U3b4eu0QraZReKlGzA11h3y.html And please share the playlist with any other folks you think might be interested in learning about these types of things. I’m passionate about the book Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon (of the Weston A Price Foundation) and want to help as many people as I can learn how to make Traditional “Nutrient Dense” Foods who may not be able to afford the online programs that have a cost associated with them. Please let me know if you have any questions. I'm so happy to help! And I’m SO glad you’re here!! Love and God Bless, Mary❤️😘❤️ PS - are you in our FB group? It's called Mary's Nest Modern Pioneers. Come join us! We have a lot of fun chatting about Traditional Foods.
@@MarysNest , thanks for your reply! I liked your Facebook page and subscribed your chanel. I'm venturing into this new (to me, otherwise very old) way of life. I'm growing my own garden and making cheese and butter from grassfed raw milk I manage to get at a farm nearby. I feel very blessed! You're are doing a wonderful job spreading the knowledge of these ancient arts. I'm very grateful for your generosity. I watched your roasted chicken video and now I'm dreaming of doing it sometime soon. Blessings on your new week❣️🌻
Hi Mary, I have enjoyed watching your videos. You are a great teacher. I wanted to buy grass fed milk for my kefir but all the ones in my store in California that were grass fed were also ultra pasteurized. Also most of the organic milk was also ultra pasteurized. I read it shouldn’t be used for kefir. What is your opinion. Thank you, Kim
Thank YOU!!! If you enjoy making Traditional Foods, be sure to head over to my UA-cam channel’s home page where I share lots of playlists of videos that I think you will enjoy. Here is the link: UA-cam.com/MarysNest Plus, I have a playlist of some of my videos titled "Mastering the Basics of Traditional Nutrient Dense Foods Cooking". It's a series of 15 detailed videos that covers How to Make Bone Broth, Cultured Dairy, Ferments, Sourdough Starter (my foolproof stater), Sourdough Bread, Soaked and Sprouted Nuts and Beans, and How to Soak and Sprout Grains to Make your own Sprouted Flour at Home. You can watch it here: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U3b4eu0QraZReKlGzA11h3y.html And please share the playlist with any other folks you think might be interested in learning about these types of things. I’m passionate about the book Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon (of the Weston A Price Foundation) and want to help as many people as I can learn how to make Traditional “Nutrient Dense” Foods. And for more details on some of these subjects mentioned above…(and more), be sure to check out these detailed playlists: ➡️How to Make Bone Broth: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U0JFsTi2N7sHSpU-vBR04CH.html ➡️How to Make Fermented Vegetables: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U2EhVspEV5d4Xs2s4pcbHbr.html ➡️How to Make Fermented Condiments: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U0hCKYoMMBeVD-9bA6TckEj.html ➡️The Complete Guide to Sourdough: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U3NKN0GHvGCpiWNxcTefLof.html ➡️The Complete NO KNEAD BREAD Playlist: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U0ZnA45FadK99NvKZLKh-6N.html ➡️How to Make Bread with or without Yeast Playlist: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U344nspo8zPj3O3LfyNVHZS.html ➡️And if you are interested in learning about how to make various types of Homemade Dairy including Cultured Butter, Cottage Cheese, Sour Cream, Ricotta Cheese, and more, be sure check out this playlist: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U2R7u0Ri26HwdLMjUa4iJJX.html ➡️And to learn how to turn any of your bone broths or vegetable broths into BOUILLON POWDERS that are SHELF STABLE, be sure to check out this playlist: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U2j_-YEyQCtg807HLb4ulY6.html ➡️Also...If you enjoy making homemade pantry type items, you might enjoy my playlist: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U1MqC3YAw7ZRYjuL9FBGSwc.html where I show how to make Apple Cider Vinegar (see more info about this below), 10 Flavored Extracts including Vanilla Extract, 10 Seasoning Blends including Ranch Dressing Mix and Onion Soup Mix, 1- Minute Homemade Mayonnaise, Homemade Bouillon - and how to dehydrate it, Natural Food Colorings, Evaporated Milk, Condensed Milk, Preserved Citrus, Breadcrumbs, Croutons, and more! …And if you like the idea of making your own Apple Cider Vinegar as mentioned above…Be sure to check out the Apple Cider Vinegar Playlist: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U1QPA95O2-oOvxwtO-v3L4L.html which a 3-part series where I walk you through the entire 30-day process. And if you like making vinegar, I also have a Homemade Citrus Vinegar Playlist: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U3apQRTzhfQBkR_x0rb514U.html And I have one more vinegar video where I show how to make vinegar from Strawberry Scraps. You can watch it here: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U2M3dRA483q5KJ7JkJfn3fS.html ➡️And…Have you seen my playlist for making immune boosting foods and natural remedies including a Super Mineral Detox Broth? You can look through the playlist here: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U0p9nRAWldbyqYSbgwzARGd.html You may like some of these recipes. ➡️And if you are interested in how to make probiotic rich fermented drinks, here is my playlist of some fun drinks including How to Make Homemade Sodas, Mocktails, Drinking Vinegar, Homemade Energy Drinks, Switchel, Shrubs, and More: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U2w2-CiBrkNnZj_IIlqZc9h.html You may enjoy these videos. And if you are interested in learning how to make Kombucha and/or Water Kefir, I have a playlist which includes a Beginners Guide to Kombucha Making along with a video on making water kefir for beginners…which you can watch here: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U3YysV0OYOMsxsJuf_sxPTK.html ➡️And in the Modern Pioneering spirit…If you enjoy canning, or are interested in learning about canning, I have a playlist of my canning videos here which include step-by-step tutorials: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U3HJRCmwVAvBNS90WjifR1U.html ➡️FOR MY VIDEOS WITH A PRINTABLE RECIPE: Don’t forget to open the description under the video and scroll down till you see “RECIPE”. There will be a link there that will take you directly to the RECIPE on my website (MarysNest DOT com) that accompanies this video. Depending on what type of device you are watching the video on…To open the description under video, click the words “SHOW MORE”, or the title of the video, or the small downward pointing triangle arrow to the right of the video title. All of these should open the description. ➡️Oh…And here is my 2020 Channel Update for everything I have planned for this year: ua-cam.com/video/qjOJh8Cb_-k/v-deo.html Please let me know if you have any questions. I’m so happy to help! And also, let me know what other types of traditional food videos you would like to see me make. I’m SO glad you’re here!! Love and God Bless, Mary PS - Are you in our FB group? It’s called Mary’s Nest Modern Pioneers. The direct link can be found in the description under this video. Come join us! We have a lot of fun chatting about Traditional “Nutrient Dense Foods and it’s a great place to get questions answered.
@@MarysNest I immediately subscribed after discovering your channel a few months ago, and so thankful I did. You've been a joy to watch, especially during these times! Many blessings to you and your family.
Good day am ana from phils. Im so much interested in making kefir for myself. Iwas wondering how to start making kefir from scratch. Please lighten me here how to produce grains for myself. Much appreciated for the reply.
@@anamariamoscoso180 You can't produce grains by yourself. Kefir grains originated from the Northern Caucasus Mountains, where they evolved into being over a very long time of fermenting milk in animal skins. You can make more kefir from store-bought kefir by adding milk to some of it and leaving it to ferment. I'm not sure if you can repeat the process with the kefir you make.
I started adding kefir to my breakfast smoothies, and it really gives it a nice slight tangy/creamy taste. I’m not a fan of it alone, but in smoothies or mixed with some berries, oatmeal, cereal, etc. it’s actually pretty good!
Mary, thank you for the video and instructions. I used to make kefir and loved it but gave my grains away when we moved across the country. One question that I do have is could I use kefir as a substitution for cultured buttermilk? Specifically I use buttermilk in homemade pancakes and home baked goods. I'd love to hear your thoughts and thanks again!
Hi Irene, Yes, you can definitely use Kefir in place of buttermilk. BTW - Do you enjoy making traditional foods? If so, I have a playlist of some of my videos titled "Mastering the Basics of Traditional Nutrient Dense Foods Cooking". It's a series of 15 detailed videos that covers How to Make Bone Broth, Cultured Dairy, Ferments, Sourdough Starter (my foolproof stater), Sourdough Bread, Soaked and Sprouted Nuts and Beans, and How to Soak and Sprout Grains to Make your own Sprouted Flour at Home. You can watch it here: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U3b4eu0QraZReKlGzA11h3y.html And please share the playlist with any other folks you think might be interested in learning about these types of things. I’m passionate about the book Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon (of the Weston A Price Foundation) and want to help as many people as I can learn how to make Traditional “Nutrient Dense” Foods. And for more details on some of these subjects mentioned above…(and more), be sure to check out these detailed playlists: ➡️How to Make Bone Broth: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U0JFsTi2N7sHSpU-vBR04CH.html ➡️How to Make Fermented Vegetables: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U2EhVspEV5d4Xs2s4pcbHbr.html ➡️How to Make Fermented Condiments: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U0hCKYoMMBeVD-9bA6TckEj.html ➡️The Complete Guide to Sourdough: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U3NKN0GHvGCpiWNxcTefLof.html ➡️The Complete NO KNEAD BREAD Playlist: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U0ZnA45FadK99NvKZLKh-6N.html ➡️How to Make Bread with or without Yeast Playlist: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U344nspo8zPj3O3LfyNVHZS.html ➡️And if you are interested in learning about how to make various types of Homemade Dairy including Cultured Butter, Cottage Cheese, Sour Cream, Ricotta Cheese, and more, be sure check out this playlist: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U2R7u0Ri26HwdLMjUa4iJJX.html ➡️Also...If you enjoy making homemade pantry type items, you might enjoy my playlist: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U1MqC3YAw7ZRYjuL9FBGSwc.html where I show how to make Apple Cider Vinegar (see more info about this below), 10 Flavored Extracts including Vanilla Extract, 10 Seasoning Blends including Ranch Dressing Mix and Onion Soup Mix, 1- Minute Homemade Mayonnaise, Homemade Bouillon - and how to dehydrate it, Natural Food Colorings, Evaporated Milk, Condensed Milk, Preserved Citrus, Breadcrumbs, Croutons, and more! And if you like the idea of making your own Apple Cider Vinegar as mentioned above…Be sure to check out the Apple Cider Vinegar Playlist: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U1QPA95O2-oOvxwtO-v3L4L.html which a 3-part series where I walk you through the entire 30-day process. And if you like making vinegar, I also have a Homemade Citrus Vinegar Playlist: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U3apQRTzhfQBkR_x0rb514U.html And I have one more vinegar video where I show how to make vinegar from Strawberry Scraps. You can watch it here: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U2M3dRA483q5KJ7JkJfn3fS.html ➡️And…Have you seen my playlist for making immune boosting foods and natural remedies including a Super Mineral Detox Broth? You can look through the playlist here: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U0p9nRAWldbyqYSbgwzARGd.html You may like some of these recipes. ➡️And if you are interested in how to make probiotic rich fermented drinks, here is my playlist of some fun drinks including How to Make Homemade Sodas, Mocktails, Drinking Vinegar, Homemade Energy Drinks, Switchel, Shrubs, and More: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U2w2-CiBrkNnZj_IIlqZc9h.html You may enjoy these videos. And if you are interested in learning how to make Kombucha and/or Water Kefir, I have a playlist which includes a Beginners Guide to Kombucha Making along with a video on making water kefir for beginners…which you can watch here: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U3YysV0OYOMsxsJuf_sxPTK.html ➡️And in the Modern Pioneering spirit…If you enjoy canning, or are interested in learning about canning, I have a playlist of my canning videos here which include step-by-step tutorials: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U3HJRCmwVAvBNS90WjifR1U.html ➡️Oh…And here is my 2020 Channel Update for everything I have planned for this year: ua-cam.com/video/qjOJh8Cb_-k/v-deo.html Please let me know if you have any questions. I’m so happy to help! And also, let me know what other types of traditional food videos you would like to see me make. I’m SO glad you’re here!! Love and God Bless, Mary PS - Are you in our FB group? It’s called Mary’s Nest Modern Pioneers. The direct link can be found in the description under this video. Come join us! We have a lot of fun chatting about Traditional “Nutrient Dense Foods and it’s a great place to get questions answered.
Maple Hill’s grass-fed, whole-milk kefir is outstanding. But I do want to learn to make my own for when I can’t run out to one of the stores that sells good kefir. Thanks, Mary!
