Homemade Raspberry Kombucha

Friday, December 12, 2016 - 3:21PM - My sweet co-worker gave me a 'scoby' in a "starter kombucha bottle", and I became a Kombucha Mom! Exciting news!!

The 'scoby', who is already a mom herself, has since been giving birth to a couple of new scobies. As soon as the "starter kombucha" started tasting like kombucha, I started another bottle of kombucha for First Fermentation.* The "starter kombucha" was transferred to a couple of regular bottles for Second Fermentation** with raspberries.

Monday, December 26, 2016 - A Homemade Raspberry Kombucha was born! My first creation!!

Kombucha brewing is not simple, but you just need to do a fair amount of research and do it right. It just takes practice, and it will become simple then. :)

I will explain what I discovered "HOW TO" in my own simple words...

 

WHAT YOU NEED (TOOLS, etc.):

- A scoby (You can get one from your friend, buy online or find a baby scoby in a Kombucha drink you buy at stores)

- 1 gallon glass jar (If you can't get one, get a 1/2 gallon or smaller and make sure to change the 'ratio' of the kombucha recipe below↓)

- Wooden spoon (to stir or stick in the kombucha bottle; avoid metal or plastic utensils - scoby will eat them!)

- Rubber gloves (you can also wash your hands really well - to stick your hands in kombucha bottle or touch scobies.)

- Paper towel & Rubber band (to cover the kombucha bottle; scobies need to 'breathe' during First Fermentation* )



BASIC KOMBUCHA RECIPE (INCREDIENTS):

- 1 gallon distilled water

- 1oz. caffeinated tea (black, white, green or oolong...; 8 'tea bags' for 1 gallon jar) Don't use 'flavored tea!'

- 1 cup raw cane sugar

- A scoby :)



Fore more information, I find this following page really useful! → LION HEART KOMBUCHA BREWING RECIPE



DIRECTION:

(*FIRST MERMENTATION):

1) Brew tea for 15 min. Turn off heat, add sugar and stir it to dissolve. Wait for the tea to cool off.

2) Pour the cooled tea in the glass jar, add a scoby. Add a starter kombucha (I used GT's Original Kombucha)

3) Cover the jar with papertowel & rubber band. Store it in a dark place . Best temperature is 70°F to 90°F . Wait for 1-3 weeks. (Takes longer in cold winter.) Try tasting it from time to time (use wooden spoon and pour kombucha into another cup for tasting, no double-dipping!)

(**SECOND FERMENTATION):

4) When the kombucha tastes like kombucha (not too sugary sweet, but kombucha sweet and not too vinegary), it's time to transfer the content into bottles. You can add fruits or fruit juice at this point. In 2-3 days, it's perfect time to drink!

For more detailed direction on HOW TO, the following YouTube Video is really helpful! → HOW TO MAKE KOMBUCHA FIRST AND SECOND FERMENTATION BY BLAKE KIRBY



Happy Brewing!

Christmas Wreath Smoothie Bowl

Good Mornin'~! Waking up to share the Christmas spirit with a little "Christmas Wreath Smoothie Bowl." :)

INGREDIENTS(1 serving):

Smoothie ---
2 Bananas
2 teaspoonful of kale juice (I also used red grapes in the juice)
A spoonful of almond milk

Toppings (Kale Wreath) ---
Wavy part of kale leaves
Pomegranate
Coconut flakes

DIRECTION:

Make a smoothie and decorate! <3

Happy Holidays!

Berry Matcha Smoothie Bowl

G'mornin' Sunshine Faces! <3

This morning, I made a smoothie bowl with matcha and berries. Smoothie bowls have been very popular, and there are so many beautiful creations online. So delicious-looking! Here's my first attempt at better presentation of my breakfast smoothie bowl! (Usually, I just throw the ingredients in my smoothie bowls.)  A hot cup of black cohosh root tea to go with. Yum! 😋

INGREDIENTS(1 small serving):

Smoothie --- 

2 bananas

a bit of almond milk

1 teaspoonful of matcha powder

Toppings ---

Handful of blueberries and raspberries

sprinkle of coconut flakes and granola (sliced almonds/dried fruits/oats --- Just use the granola cereal)

DIRECTION:

Blend the smoothie ingredients. Have fun with decorating the smoothie bowl with toppings! A hot cup of tea goes well with it, too. Happy morning!! 😊

Oh So Green Melon Salad

Since I started my "green diet" five years ago, I think I developed a "green heart" for anything green! So, sometimes, I'm overjoyed to express my love fore green by using just green-colored food. 😄

Here's my "Oh So Green Melon Salad!" 

Super Breezy-Easy to make! Just mix the ingredients below ↓

INGREDIENTS:

Melon (Thinly-Sliced), Arugula and Pistachio (Crushed) 

DRESSING:

Matcha Powder, Grape Seed Oil and Balsamic Vinegar (or Apple Cider Vinegar for brighter green color)

Melon's sweetness takes away the bitterness of arugula. Matcha's calming scent adds to the arugula's own. You can use olive oil, but its strong scent can crash with the others. So, I used grape seed oil instead. 

It's a subtle presentation of greenness. It's FUN! Have a wonderful day, and fun with food, too!😊

Tri-Color "Veggie Noodle" Ramen

Hello~! Today, I made a trip-color "veggie noodle" ramen to feel warmer triple times!!!

INGREDIENTS:

Zucchini, Carrot and Yellow Squash (for Tri-Color Veggie Noodle)

(Baby) portabella, (baby) spinach, ginger, Nori and white sesame (for toppings)

Veggie ends and Chickpea miso (for soup)



DIRECTION:

1. Make tri-color veggie noodles with a spiralizer. (Keep the veggie ends, and use them as soup stock)

2. Steam the spinach. Squeeze the steamed leaves tight and cut them to edible-size chunks. (Keep the squeezed-out "spinach water" as well as the water used to steam the spinach. They can be used in the ramen soup, unless you don't want to mix the "color" in your soup.)

3. Boil medium-hot water, and pour in the veggie ends. (Add the "spinach water" in (2) if you don't mind the mixed color in your soup. I added it, because it's nutritious!)  

4. Pour in the Tri-Color Veggie Noodles in the above med-hot soup. Wait till the noodles get a little tender, and take them out. Keep the noodles in the serving bowl you'll be eating out of.

5. Add chickpea miso in the med-hot soup, if you like Miso Ramen. You can also just use the clear-based soup you just made.

6. Pour in the soup into the serving bowl with Tri-Color Veggie Noodle. Add toppings. Serve the dish. :)

Keep warm and enjoy the day! <3