How To Make Raw Cultured Vegetables

After hearing about my friend Judith Barnes, aka Zucchini Breath, and her fermented sauerkraut-making extravaganza this winter, I decided to give it a go.

Now, Ive gotta be honest. Having been raised by the Hungarians, when I think of sauerkraut, memories of kolbász (garlic sausage) and székely goulash (pork stew) come to mind. So, it was a little bit of a stretch for me to envision eating sauerkraut in the raw. But hey, this journey into Raw Food Land has been all about stretching my self-imposed limitations, exploring new foods, and creating new taste memories.

When I learned that cultured vegetables add valuable probiotics and enzymes to your body, which help stamp out Candida, boost your immune system and curb your cravings for sweets, I was all "Lets get fermenting!"

So How Do We Do This?

In a nutshell, raw cultured vegetables are made by shredding cabbage or a combination of cabbage and other veggies, and then packing them tightly into an airtight jar or crock. They are then left to ferment at room temperature for several days or longer. Easy.

During the fermentation process, friendly bacteria grow, multiply, and thrive in their new environment. They convert the sugars and starches to lactic acid and partially digest the veggies, softening them or "pickling" them in the process.

Heres a wonderful video by Sandor Katz on fermenting vegetables. I love this guy! Check out his book Wild Fermentation for loads of information on the health benefits of fermented food.

See how easy that is? And after you get the hang of it, you can get creative and start experimenting. Try dark leafy greens like kale and collards. Soak, drain and chop up sea vegetables like dulse, wakame, hijikii and arame. Add either fresh or dried herbs such as dill, caraway, juniper berries, garlic, and ginger root. Let your imagination run wild!

Fermented vegetables can keep in your fridge for months. Like women and fine wine, they become even more delicious with time. (*wink*) You can pull one of these living salads out whenever youre hungry and have some "fast food."

Heres a few of my favorite recipes so far. Enjoy and share!

Cucumber Kimchi
3 English cucumbers, thinly sliced
6 inches fresh ginger, grated
2 daikon radish, grated
4 scallions, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1/2 lemon, juiced
2 Tbsp cayenne
1 Tbsp sesame seed

Spicy Pink
3 heads red cabbage, shredded
6 carrots, grated
3 inches fresh ginger, grated
6 cloves garlic, chopped

Sweet Kraut
3 heads green cabbage, shredded
2 beets, grated
3 carrots, grated
1 Fuji apple, grated
1/2 lemon, juiced

Slow Cooker Carrot Pudding Recipe

Carrot pudding? Are you serious? Thats the recipe youve got today?

I know. It sounds really weird, but I had some with a slab of roast beef at a steakhouse a few years ago and havent been able to get it out of my mind ever since.

This is a side dish, not a dessert. Serve it alongside a nice juicy steak with a baked potato. Serve it to your inlaws---theyll think youre fancy.

The Ingredients.

serves 10

4 cups grated carrots

1 small onion, grated

1 cup heavy cream

1 egg, beaten

2 teaspoons kosher salt

1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1 tablespoon white granulated sugar

The Directions.

Use a 4-quart slow cooker. If youve only got a big guy, thats okay, but your pudding will cook faster--check it after 2 hours.

Grate the carrots and onion--- Adam bought himself (he said it was for me, but Im scared to death of the thing, so he uses it each and every time) a  food processor, which is what we used to grate our carrots and the onion. If you want to buy the already-grated carrots (near the bagged salad and coleslaw), go for it.

Add the grated veggies to your crockpot.

In a mixing bowl, combine the cream, egg, salt, nutmeg, and sugar. Pour this mixture into your slow cooker, and stir well. Cover and cook on low for 4 to 5 hours, or on high for about 2 to 3. Your pudding is done when the carrots are tender. Now, using a hand-held stick blender (CAREFULLY) pulse a few times to create a pudding-like consistency. You can also (carefully!!) transfer the carrot concoction to a traditional blender to pulse a bit.