I have been adding 1 tablespoon of organic whole milk powder to 48 ounces of milk to make my yogurt thicker. I have read that you can add up to 3 tablespoons if you want it even thicker.
Hi Sue!! Thanks for visiting and commenting!! Please don't feel intimidated at all - It's so easy. When you give it a try - post pictures in our Mary's Nest Facebook Group and I can walk you though any questions/troubleshooting. You'll love it!! It's delicious!! Love, Mary
Would you get the same benefits from kefir if you added something to it to make it more palatable? Like some kind of flavoring extract and maybe Stevia for a sweetener? I’m new to all of this, so I really do need instruction on that. Thank you very much, Mary.
Mary sweetheart, I had to mention it, I used Maple Hill grass fed organic whole milk and Maple Hill organic grass fed plain kefir, my kefir came out as thick as sour cream, I used it to make ranch salad dressing, it is sooo delicious :)
Donna Schwenk says not to use ultra pasteurized milk? I am going to start making kefir again....i have to find some grains... and would love to use raw cows milk....
Mary I hope you reply I canot get my kefir to grow I am very unhappy I'm so sad my health is so bad * & I can't grow and multiply any kefir " I even used kefir milk to grow my kefir * I used milk and kefir they don't multiply well " I had two now I have 5 " simce the kefir milk is used * I keep them in the fridge if I leave them outside they want to mold" it terrifies me my kefir will become molded it gets a powder white looking mold * so kefir keeps such a long time In fridge& no mold spots " I don t want them molding on me * it molds when I use milk* a little green spot * I panicked and now use just kefir milk * I'm sort of trying to store them & multiply them for right now * Would they do better in fridge with a bread cloth? I have the lid on very lightly * please give me some ideas 💡 I would truly appreciate it *
So...How long do the grains keep. Also If I buy Milk kefir at the store the grains included? Ok I read more about these grains from the link you provided. and was well pleased with what I read so I ordered some. Thank you
I just discovered my children love unsweetened, plain kefir! It's a pretty big win, since my 2 year old is Simple Carb King lol he thought it was wonderful! A happy discovery since I'm trying to keep them gluten-free (I noticed my depression got worse when I go back on gluten, so we're experimenting as a family). Finally my picky eater will be getting something with protein, fat and probiotics! My older child is (and always has been) more adventurous (she loves kombucha, and cheers for veggies lol).
I heard you can get the kefir to be more effervescent if it's open to air (cheesecloth and lid lightly on but not screwed is probably best,) and conversely less effervescent with a completely closed lid. I'm not a fan of effervescence that much, so I'll be going with the latter.
Hi Drew, Wish I could but circumstances prevent me from enjoying that delightful bubbly! Enjoy one for me! And I'll toast you with my kefir. ;-) All the best.
Mary, I’m concerned that as you talk with the Kefir grains exposed in front of your mouth that they are being contaminated by oral bacteria, viruses, and saliva droplets. If this has been occurring over the decades that these grains have been in use, I fear that the grains you have shared with friends and family are just a conglomeration of your own oral microbes. You think my concerns are well founded or an over-reaction? It might be noted that I am a microbiologist by training.
Thanks for your great video again! I’ve been fermenting milk kefir grains for over 2 years, thanks to the gift of ‘grains’ from a friend! I belong to a world-wide Facebook group, where people can request cultures from their country of choice, for the cost of mailing (not allowed to sell them on this particular site. They also answer so many questions that people may have...so helpful! A search on Facebook may bring up these groups. I’ve learned from them, that you can freeze extra grains in a ziplock bag with powdered milk for future use or to send via mail. I use kefir milk in my fruit smoothies & family members get their probiotics without the taste bothering them. I enjoy the taste of the milk alone & is great at bedtime for its minerals as well. Keep spreading your wonderful knowledge.
My husband can't wait to drink this champagne of milk :) Thank you for sharing :) Here in Belgium you can buy all kinds of cultures to make milk products.
I bought Lifeway coconut kefir from the grocery store a few years ago and have always been interested in learning to make it. I have no idea whether it was started with coconut water or coconut milk or whether it was just milk kefir flavored with coconut. If you have any ideas about how I can recreate this, please let me know!
You can make coconut milk kefir with milk kefir grains. Just put them in coconut milk and wait for it to ferment. If it separates just give it a stir. Tastes nice!
I just watched a segment on the local news this morning about Lifeway. Their plant is in the town I grew up in. They talked about the health benefits. Now I want to try making it. Of course I looked at Mary’s videos and sure enough…she had a kefir vid. Hopefully I can find someone I know who makes it so I can get the grains.
Mary you have truly inspired me. I LOVE kefir, but when I made it in the past it didn’t agree with me. 😔 I was constipated a lot. But you’ve encouraged me to try again, particularly with the second ferment, as I don’t do very well with cold foods or drinks from the fridge. At least I know that way it will be room temperature, and will have more probiotics. Keep up the great work, and thank you so much.
I understand completely. Yes, I think the second ferment will help greatly. And yes, enjoy it at room temperature. Also, sometimes people can drink too much at one time. 4 ounces twice a day is a great place to get started. You can refrigerate what you don't drink and then just bring it back up to room temp when you are ready to drink the rest. Keep me posted. Love, Mary
@@MarysNest Uh, oh--as I mentioned above I just started making Kefir and drank a whole quart in one sitting this morning because I had another quart in the fridge. I hope my insides don't turn into cement!
Love your channel soooo much! I already make kefir from the freeze dried packets but I would love to buy some kefir grains from you 🙏 Ive learned so much from you. Thanks so much 🥰
Sonya Curti - Hi Sonya, Thank you so much for visiting and for the kind words!! Kefir grains are very easy to come by today. You can buy them right off of amazon. Isn’t that amazing!! Do you enjoy making other traditional foods? If so, I have a playlist of some of my videos titled "Mastering the Basics of Traditional Nutrient Dense Foods Cooking". It's a series of 15 detailed videos that covers How to Make Bone Broth, Cultured Dairy, Ferments, Sourdough Starter (my foolproof stater), Sourdough Bread, Soaked and Sprouted Nuts and Beans, and How to Soak and Sprout Grains to Make your own Sprouted Flour at Home. You can watch it here: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U3b4eu0QraZReKlGzA11h3y.html And please share the playlist with any other folks you think might be interested in learning about these types of things. I’m passionate about the book Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon (of the Weston A Price Foundation) and want to help as many people as I can learn how to make Traditional “Nutrient Dense” Foods. And for more details on some of these subjects mentioned above…(and more), be sure to check out these detailed playlists: ➡️How to Make Bone Broth: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U0JFsTi2N7sHSpU-vBR04CH.html ➡️How to Make Fermented Vegetables: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U2EhVspEV5d4Xs2s4pcbHbr.html ➡️How to Make Fermented Condiments: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U0hCKYoMMBeVD-9bA6TckEj.html ➡️The Complete Guide to Sourdough: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U3NKN0GHvGCpiWNxcTefLof.html ➡️And if you are interested in learning about how to make various types of Homemade Dairy including Cultured Butter, Cottage Cheese, and more be sure check out this playlist: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U2R7u0Ri26HwdLMjUa4iJJX.html ➡️Also...If you enjoy making homemade pantry type items, you might enjoy my playlist: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U1MqC3YAw7ZRYjuL9FBGSwc.html where I show how to make Apple Cider Vinegar, 10 Flavored Extracts including Vanilla Extract, 1- Minute Homemade Mayonnaise, Homemade Bouillon - and how to dehydrate it, Natural Food Colorings, Evaporated Milk, Condensed Milk, Preserved Citrus, and more! ➡️And…Have you seen my playlist for making immune boosting foods and natural remedies including a Super Mineral Detox Broth? You can look through the playlist here: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U0p9nRAWldbyqYSbgwzARGd.html You may like some of these recipes, especially at this time of year after all the heavy holiday eating! ➡️And if you are interested in how to make probiotic rich fermented drinks, here is my playlist of some fun drinks including How to Make Homemade Sodas, Mocktails, Drinking Vinegar, Homemade Energy Drinks, Switchel, Shrubs, and More: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U2w2-CiBrkNnZj_IIlqZc9h.html You may enjoy these videos. ➡️And in the Modern Pioneering spirit…If you enjoy canning, or are interested in learning about canning, I have a playlist of my canning videos here which include step-by-step tutorials: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U3HJRCmwVAvBNS90WjifR1U.html ➡️Oh…And here is my 2020 Channel Update for everything I have planned for this year: ua-cam.com/video/qjOJh8Cb_-k/v-deo.html Please let me know if you have any questions. I’m so happy to help! And also, let me know what other types of traditional food videos you would like to see me make. I’m SO glad you’re here!! Love and God Bless, Mary PS - Are you in our FB group? It’s called Mary’s Nest Modern Pioneers. Come join us! We have a lot of fun chatting about Traditional “Nutrient Dense Foods and it’s a great place to get questions answered.
I found another site that drained the whey, which intrigued me when you don't seem to. Is there any particular pro's or con's for either method? Does the whey just make it running or creamier? (I love thick cup kefir, and was told I was allergic to whey in 74 so stayed away from milk for years, until I was able to find organic whole milk, like on our dairy farm as a child, no more reactions to dairy products since)
Mary seems so happy in every video. I think all her traditional cooking gives her a balanced gut biome and increases her good mood and goodness. Keep rocking on Mary. Great video ma'am. :)
Hello Mary, i just joined your channel. I found you with the Sauer crout one. I have milk kefir grains and I have never used metal on them. One thing I've always done, is washed them with tap water. They are healthy but I've always wondered why they don't reproduce as fast. That might be the reason!!! So, from now on, I will avoid rinsing them with tap water and see how it makes them feel. Finally, I also love milk kefir. When I find that I need to slow down the production I just place them in the fridge and that keeps them in course but at a much slower pace. Regards from Queretaro, Mexico! 😊
Hi mary, good day to u After straining the cultured milk in bottles n kept into the fridge, how long can it stay in the fridge? Can't consume all in one day , that's why I do 2glasses a day. And everyday I hv to culture new.
Dear Mary, is Kefir similar in taste to buttermilk? I love buttermilk! To me, you can’t get anything any better. I also love your channel here and so appreciate your sharing your knowledge with all of us.
Hi Mari. What did I do wrong? My kefir after one day it is bobbling and not smooth. It’s like a vomit of bébé . It’s alcoholic . Two times I don’t know what to do please help me. Christine
Hi Christine, it’s difficult for me to know exactly because I’m not looking at it, however, homemade kefir isn’t super smooth and it does become bubbly and effervescent and can become mildly alcoholic. It might be fermenting very quickly if your kitchen is a bit on the warm side. Once you strain out the grains, you can give it a stir with a fork to help smooth it out. Try to ferment it in a cooler location and see if that helps. Love, Mary
Thank you so much for visiting! Glad you like the video! Do you enjoy making other traditional foods in addition to kefir? I have a playlist of my videos titled "Mastering the Basics of Traditional Nutrient Dense Foods Cooking". It's a series of 15 detailed videos that covers How to Make Bone Broth, Cultured Dairy, Ferments, Sourdough Starter (my foolproof stater), Sourdough Bread, and How to Soak and Sprout Grains to Make your own Sprouted Flour at Home. You can watch it here: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U3b4eu0QraZReKlGzA11h3y.html Please let me know if you have any questions. I'm so happy to help! And I’m so glad you’re here!! Love, Mary…PS - are you in our FB group? It's called Mary's Nest Modern Pioneers. Come join us! We have a lot of fun chatting about Traditional Foods.
Mary's Nest Thank you! I will do that! By the way, I really like the tile in your kitchen and working area. Your apron also brings an element of cheer to your kind, pleasant and informative videos. You have a gift of hospitality. Blessings to you!
