Water Kefir Workshop

WATER KEFIR WORKSHOP

It is time to stop drinking soda (which is bad for you) and opt for something that tastes a million times better, is healthy ... and is much more affordable!!!

Instructor: Barbara Lovas, ThD

Date: Sunday, June 13, 2010

Time: 3pmCost: $10/person

Location: TBA (location will be given w/ confirmation of attendance -- due to limited space)

Ok, it is time for a last minute water kefir workshop. Why??? Again, my water kefir is very happy ... and is growing so fast that I need to give some away. The weather is perfect for growing kefir!

What will this hour long workshop include?

Those who attend will be given some grains and instruction on how to make water kefir. I will include a recipe and resources. Please bring to the workshop a regular size canning jar (pint). I will provide you with all the instructions, ingredients and the recipe needed to make your first batch. So, you will go home with your first batch started.

As always, I don't sell my grains or scobies, but will give them away. If you want milk kefir, water kefir or a kombucha scoby, remember those are available according to my supply. That being said; If you ask in advance, I should have some milk kefir grains and maybe some kombucha ready to give away on the day of the workshop.

If you are interested in attending this workshop, please reply to this e-mail and let me know you plan to go.

Due to limited space at this workshop, I will give you the meeting place location/address with your confirmation. Feel free to invite your friends, just make sure you inform me, so they are added into my headcount.:)

NOTE: I was intending on this workshop being a kombucha workshop, but I am still making scobies for everyone that will attend, thank you for your patience. We will have our kombucha workshop this summer for sure!!!

Seize the day!!!

Barbara

The Dangers of Farmville

by Barbara Lovas, ThD

This article below, "The Dangers of Online Escapism" by Mark Earley is sad. A real child died of malnutrition while her parents played virtual video games all day long.

Before you say to yourself,"Well, I would never! What kind of parents could do such a thing?" Let's look at this issue from a deeper perspective.

First of all, we can all thank God that none of us have accidentally starved our children to death because we were playing video games all day long ... BUT, before we fold our hands and tell ourselves, "all is well," let's look at this from another perspective: God's perspective. How many times have we neglected to feed the spirit of the people we love the most because we were sucked into a virtual computer world??? How many days have our children, family or friends gone to bed spiritually starved due to our neglect?

God desires to use YOU to show His love. You, as a Christian, are God's hands, His voice ... His feet. In fact, you might be the only chance your family has to ever SEE Jesus. If you could understand the true depths of your calling, you wouldn't take it so lightly.

Have you often been sucked into playing virtual games online? Or perhaps spent too much time "surfin' the net?" Ask yourself this question: Who has tricked you into believing that your life was so mundane that you now feel there is nothing better for you to do than to sit in front of a computer screen all day? Is it that you feel that insignificant? Is it that you have become just too lazy? Or is it that you don't want to face reality? No matter what the reason, God has something He wants you to know: you are special, a 'one of a kind' creation. There is no one exactly like you AND there is no one else who can do specifically what only you have been called to do. Did you know that the people in your life are not there by accident? They have all been purposely placed there by God. It is His providence that has set your course. That means, that the spouse you married or will marry (in-laws included), your children, your co-workers, your boss, the woman you pass at the grocery store and even the bill collector that may call your house on occasion are all there for a purpose and NOT by accident.

The clock is ticking! Don't overlook the opportunity you have been given to impact someones life forever. If you are a parent, don't miss: one hug, one sloppy chocolate kiss, one "I love you," because you just so happen to be too busy milking a virtual cow or planting a virtual garden or cleaning your virtual dishes! It is time to get off the computer and get out there and do the real things!!! Go clean your own REAL dishes, do your own real laundry, plant a real garden with your own real family ... get real dirt under your real fingernails! Don't let ONE MOMENT pass you by without purposing to appreciating the value of it.

My oldest child will be 30 years old this year. I home schooled my children. We planted gardens, read stories together, went bug hunting and all that fun stuff. I did purpose to do whatever I could do to enhance their lives. But, as I look at my babies, who are now adults (taller than me, and with their own families' and lives), I can't help but to remember when they were so small and fragile... when I could hold their little bodies with the strength of only one of my arms. 'IF', I could just go back in time and rock that precious crying baby of mine ONE MORE TIME, kiss my sticky faced child ONE MORE TIME, give another BIG hug to my unsure adolescent ... "IF"I could ... I am sure, time would stand still for me. How I wish I could have had the hindsight I have now to know HOW PRECIOUS those times were ... And ohhhhhhhh how I wish I had recorded more of my memories, just jotted them down, 'cuz memories fade, just as time goes by way too fast.

