Kefir Recipes: Buttermilk Dressing for Salads and Marinades

Once you have made living food part of your everyday life, you will be looking for ways to use your homemade kefir.  Once such way is as a delicious dressing.  We all know that commercially-prepared dressings are made with many undesirable and health-robbing ingredients.  This recipe I will share below is an excellent alternative to the bottled versions available in the store and far tastier as well.

Buttermilk Dressing for Life

• 1T. Fresh Lemon Juice, not bottled
• 2T. Chives, chopped
• 1T.  Italian Parsley, chopped
• Black Pepper to taste
• Sea Salt
• 2T. Olive Oil
• 1 Garlic Clove, Minced
• 1/4C. Plain Non-fat Greek Yogurt or homemade
• 1/4C. Mayonnaise
• 1C. Kefir

Method: In a blender combine all the ingredients except the olive oil.   A Ninja or food processor would also work great for this.  In a slow, steady stream drizzle in the olive oil as you continue the blending process.  Once the olive oil is incorporated continue blending another 30 seconds.  Pour into your desired container and refrigerate.  You can add a little cayenne pepper for some extra zip.  This also makes a great marinade for chicken breasts and is a great dip for the veggies you didn't ferment.  Let me know what you think.

Living Life for Him,
The Cultured Mom

How To Make Healthy Ketchup That is Delicious

I don't know about your house, but here in mine Ketchup is the King of condiments.  When looking for a tasty, healthy alternative to the HFCS-laden store varieties it has been an adventure.  I also considered this condiment as another opportunity to get health-boosting living enzymes into those sharing my table.  Here is my kid-friendly Living Ketchup Recipe.  Let me know what you think!
Living Life for Him,
The Cultured Mom

Living Ketchup

• 3C. Tomato Paste, home-canned or Organic preferred in BPA-free container
• 1/4C. Liquid Whey, THMers use what you've strained off when making Greek style yogurt
• 1T. Pink Himalayan or Sea Salt, the kind with the minerals, not iodized
• 1/2C. Organic, Grade B Maple Syrup or Sucanat
• 1/4tsp. Cayenne Pepper
• 3tsp. Peeled, crushed Raw Garlic
• 1/2C. Fish Sauce, additive-free sold in Asian markets

Be sure not to substitute honey in this recipe as it's natural antibiotic properties will serve to inhibit proper fermentation.  Place all ingredients in a wide mouth Mason jar or other glass container leaving at least 1" at the top for expansion.  Here's the hard part...screw on the lid, shake to combine, and place on the counter, covered for 2 days.  Refrigerate. Will last for several months refrigerated.

More recipes and sauces

**Turn this into your new favorite Sweet and Sour Sauce by mixing 1C. Living Ketchup with 1/4C. Raw Apple Cider Vinegar and 1/4C. Maple Syrup. Voila!
For Cocktail Sauce combine 3/4C. Living Ketchup with 1/4C. Fresh Horseradish.  Does it get any simpler?
Mix 1/2C. Living Ketchup, 1/2C. Homemade Mayonnaise, and 1/4C. Rocking Relish for Thousand Island Dressing in a snap!