TheGoodHeart1000 - Thank you SO much for all the kind words!! You made my day!! I live in a very old Texas Farm House. The man who built it was visiting Europe with his wife and fell in love with the Italian tile. When my husband and I bought the house many years ago, the island did not have any tile on it. I searched and searched for it and found 1 box in a store in Houston, TX!! I snapped it up and it was just enough to cover the island! Love, Mary❤️😘❤️
I've been making milk kerfir for about 6 weeks, so only a newbie, I started doing this because of you Mary, I sourced grains on the internet, but I dident know the milk I was using is called uht milk, so started with this milk, ive been drinking this milk for about ten yrs or more, well, it took just two days before I had kerfir, and it is the yummyest milk drink I've ever drank, I love it and everyday I wake up to a quart of milk kerfir, which I make lots of thing with, ive been making a cream cheese, and it's delish, so Thanku Mary, for putting me on the track of fermented foods, because of u, I also make, Apple cider vinegar, milk kerfir, water kerfir, kombucha, and sour dough breads, and fermented veges, im tryi g next bone broth, I have a lot health issue, and because of this goodness, in 6 weeks my Health has improved, at an incredible rate, I thanku so much.for your wonderful videos.🤗😁
Hello Mary, I have made my kefir for several years. Each time my grains make nice thick kefir, but my grains hardly grow at all. Why is that? By rights, they should be increasing but that is not happening. I would like to have extras. Any ideas?
I will have to say I tried Skim milk. Now that didn't work too well. I got two grains for free. One is a little bigger because I put it in heavy cream, the grains love fat. The skim milk was just mostly whey. 2% and whole works good. I keep a backup grain in the fridge. I just came across this video. I would like to multiply mine. The pressure sure builds up! Ilove to let mine sit and get so sour it's makes me want to do a little dance ;) Something else I tried was putting curdled milk into fresh milk without using grains. You definitely need to use the grains. :)
Hi Bill, Thanks so much for sharing all about your experiences. I so enjoy reading your comments. Yes, you really need the grains. And yes, to get them growing quickly, cream is the secret ingredient. Thanks for sharing!! Love, Mary
It was interesting to watch an older video of yours. You have gotten so much more confident infront of the camera! Was nice to learn more about Kefir :)
Love kifer and have been making it for many years. I put a good deal of pure cream in the jar with milk. When the grains multiply I divide and freeze the excess for friends or as a backup. To drink is wonderful as you say, but I often mix it with fresh fruit or frozen, blending it with a blender stick. Or put in in an ice-cream maker with a touch of honey. Putting it in popsicle moulds is my current passion! Love your cooking videos and recipes. I too have never had a problem with using stainless steel spoons or strainers. Rhonda from down-under!
Hi Rhonda, Sounds Wonderful!! Do you enjoy making other traditional foods? If so, I have a playlist of some of my videos titled "Mastering the Basics of Traditional Nutrient Dense Foods Cooking". It's a series of 15 detailed videos that covers How to Make Bone Broth, Cultured Dairy, Ferments, Sourdough Starter (my foolproof stater), Sourdough Bread, Soaked and Sprouted Nuts and Beans, and How to Soak and Sprout Grains to Make your own Sprouted Flour at Home. You can watch it here: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U3b4eu0QraZReKlGzA11h3y.html And please share the playlist with any other folks you think might be interested in learning about these types of things. I’m passionate about the book Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon (of the Weston A Price Foundation) and want to help as many people as I can learn how to make Traditional “Nutrient Dense” Foods. And for more details on some of these subjects mentioned above…(and more), be sure to check out these detailed playlists: ➡️How to Make Bone Broth: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U0JFsTi2N7sHSpU-vBR04CH.html ➡️How to Make Fermented Vegetables: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U2EhVspEV5d4Xs2s4pcbHbr.html ➡️How to Make Fermented Condiments: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U0hCKYoMMBeVD-9bA6TckEj.html ➡️The Complete Guide to Sourdough: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U3NKN0GHvGCpiWNxcTefLof.html ➡️The Complete NO KNEAD BREAD Playlist: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U0ZnA45FadK99NvKZLKh-6N.html ➡️How to Make Bread with or without Yeast Playlist: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U344nspo8zPj3O3LfyNVHZS.html ➡️And if you are interested in learning about how to make various types of Homemade Dairy including Cultured Butter, Cottage Cheese, Sour Cream, Ricotta Cheese, and more, be sure check out this playlist: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U2R7u0Ri26HwdLMjUa4iJJX.html ➡️Also...If you enjoy making homemade pantry type items, you might enjoy my playlist: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U1MqC3YAw7ZRYjuL9FBGSwc.html where I show how to make Apple Cider Vinegar (see more info about this below), 10 Flavored Extracts including Vanilla Extract, 10 Seasoning Blends including Ranch Dressing Mix and Onion Soup Mix, 1- Minute Homemade Mayonnaise, Homemade Bouillon - and how to dehydrate it, Natural Food Colorings, Evaporated Milk, Condensed Milk, Preserved Citrus, Breadcrumbs, Croutons, and more! And if you like the idea of making your own Apple Cider Vinegar as mentioned above…Be sure to check out the Apple Cider Vinegar Playlist: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U1QPA95O2-oOvxwtO-v3L4L.html which a 3-part series where I walk you through the entire 30-day process. And if you like making vinegar, I also have a Homemade Citrus Vinegar Playlist: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U3apQRTzhfQBkR_x0rb514U.html And I have one more vinegar video where I show how to make vinegar from Strawberry Scraps. You can watch it here: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U2M3dRA483q5KJ7JkJfn3fS.html ➡️And…Have you seen my playlist for making immune boosting foods and natural remedies including a Super Mineral Detox Broth? You can look through the playlist here: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U0p9nRAWldbyqYSbgwzARGd.html You may like some of these recipes. ➡️And if you are interested in how to make probiotic rich fermented drinks, here is my playlist of some fun drinks including How to Make Homemade Sodas, Mocktails, Drinking Vinegar, Homemade Energy Drinks, Switchel, Shrubs, and More: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U2w2-CiBrkNnZj_IIlqZc9h.html You may enjoy these videos. And if you are interested in learning how to make Kombucha and/or Water Kefir, I have a playlist which includes a Beginners Guide to Kombucha Making along with a video on making water kefir for beginners…which you can watch here: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U3YysV0OYOMsxsJuf_sxPTK.html ➡️And in the Modern Pioneering spirit…If you enjoy canning, or are interested in learning about canning, I have a playlist of my canning videos here which include step-by-step tutorials: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U3HJRCmwVAvBNS90WjifR1U.html ➡️Oh…And here is my 2020 Channel Update for everything I have planned for this year: ua-cam.com/video/qjOJh8Cb_-k/v-deo.html Please let me know if you have any questions. I’m so happy to help! And also, let me know what other types of traditional food videos you would like to see me make. I’m SO glad you’re here!! Love and God Bless, Mary PS - Are you in our FB group? It’s called Mary’s Nest Modern Pioneers. The direct link can be found in the description under this video. Come join us! We have a lot of fun chatting about Traditional “Nutrient Dense Foods and it’s a great place to get questions answered.
Mary's Nest Hey Mary, yes I do ferment! Love it. I forgot to mention in the last post that I always cover my kefir with a cotton fabric to allow the bacteria to work its magic. As for fermenting, my favourite is chopping finely the giant garlic we grow in the processor and fermenting it. So easy to pull a jar of that out of the fridge when cooking, and saves wastage too. Other things I ferment a lot is red capsicum, small cucumbers, beetroot (loved your post on that!), sauerkraut. Have tried other, but these seem to be my favourites. I’m going to try your carrots soon. Lately I’ve done a lot of dehydrating and am going to explore your posts on that. Keep ‘em coming, God bless...Rhonda.
Hi Mary, I think you can never go wrong with drinking a lot of kefir if it agrees with you. 2 cups per day would be wonderful. As to time of day, I don't think it really matters but making sure that you drink it with a meal will probably be helpful if your meal is rich in prebiotics in order to feed the probiotics in the kefir. Prebiotic foods are usually foods that are high in inulin fiber. Hope this helps!! :-) Love, Mary
Thank you! I bought milk kefir grains last week and I'm culturing them now, I learned a lot more from your video than from the directions. I am typically milk intolerant, so I used goat milk, I hope it cultures as well. I like water kefir, but lost my grains last year while on vacation. I hope I have good success with lowering inflammation like others that have commented here.
Hi Ms. Mary! Hope you had a wonderful Christmas! I have a quick question. I've been making kefir since March of this year. I was a yogurt fan until I discovered kefir and all it's health benefits. Recently, I left my kefir grains in milk in the fridge for quite a a while. I know you're supposed to change the milk weekly but I didn't for about 6 weeks because...well a long story. I finally tried to make some kefir and they did but it took longer than usual. The kefir is good but was wondering if they're dying. It is cold weather here now like in the 30s & 40s. My appartment can get pretty cool this time a year but not freezing cold. I noticed that they float in the milk now and I remember they used to only float once kefir was done. The grains look plumpy and fluffy as usual. Are they just cold and working slower? Or are they dying? BTW I am your BIGGEST fan. Just did my first chicken bone broth this weekend. Looking forward to cooking with a healthier broth and in a traditional kitchen! Thank you!!
Mary I use to make kefir all the time, but its only my husband and myself so I had so much I didn't know what to do with all the kefir, any ideas for me. Thanks Mary
I remember my grandmother having "yogurt de pajarito" (bird's yogurt). No idea why they called it like that back then. Anyway, I remember her keeping it under the bed.
At 62, I finally tried Kefir because of you. I went to our local Health Food store for a gallon of raw milk to make mozzerella and then ricotta. Right new to it was a Vanilla Raw Kefir...I said, what the heck. If I am going to try it, this is the one to try. I loved it and now I am addicted. Now to find "grains." (in 2022) the raw Kefir was $6 for a quart. The gallon of raw milk was $15! Ouch. But, making my own raw Kefir would save me $9. Plain kefir at a regular store is $4 on sale for a quart, so I'd still save $1 using a gallon of raw! I love your channel and watch everything!
I'm using good morning Mary I'm not sure how often you look at your messages that have been aired months or years ago I haven't seen it in your video list but I was wondering if you could make kefir cheese? I recently subscribed to your channel and have watched probably 30 of your videos I'm just loving them not sure if anyone's told you but you definitely could be a good book reader for audible because you have a beautiful voice for that type of work!
Hi Mary! I am wanting to start making kefir and truly appreciate your video making the directions so clear as usual. I have enjoyed so many of your videos! I went to natural grocers and bought the kefir starter because they didn't have grains. I was hoping after a batch I would have grains left over, however when I strained my kefir there were no grains. I am a Texas resident as well and wondered if you might be able to send me grains? I have asked around and cannot find anyone I know who does kefir and has any grains to share. I would gladly pay for shipping if you would be willing!
Thanks Mary for your ever so wonderful guide to making fermented foods. How do I make kefir grains. Supposing I can’t get them from where am at. Also, how can I make Kefir without the grains. Thanks Mary
Hi Ann, unfortunately I don’t know if it’s possible to make Kefir grains. I think you might have to find some. I know you can order them online, but I recognize that may not be available to everyone. If you don’t have that option, homemade yogurt is always a good alternative to work getting some good probiotics into your diet. Hope this helps. Love, Mary
Hi Mary … I purchased cultures for health kefir grains and it specifically states in instructions..NOT… to use RAW MILK 🥛… when activating…🤷♀️🤷♀️🤷♀️that’s ALL I DRINK IS RAW MILK …. Why do they say NOT to use RAW MILK … and you say it’s okay…🤷♀️🤷♀️🤷♀️I’m confused.. BUT.. I TRUST YOU.. but I don’t want the activation process to FAIL.. bcuz I didn’t follow THEIR INSTRUCTIONS… please help… or someone in the community.. please 🙏..TY in advance .. I’m so excited about starting my new journey into healthy homemade kefir …
Hello Mary....I also hear kefir doesn't like metal. I usually dip the handle end of a wooden spoon in my kettle of boiling water for a minute or so....then stir my jar with the slim handle end. Good to know that it might be not as serious a thing as we're led to believe 🌹
It's only my 2nd time with milk kefir [kuh-FEAR] the first time was a disaster. I had no idea what I was doing and it was more than 8 years ago and there were almost no videos on YT. I've been doing water kefir (completely diff grains0 - to make naturally carbonated (with billions of probiotics) grape soda in flip top jars for years. We love it. I'm inspired to try the 2nd ferment with milk kefir; I read an article by the guy who wrote "The Art of Fermentation" on what some do where kefir grains come from (the middle east; Turkey, I believe) with their 2nd ferment. This group added cinnamon, honey, & orange peels to the kefir (after straining out the grains), put it all in a crock, and buried the crock in the ground for 30 days! (My frig or pantry would work as well.) He said the resulting kefir cheese/yougurt was delectable. I'm dying to try 2nd fermenting with milk kefir. I love the kefir chese (labneh) I get from the local Turkish market. Mmmmm!!! It's my favorite instead of butter on toast. So delicious.
