There is something brewing in my pantry

Things are getting a little weird around here. 

Aunt Alli has been brewing interesting healthy concoctions in our pantry for the past two weeks. After a week of sitting fermenting in my dark pantry, the Kombucha was ready for drinking.  You can read more about Kombucha and it's health benefits here. There are also numerous places on the internet where you can learn about how to make it once you obtain your very own "Mother." (And if you are really interested in a "Mother," my sister will sell one to you and then mail it.)

Alli is showing off the "Mother" to Lexi. To me it kind of resembles a slimy mushroom.

Separating the new "Baby" from the "Mother." A new "Baby" grows with each fresh batch you make. Now we have two Kombucha batches going at the same time.

 Here is the Kombucha ready for drinking and looking very delicious. Don't be deceived by the bright sun and green plants. It is FRIGID outside today. Not even making it to 20 F. I feel like we are in Little House on the Prairie's The Long Winter book...minus the snow and endless prairie.

Lexi LOVES Kombucha!!! Here she is guzzling hers from a mug. She was much too absorbed to look up at the camera. The result from our Kombucha was a fizzy sweet drink that resembled a fruit cider. It was remarkably delicious and is excellent for probiotic health. 

We are also brewing Water Keifer at the same time. Not quite as appetizing, let me assure you. However, it IS fizzy. And better if you lace it with juice (or rum, perhaps?) or some other fresh fruit once it's done brewing in the pantry and is ready for drinking. Lexi, of course, BEGS me for it. I find this funny, but for a little girl who almost exclusively drinks water, anything fizzy or flavored is the biggest treat EVER in her opinion. :-) That's probably why I can still get her to drink my green smoothies most of the time too. 

Here's the Water Keifer ready to go back into the pantry. It has raisins, a lime, and a few dried apricots floating in it. 

Next on the list is to get the beginnings of our "urban farm" underway. We are planning out the garden this week and will be ordering some seeds. We aren't starting everything from seed this year (we had too much going on and should have started weeks ago), but things like herbs, zucchini, beans and cucumbers, etc, we will sow in the ground. We are starting small this year, with the hopes that we can keep the squirrels out of it. If we succeed, we may go bigger next year.