Live in the moment, and hold to the hope that God has given you for your future. Instill in your family and those you come in contact with day-to-day the hope you have been given. Live in the REAL WORLD, because eternity is right around the corner. A real eternity! You will never be able to take back the time you have wasted, but you can start again now. Get out of Farmville, and plant REAL seeds. The ones that REALLY count!!!

God help us to organize our time wisely. Help us to put away the things that get us off-track, and help us to start focusing on real life. Help us not to take ONE MOMENT for granted. My prayer for us all is that we seize the day!!! Carpe diem, Barbara

The Dangers of Online Escapism
by Mark Earley

The irony could not possibly be crueler. A South Korean couple let their 3-month-old baby starve to death at home while they spent all their time at Internet cafes-raising a virtual child.

The British Telegraph reports, "Leaving their real daughter at their home in a suburb of Seoul to fend for herself, the pair, who were unemployed, spent hours role-playing in [a] virtual reality game, which allows users to choose a career and friends, granting them offspring as a reward for passing a certain level."

Kim Yoo-chul and Choi Mi-Sun would go home once a day to give their real baby powdered milk, and then go back to lavish care and attention on their online child. The virtual daughter was named Anima; the real daughter was never given a name.

Finally, they came home one day after a 12-hour session to find their baby dead. They were arrested after an autopsy showed that the unnamed little girl had died of prolonged malnutrition.

Tragically, on the other hand, the virtual girl is probably doing just fine.
Like me, you're probably feeling a little sick to your stomach and outraged, and wondering what on earth could possess parents to do such a crazy thing. It's tempting to write them off as just plain crazy, or some kind of extreme example of Internet addiction or other mental illness. But the disturbing fact is that every one of us who has ever indulged in any kind of prolonged escape from reality carries the seeds of this kind of addiction inside us.
William Saletan puts it this way in the online magazine, Slate: "Look in the mirror. Every time you answer your cell phone in traffic, squander your work day on YouTube, text a colleague during dinner, or turn on the TV to escape your kids, you're leaving this world. You're neglecting the people around you, sometimes at the risk of killing them."

Saletan explains that gaming websites aren't just games, they're worlds-and those worlds "are becoming ever more compelling." When real life gets to be too much to take, we can now log on to a world where everything goes smoothly and circumstances are easy to control. So we become more and more susceptible to being lured out of the real world into the artificial ones.

And this latest story isn't the only example of the tragic results of that kind of escapism. Saletan notes, "At least two Korean men have died of exhaustion after round-the-clock video-game marathons. Another man, nagged by his real-world mother, allegedly resolved the dilemma by killing her. The dead baby is just another casualty of this war between the worlds."

Virtual community is no substitute for real community-the kind of community we're called on to help create in our families, churches, and neighborhoods.

These examples just show how dangerous it can be when we forget that responsibility. If it's true that we're facing a war of the worlds, Christians must take a stand for real life and real community. Reality may be messy and uncontrollable, but it's a priceless gift given to us by our Creator-and so much more fulfilling than any fake world, or fake family, ever could be.

Water Kefir Workshop

It is time to stop drinking soda (which is bad for you) and opt for something that tastes a million times better, is better for you ... and is much more affordable!!!

Instructor: Barbara Lovas

Date: Sunday, March 21, 2010
Time: 3pm
Cost: $10/person

Location: TBA (location will be given w/ confirmation of attendance -- due to limited space)

Ok, it is time for a last minute water kefir workshop. Why??? Again, my water kefir is very happy ... and is growing so fast that I need to give some away. The weather is perfect for growing kefir!

What will the workshop include?

Those who attend will be given some grains and instruction on how to make water kefir. I will include a recipe and resources. Please bring to the workshop a regular size canning jar (pint).

I will provide you with all the instructions, ingredients and the recipe needed to make your first batch. So, you will go home with your first batch started. As always, I don't sell my grains or scobies, but will give them away.

