Flavoring Kombucha: Ginger, Sage and Basil (& a few tips)

I just flavored another batch of Kombucha and it is delicious!


I used fresh ginger (chopped or shredded finely)
Fresh Basil Leaves
Fresh Sage Leaves

Ginger, Basil and Sage 

The first batched I added the shredded ginger and a piece of basil leaf and a few pieces of sage leaves.  The second batch I chopped all three together and added the mixture while I'm letting my kombucha double ferment.  I put the first batch in the fridge and am waiting to see how the leaves turn out looking (brown then I'll remove them) if they are good to go I will keep them in.  I am going to put the second batch in the fridge in a few days.  I do not think I will have to filter this batch with the leaves chopped finely. 


I have already given most of my first batch of mango and melon away and so far people love it.  It was originally very sour but I was able to reduce the sour taste by adding more juice.  I have perfected my bottling regime down to every 5 days bottle and flavor and let sit for 3 days to allow to double ferment and then I put those bottles in the fridge.  I am doing a continuous brew so whatever I bottle I replace.  A few times a week I make a big batch of sugar and tea and keep it in the fridge so that I am always prepared to replace what I have bottled. 


I have had to throw out a couple SCOBYS in other batches due to fruit flies.  They seem to find a way into the cheese cloth so I used regular cloth dish towels now.  I also learned that the ferment time is less than two weeks, if I let the batch go for 2 weeks it is too acidic.  Like I stated previously, I bottle every 5 days or so and allow 3 more days to ferment and flavor in the bottles before refrigerating.  I know you will find that your brew time may be different, if you have a higher temperature it will take less time to ferment.  As soon as I see consist bubbles rising to the surface I usually know that it's about time to bottle. 

Eggplant and Everyplant Stirfry

2 cloves garlic (pressed)
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1  eggplant (sliced and squared)
1/2 orange pepper (sliced)
1/2 yellow pepper (sliced)
1/3 red onion (sliced)
1/2 cup sliced mushrooms
1/3 cup shredded hearts of broccoli
1/3 cup shredded red cabbage
1/3 cup shredded hearts of cauliflower
1/3 cup shredded carrots
1/3 cup of peanuts
3 basil leaves (chopped)
3 tbsp hot sauce (whatever you want)
1/4 cup of ginger soy dressing


1. In a large pan on medium low heat add olive oil and garlic for 3 minutes
2. Next add eggplant and mushrooms let simmer for 2 minutes
3. Now add peppers, oinon, carrots, cabboge, cauliflower and broccoli, stir and let simmer for 2 minutes
4. Now add basil, hot sauce and ginger soy dressing and peanuts and stir for 3 minutes
5. Remove from heat and serve or store.

Bottling Kombucha, Flavoring, Pasteurizing and Continuous Brew Cycle

So my Kombucha is ready to be bottled and there is a super easy way to sterilize my recycled bottles to bottle my brew!  You will need a couple stainless steel pots and tongs.

Bring water to a boil, make sure the water is about 150-160 degrees to kill off bacteria etc.

After 3-5 minutes remove bottles and caps from water with tongs (so you don't get burned)

Place bottles and caps upside down on towels to dry

Once dry, cap bottles and put away until you are ready to bottle your brew.

To flavor Kombucha you will need some juice, whatever you want, I used Mango Pear Puree

Fill Bottle an 1/8 of the way with juice

Add Kombucha

Leave some airspace at the top.

Cap Kombucha

Let sit for a few days to allow it to double ferment and then serve of place in Fridge. If you choose to pasteurize your Kombucha, bring water to 150 degrees and place bottle in it for 2 minutes and remove.  This will last longer but some of the Kombucha cultures will be lost due to the heat. 

Now that I have used half of my brew, I am going to do a continuous cycle by replacing the brew with more sugar and green tea mix.  When continuous brewing, just add a tea mix back in to the amount you used.  I removed the baby SCOBY as well and started a second brew.  I should be bottling once a week now!  I have premade a mixture of green tea and sugar and keep it in my fridge to have ready to add back to the brew after I have extracted some Kombucha. 

