Good Food Friday: Strawberry Milk Kefir Popsicles

Got milk kefir? I do (again) and I am trying to be purposeful in how I use it. No longer do I want my kefir to take up the refrigerator door but instead I am looking for creative uses for this yummy, good for you, beverage. We are enjoying a blast of super heated air the last couple days here in Ohio and the weather has brought cool treats to mind. Here is my recipe for strawberry milk kefir popsicles the perfect treat any time of day.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/4 cup milk kefir
• 3 Tbsp organic sugar 
• 1 Tsp vanilla extract
• 4 medium (frozen) strawberries & 1 large (frozen) strawberry

Directions:

In a blender combine all ingredients but large strawberry. Blend until smooth. Add large strawberry to blender and "chop" strawberry for frozen chunks of fruit in popsicles. Pour liquid into popsicle mold (I purchased mine for $5.00 at a thrift store). My mold can make 10 popsicles but the recipe only makes 5. This took all of no time at all. Perfect if you have little ones running around your feet. Freeze until frozen (yup I said it... did you see the "recipe for making ice cubes" the comments are too funny!).

Five popsicles is more than enough for my little family. There is a lot of room for creativity in this recipe. Sugar can be replaced with stevia or raw honey. Fresh strawberries can be used instead of frozen. I just have frozen for my breakfast smoothies (also milk kefir or homemade greek yogurt). 

For another version of strawberry kefir popsicles and a quick idea of just what kefir is visit here.

Do you drink kefir? How do you use your surplus? Feel free to leave a comment (they are always welcome!) or join the conversation on our Facebook page. 

Until next time!

Getting Cultured

Blogger almost wouldn't let me post this... **gasp**!

Well I am pleased to announce I am getting "cultured". Yup. Right now in my little kitchen there are amazing things happening. Water and milk kefir grains are rehydrating and turning simple liquid into amazing probiotic goodness. The process started Tuesday afternoon and in a very short amount of time I will be enjoying the first glasses of health restoring wonder juice. Do I have enough information to share with you yet? Nope. Will I soon? Heck ya!

The cloudy stuff at the bottom is the kefir water grains.

I have to say I am in love with sites such as Cultures for Health and Nourished Kitchen. I am reading a page ever chance I get in Real Food by Nina Planck. I am experimenting in the kitchen more and more and setting little goals for myself day by day. Don't be confused. Jackie is a wonder in the kitchen and she has had an amazing head start. While I was stuck behind a desk working stressful jobs and tearing down my health, she was leaning to make wholesome food from scratch (a much better use of her time if you ask me). I am inspired by her food wisdom and drooling over kitchen utensils that I never thought would have a place in my home.

This year is a year of learning for me. Of finally being able to have the time and energy to do so many things I have dreamt of such as backing bread and cooking from scratch and canning. I promise to share with you my triumphs and mistakes. I want to be healthy, feel healthy, and promote a healthy life style to my family that grew up with out one. I can't wait for my husband to completely grasp that McDonald's isn't real food. We are getting there, neighbors. I promise. If you are looking to be inspired on your real food journey I recommend you read 10 Tips for Real Food Newbies. I was able to see how far I have come in making better food choices and at the same time see what new changes I can make.

Soon I will be a pro at this kefir stuff and moving on to other cultured foods. In the mean time, I will be enjoying kefir salad dressing, kefir cheese, kefir dips, kefir breakfast smooths, kefir lemonade...