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Kefir Resources

So, I’ve been using kefir now for about two years. My love for it has only grown – I’ve shared my love with friends and family members…I’m trying to get everyone on the kefir train! Stacy jumped off the kefir bridge, and I’m trying to get you to jump with me. Everybody’s doing it.

Okay, so not everyone is doing it. And you’ll likely get some strange looks if you start telling people you ferment milk. Kefir is essentially fermented, cultured milk. It’s FULL of probiotics and all sorts of good stuff. It’s very healthy and I try to keep it on my menu regularly since it contributes to a healthy immune system. [Read more…]

Crock Pot Spiced Apple Cider

Something about the holidays makes me want cider. Something about the holidays makes me want to sing carols. Something about the holidays makes me want to eat sausage balls. Something about the holidays makes my hips spread out and fill up my pants. Dang those holidays.

Holidays = good time for yoga pants. Amen.

I like having hot drinks when I have a party – and cider is one of the drinks I enjoy serving at my parties. I haven’t really had a party in years. It’s because you have to be non-sleep deprived to have a party. I read that somewhere. [Read more…]

Crock Pot Honey Spiced Latte

Most of the time, I don’t want you to mess with my coffee. I want it hot. And black. Don’t put anything weirdo in it.

You won’t find me at Starbucks ordering a tall mochachino latte double frapp decaf vanilla flave. Huh? What is that mess anyway? IT’S NOT COFFEE. You’ll find me in line at McDonald’s ordering a large coffee for $1. Yea, I like McDonald’s coffee – so shoot me.

But this latte, this is different…it’s like dessert, but liquid. Liquid dessert. It flows down your throat like a dream. You’ll close your eyes and savor each sip. It’s THAT good. [Read more…]

Stevia Soda

I love drinks with bubbles in them……well, except champagne. I had champagne once – at a wedding. Everyone drank it at the same time for the toast and immediately when it was in my mouth I knew I was going to gag – it was TERRIBLE. But, since I was in a crowd I knew it was most likely unacceptable for me to spit it out – so I didn’t. But I’m sure I was making the most terrible face of all time. I hope it was not captured on photo for all of eternity. *Shudder*

You’ve already read about my capers with Water Kefir  so we’re obviously not going to be drinking that. But sometimes I’d like to have something other than Teecino and water. This week we made Ginger Ale, which made my wheels start to turn. If I can flavor club soda with ginger, why can’t I flavor it with all sorts of things? I can! [Read more…]

Homemade Hot Chocolate (Cocoa) Mix

Image by Stevendepolo

I love hot chocolate when it’s cold outside. We like it best made with milk on the stovetop, but sometimes I like having it available at the drop of a hat, in powdered form. But have you read the list of ingredients on a hot cocoa box? Well, don’t. It’ll make you cry in the grocery story. I kept seeing homemade cocoa mixes galore before Christmas to act as gifts, but I didn’t make any – they all called for white powdered sugar. Since we don’t eat that anymore, I crossed it off my list. But THEN it started getting cold in Northeast Tennessee, and I wanted some cocoa. And when Mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy. Amen. So I decided to make it my way. [Read more…]

Teeccino: an Herbal Coffee Alternative

When our family cut out most of our caffeine we then switched to decaf coffee. It resulted in several weeks of headaches for Barry and me. First we went to half-caf and had headaches about two weeks. Then we switched to 100% decaf and had another two weeks of headaches. But now we’re feeling fine! :mrgreen:  It’s sorta scary when you think about it. I told Barry I felt like a drug addict.Coffee is one of my morning enjoyments. I love smelling it brewing and I love pouring a steaming cup. It just makes breakfast seem right. However, being on decaf coffee can be hard if you’re out and about. When you ask people if they have decaf, they always give you this strange, bizarre look. “No, I don’t think so.” I know they’re thinking, “you look too young to be drinking decaf.” And when I order decaf at restaurants I always wonder if they REALLY brought me decaf or if they just pour everyone a cup out of the same pot. Things that make you go hmmmmmm. Or for that matter, was my burger formerly on the floor in the kitchen? It’s best just not to ponder on these things. [Read more…]

Adventures In Water Kefir!

So, you might recall that I told you that our family had cut out most of our caffeine….at least caffeine in the drinkable state. So, that meant I was drinking only water and decaf coffee. I hate tea, so that is 100% out. BLECH! In a state of homemakerness, I decided to order some water kefir grains from Cultures for Health and try my hand at that. Basically, water kefir is like dairy kefir…..but with WATER. Wow. I bet that threw you for a loop. It’s a fermented drink, high in probiotics – very good for you. I also ordered some for my friend Brandy to try – because I just figured that misery loves company. Or something like that. So, here is how it all went down. [Read more…]

Peanut Butter Kefir Smoothies

We love smoothies here at the Myers house. If I’m going to be making a lot of them, I make a smoothie base and keep it in the fridge (thanks Brandy!). I am always looking for good ways to use up my kefir and get the great benefits of all the probiotics……especially as it’s getting closer to the time of year when sickness abounds. This is one of my favorite smoothies – probably because it has peanut butter in it and I’m a peanut butter fanatic. I’ve used kefir in this smoothie, but feel free to use plain yogurt in its place. You’ll need kefir (or yogurt), a ripe banana, honey (I used raw), wheat germ, peanut butter and vanilla. [Read more…]

Stacy’s Adventures in Lemonade!