Transplanting! Organic and Vegan Organic

Here is a quick and easy method for transplanting your seedlings to a larger container to ensure stable growth and to build microbial life at the roots to enhance root uptake and make stronger plants. Everything I have used here is 100% organic.  To grow Vegan Organic use a composting tea instead of soil additives!

I mix my own soil, I am only sharing a few tricks because my soil is my secret recipe. This recipe calls for just one pot to fill.

1. First you will need to fill your pot 3/4 of the way with soil.

 

2. Then add a soil additive to increase air flow.  I am using silica, some people use perlite.    

3. Pour in 4 cups of silica on top of soil

4. Mix by hand

5. Soil should look like thisonce you have mixed it

6. Next add a root inoculant. This helps the roots during the transplant encourages new growth and for the roots to spread. This helps with the fungal layer that grows around your roots.  Your roots should be alive with microbial life.

7.  Add 1 tsp of inoculant on top of soil.

8.  Next I am adding  1 heaping table spoon of a soil additive that consists of bat guano and mycorrhizae, among other things to help feed the plant and enourage growth in the soil,  I am using Rainbow Grow mix. All of these additives help the NPK mix in the plant.  Nitrogen, Phosophorous and Potassium levels are critical to a plants grow strong. 

9. Once you add both additives the top of your soil should look like this.

10. Now with your hands mix the additives thoroughly throughout the soil.

11. Take plant, (mine is a basil plant) and flip it upside down and check to see if it needs to be transplanted.  You check my examining the roots.  If they are growing out of the pot its in, it means they are healthy and are ready for a bigger pot to grow in. 

12. Remove pot by squeezing the outsides of the pot and gently pulling on the stems down. (Soil in pot should be dry when transplanting.  If it's wet is may fall apart.)
 

13.  Look at the roots again, you can see if the plant is root bound or not.  If it is root bound, the roots will be brown at the tips, which means the plant is in dire need of a new home!  To encourage new growth root bound or not, you are going to want to squeeze the roots and allow them to separate a little.  

14.  Once roots are squeezed and separated, Place plant on top of soil, you will notice that you need more soil to fill in the rest of the pot.  

15. Top off the pot with more soil and silica mix around the plant.  Add a layer of worm castings for a bonus!

16.  You are going to want to water your plant but before you do make sure you check the chlorine levels in your water.  Chlorine will kill the microbial life at the roots that you really want to keep alive.  So let your water sit over night and water the next day. 

17.  To encourage new growth and help make the plant grow the way I want (several buds per stem instead of one bud per stem) I pinch the plants.  Pinching is easy and stimulates to heads to form instead of one.  All you do is pinch off the top of the plant where you see the newest growth.  Usually these are small leaves.  Once you pinch off the tops, two sets of leaves will form where one once was. 

Pinch the little leaves off on the top

Pinching little leaves off

What plant should look like after you pinch the small leaves off

After a few days you will notice new growth of two sets of leaves instead of one!

What it should look like as a result of pinching- 2 sets of leaves growing

Composting!

I recently purchased a bin for composting from Costco.  $100 got me a 80 gallon drum with a spin mechanism to keep it moving without having to make much effort.  I placed it out of sight in my backyard to avoid the wifts of decomposing kitchen and yard scraps. I collect my kitchen scraps in a 5 gallon "homer" bucket from Home Depot and every few days dump it in my 80 gallon compost bin.  I keep the bin in the sun to speed up decomposition.  It takes about 6 weeks or so to turn the material into compost soil.  You can make compost teas or just top off your plants in flowers as a fertilizer.

Happy Autumnal Equinox!

 

"Words do not teach. True knowing comes from life experience. We offer these words, that they might stimulate your thinking. Truly, a teacher is a stimulator of thought." - Abraham

JOY is the point.

Abraham speaks to the heart.
They teach that life is supposed to be fun. They say that is what you intended before you got here.
They teach that you can be, do, or have anything you want.
They say YOU create your own reality and the universe is simply reflecting back to you the essence of how you're feeling about it!
Joseph Campbell said, "Follow your bliss." Abraham shows you where you left your compass.
Your compass? Your emotions.

They are your guide.

And, as such, no one—no institution, "movement," family or friends—not even Abraham—is better qualified to direct you. Your emotions are your very own GPS (Global Positioning System), a rock-steady, unfailing and unerring "personal navigational device" to get you where you want to go.

