Kefir from the Land of B

Today is my final guest post as my time as a teacher at Franklin Park is winding down. Fellow chicken-lover and charcutier Rachell Bernhardt from Land of B contributes a post today about kefir. Kefir is one food we have never made for ourselves but I am inspired by her words to get started soon! Cliff and I have a variety of things bubbling on the counter and in the fridge. One of those things is kefir. I took a yogurt, kefir, and butter class at Whole Foods offered by Snowville Creamery. We had already taken a great butter making class at The North Market offered by Snowville. Warren who teaches the classes has business cards that say he's a dairy evangelist and he truly is. We had a thorough lecture on milk and milk fat, patuerization, and homogenzation.

Kefir is a fermented milk drink loaded with probiotics and other great stuff for your insides. It is made from what are called grains, that really look like cauliflower. The grains are cultured at room temperature in fresh milk for 24-36 hours. Then the grains are strained from the kefir. The kefir goes in the fridge and the grains get more fresh milk to start the process over.

One of the cool things about kefir is that the grains grow each time they are cultured. So, there's always some to share with friends! The grains we got from Snowville have been in use since 1978. If you are interested in getting some grains comment below to let me know and I'll contact you when we have more. View the picture slide show with descriptions.

How to Make a Titanium Scraper by Mike Tayse

While I am busy leading spring break camp at Franklin Park Conservatory (a few spots still available for next week, by the way), I am filling the blog with guest posts and reposts. Happy reading! This guide comes from my Uncle Mike, teacher, jeweler, handyman, and all around good guy. He writes a blog about his classroom activities and Mike Tayse Jewelry with more tutorials like the one below. I love the post he wrote about making a pendant with my little girl Lil.

Mike's teaching job in Cleveland may evaporate next year. If you have any leads on an elementary school position for a master's degree educated, certified teacher in the Dayton/Cincinnati/Columbus area, please contact one of us.

Making a Titanium Paint Scraper

This project was done around Christmas time in 2010.  In my family we draw names to do a random gift exchange and have to give/make gifts that are generally handmade and preferably use less than $10.00 worth of materials.  In the jewelry class I teach I've done a bit of simple knife making and this falls under that realm.  There is really no particular reason to make a titanium paint scraper other than the fact that the person I drew that year was Alex, who is an engineer, and I figured he would appreciate, no demand, a tool that utilized aero- space materials. Since Alex makes beer, I figured I'd also cut out a profile on the side of the scraper into the shape of a bottle opener- a handy addition to any tool.  In addition to the titanium blade I used/cut apart a largish walnut branch from my yard for the handle on Alex's scraper. You can see from the pictures I really made two scrapers The other one I used a piece of scrap Corian, a counter top material.  I rarely make just one thing at a time, let face it, the tools are out, might as well make at least two.

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This is a picture of the walnut log, recently pried out of the snow, with my friendly neighborhood rechargeable Milwaukee Sawzall, perched on top.

A close up of myself cutting apart the walnut branch into a couple of usable slabs destined to make a handle or two.  I really should have cut this in the summer and let the slab dry-age, plus it would have been easier than doing the deed in the snow.

A picture of the tool, material, and finished slab.

This is a picture of a sheet of 14 gauge titanium partially cut on my small band saw.  It's a portable band saw with a homemade plywood base screwed together to make it a stationary band saw.

Continue to Mike Tayse Jewelry to read about how to finish and assemble the scraper.

Miracle of Doing Nothing: Making Cider Vinegar

Sometimes it's better to just do nothing at all. That's what I did when a dinner guest commented, "Ew! Gross!"

And when my daughter sneered, "Mama! It's different!"

Friends and family members, including Alex, regarded the open jar of smelly cider with raised eyebrows and pinched noses. I maintained that I was following the vinegar recipe: pour fresh raw apple cider in a jar, cover with an air permeable top, and set it aside for months.

Wouldn't you know, when I pushed the 'mother' aside with a spoon on Sunday, the underlying clear tan liquid smelled and tasted exactly like cider vinegar! What an amazingly simple homesteading success!

Science says that natural yeast in our home pressed cider converted the sugars to alcohol. Natural bacteria then fermented the alcohol to acetic acid, or vinegar.

To store and use the vinegar, I removed the mother and strained out the flocculate, i.e. yeast poopies. I poured the vinegar into a vintage blue Ball jar and it's ready for salad dressing, mayonnaise, soups, and sauces.

Sometimes doing nothing turns into something amazing.

Added to Simple Lives Thursday 27.