When I second ferment kefir, I add about a teaspoon of sugar or honey, a smidgen of vanilla and a slice of lemon or lime. and leave it for a few hours before back in the fridge until next morning. I find it gets much thicker and I like it better than ice cream. You can keep reusing the slice of lime or lemon a few times.
Thank you! I learned how to make my own yogart from Heidi, I'm going to try the kifer... as soon as I start getyjn fb milk again...we have 4 girls that will be kidding soon!
My husband was at the farmers market yesterday and a lady brought some grains for me...so, the milk she gave them to us in ( he put them in the fridge last night) is that ok to drink ? I think she used store milk...I'd like to use my raw goats milk, would that be ok?
Beulah Land Homestead Farm - It should be fine to drink. And yes, Raw milk works great … Either cows milk or goats milk. Raw milk sometimes makes a slightly looser Kefir than pasteurize milk. Making kefir with pasteurized milk is a great way to improve the nutrition lost to pasteurization. But making Kiefer with raw milk is obviously the best! Keep me posted on how it turns out. Love, Mary❤️😘❤️
Oh Mary I can't believe how easy it is to make it. I use it quite alot as love Indian food. Oh I had a giggle about your husband. He sounds lovey !!! Many thanks Mary xxx
Hello Mary… I’m going to be malign kefir soon BUT I wanted to ask YOUR opinion on the plastic kefir cage being used in the process…🤷♀️🤷♀️🤷♀️what are your thoughts 💭 if you could share them please and thank you 🙏 in advance
So I made my milk kefir with powder from a packet, but really want to go back to my nutrition store and pay $26 for a sack of real kefir grains, nice and whole and moist. My powder did make a good kefir, but after using my packets up soon, the ones for $10, I will be left with no grains. I drained my milk from powder and found no grains. So stop with the cheap and go for the expensive that will last decades!! By-the-way, this champagne of milk kefir is delicious, mild, milky, and thick but pourable. Tastes like liquid sour cream!!! How often do you drink it for your gut benefit? When is it too much for ingest? Will it take the place of a good yogurt, and other herbals for the gut? Should it be taken daily? How much? Thanks.
5/31/31.....So if I buy a qt. O kefir at the grocery, will it have Kefir at the bottom and can I use that to keep making it then? I'm still a little confused....I always wanted to try it, but never did.....can you let me know on my FB pg. Private msg. me please.....Thanks.....if I don't get a msg. from you, I will check on here same place tomorrow night for your answer.....Thanks Mary....
Hi Mary ,thank you for this video. I am trying to make kefir since I have gut issues. I ordered the kefir grains and I am making kefir everyday . My problem is my grains are not multiplying. Its remain the same as when I bought them. Don't know if I am not doing it right.
Ok. HOW do you MAKE the grains in the first place? SOMEONE had to actually culture them in the first place, the VERY FIRST grains. So how did they do it?? Can you use some from the plain kefir you buy in the store dairy section?
Hi Sweet Friends, Hope you will give Milk Kefir a try. It's my all time favorite form of cultured dairy. If you have any questions, please leave them here in the comments. I'm happy to help!! Love, Mary
Hi Mary how do you get the kefir thick like Greek yoghurt?
Also how do you get it to have those wonderful bubbles.
@@matthewjcrockett try adding heavy cream and also use a cheese cloth to get out the extra whey that should help make it thicker.
Hi Mary, I know I'm late to the party, but I'm vegan and wonder if I could use this to ferment nut milks? Any info on that?
Per your water kefir video I am going to try that to make some flavored water drinks, maybe ginger or grape etc.
Thanks for always being so informed and upbeat!
@@sarahdee374 have you heard of Cultured Food Life? look up Donna Schwenk. she has alot of different videos/info on making kefir from non-dairy sources! Good luck on your journey!
I like blending my kefir with some berries (blueberries and strawberries work well), or fresh/frozen mango, to give it a flavor "pop". Add sugar, or Stevia if you prefer your drink to be sweeter. It's so yummy!
Also, if you take the whey out of a double fermented batch, you can put 2 to 4 tablespoons of whey in homemade mayonnaise. (The amount should be higher for super large batches of mayo.) After you've thoroughly mixed in the whey, leave the mayo out on the counter for 4-6 hours to ferment. Not only does this ferment your mayo, but now instead of needing to be used in 2 days, the mayo will stay fresh in your refrigorator for 2 months. (I use a Sharpie to write the date I made the mayo on the jar.) This mayo tastes awesome and is MUCH cheaper than buying it off a grocery store shelf.
Enjoy!
Hey Mary! Russian viewer here! In our country kefir seems to have been a staple off-the-shelf beverage since forever. In soviet times it was pretty much the default cultured dairy drink. A bottle of kefir and a French loaf used to be a typical students’ lunch on a budget. However in the 90s yoghurt entered the market and stole kefir’s glory. It’s really curious how in the US kefir is seemingly a rather new “hip” healthy product. In Russia it feels quite the opposite: cool kids drink yoghurt while kefir looks like a boring old-fashioned “your grandma’s” choice :)
I really like your videos. Thank you for inspiring me to rediscover kefir as a DIY project!
People look at me weird when I make and talk about kefir. No one really knows much about it. I feel like in US we don't drink probiotics the way we should. Most countries have probiotics with their meals
I recently saw a video blog from an American going round a Russian supermarket. He showed the fridge with a Kefir drinks in it. I was amazed at all the different Kefir products. I can’t get it in my local supermarkets in Southern Scotland. Maybe I’d have better luck in the cities. I’ve just received a starter pack which I got on line so I’m going to give it a go.
Hello @Mags Wilson 👋 I'm for essex in the UK 😊
In the main big supermarket chains tesco, Sainsbury's etc they have it on the shelves but it very expensive or weirdly highly processed.
Were did you get you but the starter from please? They seem to be quite expensive.
Take care
@@magswilson2039 I find it at Morrisons and Tescos but it's ridiculously expensive.
I'm American, first time I ever had kefir was buying it by mistake in Latvia, I was looking for cream for coffee at a grocery store lol Well, its not good in coffee but loved it otherwise! I make it now, quite a bit cheaper than store bought here in the US.
Mary, my orthopedic surgeon recommended knee replacement surgery last year. I hesitated and started making my own kefir 6 months ago. As a result , inflammation to my knee was reduced to the point that I no longer had pain. The surgeon told me last month that he no longer recommended surgery. 10 out of 10 would recommend making kefir. Be sure to ripen it for an extra 24 hours to get the most out of it.
I have the same knee problem and I have been really fatigued recently.I changed the milk in my grains for the first time yesterday and made a protein shake with the old milk. I did exercises today and then changed my milk again and made a protein shake. After drinking this i realised i had had the energy to do some exercise after months of feeling shattered.It could only of been the Kefir milk as nothing else has changed.This is amazing 👏🇬🇧🙏
Great inspiration!
I have ongoing work injuries from 4 years ago. Pain has kept me in fear and from exercising regularly and living a normal life. I exercised other day after not exercising for a few weeks. I did SO MUCH more than I could normally do with no pain at all. I've been Wondering why that is but after reading your stories, I'm thinking now that its gotta be bc of the kefir I've been drinking the past week. Thank you so much for your stories! Just what I needed 😊
My outlook has improved!
@@ToastingMyJam360 it’s fantastic isn’t it Shannon. I have been making Bulgarian yoghurt also and ACV. Tomorrow i plan to do sauerkraut, I’m not really a fan of it but i really need to heal myself as i don’t want a knee replacement and i will never get rid of my COPD but i hope it won’t get worse or my cataracts either 🙏
@@teresaspensley5640 Hello!😊 If you live in the US & 65 or over. Medicare pays 100% for cataract surgery which is easy and pain free.
@@iluv2worship thank you but i live in UK,and at the moment it is free on NHS (it’s not free really as we’ve paid in all our lives)myself for 52 years.i have an appointment in a few days for an eye test so hoping they are the same or better 🙏🙏🙏.Have a lovely day 💐
UPDATE. My left eye is slightly worse, but i have only been on kefir a short while,feel better and lots more energy 🙋🏻♀️🙏
Mary, I think the metal reacting to fermented foods came about when so much of our kitchen utensils were made from Aluminum. Cultured foods do react to aluminum, but I have not found any reaction at all with stainless steel. I make kefir regularly and have for many years. I also use a canning jar and plastic lid and I use a stainless steel spoon and have never had any problems with it. I wish more people knew about kefir and how healthy it is. It is really a superfood. Thank you for the video.
Hi Donna!! You hit the nail on the head - it's the aluminum!! I am so glad you like kefir!! I love it too - and you are right - it really is a superfood!! I like water kefir too and am making a video about that now. I think it is so much better - and easier - than kombucha. I don't like dealing with the socby!! It can become like a little tire!! LOL!! Thanks for visiting and commenting!! Love, Mary
@@MarysNest I thought it was silver as silver, gold & cooper kill bacteria.
Oh, Donna good to know!
@@MarysNest I think, also, that it was the reaction between pewter dishes and acids as in tomatoes that had to do with beliefs concerning acid foods.
I love drinking kefir.
you'r such a warm and lovely person, i really enjoy watching your videos and learn a lot! i never knew you can sift the grains and store them in water( great tip). At one point i was making so much kefir, too much to drink it all.so i stopped making it. but thanks to you i'am going to start again.
Rebeca an - Hi Rebeca, Thank you SO much for the kind words!! You made my day!! I am so happy to hear that you will be making kefir again!! Love, Mary❤️😘❤️ Oh!! And I just edited this to add...If enjoy making other traditional foods, I have a playlist of my videos titled "Mastering the Basics of Traditional Real Foods Cooking". It's a series of 15 detailed videos that covers How to Make Bone Broth, Cultured Dairy, Ferments, Sourdough Starter (my foolproof stater), Sourdough Bread, and How to Soak and Sprout Grains to Make your own Sprouted Flour at Home. You can search for it on my main UA-cam home page if you scroll down. (Sorry to not put a direct link but I don't think YT likes us to put links in comments.) Please let me know if you have any questions. I'm so happy to help! And I’m so glad you’re here!! Love, Mary
I am drinking Kefir every evening for four years now. It's so delicious and best of all very healthy! My joints are much less painful and my digestion works like a clockwork.
I just bought a bottle of Kiefer at the store for the first time and drank it in and within 40 minutes I went to the bathroom wonderful which I had wonderful for months and months then about less than 12 hours I like I haven’t had energy for like two years seems and all of a sudden I had to get up on a high deck and usually I crawl to get up struggle to stand up but BUT all of a sudden I jumped up on that deck like nothing then I know there’s something great about this stuff I was in shock and still am I’m drinking it every day for the past two days and Expecting for great results for the future
Mary, I love watching your videos! You are amazing! My husband and I have been drinking kefir for a couple of years in fruit smoothies. We love it that way. I have also tried the kefir cheese and whey sodas on occasion. I find kefir is so forgiving of how you make it. When I don’t need to make more, I just store it in the refrigerator in milk and I don’t change it before fermenting. Of course it’s only in the fridge a few days. Once, however, I left home for over a month when my dad was ill and I thought my kefir would surely be dead. When I got home, I put fresh milk on the grains and started fermenting. After two or three times, it was back up to speed and going strong. I have also over fermented, but just shake it up and strain it. If it’s a little tart, you never know in a smoothie. Also, I have a straining tip that I really like. I use a silicone baster instead of a spoon to separate the grains. It’s gentle and cleans the grains up nicely. Thanks again for your wonderful videos!
who would thumbs down this wonderful woman!!?
Thank you!! You are so kind!! ❤️🤗❤️
Hi Mary xxx
How long do the grains last before needing to be thrown away? I have just found your channel and I'm binge watching your videos from the beginning.
I'm so glad to find you as your videos are a nice long playing time and you are so sweet and I'm very grateful too as I'm 43 years old female and I'm in the UK. I've never been taught anything in how to cook, keep a house, how to wear make up or anything as my mum isnt/wasn't that type of mum. Her mum never taught her anything either, I had a stroke at 29yrs old and I now live on my own and have carers coming in and I'm fed up with either being offered cereal or toast of instant noodles as they are quick to make even though the carer is allocated here for 30mins a time they never stay anymore than 10mins (I have to pay all my disability payment and that was meant for me to get any medication, supplements, specialist foods I need as I've got many digestive and health problems. But now I'm paying it to carers that don't care) I've had enough and trying to understand what food is and what I should eat, but find it hard as I have ibs, celiac disease so I've around your channel and you are gently teaching me how to live.