I keep seeing all these pictures and posts about making homemade lemonade. I always pass over them because, well……I hate lemonade. Barry loves it though. BUT, I do like the strawberry limeade from Sonic. Then I was in Food City and something came over me and I decided to pick up four lemons since they were on sale. I could tell you it was the Holy Spirit…..but this wasn’t a spiritual experience AT ALL. I mean, it’s just lemonade. How hard could it be? Surely I, Stacy of the Kitchen, could conqueror lemonade. Well lemonade is stupid.

This is what I started out with. I was so tickled with myself. You should have seen me bee-bopping around the kitchen. I thought I was really something. I pulled out the lemons, some strawberries, stevia, and lime juice. Oh yeah, I thought I was really going places. I really should have consulted y’all on Facebook first.

I decided to get all fancy with myself and I pulled out my immersion blender. I pureed the strawberries so they’d be all nice and smooth……and for some reason, I totally forgot that strawberries have SEEDS. Good night. You’d think I had never had a strawberry. Hind sight is 20/20.

My berries were frozen, so when they thawed I kept the liquid gold for my “lemonade.” I could have slurped it up, but I try to be a good role model. *Cough*

On our journey to healthy eating, we’ve moved over to using a lot of stevia instead of sugar. I’m still learning exactly how to use it. There is a learning curve for sure. I added 30 drops of stevia which I thought was more than enough. I mean, 30 drops? Heck, it might give us a sugar rush with all that sweetener in it!

I have this handy-dandy juicer that came with my mandoline so I used it to juice all four lemons. All fruit juices better if it’s not cold, so I had let my lemons sit out for several hours. I like juicers because, well……I haven’t cut myself on one yet.

Okay, so I thought I was being SO SMART when I strained the lemon juice to get out the seeds. I should have also strained the strawberry juice to get the seeds out of it…..oh wait, strawberries have seeds? I didn’t know that! I strained the lemon juice right into the strawberry juice container.  Oh, and I’m still bee-bopping around my kitchen at this point.

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh yeah. You know all those fancy people on television use lemon zest in just about everything. Well, I’m fancy too (NOT!) so I decide to just put some zest right on in my juice too. (You do realize we’re heading toward pulpy lemonade, don’t you?) Into the juice goes the zest! I’m such a culinary genius.

I hate to waste stuff, so I put part of my lemon peels down the disposal so it wouldn’t smell like dead animals anymore. I froze the rest of them so I’d have lemon zest whenever I need it. Genius I tell ya, genius.

Well, it won’t be strawberry lime lemonade if I don’t add lime juice. Limes weren’t on sale…..so they didn’t make it into my buggy. I had this stuff at home, so I used it. Oh, and by the way – it’s potent. I forgot that part.

I’m almost done!!! I mixed everything up and added about 4 more cups of water.

I put it in a pretty pitcher because well, it’s pretty. I have to admit, I was clucking. How cute! I did it!!!!! My strawberry lemonade limeade is doggone cute!


I poured a big ole glass, and took a big gulp……and spit it out. What the devil is wrong with this stuff? Good night! It would make me grow chest hair if I drank it. Shewwwweeeee! So, I reach for the stevia. More stevia. It needs more. I add 30 more drops. Yes, 30. Another drink…………I didn’t spit it out, but I did jerk my head backwards and roll my eyes around. Thirty more drops…….Yes, 30. Okay. I had to take a break. My mouth felt funny. So, I left it alone for a minute. Can you get heartburn from lemonade? I have heartburn. Where are the Tums? I went to do something with Annie (I think spell words with her blocks). When I came back, all the strawberry had sank to the bottom…..with my heart. I’m a lemonade failure. But no, I’m not a quitter. More stevia. At this point, I have no idea how much I added. Really. But, eventually I get it right. Barry comes home, tries a glass and says “Hey, this is pretty good.” Well, you better enjoy it buddy because I don’t think I’m making it again. It has to be stirred every time, but I’m drinking a glass right now and it’s not too shabby. My $4 pitcher of lemonade has turned out great.


I’ll leave the recipe below. It might be good for teenage boys who need to grow chest hair.


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Print Recipe

Stacy’s Strawberry Lime Lemonade

Ingredients

  • 4 cups water
  • Stevia to taste really, taste it
  • Juice of 4 lemons
  • 1 cup of strawberries pureed (straining them is a good idea too. Good grief.)
  • 1 tablespoon lemon zest
  • ½ cup lime juice

Instructions

  • Combine all and chill in the fridge.
  • Add more sweetener. You can’t go wrong with more sweetener.

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How to Make a Smoothie

Did you know there are actually restaurants that only sell smoothies? I still haven’t figured that one out. I’ve never been to one, as I’ve heard they’re pretty expensive. To me, it would sorta be like drinking my money, all blended up. Do you know where that money has been? Eww! Also, I think those smoothies are supposed to sometimes stand in as your meal. What is THAT about? Only a smoothie to eat? Man, I need something else with my drink, like cereal, toast, or waffles. Man cannot live on smoothie alone. I make great smoothies at home, using whatever we have on hand. You can do it too, because it’s SO easy! I’ll go step by step, giving you ideas so you can create your own custom smoothie, and for heaven’s sake please eat a biscuit with it.
For this demonstration, I made Peanut Butter and Banana Smoothies. Those are two ingredients that are just meant to be together. Soul mates! These are the ingredients that I used if you want to make one just like me (awwww, flattery!): two bananas, two tablespoons of peanut butter, ¼ cup dry milk, two tablespoons wheat germ, one cup of yogurt, and a handful of ice cubes. This made enough for two smoothies, so if you only want one you’d cut it in half – genius, right? [Read more…]