Thanks for Handmade Gifts Received

Our Xmas was truly lovely.  The Goose Dinner went off without a hitch, Lillian was patient during the many family gatherings, and we loved the wintery weather.  We received some fantastic handmade gifts during the festivities.

Click pictures to enlarge. My sister sewed me a lower half apron with purple fabrics from my 30th birthday quilt, Lillian's gift, a handmade purse, and gifts from years past.

She also was the crafty person behind Devie and Hawise's gift - an eye patch for the one eyed dog and parrot shirt for the little one.  Hawise is frozen in hatred in that picture.

My mom made Lil a beautiful dress and matching satchel.  They fit so well and even include sparkly adornments as Lil requested in her wish list.

Sisters Megan and Heather made hand-stamped stationary, fancy chocolates, a snack pack of homemade ricotta, mozzarella, and crackers, and flavored vinegar.

Grandma sewed a top apron and my cousin Naomi made me a skirt from old men's dress shirts.

Alex's mom gave me a very cool earring holder made by a local artist from fine gauge copper wire wrapped evenly around large gauge wire.  This seems simple enough that anyone with some patience could make it.  The earrings on the display are made by my sister-in-law-to-be Kim.

Uncle Mike made Alex a home-cut and hand-sharpened titanium hand scraper/bottle opener with a hand-sanded wooden handle.  As if that wasn't enough, he cast some tiki shaped chocolate molds too.

One topic of conversation during the handmade gift exchanges is that the giving became more meaningful and fun. I am so thankful for family members that not only appreciate making presents by hand but are talented enough to produce some really creative things. 

We feel perfectly present-ed this year.  Did you receive any handmade goodies?

DIY Historic Ammunition

Alex and I make all sorts of things ourselves: confit, counter tops, hard cider, chicken coops...stuff most people prefer to buy.  We like getting a little messy and learning exactly how things are created. Even given our penchant for handmade goods, we freely admit that Alex's birthday gift of homemade ammunition for his father this year is bit of do-it-yourself over-achievement.

The Back Story

Tom, Alex's dad, has a Springfield Model 1873 rifle, more commonly known as the Trapdoor Springfield.  He was gifted the firearm, made around 1880, from Alex's mother's mother twenty years ago.

It is likely that the rifle hasn't been shot in about a hundred years, knowing the family history.  Neither Tom nor Alex have fired the gun, and can't but for the birthday present.

You see, modern commercial ammunition is loaded to higher pressure levels than the black-powder era Springfield.  Firing with modern ammunition could be unsafe and would likely cause heavy wear on the rifle. Ammunition can't be easily purchased, so the gun cannot be shot.

Until now.

Click pictures for biggerness.

Making Ammunition

Starting in November, Alex melted several blocks of 'clean' lead radiation shielding from a Brownfield cleanup project he and his father worked on.  He poured the lead into a historically accurate profile in a modern mold and allowed the bullets to cool.

Next he loaded casings with smokeless powder and crimped the casings to the bullets. He tumbled the cartridges to clean off residual grease. Then, Lil and I wrapped what is certainly the most weight-per-volume gift in our family history.

Now Tom has twenty opportunities to shoot with this historic rifle. Alex invited his dad to an afternoon at an outdoor range once the weather turns warm again so they both have a chance to see how the old gun performs.  More than a useful present, this gift was a labor of love.

Happy Birthday Tom!

Recipe for Black Powder Equivalent 45-70 Load

for any reloaders who found this post through a search engine, as typical Hounds in the Kitchen readers are unlikely to cook up ammunition any time soon

405 grain cast lead bullets

33.5 grains Alliant Reloder 7 powder

Winchester large rifle primers

New Starline brass cases

1. The cases can be sized using any commercially available reloading dies.  In this case, Hornady 45-70 New Dimension Reloading Dieswere used in a Lee Cast Iron 4 Hole Turret Press.

2. After sizing and priming, add the powder charge.  Reloder 7 is a fast-burning powder for use in small varmint calibers, but also in the larger, older 45-70.

3. Seat the bullet and crimp the case.  Overall length of the cartridge is 2.65 inches.

Maybe someday I'll write about my journey from a gun fearing pacifist to a person whose spouse produces ammunition. Would any of you care to read about my views on weapons?

Handmade Holidays: Adorning Gifts in Jars

This post concludes my series on handmade holiday gifts.  Previous weeks included instructions for making hand-rolled beeswax candles, hot cocoa mix, and spice rub.  A list of other possible gifts in jars is at the bottom of the post.

I believe that giving a homemade or home canned gift in a mason jar is a true expression of love.  A homemade jam contains peak of the season flavors and the gift of time spent preserving.  Custom spice, cocoa, or baking mixes show genuine consideration for the individual.