I'm ever so grateful xxx 🤗❤ This kefir is very interesting. take care xx
You NEVER throw them away. They get better and better ove the years, and they also get more numerous. Then you divide them up and you have two batches.
I am so glad that I am not the only person binge watching Mary's videos. I have made my own yogurt for a number of years. As well as recently learned making kombucha and no knead bread. I have a dear friend who has gotten me into fermentation as well. She is excited to share her knowledge about the process with me. So between my friend and Mary I'm becoming a ferment enthusiast. Mary's Italian pickles are my next project. And I'm excited to get my kefir grains next week.
@@kendalbraa8722wait! Where are you getting your grains?
@Kellysgracemak there is a link in the description for the dehydrated ones she mentioned in the video.
Hi Mary, I use a stainless steel tea ball on a chain for my kefir grains. Makes it eazy peazy to retrieve the grains. I reuse it several times before washing the tea ball too. I have never had a negative outcome or any problems at all.
Great tip!
Probably have to shake it often since they are all bunched together, fighting for food
That’s simply brilliant.
The traditional food community is so lovely, with both sharing their knowledge and Keifer grains, kombucha scobies and even seeds. 💕 so wonderful.
Lol ‘ thanks Mum, I don’t drink’ oh bless him 😂
I had no idea you could dehydrate the grains, what great information 💕
Moat Cottage - Hi Elissa, just saw this!! Yes, isn’t he funny!! LOL!!❤️😘❤️
I asked on our local garden group and lo and behold a wonderful neighbor gifted me her grains! Tonight we make our 1st batch of homemade kefir 🥰
Hi Mary. I will give milk kefir a try. Since a couple of weeks I make bread and yogurt by myself. I love your videos, because I learned so much. God bless you and your family. Greetings from Germany from a huge fan of yours. 😘👋
Mary I am watching your videos from Colombia, South América and I am learning so much. Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge and wisdom to improve people's life. God bless you Mary.
Can't wait to make kefir, signed in for your cream cheese, and just kept watching. You are full of joy and enthusiasm, it seems in the last kefir video you had a hard time containing the joy, it was bubbling over, just like the kefir!!! I am grinning joy is contagious.
Have you tried buttermilk yet? I love making it because it's easier than kefir. I use the yogurt function in my instant pot. You don't need to use a machine to make it. It just makes the process faster. I am looking forward to trying to make cottage cheese with it.
Yes, I found that while I used metal my grains weren't growing (duplicating), but when I transitioned to plastic they started growing amazingly. So, I find that they prefer plastic.
Celeste Binus - Thanks so much for visiting. I have heard some folks say that. Glad you found it to be the case and your grains started to grow. BTW - Do you enjoy making other traditional foods in addition to cultured dairy? If so, I have a playlist of some of my videos titled "Mastering the Basics of Traditional Nutrient Dense Foods Cooking". It's a series of 15 detailed videos that covers How to Make Bone Broth, Cultured Dairy, Ferments, Sourdough Starter (my foolproof stater), Sourdough Bread, Soaked and Sprouted Nuts and Beans, and How to Soak and Sprout Grains to Make your own Sprouted Flour at Home. You can watch it here: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U3b4eu0QraZReKlGzA11h3y.html And please share the playlist with any other folks you think might be interested in learning about these types of things. I’m passionate about the book Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon (of the Weston A Price Foundation) and want to help as many people as I can learn how to make Traditional “Nutrient Dense” Foods who may not be able to afford the online programs that have a cost associated with them.
Please let me know if you have any questions. I'm so happy to help! And I’m SO glad you’re here!! Love and God Bless, Mary❤️😘❤️ PS - are you in our FB group? It's called Mary's Nest Modern Pioneers. Come join us! We have a lot of fun chatting about Traditional Foods.
@@MarysNest , thanks for your reply!
I liked your Facebook page and subscribed your chanel. I'm venturing into this new (to me, otherwise very old) way of life. I'm growing my own garden and making cheese and butter from grassfed raw milk I manage to get at a farm nearby. I feel very blessed!
You're are doing a wonderful job spreading the knowledge of these ancient arts. I'm very grateful for your generosity. I watched your roasted chicken video and now I'm dreaming of doing it sometime soon. Blessings on your new week❣️🌻
Celeste Binus - I am so happy you’re here and on this Traditional Foods journey with me!! Love, Mary❤️😘❤️
I have make. Uttwaer all my life, I milkedcowsdoefifty years lovex it
Where to find grains pëease!
Hi Mary, I have enjoyed watching your videos. You are a great teacher. I wanted to buy grass fed milk for my kefir but all the ones in my store in California that were grass fed were also ultra pasteurized. Also most of the organic milk was also ultra pasteurized. I read it shouldn’t be used for kefir. What is your opinion.
Thank you,
Kim
I used it and had no issues.
I also mixed coconut milk with ultra past organic milk and it did great.
I've now gotten into the habit of 👍'ing Mary's videos before the video even starts. Thank you, Mary, for all of you lovely content.
Thank YOU!!! If you enjoy making Traditional Foods, be sure to head over to my UA-cam channel’s home page where I share lots of playlists of videos that I think you will enjoy. Here is the link: UA-cam.com/MarysNest Plus, I have a playlist of some of my videos titled "Mastering the Basics of Traditional Nutrient Dense Foods Cooking". It's a series of 15 detailed videos that covers How to Make Bone Broth, Cultured Dairy, Ferments, Sourdough Starter (my foolproof stater), Sourdough Bread, Soaked and Sprouted Nuts and Beans, and How to Soak and Sprout Grains to Make your own Sprouted Flour at Home. You can watch it here: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U3b4eu0QraZReKlGzA11h3y.html And please share the playlist with any other folks you think might be interested in learning about these types of things. I’m passionate about the book Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon (of the Weston A Price Foundation) and want to help as many people as I can learn how to make Traditional “Nutrient Dense” Foods.
And for more details on some of these subjects mentioned above…(and more), be sure to check out these detailed playlists:
➡️How to Make Bone Broth: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U0JFsTi2N7sHSpU-vBR04CH.html
➡️How to Make Fermented Vegetables: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U2EhVspEV5d4Xs2s4pcbHbr.html
➡️How to Make Fermented Condiments: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U0hCKYoMMBeVD-9bA6TckEj.html
➡️The Complete Guide to Sourdough: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U3NKN0GHvGCpiWNxcTefLof.html
➡️The Complete NO KNEAD BREAD Playlist: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U0ZnA45FadK99NvKZLKh-6N.html
➡️How to Make Bread with or without Yeast Playlist: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U344nspo8zPj3O3LfyNVHZS.html
➡️And if you are interested in learning about how to make various types of Homemade Dairy including Cultured Butter, Cottage Cheese, Sour Cream, Ricotta Cheese, and more, be sure check out this playlist: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U2R7u0Ri26HwdLMjUa4iJJX.html
➡️And to learn how to turn any of your bone broths or vegetable broths into BOUILLON POWDERS that are SHELF STABLE, be sure to check out this playlist: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U2j_-YEyQCtg807HLb4ulY6.html
➡️Also...If you enjoy making homemade pantry type items, you might enjoy my playlist: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U1MqC3YAw7ZRYjuL9FBGSwc.html where I show how to make Apple Cider Vinegar (see more info about this below), 10 Flavored Extracts including Vanilla Extract, 10 Seasoning Blends including Ranch Dressing Mix and Onion Soup Mix, 1- Minute Homemade Mayonnaise, Homemade Bouillon - and how to dehydrate it, Natural Food Colorings, Evaporated Milk, Condensed Milk, Preserved Citrus, Breadcrumbs, Croutons, and more!
…And if you like the idea of making your own Apple Cider Vinegar as mentioned above…Be sure to check out the Apple Cider Vinegar Playlist: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U1QPA95O2-oOvxwtO-v3L4L.html which a 3-part series where I walk you through the entire 30-day process. And if you like making vinegar, I also have a Homemade Citrus Vinegar Playlist: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U3apQRTzhfQBkR_x0rb514U.html And I have one more vinegar video where I show how to make vinegar from Strawberry Scraps. You can watch it here: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U2M3dRA483q5KJ7JkJfn3fS.html
➡️And…Have you seen my playlist for making immune boosting foods and natural remedies including a Super Mineral Detox Broth? You can look through the playlist here: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U0p9nRAWldbyqYSbgwzARGd.html You may like some of these recipes.
➡️And if you are interested in how to make probiotic rich fermented drinks, here is my playlist of some fun drinks including How to Make Homemade Sodas, Mocktails, Drinking Vinegar, Homemade Energy Drinks, Switchel, Shrubs, and More: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U2w2-CiBrkNnZj_IIlqZc9h.html You may enjoy these videos. And if you are interested in learning how to make Kombucha and/or Water Kefir, I have a playlist which includes a Beginners Guide to Kombucha Making along with a video on making water kefir for beginners…which you can watch here: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U3YysV0OYOMsxsJuf_sxPTK.html
➡️And in the Modern Pioneering spirit…If you enjoy canning, or are interested in learning about canning, I have a playlist of my canning videos here which include step-by-step tutorials: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U3HJRCmwVAvBNS90WjifR1U.html
➡️FOR MY VIDEOS WITH A PRINTABLE RECIPE: Don’t forget to open the description under the video and scroll down till you see “RECIPE”. There will be a link there that will take you directly to the RECIPE on my website (MarysNest DOT com) that accompanies this video. Depending on what type of device you are watching the video on…To open the description under video, click the words “SHOW MORE”, or the title of the video, or the small downward pointing triangle arrow to the right of the video title. All of these should open the description.
➡️Oh…And here is my 2020 Channel Update for everything I have planned for this year: ua-cam.com/video/qjOJh8Cb_-k/v-deo.html
Please let me know if you have any questions. I’m so happy to help! And also, let me know what other types of traditional food videos you would like to see me make. I’m SO glad you’re here!! Love and God Bless, Mary
PS - Are you in our FB group? It’s called Mary’s Nest Modern Pioneers. The direct link can be found in the description under this video. Come join us! We have a lot of fun chatting about Traditional “Nutrient Dense Foods and it’s a great place to get questions answered.
@@MarysNest I immediately subscribed after discovering your channel a few months ago, and so thankful I did. You've been a joy to watch, especially during these times! Many blessings to you and your family.
Great video, as usual! I use kefir in smoothies, but mainly use it instead of buttermilk like in baking or in salad dressing😀
Good day am ana from phils. Im so much interested in making kefir for myself. Iwas wondering how to start making kefir from scratch. Please lighten me here how to produce grains for myself. Much appreciated for the reply.
@@anamariamoscoso180 You can't produce grains by yourself. Kefir grains originated from the Northern Caucasus Mountains, where they evolved into being over a very long time of fermenting milk in animal skins. You can make more kefir from store-bought kefir by adding milk to some of it and leaving it to ferment. I'm not sure if you can repeat the process with the kefir you make.
Ooops disregard n’y previous comment...wrong was for an ad lol
I started adding kefir to my breakfast smoothies, and it really gives it a nice slight tangy/creamy taste. I’m not a fan of it alone, but in smoothies or mixed with some berries, oatmeal, cereal, etc. it’s actually pretty good!
Mary, thank you for the video and instructions. I used to make kefir and loved it but gave my grains away when we moved across the country. One question that I do have is could I use kefir as a substitution for cultured buttermilk? Specifically I use buttermilk in homemade pancakes and home baked goods. I'd love to hear your thoughts and thanks again!
Hi Irene, Yes, you can definitely use Kefir in place of buttermilk. BTW - Do you enjoy making traditional foods? If so, I have a playlist of some of my videos titled "Mastering the Basics of Traditional Nutrient Dense Foods Cooking". It's a series of 15 detailed videos that covers How to Make Bone Broth, Cultured Dairy, Ferments, Sourdough Starter (my foolproof stater), Sourdough Bread, Soaked and Sprouted Nuts and Beans, and How to Soak and Sprout Grains to Make your own Sprouted Flour at Home. You can watch it here: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U3b4eu0QraZReKlGzA11h3y.html And please share the playlist with any other folks you think might be interested in learning about these types of things. I’m passionate about the book Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon (of the Weston A Price Foundation) and want to help as many people as I can learn how to make Traditional “Nutrient Dense” Foods.