Some might ask if the blending is necessary. I think so. The consistency is changed quite a bit by blending, and the pudding becomes velvety and smooth. You dont want it smooth like baby food, but definitely creamy and combined.

Serve with meat and potatoes for a rich and satisfying meal.

The Verdict.

My kids like this, but have a hard time with the "weird" factor. Adam likes it a lot----we usually pair it with grilled steaks. This is a great companion to a summer cookout when you want something different, but arent sure what that is exactly.

Its the last week of school for us! Im terribly excited to have everyone home with me. Im planning to stay in my slippers each day for as long as I can.

Ive written a bit about our summer plans over on Totally Together Journal, and why I consider myself to be a "closet homeschooler."

Any big summer plans for you and your family?

DIET PLAN 5 2 NEW SCAM OR SLIMMING SUSTAINABLE

The fast diet, which is a hit in Britain and the United States for months, also known as Plan 5: 2,

What is the principle? Eat freely for 5 days and belt-tightening for 2 days.

Breast Cancer fast speed (Fast diet)

Michelle Edward, nutritionist and Anthony Howell, professor of oncology, have followed a hundred of their obese patients the Genesis Breast Cancer Prevention Centre (Hospital of South Manchester) a conventional low-calorie diet and one with a significant caloric restriction for two days alternating with five days of normal diet.

Why? They wanted to see if these two days of drastic diet before chemotherapy, they would get better results in breast cancer treatment.

And then, surprise! They see only the two regimes, they arrive at almost similar results in both weight loss in biological parameters. And that the two regimes are equally effective as the other.

After the publication of this study, Michael Mosley, physician and television producer, seizes and carries a documentary for the BBC in the strong headline: Eat, Fast and Live Longer (Eating, fast and live longer), which is a hit hearing. In the process, he published The fast diet and suites (menus, recipes etc.) that sell like hotcakes. Last month, Michelle Edward and Tony Howell published by Editions Michel Lafon 2 days of detox, 5 days of fun (subtitle: the global phenomenon).

Heres how a study of weight loss to prevent breast cancer recurrence we moved to the new miracle diet, raw 2013.

The Diet Plan 5: 2, how it is organized?

Two days a week, not in a row, you just 500 calories (600 for men).

You eat only dairy products, lean meats and fish (50 g of protein per day), a few fruits and vegetables, of course: at 30 calories per 100 g on average, it actually not bad. Plus some walnuts, almonds or hazelnuts. You drink green tea, herbal tea and water.

The other five days, you eat "normally" but still not up to you.

If youre addicted to sugary products, pastries, sauces, greasy hamburgers, fries etc. it will not work. If you rush to the bottle of wine, it will not work at all either! Highly recommended to adopt a Mediterranean diet: vegetables and fruits, fish often, cereals, olive oil. But if you want a piece of chocolate, ice cream, a cake, it is possible. Provided they do not stuff yourself.

But ... it is also essential to have a physical activity.

Half an hour of walking or cycling every day, including fasting nickname. You increase your calorie expenditure 150 walking, pedaling 250 for 30 minutes.

Do we lose weight fast? I DONT NO

And that is good news! In the British study the origin of this Plan 5: 2, weight loss is about 4 kg after 3 months.

And the subtitle of The Fast Fasting diet regime is the secret of fasting intermittently lose weight, stay healthy and live longer. Which tempers the misleading title but seller, the book. (Fast = Fast!)

The more you have pounds to lose, the more you will have to adopt this method for a long time.

Should we adopt this Diet Plan 5: 2?

Not without the advice of your doctor anyway.

And only if you are really grieved a lot of extra pounds. For he must have a good fat stock to support the two days of belt keeping normal activity.

Even if it is not a true fast (where only absorbs water) to 500 calories a day - so you spend on average from 1800 to 2500 - can be a source of diverse and varied ailments.