Mandisa Horn from Horn O Plenty shares a recipe for Pumpkin Carrot Ginger Parfait. Plus she tells us what Kefir is and how to use it!
EQUIPMENT FOR KEFIR (stage 1)
2 TBS or more of Kefir Grains
2 glass mason jars
Small piece of cloth and rubber band
Plastic strainer
Deep Bowl that holds the strainer on top
Rubber spatchula
EQUIPMENT FOR GREEK-STYLE KEFIR YOGURT (stage 2)
Cheese cloth or cloth flour sack
Strainer with lid
Deep Bowl that holds the strainer on top
INSTRUCTIONS FOR KEFIR FERMENT (stage 1):
Put Kefir grains into a clean glass jar
Add milk ratio: 2-3 TBS Kefir grains to 2 1/2 cups of milk or 1/2 cup grains to 5 cups milk – not precise, experiment according to your taste (more or less sour)
Cover with a cloth and secure with rubber band.
Leave the jar out at room temperature for about 24 hours. If it’s cold in your kitchen, you may want to keep the jar in the warmest spot for faster results. Kefir grains ferment milk faster in warmth.
If you place the kefir grains with milk in the fridge, the same ferment that will usually take 24 hours may take 3-5 days. This same scenario in a hot room may take 12 hours.
When ready, it should be thickened and starting to separate into curds and whey.
Stir it and strain into a strainer with a deep bowl underneath.
Stir the kefir to encourage it to move through the strainer. When you’re finished, all your finished kefir will be in the bowl while your grains will be left in the strainer.
Put the grains into a new jar and add more milk to start a new batch of kefir.
The strained Kefir can be used as a Kefir drink, or in a smoothie, or can be strained to make a Greek-style Kefir yogurt (thick yogurt).
INSTRUCTIONS FOR GREEK-STYLE KEFIR (stage 2)
Place the cloth on the strainer so that it covers the holes. Prop the strainer on top of a deep bowl so the bottom of the bowl is far enough away to strain the Kefir.
Pour the strained Kefir into the clothed covered strainer and place a lid over. Leave strain in refrigerator and allow the whey to drain to your desired thickness.
As you begin to drain the strained Kefir, anywhere from 4 hours to 24 hours you will have Greek-style yogurt on the cheese cloth and the separated whey in the bowl. Save the whey for other uses or discard. Store the Kefir in sealed container, refrigerate and use with in 2-3 weeks.
Pumpkin Carrot Ginger Parfait
1/2 cup Greek-style yogurt
1/4 cup pumpkin roasted
1/4 cup carrots roasted
1 teaspoon fresh grated ginger
1/4 tea Vanilla extract
1/2 tsp nutmeg
Sweeten to your taste (maple is nice)
Topping of your choice
Blend everything except your topping until smooth. Top with your favorite topping.
Visit Horn O Plenty located at 220 Wolfsburg Road in Bedford or call (814) 623-0522 for more information.