And for more details on some of these subjects mentioned above…(and more), be sure to check out these detailed playlists:
➡️How to Make Bone Broth: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U0JFsTi2N7sHSpU-vBR04CH.html
➡️How to Make Fermented Vegetables: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U2EhVspEV5d4Xs2s4pcbHbr.html
➡️How to Make Fermented Condiments: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U0hCKYoMMBeVD-9bA6TckEj.html
➡️The Complete Guide to Sourdough: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U3NKN0GHvGCpiWNxcTefLof.html
➡️The Complete NO KNEAD BREAD Playlist: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U0ZnA45FadK99NvKZLKh-6N.html
➡️How to Make Bread with or without Yeast Playlist: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U344nspo8zPj3O3LfyNVHZS.html
➡️And if you are interested in learning about how to make various types of Homemade Dairy including Cultured Butter, Cottage Cheese, Sour Cream, Ricotta Cheese, and more, be sure check out this playlist: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U2R7u0Ri26HwdLMjUa4iJJX.html
➡️Also...If you enjoy making homemade pantry type items, you might enjoy my playlist: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U1MqC3YAw7ZRYjuL9FBGSwc.html where I show how to make Apple Cider Vinegar (see more info about this below), 10 Flavored Extracts including Vanilla Extract, 10 Seasoning Blends including Ranch Dressing Mix and Onion Soup Mix, 1- Minute Homemade Mayonnaise, Homemade Bouillon - and how to dehydrate it, Natural Food Colorings, Evaporated Milk, Condensed Milk, Preserved Citrus, Breadcrumbs, Croutons, and more!
And if you like the idea of making your own Apple Cider Vinegar as mentioned above…Be sure to check out the Apple Cider Vinegar Playlist: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U1QPA95O2-oOvxwtO-v3L4L.html which a 3-part series where I walk you through the entire 30-day process. And if you like making vinegar, I also have a Homemade Citrus Vinegar Playlist: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U3apQRTzhfQBkR_x0rb514U.html And I have one more vinegar video where I show how to make vinegar from Strawberry Scraps. You can watch it here: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U2M3dRA483q5KJ7JkJfn3fS.html
➡️And…Have you seen my playlist for making immune boosting foods and natural remedies including a Super Mineral Detox Broth? You can look through the playlist here: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U0p9nRAWldbyqYSbgwzARGd.html You may like some of these recipes.
➡️And if you are interested in how to make probiotic rich fermented drinks, here is my playlist of some fun drinks including How to Make Homemade Sodas, Mocktails, Drinking Vinegar, Homemade Energy Drinks, Switchel, Shrubs, and More: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U2w2-CiBrkNnZj_IIlqZc9h.html You may enjoy these videos. And if you are interested in learning how to make Kombucha and/or Water Kefir, I have a playlist which includes a Beginners Guide to Kombucha Making along with a video on making water kefir for beginners…which you can watch here: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U3YysV0OYOMsxsJuf_sxPTK.html
➡️And in the Modern Pioneering spirit…If you enjoy canning, or are interested in learning about canning, I have a playlist of my canning videos here which include step-by-step tutorials: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U3HJRCmwVAvBNS90WjifR1U.html
➡️Oh…And here is my 2020 Channel Update for everything I have planned for this year: ua-cam.com/video/qjOJh8Cb_-k/v-deo.html
Please let me know if you have any questions. I’m so happy to help! And also, let me know what other types of traditional food videos you would like to see me make. I’m SO glad you’re here!! Love and God Bless, Mary
PS - Are you in our FB group? It’s called Mary’s Nest Modern Pioneers. The direct link can be found in the description under this video. Come join us! We have a lot of fun chatting about Traditional “Nutrient Dense Foods and it’s a great place to get questions answered.
Maple Hill’s grass-fed, whole-milk kefir is outstanding. But I do want to learn to make my own for when I can’t run out to one of the stores that sells good kefir. Thanks, Mary!
I have been adding 1 tablespoon of organic whole milk powder to 48 ounces of milk to make my yogurt thicker. I have read that you can add up to 3 tablespoons if you want it even thicker.
Allen Miller - Hi Allen, Thanks for sharing this tip!!🤗🤗🤗
Thanks, Mary! This is encouraging to me to try! Kefir has always been intimidating to me.
Hi Sue!! Thanks for visiting and commenting!! Please don't feel intimidated at all - It's so easy. When you give it a try - post pictures in our Mary's Nest Facebook Group and I can walk you though any questions/troubleshooting. You'll love it!! It's delicious!! Love, Mary
Would you get the same benefits from kefir if you added something to it to make it more palatable? Like some kind of flavoring extract and maybe Stevia for a sweetener? I’m new to all of this, so I really do need instruction on that. Thank you very much, Mary.
Oh yes! Kefir is wonderful for you. And yes, you can add a variety of flavoring to make it more palatable. Love, Mary❤️🤗❤️
@@MarysNest, Thank you, Mary for your quick response, I feel like I can proceed to making it now. ❤️
Mary sweetheart, I had to mention it, I used Maple Hill grass fed organic whole milk and Maple Hill organic grass fed plain kefir, my kefir came out as thick as sour cream, I used it to make ranch salad dressing, it is sooo delicious :)
Hi Grace, Sounds wonderful! Thank you SO much for sharing!! Love, Mary
Donna Schwenk says not to use ultra pasteurized milk? I am going to start making kefir again....i have to find some grains... and would love to use raw cows milk....
Mary I hope you reply I canot get my kefir to grow I am very unhappy I'm so sad my health is so bad *
& I can't grow and multiply any kefir " I even used kefir milk to grow my kefir * I used milk and kefir they don't multiply well "
I had two now I have 5 " simce the kefir milk is used *
I keep them in the fridge if I leave them outside they want to mold" it terrifies me my kefir will become molded it gets a powder white looking mold *
so kefir keeps such a long time In fridge& no mold spots "
I don t want them molding on me * it molds when I use milk* a little green spot * I panicked and now use just kefir milk * I'm sort of trying to store them & multiply them for right now *
Would they do better in fridge with a bread cloth? I have the lid on very lightly * please give me some ideas 💡 I would truly appreciate it *
Second ferment with a slice of orange or lemon peel... Absolutely yum
Great idea! 🍊🍋
Would love to find someone willing to share their milk kefir grains, i am happy to pay shipping. I'm in maryland. Please pm me😊
So...How long do the grains keep. Also If I buy Milk kefir at the store the grains included? Ok I read more about these grains from the link you provided. and was well pleased with what I read so I ordered some. Thank you
Never mind, everyone. I got to the part in the video where Mary talks about where to get the grains.
I just discovered my children love unsweetened, plain kefir! It's a pretty big win, since my 2 year old is Simple Carb King lol he thought it was wonderful! A happy discovery since I'm trying to keep them gluten-free (I noticed my depression got worse when I go back on gluten, so we're experimenting as a family). Finally my picky eater will be getting something with protein, fat and probiotics! My older child is (and always has been) more adventurous (she loves kombucha, and cheers for veggies lol).
It is, my great grandson’s enjoy it.
I heard you can get the kefir to be more effervescent if it's open to air (cheesecloth and lid lightly on but not screwed is probably best,) and conversely less effervescent with a completely closed lid. I'm not a fan of effervescence that much, so I'll be going with the latter.
Glad you got my comment Mary. That was my point. Have a glass of champagne on me. A toast to you. Keep up the good work!
Hi Drew, Wish I could but circumstances prevent me from enjoying that delightful bubbly! Enjoy one for me! And I'll toast you with my kefir. ;-) All the best.
Mary, I’m concerned that as you talk with the Kefir grains exposed in front of your mouth that they are being contaminated by oral bacteria, viruses, and saliva droplets. If this has been occurring over the decades that these grains have been in use, I fear that the grains you have shared with friends and family are just a conglomeration of your own oral microbes. You think my concerns are well founded or an over-reaction? It might be noted that I am a microbiologist by training.
😂
Thanks for your great video again! I’ve been fermenting milk kefir grains for over 2 years, thanks to the gift of ‘grains’ from a friend! I belong to a world-wide Facebook group, where people can request cultures from their country of choice, for the cost of mailing (not allowed to sell them on this particular site. They also answer so many questions that people may have...so helpful! A search on Facebook may bring up these groups. I’ve learned from them, that you can freeze extra grains in a ziplock bag with powdered milk for future use or to send via mail.
I use kefir milk in my fruit smoothies & family members get their probiotics without the taste bothering them. I enjoy the taste of the milk alone & is great at bedtime for its minerals as well. Keep spreading your wonderful knowledge.
Thank you for pronouncing it right. 🤣 but also your stories are great and make a nice addition to your videos.
My husband can't wait to drink this champagne of milk :) Thank you for sharing :) Here in Belgium you can buy all kinds of cultures to make milk products.
I love u & I love to see ur smiley face & hear ur voice.. hahaaa
Wanna know plz where r u from?
I bought Lifeway coconut kefir from the grocery store a few years ago and have always been interested in learning to make it. I have no idea whether it was started with coconut water or coconut milk or whether it was just milk kefir flavored with coconut. If you have any ideas about how I can recreate this, please let me know!
It's milk kefir flavored with natural coconut. It also has other natural flavors and cane sugar.
You can make coconut milk kefir with milk kefir grains. Just put them in coconut milk and wait for it to ferment. If it separates just give it a stir. Tastes nice!
I just watched a segment on the local news this morning about Lifeway. Their plant is in the town I grew up in. They talked about the health benefits. Now I want to try making it. Of course I looked at Mary’s videos and sure enough…she had a kefir vid. Hopefully I can find someone I know who makes it so I can get the grains.
So how ded you do the kiefer from the beginning you said this is what you ded how ded you do it ded you buy a bottle put milk and waited
Mary you have truly inspired me. I LOVE kefir, but when I made it in the past it didn’t agree with me. 😔 I was constipated a lot. But you’ve encouraged me to try again, particularly with the second ferment, as I don’t do very well with cold foods or drinks from the fridge. At least I know that way it will be room temperature, and will have more probiotics. Keep up the great work, and thank you so much.
I understand completely. Yes, I think the second ferment will help greatly. And yes, enjoy it at room temperature. Also, sometimes people can drink too much at one time. 4 ounces twice a day is a great place to get started. You can refrigerate what you don't drink and then just bring it back up to room temp when you are ready to drink the rest. Keep me posted. Love, Mary
@@MarysNest Uh, oh--as I mentioned above I just started making Kefir and drank a whole quart in one sitting this morning because I had another quart in the fridge. I hope my insides don't turn into cement!
Love your channel soooo much! I already make kefir from the freeze dried packets but I would love to buy some kefir grains from you 🙏 Ive learned so much from you. Thanks so much 🥰
Sonya Curti - Hi Sonya, Thank you so much for visiting and for the kind words!! Kefir grains are very easy to come by today. You can buy them right off of amazon. Isn’t that amazing!! Do you enjoy making other traditional foods? If so, I have a playlist of some of my videos titled "Mastering the Basics of Traditional Nutrient Dense Foods Cooking". It's a series of 15 detailed videos that covers How to Make Bone Broth, Cultured Dairy, Ferments, Sourdough Starter (my foolproof stater), Sourdough Bread, Soaked and Sprouted Nuts and Beans, and How to Soak and Sprout Grains to Make your own Sprouted Flour at Home. You can watch it here: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U3b4eu0QraZReKlGzA11h3y.html And please share the playlist with any other folks you think might be interested in learning about these types of things. I’m passionate about the book Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon (of the Weston A Price Foundation) and want to help as many people as I can learn how to make Traditional “Nutrient Dense” Foods.
And for more details on some of these subjects mentioned above…(and more), be sure to check out these detailed playlists:
➡️How to Make Bone Broth: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U0JFsTi2N7sHSpU-vBR04CH.html
➡️How to Make Fermented Vegetables: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U2EhVspEV5d4Xs2s4pcbHbr.html
➡️How to Make Fermented Condiments: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U0hCKYoMMBeVD-9bA6TckEj.html
➡️The Complete Guide to Sourdough: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U3NKN0GHvGCpiWNxcTefLof.html
➡️And if you are interested in learning about how to make various types of Homemade Dairy including Cultured Butter, Cottage Cheese, and more be sure check out this playlist: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U2R7u0Ri26HwdLMjUa4iJJX.html
➡️Also...If you enjoy making homemade pantry type items, you might enjoy my playlist: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U1MqC3YAw7ZRYjuL9FBGSwc.html where I show how to make Apple Cider Vinegar, 10 Flavored Extracts including Vanilla Extract, 1- Minute Homemade Mayonnaise, Homemade Bouillon - and how to dehydrate it, Natural Food Colorings, Evaporated Milk, Condensed Milk, Preserved Citrus, and more!