"All is well. You did not come here to fix a broken world. The world is not broken. You came here to live a wonderful life. And if you can learn to relax a little and let it all in, you will begin to see the universe present you with all that you have asked for." - Abraham

Folks, once you get the hang of this—the world's your oyster.

Here is the essence of the Abraham-Hicks message, distilled from workshops with Abraham since 1986.

1. You Are a Physical Extension of That Which is Non-physical.

2. You Are Here in This Body Because You Chose to Be Here.

3. The Basis of Your Life is Freedom; the Purpose of Your Life is Joy.

4. You Are a Creator; You Create With Your Every Thought.

5. Anything That You Can Imagine is Yours to Be or Do or Have.

6. As You Are Choosing Your Thoughts, Your Emotions Are Guiding You.

7. The Universe Adores You for it Knows Your Broadest Intentions.

8. Relax into Your Natural Well-Being. All is Well. (Really It Is!)

9. You Are a Creator of Thoughtways on Your Unique Path of Joy.

10. Actions to Be Taken and Possessions to Be Exchanged Are By-products of your Focus on Joy.

11. You May Appropriately Depart Your Body Without Illness or Pain.

12. You Can Not Die; You Are Everlasting Life.

P.S. It is not necessary for even one other person to understand the Laws of the Universe or the processes that we are offering here in order for you to have a wonderful, happy, productive Life Experience — for you are the attractor of your experience. Just you!

(From Esther and Jerry Hicks Channeling Abraham)

Impromptu Acoustic Set with World Renowned Jazz Musician Gene Playing in My Back Yard, Labor Day Weekend 2011

Gene discusses playing with Barbra Streisand and other famous musicians then gets into his medley

Gene plays a song he wrote about looking out at the ocean in Big Sur, California and missing his love

Just Call Me "Eagle Eye Ashley"

The first video is of me recently shooting my AK-47 with a folding stock and pistol grip.  I was using plain sight (no scope) to hit a target at 50 yards. This is me sighting my target and realizing my safety is on, then I realize the ammo wasn't loading!

 

This second video is of me recently shooting my AK-47.  I was using plain sight (no scope) to hit a target at 50 yards.  My results were 5 shots in a 3 inch range, 2 inches from bulls-eye!

Chance to win 128 oz (Value $50) Tropical Traditions Dish Liquid!

I just know you would love to win this fantastic Tropical Traditions DISH LIQUID, (128oz Value $50.00) 

Household Traditions Dish Liquid is free of:

• Fragrances
• Dyes
• Petroleum Solvents
• Respiratory and Skin irritants

Household Traditions Dish Liquid is an effective and concentrated dish soap developed by and for people with allergies, asthma and Multiple Chemical Sensitivities.* Household Traditions Dish Liquid is a coconut-based product. It contains nature’s versatile, renewable harvest. With coconut’s natural moisturizing qualities, washing dishes is even soothing to your hands. Household Traditions Dish Liquid is safe for you but tough on dirty, greasy dishes. It breaks down safely and rapidly making it safer for the environment. It is also low sudsing, making it ideal for camping or other outdoor uses. Household Traditions Dish Liquid is free of fragrances, phosphates, petroleum solvents, chlorine, dyes and other common triggers for respiratory or skin irritations.

To find out how to win, please visit:
http://gmissycat.blogspot.com/2011/09/tropical-traditions-dish-liquid-coconut.html

Kombucha Brew Update: One Week

Kombucha Mother SCOBY Rising and baby SCOBY forming on top

Baby SCOBY forming with bubbles from fermentation

My reserve Kombucha has been brewing for 3 weeks and is forming a new SCOBY.  My 2.5 Gallon Batch of Kombucha has been fermenting for 1 week.  Thus far,  a baby SCOBY is forming on top, slightly different than my original SCOBY because it is fermenting so carbonation is occuring, leaving tons of big and small bubbles resting under the growing baby SCOBY.  My mother SCOBY has begun to rise from the bottom of the container to the top. this indicates that the Green tea is fermenting properly.  It should only be a week more before my batch is ready to bottle and I'll have 2 SCOBYs to brew more batches, (plus a third that is growing from my reserve Kombucha).  I cannot wait to begin to bottle and flavor the Kombucha,  I was thinking of squeezing my own fruit juice to flavor and adding Chollera and blue green algae for added benefits.  Luckily, Whole Foods is having another sale on KeVita probiotic drink 2/$4 or a case (12 for $21) so I am able to not spend too much money to keep my once a day probiotic drink regime in order.  Here are some pictures!

