I have recently found that I love having fruit syrups on hand to make a variety of fermented foods with. They are useful to add into coconut water kefir or kombucha for a delightful second ferment. They also make a great syrup to pour over a bowl of yogurt and nuts, or just as a syrup for pancakes, ice-cream and many other tantalizing treats. I don’t have the exact amounts here, but the great thing about these syrups is that if you haven’t added enough honey, you can always add more later. Your fruit will also have different levels of sourness depending on how ripe they are so it is probably a good idea to taste test as you make your syrup anyway.

• raspberries, fresh or frozen
• water (use about 1/3 c water per cup of fruit)
• rosehips, fresh or dried (if fresh be sure to remove seeds and hairs before using)
• honey

Method:
Put your raspberries into a pan with water to get the process started. Place over medium heat. Bring to a simmer and reduce the heat, cook for about 2 mins. Add honey. I usually will add about 1/4 c of honey per cup of fruit, allow this to reduce slightly. Add in the rosehips and cook about 2 mins. (I add the rosehips in later so that they will get less cooking as the heat destroys vitamin C, rosehips need to be cooked to remove an enzyme that destroys vitamin C faster than cooking)

This Christmas, when I heard my nephew and niece were gonna join us for dinner I decided to get crazy with the kombucha and make a lovely punch. I have been using coconut water to make kefir lately and decided to try it with kombucha. This recipe isn’t exact. Be sure to use your taste buds to decide how sour or sweet you want it as different brews will have different strengths.

Pomegranate juice is a must this time of year especially with the connection that they have to rebirth and solstice rituals. Mint makes any punch festive and the coconut water gives an exotic reminder that we are all connected. Not just though our guts to the microbes but also to each other all the way around the world.

• 1 batch kombucha (1 gallon)
• 5 medium pomegranates, juiced
• 1 lt coconut water
• 1 bunch of mint

Method:
After your kombucha has fermented, remove the SCOBY and divide between 2 ltr (1/2 gallon) jars (preferably glass). Divide the pomegranate juice, coconut water and mint evenly between all three jars, leaving room at the top for any gasses that build up in the fermentation process.

Allow the second ferment to stand in a warm place for 24 hours, check the flavor. If it is still very sweet allow it to stand another 12 – 24 hours.

Delicious, everyone loved it. I recommend drinking it with coconut water, pomegranate and mint ice-cubes for extra bling (although unfermented coconut water isn’t GAPS / SCD friendly).

I have just finished making a raspberry-vanilla-honey syrup to use in my second ferment of coconut water kefir. Since we are on the GAPS / SCD diets we have been finding every way possible to get more probiotics into our bodies. Coconut water kefir is a very delicious way to get extra probiotics as it creates a fizzy, champagne-like coconut water soda.

Personally I prefer using dairy kefir grains, which work quite well a few times, but since they prefer dairy to grow in they will get depleted and you will have to replace them. You can also use water kefir grains which just love a mineral-rich, sweet medium to grow in and coconut water is just perfect. If you are looking for cultures you can get dairy or water kefir grains here. The same method works for either dairy or water kefir grains.

Coconut water kefir is very rich in probiotics and it is best to only drink about 1/4 to 1/2 cup at a time especially when you first start drinking it.

I have been meaning to post this recipe for years now I feel terrible for not having posted it before–it is such a simple dish. Shan State in Myanmar (Burma) has a very unique tofu recipe which is made from channa dhal not soybeans. Channa dhal is a bean that is similar to chickpeas but smaller, more yellow and easier to digest, especially if it is properly soaked. This recipe is a delicious traditional recipe that can be made into a variety of items. From tofu nwe (a sort of warm tofu porridge with peanuts and cilantro–also used to make the delicious Shan Noodle dish), to tofu thoke (tofu salad) to tofu hnat pyan kyaw (twice fried tofu) to a sauce for the fried tofu. For a beautiful but heart wrenching true Channa Dhal Romeo and Juliet true story click here.

Lately I have become a fan of marinating my meat in kombucha. In fact last night I made a delicious pulled pork recipe which I first marinated in a star-anise, ginger kombucha — oh so tasty, but that is another recipe. This Kombucha chicken recipe is fantastic, simple and just look how the glazed skin twinkles in the sunlight! This just proves how true it is that the simplest recipes are always the best. This recipe is featured in the Hella Delicious 2012 Recipe Calendar.

• 1 free range chicken
• 2 c kombucha
• 2 T mint sauce
• salt & pepper

These are really easy to make, keep for a long time, are a great snack and are full of vitamin A and iron among other things. This recipe is featured in the Hella Delicious 2012 Recipe Calendar.

• 2 pounds apricots
• 3/4 -1 c honey
• 1/3 c water
• salt

Method:
Slice apricots thinly. Reduce honey and water to make syrup. Add apricots- simmer about 4 min. Let sit overnight. Strain out juice and reduce. Add apricots. Pour over baking sheet in thin layer. Place in sun for 2-3 days.

One of the best things about living in Vancouver is all the great fruit in the summer-time. We have had the best blueberries and cherries. I don’t think I have ever eaten anywhere near this many cherries before in my life. I just love it. This delicious ice-cream recipe is simple and nourishing with all the pastured egg yolks and cream. Featured in the Hella Delicious 2012 Recipe Calendar.

This is a delicious and simple, colorful treat for a mid-afternoon high-tea or a late night dessert. When I was preparing the petit fours for this photo shoot, a friend kept eating them almost as fast as I could put them on the tray. They’re irresistible, unless you have a nut allergy. Featured in the Hella Delicious 2012 Recipe Calendar.

It’s that time of year when the zucchinis are huge and abundant. A simple, colorful, tasty grain-free noodle can be easily made from summer squash, zucchini and/or carrots. Featured in the Hella Delicious 2012 Recipe Calendar.

• 1 large zucchini
• 2-3 medium summer squash
• 1 – 2 T lard, olive oil or coconut oil
• salt and pepper to taste

I had the opportunity to experiment with my cashew pie crust this weekend when making blueberry pie for our annual farm picnic out at our local cowshare. It is best to cook the crust and filling separately or the crust gets too dark. Featured in the Hella Delicious 2012 recipe calendar. This pie-crust received a lot of complements at our cowshare’s farm day!

Makes one 9″ pie.