➡️And…Have you seen my playlist for making immune boosting foods and natural remedies including a Super Mineral Detox Broth? You can look through the playlist here: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U0p9nRAWldbyqYSbgwzARGd.html You may like some of these recipes, especially at this time of year after all the heavy holiday eating!
➡️And if you are interested in how to make probiotic rich fermented drinks, here is my playlist of some fun drinks including How to Make Homemade Sodas, Mocktails, Drinking Vinegar, Homemade Energy Drinks, Switchel, Shrubs, and More: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U2w2-CiBrkNnZj_IIlqZc9h.html You may enjoy these videos.
➡️And in the Modern Pioneering spirit…If you enjoy canning, or are interested in learning about canning, I have a playlist of my canning videos here which include step-by-step tutorials: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U3HJRCmwVAvBNS90WjifR1U.html
➡️Oh…And here is my 2020 Channel Update for everything I have planned for this year: ua-cam.com/video/qjOJh8Cb_-k/v-deo.html
Please let me know if you have any questions. I’m so happy to help! And also, let me know what other types of traditional food videos you would like to see me make. I’m SO glad you’re here!! Love and God Bless, Mary
PS - Are you in our FB group? It’s called Mary’s Nest Modern Pioneers. Come join us! We have a lot of fun chatting about Traditional “Nutrient Dense Foods and it’s a great place to get questions answered.
I found another site that drained the whey, which intrigued me when you don't seem to. Is there any particular pro's or con's for either method? Does the whey just make it running or creamier? (I love thick cup kefir, and was told I was allergic to whey in 74 so stayed away from milk for years, until I was able to find organic whole milk, like on our dairy farm as a child, no more reactions to dairy products since)
Mary seems so happy in every video. I think all her traditional cooking gives her a balanced gut biome and increases her good mood and goodness. Keep rocking on Mary. Great video ma'am. :)
Hello Mary, i just joined your channel. I found you with the Sauer crout one. I have milk kefir grains and I have never used metal on them. One thing I've always done, is washed them with tap water. They are healthy but I've always wondered why they don't reproduce as fast. That might be the reason!!! So, from now on, I will avoid rinsing them with tap water and see how it makes them feel. Finally, I also love milk kefir. When I find that I need to slow down the production I just place them in the fridge and that keeps them in course but at a much slower pace. Regards from Queretaro, Mexico! 😊
Hi mary, good day to u
After straining the cultured milk in bottles n kept into the fridge, how long can it stay in the fridge?
Can't consume all in one day , that's why I do 2glasses a day. And everyday I hv to culture new.
Mary Lee - Yes, I understand completely. I think it stays fresh for about a week. Hope this helps. Love, Mary❤️😘❤️
Dear Mary, is Kefir similar in taste to buttermilk? I love buttermilk! To me, you can’t get anything any better. I also love your channel here and so appreciate your sharing your knowledge with all of us.
Mary, Kudos to you! this is from a person who has studied Arabic- I can tell you are pronouncing it correctly! Ka-Fear. ;-)
Where to find the grains to make kefir please!
I am in love with kefir
I think it was initially made in slavian countries, also the circassians say that they made it first, but it is not an Arabian drink at all :D
Kefir is not from Arabia!
Hi Mari. What did I do wrong? My kefir after one day it is bobbling and not smooth. It’s like a vomit of bébé . It’s alcoholic . Two times I don’t know what to do please help me.
Christine
Hi Christine, it’s difficult for me to know exactly because I’m not looking at it, however, homemade kefir isn’t super smooth and it does become bubbly and effervescent and can become mildly alcoholic. It might be fermenting very quickly if your kitchen is a bit on the warm side. Once you strain out the grains, you can give it a stir with a fork to help smooth it out. Try to ferment it in a cooler location and see if that helps. Love, Mary
Learned kefir is the champagne of milk! Thank you-I appreciate so much your presentations.
Thank you so much for visiting! Glad you like the video! Do you enjoy making other traditional foods in addition to kefir? I have a playlist of my videos titled "Mastering the Basics of Traditional Nutrient Dense Foods Cooking". It's a series of 15 detailed videos that covers How to Make Bone Broth, Cultured Dairy, Ferments, Sourdough Starter (my foolproof stater), Sourdough Bread, and How to Soak and Sprout Grains to Make your own Sprouted Flour at Home. You can watch it here: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U3b4eu0QraZReKlGzA11h3y.html
Please let me know if you have any questions. I'm so happy to help! And I’m so glad you’re here!! Love, Mary…PS - are you in our FB group? It's called Mary's Nest Modern Pioneers. Come join us! We have a lot of fun chatting about Traditional Foods.
Mary's Nest
Thank you! I will do that! By the way, I really like the tile in your kitchen and working area. Your apron also brings an element of cheer to your kind, pleasant and informative videos. You have a gift of hospitality. Blessings to you!
TheGoodHeart1000 - Thank you SO much for all the kind words!! You made my day!! I live in a very old Texas Farm House. The man who built it was visiting Europe with his wife and fell in love with the Italian tile. When my husband and I bought the house many years ago, the island did not have any tile on it. I searched and searched for it and found 1 box in a store in Houston, TX!! I snapped it up and it was just enough to cover the island! Love, Mary❤️😘❤️
Mary's Nest
What a find! Love it that you are also a bargain hunter/sleuth! 😊😊😊
I've been making milk kerfir for about 6 weeks, so only a newbie, I started doing this because of you Mary, I sourced grains on the internet, but I dident know the milk I was using is called uht milk, so started with this milk, ive been drinking this milk for about ten yrs or more, well, it took just two days before I had kerfir, and it is the yummyest milk drink I've ever drank, I love it and everyday I wake up to a quart of milk kerfir, which I make lots of thing with, ive been making a cream cheese, and it's delish, so Thanku Mary, for putting me on the track of fermented foods, because of u, I also make, Apple cider vinegar, milk kerfir, water kerfir, kombucha, and sour dough breads, and fermented veges, im tryi g next bone broth,
I have a lot health issue, and because of this goodness, in 6 weeks my
Health has improved, at an incredible rate, I thanku so much.for your wonderful videos.🤗😁
Hello Mary, I have made my kefir for several years. Each time my grains make nice thick kefir, but my grains hardly grow at all. Why is that? By rights, they should be increasing but that is not happening. I would like to have extras. Any ideas?
Do you have a video for Kefir yogurt? I would love to see how it’s done! I love your videos so informative and wonderful to watch!
I will have to say I tried Skim milk. Now that didn't work too well. I got two grains for free. One is a little bigger because I put it in heavy cream, the grains love fat. The skim milk was just mostly whey. 2% and whole works good. I keep a backup grain in the fridge. I just came across this video. I would like to multiply mine. The pressure sure builds up! Ilove to let mine sit and get so sour it's makes me want to do a little dance ;) Something else I tried was putting curdled milk into fresh milk without using grains. You definitely need to use the grains. :)
Hi Bill, Thanks so much for sharing all about your experiences. I so enjoy reading your comments. Yes, you really need the grains. And yes, to get them growing quickly, cream is the secret ingredient. Thanks for sharing!! Love, Mary
It was interesting to watch an older video of yours. You have gotten so much more confident infront of the camera! Was nice to learn more about Kefir :)
Love kifer and have been making it for many years. I put a good deal of pure cream in the jar with milk. When the grains multiply I divide and freeze the excess for friends or as a backup. To drink is wonderful as you say, but I often mix it with fresh fruit or frozen, blending it with a blender stick. Or put in in an ice-cream maker with a touch of honey. Putting it in popsicle moulds is my current passion! Love your cooking videos and recipes. I too have never had a problem with using stainless steel spoons or strainers. Rhonda from down-under!
Hi Rhonda, Sounds Wonderful!! Do you enjoy making other traditional foods? If so, I have a playlist of some of my videos titled "Mastering the Basics of Traditional Nutrient Dense Foods Cooking". It's a series of 15 detailed videos that covers How to Make Bone Broth, Cultured Dairy, Ferments, Sourdough Starter (my foolproof stater), Sourdough Bread, Soaked and Sprouted Nuts and Beans, and How to Soak and Sprout Grains to Make your own Sprouted Flour at Home. You can watch it here: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U3b4eu0QraZReKlGzA11h3y.html And please share the playlist with any other folks you think might be interested in learning about these types of things. I’m passionate about the book Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon (of the Weston A Price Foundation) and want to help as many people as I can learn how to make Traditional “Nutrient Dense” Foods.
And for more details on some of these subjects mentioned above…(and more), be sure to check out these detailed playlists:
➡️How to Make Bone Broth: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U0JFsTi2N7sHSpU-vBR04CH.html
➡️How to Make Fermented Vegetables: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U2EhVspEV5d4Xs2s4pcbHbr.html
➡️How to Make Fermented Condiments: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U0hCKYoMMBeVD-9bA6TckEj.html
➡️The Complete Guide to Sourdough: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U3NKN0GHvGCpiWNxcTefLof.html
➡️The Complete NO KNEAD BREAD Playlist: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U0ZnA45FadK99NvKZLKh-6N.html
➡️How to Make Bread with or without Yeast Playlist: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U344nspo8zPj3O3LfyNVHZS.html
➡️And if you are interested in learning about how to make various types of Homemade Dairy including Cultured Butter, Cottage Cheese, Sour Cream, Ricotta Cheese, and more, be sure check out this playlist: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U2R7u0Ri26HwdLMjUa4iJJX.html
➡️Also...If you enjoy making homemade pantry type items, you might enjoy my playlist: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U1MqC3YAw7ZRYjuL9FBGSwc.html where I show how to make Apple Cider Vinegar (see more info about this below), 10 Flavored Extracts including Vanilla Extract, 10 Seasoning Blends including Ranch Dressing Mix and Onion Soup Mix, 1- Minute Homemade Mayonnaise, Homemade Bouillon - and how to dehydrate it, Natural Food Colorings, Evaporated Milk, Condensed Milk, Preserved Citrus, Breadcrumbs, Croutons, and more!
And if you like the idea of making your own Apple Cider Vinegar as mentioned above…Be sure to check out the Apple Cider Vinegar Playlist: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U1QPA95O2-oOvxwtO-v3L4L.html which a 3-part series where I walk you through the entire 30-day process. And if you like making vinegar, I also have a Homemade Citrus Vinegar Playlist: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U3apQRTzhfQBkR_x0rb514U.html And I have one more vinegar video where I show how to make vinegar from Strawberry Scraps. You can watch it here: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U2M3dRA483q5KJ7JkJfn3fS.html
➡️And…Have you seen my playlist for making immune boosting foods and natural remedies including a Super Mineral Detox Broth? You can look through the playlist here: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U0p9nRAWldbyqYSbgwzARGd.html You may like some of these recipes.
➡️And if you are interested in how to make probiotic rich fermented drinks, here is my playlist of some fun drinks including How to Make Homemade Sodas, Mocktails, Drinking Vinegar, Homemade Energy Drinks, Switchel, Shrubs, and More: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U2w2-CiBrkNnZj_IIlqZc9h.html You may enjoy these videos. And if you are interested in learning how to make Kombucha and/or Water Kefir, I have a playlist which includes a Beginners Guide to Kombucha Making along with a video on making water kefir for beginners…which you can watch here: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U3YysV0OYOMsxsJuf_sxPTK.html
➡️And in the Modern Pioneering spirit…If you enjoy canning, or are interested in learning about canning, I have a playlist of my canning videos here which include step-by-step tutorials: ua-cam.com/play/PLkRuW3pBo2U3HJRCmwVAvBNS90WjifR1U.html
➡️Oh…And here is my 2020 Channel Update for everything I have planned for this year: ua-cam.com/video/qjOJh8Cb_-k/v-deo.html
Please let me know if you have any questions. I’m so happy to help! And also, let me know what other types of traditional food videos you would like to see me make. I’m SO glad you’re here!! Love and God Bless, Mary
PS - Are you in our FB group? It’s called Mary’s Nest Modern Pioneers. The direct link can be found in the description under this video. Come join us! We have a lot of fun chatting about Traditional “Nutrient Dense Foods and it’s a great place to get questions answered.
