pickles, ferments and kitchen laments

[i] pickled beetroot (in my home-made spiced berry cider vinegar)

[ii] kimchi

[iii] sauerkraut

[iv] fermenting kombucha tea

You could say I've been busy in the kitchen lately, but honestly, when is anyone not busy in the kitchen!? Sometimes I think it would be easier if I set my bed up in there. At least then I could keep a close eye on the almonds drying in the oven overnight, or strain the milk kefir at first light! And if sleep eluded me, I could watch the water-kefir grains dancing in their effervescent infusion!!

There's always so much work to do and sometimes I wonder what on earth I was thinking to take it all on. Lucky for me though, I love fermented foods and beverages - lucky my family does too, cause nobody in their right mind would keep up this routine for ONE!!!! Of course the health benefits make it worthwhile too. And I have to admit, my kitchen often feels like a science lab and that is pretty cool!

Now before you think I'm some kind of fermenting super woman, take heart that I have not included photos of the war-zone where all this action takes place. Right this second there is a mountain of washing-up drying on the sink, a jug of apple cider (Strongbow to be exact) that's airing on the bench ready for vinegar making tomorrow, my oven is in desperate need of a good scrub and my pantry shelves haven't been wiped in, um, I have no idea how long! And I won't mention that our kitchen windows are so filthy with salt spray that we almost can't see out or that there's a pile of dirty tea towels by the back door waiting to visit the laundry. Oops. Did I just make the scene that is our kitchen even more horrific? 

Ah, such is life. Ben and I remind ourselves Every Single Day....eating well is MESSY, TIME CONSUMING AND LABOUR INTENSIVE!

But gee, it's certainly worth it!!!!

PS. My Mad Millie fermenting crock has barely had a day off since I brought it home from New Zealand! Best ever purchase...if you like kimchi (and we do, A LOT)