Kombucha Questions & Answers

For those new to making kombucha, the process can be intimidating. Every little thing is confusing. Does it matter if my kombucha SCOBY sinks? Can I cut my SCOBY in half? Why can’t I ferment the kombucha SCOBY with fruit juice? How much sugar is left in the kombucha when it’s done? How can I tell when my kombucha is done? It’s taking an unusually long time for my SCOBY to grow. How long is enough? Today, I’m answering these and other frequently asked questions about kombucha. Hope it helps!

How to Make an Egg Substitute with Chia Seeds

Do you want to know how to make an egg substitute with chia seeds? Did you even know that was possible? I am an egg addict. I love eating eggs from pastured hens, love their firm, bright orange yolks, love how nutrient-dense and healthy they are. Yet sometimes I (gasp!) run out of eggs before I have the chance to buy them again from my local farmer. When that happens and I need an egg substitute for some baked goods, I use chia seeds as an egg substitute. (This is also particularly useful for those with egg allergies!)

Where’s The Butter?

It’s not where you think it is. Not long ago, someone was treating me to breakfast and took me to I.H.O.P. I asked the waiter if he could bring me butter, and he brought me margarine.

“Excuse me,” I asked him politely, “but do you have any butter butter? Real butter, I mean, not margarine?” His momentarily confused expression quickly passed, and then he promised to go ask his manager.

Five minutes later, the manager came out and asked me what I wanted. I reiterated that I simply wanted some butter. I wasn’t trying to be a pain, but surely the restaurant had real butter somewhere back in the kitchen.

Five minutes later, he returned. “We don’t have any butter,” he said.

Grass-Fed Meats: Health Benefits

According to a Mother Earth News story, “Supermarket beef is an unnatural, industrial product. The good news is there are better and safer options.” Okay, so if you shouldn’t eat industrialized meat, what should you do?

Kombucha Tea Q & A Part Two

Got kombucha questions? Can kombucha come into contact with metal or plastic? What about heating kombucha? Can you make kombucha from herbal tea? These and other questions are asked and answered in this post.

The 3 Biggest Fermenting Mistakes You’re Already Making

Recently, Lea from Nourishing Treasures did a series of posts in which she tested 18 different sauerkraut fermentation set ups to see which ones were the best — everything from a recycled salsa jar to an expensive Harsch Crock. She tested for the prevalence of lactic-acid producing bacteria, the absence of mold or other undesirable microorganisms, ease of success, and more. This is the summary of her findings!

How To Make Butter: Homemade Butter Tutorial

If you haven’t already, you should learn how to make butter. It’s so simple that I think everyone should do it at least once! To experience the best of what homemade butter can be, I only bother making it if I’ve got some extra raw cream from grass-fed cows on hand.

Healthy Meats: What to Buy

When I was a child, red meat was demonized. Everyone knew that eating well meant eating chicken — lots of chicken. “Heart healthy” cookbooks cropped up everywhere, each one full of the same advice. Of course, these days, science has shown us that the original lipid hypothesis — the idea that eating saturated fat and cholesterol leads to heart disease — is simply false.

Paleo Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding

Pudding is something I refuse to let go of. It is just that good. I have a much easier and much more all-natural paleo chocolate pudding for you. It is dairy-free, packed with Omega-3’s from Chia Seeds, and is tasty all the same. I present to you: Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding.

Why Choose the Continuous Brew Method of Making Kombucha Tea?

One of the first posts I ever shared on Food Renegade was a batch method of brewing flavored kombucha called the double fermentation method. It was the only method I’d ever really known about. Eventually, I heard about alternative brewing methods, including the continuous brew method. So, I asked Hannah Crum of Kombucha Kamp to tell us all about it. What follows is an interview with Hannah.