Mary's Nest Hey Mary, yes I do ferment! Love it. I forgot to mention in the last post that I always cover my kefir with a cotton fabric to allow the bacteria to work its magic.
As for fermenting, my favourite is chopping finely the giant garlic we grow in the processor and fermenting it. So easy to pull a jar of that out of the fridge when cooking, and saves wastage too.
Other things I ferment a lot is red capsicum, small cucumbers, beetroot (loved your post on that!), sauerkraut. Have tried other, but these seem to be my favourites. I’m going to try your carrots soon. Lately I’ve done a lot of dehydrating and am going to explore your posts on that. Keep ‘em coming, God bless...Rhonda.
After watching your video I decided to try this. Oh my, it is so good and very simple. Thank you so much.
Wonderful!! ❤️🤗❤️
So happy I found you my milk kefir is amazing thanks to you. You're so helpful! I'm so glad I found you.
This would be a great addition to green smoothies
Can ultra-pasteurized milk (tetra pak) be used to produce Kefir Milk?
I have never tried that, so I am not sure but it is worth experimenting with. Love, Mary ❤️🤗❤️
Good evening Mary..
Another question
When is the best time to drink kefir n how much to drink in a day?
I make 2cups at a time
Hi Mary, I think you can never go wrong with drinking a lot of kefir if it agrees with you. 2 cups per day would be wonderful. As to time of day, I don't think it really matters but making sure that you drink it with a meal will probably be helpful if your meal is rich in prebiotics in order to feed the probiotics in the kefir. Prebiotic foods are usually foods that are high in inulin fiber. Hope this helps!! :-) Love, Mary
Hi, Mary. can we use store bought kefir left over to make a new batch of kefir?
Thank you! I bought milk kefir grains last week and I'm culturing them now, I learned a lot more from your video than from the directions. I am typically milk intolerant, so I used goat milk, I hope it cultures as well. I like water kefir, but lost my grains last year while on vacation. I hope I have good success with lowering inflammation like others that have commented here.
Can Kefir be used successfully in recipes for baking, instead of milk?
Yes, but keep in mind that the heat will destroy the good bacteria. Love, Mary❤️🤗❤️
Hi Ms. Mary! Hope you had a wonderful Christmas! I have a quick question.
I've been making kefir since March of this year. I was a yogurt fan until I discovered kefir and all it's health benefits.
Recently, I left my kefir grains in milk in the fridge for quite a a while. I know you're supposed to change the milk weekly but I didn't for about 6 weeks because...well a long story.
I finally tried to make some kefir and they did but it took longer than usual. The kefir is good but was wondering if they're dying.
It is cold weather here now like in the 30s & 40s. My appartment can get pretty cool this time a year but not freezing cold.
I noticed that they float in the milk now and I remember they used to only float once kefir was done. The grains look plumpy and fluffy as usual.
Are they just cold and working slower? Or are they dying?
BTW I am your BIGGEST fan. Just did my first chicken bone broth this weekend. Looking forward to cooking with a healthier broth and in a traditional kitchen! Thank you!!
If you dont eat that much, how can you keep the grains alive while waiting to make another batch later?
You can refrigerate them in some milk. 🤗
She seems like a sweet lady with a kind heart ❤
I watched the ads without skipping, hoping it will help you 😊
Mary I use to make kefir all the time, but its only my husband and myself so I had so much I didn't know what to do with all the kefir, any ideas for me. Thanks Mary
Should i add inlulin powder prebiotic to the milk while making kefir??
That’s a great question. I generally don’t do that. But you could certainly try an experiment and see if it helps the final product. Love, Mary
I remember my grandmother having "yogurt de pajarito" (bird's yogurt). No idea why they called it like that back then. Anyway, I remember her keeping it under the bed.
At 62, I finally tried Kefir because of you. I went to our local Health Food store for a gallon of raw milk to make mozzerella and then ricotta. Right new to it was a Vanilla Raw Kefir...I said, what the heck. If I am going to try it, this is the one to try. I loved it and now I am addicted. Now to find "grains." (in 2022) the raw Kefir was $6 for a quart. The gallon of raw milk was $15! Ouch. But, making my own raw Kefir would save me $9. Plain kefir at a regular store is $4 on sale for a quart, so I'd still save $1 using a gallon of raw! I love your channel and watch everything!
I'm using good morning Mary I'm not sure how often you look at your messages that have been aired months or years ago I haven't seen it in your video list but I was wondering if you could make kefir cheese? I recently subscribed to your channel and have watched probably 30 of your videos I'm just loving them not sure if anyone's told you but you definitely could be a good book reader for audible because you have a beautiful voice for that type of work!
You can make your own kefir grain fermenting milk for 36 hours
Really? Does it have to be a specific type of milk?
@@Sarai_Anna_bornagain I used grass fed
@@lacocinavirtuosarecetas what’s the process? Do u just let it sit out for 36 hours and from the milk u can gather grains?
@@Sarai_Anna_bornagain yes or until you can see a lot of water in the bottom
@@lacocinavirtuosarecetas thank you for sharing 😊
Hi Mary! I am wanting to start making kefir and truly appreciate your video making the directions so clear as usual. I have enjoyed so many of your videos! I went to natural grocers and bought the kefir starter because they didn't have grains. I was hoping after a batch I would have grains left over, however when I strained my kefir there were no grains. I am a Texas resident as well and wondered if you might be able to send me grains? I have asked around and cannot find anyone I know who does kefir and has any grains to share. I would gladly pay for shipping if you would be willing!
Thanks Mary for your ever so wonderful guide to making fermented foods. How do I make kefir grains. Supposing I can’t get them from where am at. Also, how can I make Kefir without the grains. Thanks Mary
Hi Ann, unfortunately I don’t know if it’s possible to make Kefir grains. I think you might have to find some. I know you can order them online, but I recognize that may not be available to everyone. If you don’t have that option, homemade yogurt is always a good alternative to work getting some good probiotics into your diet. Hope this helps. Love, Mary
Why don't u start by telling us where to get the grains because without them it's useless!
Amazon
Thank you Mary! I am trying to learn how to make yogurt, to start a home business and your videos have taught me a lot. I`m from Venezuela.
Hi Mary … I purchased cultures for health kefir grains and it specifically states in instructions..NOT… to use RAW MILK 🥛… when activating…🤷♀️🤷♀️🤷♀️that’s ALL I DRINK IS RAW MILK …. Why do they say NOT to use RAW MILK … and you say it’s okay…🤷♀️🤷♀️🤷♀️I’m confused.. BUT.. I TRUST YOU.. but I don’t want the activation process to FAIL.. bcuz I didn’t follow THEIR INSTRUCTIONS… please help… or someone in the community.. please 🙏..TY in advance .. I’m so excited about starting my new journey into healthy homemade kefir …
Hello Mary....I also hear kefir doesn't like metal. I usually dip the handle end of a wooden spoon in my kettle of boiling water for a minute or so....then stir my jar with the slim handle end. Good to know that it might be not as serious a thing as we're led to believe 🌹
Mary, I love your story about buying kefir, comical 🥰. Thank you for doing these tutorials.
Hi sweet Mary,
I always appreciate your positive and informative videos; and especially how you never assume the viewer knows things.
It's only my 2nd time with milk kefir [kuh-FEAR] the first time was a disaster. I had no idea what I was doing and it was more than 8 years ago and there were almost no videos on YT. I've been doing water kefir (completely diff grains0 - to make naturally carbonated (with billions of probiotics) grape soda in flip top jars for years. We love it. I'm inspired to try the 2nd ferment with milk kefir; I read an article by the guy who wrote "The Art of Fermentation" on what some do where kefir grains come from (the middle east; Turkey, I believe) with their 2nd ferment. This group added cinnamon, honey, & orange peels to the kefir (after straining out the grains), put it all in a crock, and buried the crock in the ground for 30 days! (My frig or pantry would work as well.) He said the resulting kefir cheese/yougurt was delectable. I'm dying to try 2nd fermenting with milk kefir. I love the kefir chese (labneh) I get from the local Turkish market. Mmmmm!!! It's my favorite instead of butter on toast. So delicious.
Anything to make those who don't like it, tolerate it better?
That is a great question. I think the only think you can do is add some pureed fruit or some type of sweetener like honey. Love, Mary
When I second ferment kefir, I add about a teaspoon of sugar or honey, a smidgen of vanilla and a slice of lemon or lime. and leave it for a few hours before back in the fridge until next morning. I find it gets much thicker and I like it better than ice cream. You can keep reusing the slice of lime or lemon a few times.
Hi mary
Another question
How do I consume 2nd fermentation?
Do I stir the curd n wey up ,strain them again b4 consuming?
Mary Lee - Hi Mary, Yes - Stir the curds and whey but you do not need to strain it if you do not want to. Love, Mary❤️😘❤️
Thanks could you send me some grain please? I have been making it with store bought kefir drink.
Thank you! I learned how to make my own yogart from Heidi, I'm going to try the kifer... as soon as I start getyjn fb milk again...we have 4 girls that will be kidding soon!
Beulah Land Homestead Farm - Wow!! That is fantastic!! Let me know how it goes!! ❤️😘❤️
My husband was at the farmers market yesterday and a lady brought some grains for me...so, the milk she gave them to us in ( he put them in the fridge last night) is that ok to drink ? I think she used store milk...I'd like to use my raw goats milk, would that be ok?
Beulah Land Homestead Farm - It should be fine to drink. And yes, Raw milk works great … Either cows milk or goats milk. Raw milk sometimes makes a slightly looser Kefir than pasteurize milk. Making kefir with pasteurized milk is a great way to improve the nutrition lost to pasteurization. But making Kiefer with raw milk is obviously the best! Keep me posted on how it turns out. Love, Mary❤️😘❤️
Oh Mary I can't believe how easy it is to make it. I use it quite alot as love Indian food.
Oh I had a giggle about your husband. He sounds lovey !!!
Many thanks Mary xxx
Patricia Griffiths - Thanks so much!!❤️😘❤️
Hello Mary… I’m going to be malign kefir soon BUT I wanted to ask YOUR opinion on the plastic kefir cage being used in the process…🤷♀️🤷♀️🤷♀️what are your thoughts 💭 if you could share them please and thank you 🙏 in advance
HOW DO YOU MAKE THE KEFIR GRAINS? This is the 2nd video I've watched and neither explained how.to.grow the grains!!!!
HOW DO YOU MAKE THE GRAINS!!! I'm searching UA-cam and can't find where anyone teaches how to make the grains!! This is very frustrating.
Oh, also have you heard about doing a second ferment with a very small piece of fruit or a lemon/orange peel? I'm going to try it for this next batch.
Definitely. A second ferment will be wonderful. Love, Mary
So I made my milk kefir with powder from a packet, but really want to go back to my nutrition store and pay $26 for a sack of real kefir grains, nice and whole and moist. My powder did make a good kefir, but after using my packets up soon, the ones for $10, I will be left with no grains. I drained my milk from powder and found no grains. So stop with the cheap and go for the expensive that will last decades!! By-the-way, this champagne of milk kefir is delicious, mild, milky, and thick but pourable. Tastes like liquid sour cream!!! How often do you drink it for your gut benefit? When is it too much for ingest? Will it take the place of a good yogurt, and other herbals for the gut? Should it be taken daily? How much? Thanks.
5/31/31.....So if I buy a qt. O kefir at the grocery, will it have Kefir at the bottom and can I use that to keep making it then? I'm still a little confused....I always wanted to try it, but never did.....can you let me know on my FB pg. Private msg. me please.....Thanks.....if I don't get a msg. from you, I will check on here same place tomorrow night for your answer.....Thanks Mary....
Hi Mary ,thank you for this video. I am trying to make kefir since I have gut issues. I ordered the kefir grains and I am making kefir everyday . My problem is my grains are not multiplying. Its remain the same as when I bought them. Don't know if I am not doing it right.
Chronic pain in my father's thigh bone: can the pain be cured by drinking milk kefir??
Did he heal his joints using kefir ?
Ok. HOW do you MAKE the grains in the first place? SOMEONE had to actually culture them in the first place, the VERY FIRST grains. So how did they do it?? Can you use some from the plain kefir you buy in the store dairy section?