Kombucha!  Now, now...do not fear.  If you have heard of kombucha before and were afraid, let's try again!  Kombucha is an ancient way of fermenting tea to create a lovely home for beneficial bacteria.  This beneficial bacteria is wonderful for repleneshing good flora in the intestines. 

Making kombucha is easy and you do not need many supplies to get going today.  You'll need a large pot for boiling 12 c. water.  A large glass (food grade) container for fermenting.  A kitchen towel, strainer, tea bags, organic sugar....hmmm what else?  Ah hah!  1 bottle of plain raw kombucha.  Use any brand you like.

The initial step is to grow your SCOBY (a.k.a. mushroom, which it is not)  SCOBY: Symbiotic Colony of Bacteria and Yeast. (Once again, do not fear!)

Boil your water for 10 minutes to purify it and kill off anything you don't want or need in the water.  Add 1 cup organic sugar and boil 5 minutes more. Then add 6 black tea baghs, preferably organic and boil for 3-5 minutes.  Remove the bags, cover the pot and let sit overnight or until the tea reaches room temperature.

The next morning, pour you new sweet tea into the food grade glass container and then pour over that the whole bottle of raw kombucha.  Cover this with cheesecloth or a clean kitchen towel and place the whole thing in a relatively cool to warm dark space.  I keep mine in a cabinet above the stove in the kitchen.  Anywhere between 10 days and 3 weeks, you'll have some stuff growing on top of the tea, this is your SCOBY.  As long as there is no mold (just like bread mold..hairy and soft) you are good to go.  taste your kombucha along the way, maybe every 10 days or so. Check for flavor!  It will smell a bit like sweet vinegar.  Once your SCOBY is about 1/4" thinck, you can strain the kombucha into individual bottles, old kombucha bottles that you have saved or ball jars, etc.  Put the lid on well and let them sit on the counter for 4 days or so, then refrigerate.  The second fermentation happens in the little bottles (this can also be done in one big bottle if you like).  The second fermentation will create a more effervescent feel/ taste to your kombucha tea. 

Done.  Yum.  If you want to add some flavoring to the kombucha, do so when you rack the tea into the smaller bottles before letting it sit for the second fermentation.  Add strawberry puree, organic grape juice, crystalized ginger minced up well, etc.  Try new things!  This is YUM and has been used in many cultures to help keep the insides healthy, give a nice energetic boost, satiate the appetite a bit and to strengthen the immune system.
It is also a great replacement for soda.  If you are addicted to sodas, start drinking this.  (Not 12 a day, though.  All things in moderation!  Start with 8 oz.-12 oz. a day and then work your way down to 4-6 oz.  You don't need much of this powerful beverage!)

I hope this was helpful and enjoy!  If you have any questions, email me!

In Peace,
Kirsten

You do not have to eat an all raw diet to benefit from these amazing foods.  Everyone is different! We live in different environments, are active in different ways and have different needs. 
The best advice I can give is listen to your body and your doctor if you have one and experiment!  Try new things.  One thing is for sure; Most people agree that eating more fruits and vegetables is a good idea. 
And if I were to make one suggestion and one suggestion only as to what to change in the average american diet it would be; Drink your green smoothie every morning as your first meal! 
There are countless varioations on the green smoothie theme; just use some fruit and some leafy greens. 

Mix up your greens daily as each type of fruit and veggie contains different nutrients and vitamins, etc.  Change it up!  Use a leafyn inknown leafy green once a week.  If you peruse the produce and see some lovely green leaves, try it next! Try kale; green, lacinato or purple; chard, spinach, arugula, dandelion greens, parsley or cilantro.  Use bananas, apples, pears, pineapple, peaches, any berry you like, etc.  Explore. 

Another good rule of thumb is to keep it simple.  One or two fruits and one or two leafy greens.  Add some flax seeds or chia seeds for additional nutrients; fats and oils.  Smoothies are a wonderful way to wake up you body and feel light, hydrated and energized until lunch time.  Simply by changing your morning meal, you will change your life for the better. 

Hmm.  Are you a cereal person?  Do you eat lots of processed flakes and clusters found in a box?  Move away from those processed foods and into a more natural cereal by making your own;  It is easy! 
The recipe below is what I made last night for breakfast this morning.  (And it made enough to keep us eating it daily for a while!)  These ingredients are what we had in the house but you can use just about any nut, fruit or seed you like!  Just be sure to dry it long enough that everything gets dry and doesn't retain any moisture.  That way it'll keep well! 

yum yummy gRAWnola
Makes about 6 cups grawnola

FOR GRANOLA
1 c. pumpkin seeds
1 c. black or tan sesame seeds
1 c. walnuts or pecans
1 c. shredded or flaked coconut
1/2 c. raisins
1/2 c. dried tart cherries
2 c. fresh or frozen blueberries
FOR PASTE
6 Medjool Dates, pitted
juice of 2 oranges
1/4 c. honey, maple syrup or agave nectar
1 Tblsp. Cinnamon

Now, soak your seeds and/or nuts for 20 minutes or so then rinse and drain.
Mix all the granola ingredients together. 
Blend all the PASTE ingredients together and then pour onto the granola.  Mix well.  Dehydrate at 104 until dry.  You can smooth it out before dehydrating and then cut into bars or just dry and then break into pieces.  Eat it as is or pour your favorite nutmilk over it and eat it that way.  We had this for breakfast this morning and it ROCKED!

Dehydrate it completey and then store it in an airtight container.  Will keep for a month or so as long as it is dried out well.

If you do not have a dehydrator, then dry it out in your oven on the lowest temp. possible until completely dry.

Here is to your health!
In peace,
Kirsten