The Raw Deal

[myCelia]

Here's a recent article (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/27/AR2006092700108_pf.html) on raw milk that may interest some of you. Considering the source, I'm happy this issue was covered thoroughly and fairly.

Derya :D

[Lori French]

Nice article. I certainly learned a few things. Very interesting, thanks for sharing.

[u]Lori</u>

[myCelia]

I highly recommend, for anyone considering raw milk, to visit the farmer first. Kitty, from Hedgebrook Farms, gave us a wonderful tour of her farm last year. She was patient with our questions and concerns and while the author of the article may not have noticed much of a difference between raw and pasteurized milk, I was in heaven tasting raw milk for the first time. If you can find a source that comes from grass-fed Jersey cows, you've hit the milk jackpot.

Derya :D

[DebbieSchrader]

I would really like to get raw milk here in Florida. The local goats are mating so none is available til February. I can definitely tell in the kefir because it was so much better with raw milk. Great article. Debbie Schrader

[HF]

Excellent article! And I'm happy to note that Organic Pastures raw milk is back in the health food stores! We're out, need to go buy some because Thursday the milk comes in . . . .:D:D

Helena

[naturalgirl]

There's a raw milk farm around here that sells it for pet food on a ;)but don't tell policy. I have been a bit afraid to try raw milk because of scare stories but will reconsiter. Has anyone bought the "Nourishing Traditions" book? Did you like it? I want to buy it but figure if I can't afford raw regularly then it may be frustrating to want to do the recipes but not be able to. I want to try Kefir but know I can't get the raw milk reg. Oh well I am rambling! [:I] Thanks for the article link I found it very informative!:)

[myCelia]

naturalgirl,

I have Nourishing Traditions and it's a wonderful book, chock full of information and recipes. Get it if you can and don't worry, culturing dairy is just a small part of the book. There are lots of other ideas in the book to help you incorporate nutrient-dense foods into your diet. While culturing kefir in raw milk is ideal, the sad reality is that most people don't have access to it. So, I say, kefir in any form is better than no kefir at all. ;)

Derya :)

[gillmings]

I second the recommendation for getting the (NT) book. It's SO much more than a cookbook. And they do give several alternatives to things that are difficult to obtain.

Several people have mentioned that they have a hard time getting raw milk in Florida. I don't know what part y'all are in, but my friend in Gainesville gets biodynamic milk at a farmer's market there, if that helps anyone.

-Moyne

"She is too fond of books, and it has addled her brain." -Louisa May Alcott

[naturalgirl]

Thanks Derya and Moyne! I think I will get it. I saw it on Amazon for $16 new. I read some of the reveiws on Amazon. There are sure some mixed reveiws!:D I heard she reccomends to eat raw meat![:0][xx(] I can't hardly eat it med. or med. rare so forget that part! I am mostly interested in the culturing like Kefir and fermination.

I bought some Helious brand kefir(plain) the other day and boy was it yummy!It kind of reminded me of butter milk and yogurt. I really want to make it since it's suppose to be better homemade. I haven't noticed any detox effects or really anything diff. but maybe it's cause it's store bought? Well here I am rambling on again! I just love learning about new health stuff!:D[:p]

[myCelia]

LOL! I think a lot of people forego the raw meat part, including me. [xx(] The most I do is sushi every so often. Steak tartar is just not my thing, hehe.

Of the store-bought kefirs, Helios tastes better than Lifeway IMO. ;)

Derya :)

[Mermaid]

There are just a few raw meat recipes in Nourishing Traditions, none of which I have tried either. There are many cooked meat recipes that are very good, though. My daughter's favorite recipe is the carob smoothie made with frozen bananas. No milk shake from any restaurant could compete with that, I guarantee.

When I first got the book, I was enthralled. I sat every spare moment for three days with a highlighter, reading every article in the margins and highlighting interesting information. Every once in a while I skim my highlighted information to remind myself why it is important to put a little effort into eating well.

[gillmings]

I know what you mean! Sometimes when I read it, I just get overwhelmed by the amount of information and the time it would take to do ALL the recommendations (and I already make all our bread and do most things from scratch). When I first got the book, I wasn't in a place to be able to handle the kefir stuff. Now I am. We really love the soaked and dried nuts and seeds and it's not labor intensive at all, you just have to remember to start the process in advance and plan it around your schedule. Same thing with soaking beans. I often forget to start them a full day ahead, but I remembered this week, so maybe I'll start a new habit, instead of just soaking overnight.

I haven't really found a way to soak my brown rice yet. I finally perfected my recipe and I can't figure out how to adjust it for soaking, since I won't need as much water, but have no idea how MUCH water I would need (and that was part of the perfecting process!). Also, you can't really do a "normal" pilaf, since you can't saute the rice once it's been soaked. Some day when I have the time and patience to play around with it.....!

I don't do raw meat either, and I don't often do meat at all. BUT, I appreciate the info about long, slow cooking being more healthful. for when I DO prepare it.

Have fun!

-Moyne

"She is too fond of books, and it has addled her brain." -Louisa May Alcott

[naturalgirl]

I am excited to get the book. Shipping takes so long. I just ordered today. Does anyone out there do kefir without raw milk? There is only one source for kefir out here and it's $8 a gallon[:0] so its unfortuanly a once in awhile purchase! Where did you get your kefir cultures/grains from?

Thanks myCelia for all the good info you post!:):D

[myCelia]

Yay! You're gonna' love the book. I know many of the ladies here culture with pasteurized milk. Check out the 'Sweet Tooth Diet' (http://forum.t-tapp.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=48646) thread. Mayhewmama is even successfully culturing with ultra-pasteurized milk. Oh, and I got my grains from a generous donor at the Kefir-making Yahoo group (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Kefir_making/).

Derya :)