Reserve Kombucha forming new SCOBY

Again, Reserve Kombucha Forming new SCOBY

16 New Super-Earths Discovered!

• Announced 50 newly discovered planets around stars. One in particular orbits within the habitable zone of its star.  Among the new planets just announced, 16 are super earths. This is the largest number of such planets at one time. They have selected 10 nearby stars similar to our sun.  After 2 years of study, the team found 5 super earths that could lead to discovery of life on those planets.  One of the newly found planets HD85512B, orbits inside the habitable zone. Liquid water could be present on this planet. Astronomers believe 40% of stars similar to our sun harbor at least 1 planet lighter than Saturn. This leads them to believe they can soon find more super earths.

   

   

   

Veggie Tapas

Really easy to make and super healthy and delicious! Raw diets are super healthy!
Ingredients:
1/2 cucumber
4 tbsp of humus (any flavor)
2 pear tomatoes
6 basil leaves
1/2 avocado
1/2 red pepper
6 kalmata olives (depitted)
3 tbsp hot sauce (sarrachi or whatever)

Veggie Tapas without avocado

1. slice cucumbers and tomato 1/4 inch thick
2. slice red pepper and avocado into small squares about 1/2 x 1/2 inch
3. slice olives in half
4. place cucumbers on a serving plate and add 1/2 tbsp of hummus to each slice
5. Place tomato on top of humus
6. Place basil on top of tomato
7. Place red pepper on top of basil
8. Place avocado on top of red pepper and olives next to avocado
9. drizzle each veggie tower with hot sauce
10. Serve

Dinosaur Feathers Found in Amber

National Geographic Released these photos of dinosaur feathers preserved in amber! Life isn't always what it seems.  Funny how what we are taught is constantly getting changed! To read more please visit The National Geographic Website

Preserved for 70 to 85 million years, these feathers are part of a newly revealed trove of likely dinosaur and bird plumage found trapped in amber in Alberta, Canada.

 

 

Food Traceability: a new concept to knowing what you're eating!

Check out this website to trace your food back to its source.  Find out where it was grown, what farm it was grown on,and what products they used to grow it! 

HarvestMark

P.S. My sister helped develop this company, so proud, GO AIMEE!

UFO spotted in South West US

Although many will not confirm that it is ET Life, we should all know by now that the government is fully aware of UFO's and those who control them, the US government has been aware since the 1950's about the nature of UFO's but not one president yet has stepped up to unclassify the archives. One of my friends witnessed this incident as it occurred, claiming a fighter jet was following the UFO for ten minutes with it's lights off.  How many more mass sitings need to occur before someone official confirms the existence of ET Intelligent Life in our Solar System or neighboring ones? We could learn a lot from our space brothers if we start accepting their is more out their than planet earth.  But how could aliens come forth to the masses if people of planet earth cannot coexist in peace with each other?  Planet Earth is splitting hydrogen atoms, a key component to life, if we are not careful we could blow our planet up and change the poles and our axis,which will end life as we know it.  Instead of spending millions of dollars on war and preventive defenses, we should be feeding the hungry and finding away for our nations to coexist in peace.  Perhaps our space brothers have lessons to teach us and will bring us into an age of enlightenment also known as heaven on earth. 

Toasted Brussels Sprouts

Easy side dish!

You will need:
One baking sheet
tin foil
2 cups brussels sprouts
1/2 tbsp of sea salt

1. Preset oven to 400 degrees
2. Wash and halve the brussels sprouts
3. Place flat side down on tin foil over baking sheet
4. Sprinkle with salt
5. Bake for 20-30 mins, until sprouts are crispy and brown on the outside
6. Plate and serve

Brussels Sprouts bottom right, served with Pan Seared Scallops and Ginger Shrimp