To elevate the gift beyond everyday pantry fare, proper wrapping is in order.

First, label the lid to ensure the recipient knows what they are getting.  I like to use my Brother Personal Labeler Machine to denote the contents and date/instructions as applicable. Writing neatly with a permanent marker works fine too.

Because the tops aren't all that pretty, cover them with something beautiful. Old maps and books make a cute topping, especially when you can match the paper to something unique about giftee. I used a discarded Tennessee map to create the top and gift tag cover for the spice rub I'm giving to a certain brother in law who now lives in Murfreesboro.

Fabric covers can be made from scraps or fat quarters bought at the craft store. Use pinking shears to cut the edges of a square or circle just a bit larger than the lid. Slip the metal ring over the top and you have a cute cover.

Tie a piece of raffia, ribbon, or twine around the ring. Attach a paper or cardboard gift tag to identify the recipient and giver. I adore the country chic letterpress gift tags from Igloo Letterpress pictured at left.

A big bow on top would be another lovely adornment. Condo Blues and How About Orange have step by step instructions for making your own from newsprint or magazine pages.

How do you adorn homemade gifts?

Other handmade food gift ideas: Liqueur Fruit Jam (apple pie, peach, or strawberry) Applesauce a loaf of bread (no-knead or cranberry) Sugared cranberries

Handmade Holidays: Dad's Spice Rub

Last week I shared how to make hand-rolled beeswax candles. This week I offer recipes for this spice rub and cocoa mix. The series concludes next Monday with ideas for perfectly packaging your handmade gifts.

My parent's kitchen counter always has a crock of this spice rub alongside the baking canisters. Dad uses this rub for large cuts of meat he later smokes and as a topping for grilled salmon. Because of the sugar content, this rub will flame if used over high direct heat.

When mixed up, this spice mix has an auburn color that looks lovely in a jar topped with a coordinating holiday fabric or an old map as pictured here. Tweak the spices a little, add a label with a catchy title, and you have a tasty gift sure to be appreciated by any cooks on your list.

Dad's Spice Rub from Where There's Smoke, There's Flavor by Richard Langer fills one half pint jar

2/3 cup dark brown sugar 1/4 cup paprika 2 tablespoon garlic powder 1 tablespoon ground cayenne (adjust heat here) 1 tablespoon ground black pepper 1 tablespoon ground white pepper 2 teaspoons ground coriander 1 teaspoon salt

1. Mix all ingredients thoroughly. 2. Store in a sealed container at room temperature. 3. Uses: coat meat with a layer of spice mix and grill or use as a dry rub for larger cuts of meat.

Other handmade food gift ideas: Liqueur Fruit Jam (apple, peach, or strawberry) Applesauce a loaf of bread (no-knead or cranberry) Sugared cranberries

Added to Hearth and Soul blog hop.

Handmade Holidays: Rolled Beeswax Candles

Are you making handmade gifts this year?  We are! Hand-rolled beeswax candles will make an appearance in several gift baskets.  They are simple enough that Lillian can make a passable candle and they burn cleanly with only the slightest honey scent.

We order bulk beeswax sheets from Knorr Beeswax for $43 (shipped) for twenty 8x16 inch sheets and wick. It comes in a variety of colors and is very high quality in our experience.

To roll, lay out an art mat (aka old plastic placemat) on which to work.  An old pair of scissors works well to cut the sheets to size.  We use half a sheet (8x8) for a standard dinner candlestick.  A half sheet cut on the diagonal makes a taper.  For a pillar, roll the entire 8x16 inch sheet or cut to the height you wish.

Place the wick at one edge of the wax.  Roll slowly and tightly, keeping the bottom edge aligned.  Wax rolls best on a warm day and can be warmed slightly with a hair dryer if it is crumbling.

Lillian likes to use mini cookie cutters to cut decorations for the candles.

An adult must press the cookie cutters through the wax as it is very difficult to cut cleanly.  I press with my full weight and slide the cutter back and forth against the cutting mat to be sure the wax cuts all the way through.

Once we discovered handmade beeswax candles a few years ago, we fell in love. We roll them for everyday use and special occasions. Two years ago, we helped Lil paint terra cotta pot bases and make pillars to give as a set for Xmas. She insists on making hand-rolled custom birthday candles.

For gift giving, I like to tie two dinner or taper candles together with a bit of raffia or ribbon before wrapping or tucking them into a gift basket.

Please excuse the uncovered cans in the basket. A post on prettying up home canned goods is coming soon!

What are you making for holiday gifts this year?