If you want milk kefir, water kefir or a kombucha scoby, remember those are available according to my supply. That being said; If you ask in advance, I should have some milk kefir grains and maybe some kombucha ready to give away on the day of the workshop.

If you are interested in attending this workshop, please reply to this e-mail and let me know you plan to go. Due to limited space at this workshop, I will give you the meeting place location/address with your confirmation. Feel free to invite your friends, just make sure you inform me, so they are added into my headcount.:)

NOTE: The next workshop will be kombucha making.

Have a great day!!!
Barbara

To Mardi Gras or not to Mardi Gras, that is the Question

by Barbara Lovas, ThD

Someone asked me if the ritualistic significance of Mardi Gras is still relevant and in practice today's contemporary celebration of Mardi Gras. My answer to that question in short: Yes, I DO find that the practices are still for the most part represented and practiced in our modern day Mardi Gras celebrations today. Here is my explanation:

Here is a quick explanation of the origin of Mardi Gras: Mardi Gras is pagan celebration, that honors mythological gods, with ties to superstition and witchcraft. Mardi Gras was adopted by the Catholic church as a celebration of overindulgence. Mardi Gras is also called Fat Tuesday. It is followed by Ash Wednesday, then 40 days of Lent. Those who observe Lent, practice acts of penitence and selective fasting. Fasting from eating meats on Fridays is something many look forward to. Since they can't eat meat on Friday, they feast on seafood and fish instead.

Each parade is run by a krewe. The krewes are private organizations,that keep the parade's themes and floats in secret until the day of the parade. The floats, for the most part, are named after mythological gods or goddesses (if you run a quick search on the names of each of those parades, you will find that they range from gods/goddesses of revelry, drunkenness, lust, fertility, harvest to the god of one thousand eyes).

Deuteronomy 27:15 NIV
"Cursed is the man who carves an image or casts an
idol--a thing detestable to the Lord, the work of the craftsman's hands--and
sets it up in secret." Then all the people shall say, "Amen!"

Here is a quick snapshot of a typical French Quarter Mardi Gras ...

People start to line the streets of the parade route before the sun comes out. Many people are drunk before the parades even start. Uncensored music blares. Unbridled words are shouted. The crowd can get wild at times.

The krewe's king first blesses the event, and then uses a scepter to bless all the people who line the streets. The parade goers stand with raised hands, chanting, "Throw me something mister." In exchange, masked people on the floats throw to them: beads, doubloons (with images of gods), and various trinkets. Throws can also include thong underwear, cups and trinkets offered by sponsors such as beer and sometimes cigarette companies.

The parade goers are often in costumes or barely dressed (some costumes are too nasty for children to see). Sometimes the costume is nothing more than body paint. It is not out of the ordinary for people to openly engage in sexual activities in public. Woman 'flash' their breast to get beads, and recently men have started to flash their genitals for beads (and when caught, the men do get arrested). It is not uncommon for a crowd to gather as women are carried on others' shoulders or stand on balconies to be seen while they flash. Sometimes beads are exchanged for a kiss.

If you are in an area that is very crowded with revelers, the smell of alcohol, vomit and urine may become prominent. In some areas, the ground becomes literally so wet that muddy smelly puddles develop and the ground actually becomes sticky.

Isn't Mardi Gras more family friendly in the suburbs?

It is true, there are some areas that tend to have a more "family friendly" feel. In fact, many people look at Mardi Gras as a family event and a good opportunity to get to know your community. Families and friends sometimes stake out their piece of land to view the parades days in advance. The 'camping out,' tail-gating, barbecuing, the food and friends can be a great bonding experience.

My OPINION

There is nothing I love more than being with family. I absolutely love watching a New Orleans marching band ... but I am forced to weigh it out. What am I willing to trade-off for that one day of "family fun" and bonding?

Let's start with the Mardi Gras atmosphere. I have experienced both the pros and cons of Mardi Gras. I was raised in New Orleans, and attended Mardi Gras every year of my childhood ... and into my adult life. I experienced the good family friendly areas as well as the some of the nastiest areas of the parade routes. I found that I always came away from the experience a bit more worldly and more disillusioned than I came in to it. The family environment didn't protect me from the exposure to drunk obnoxious behaviors. Nor did it protect my ears from hearing or my eyes from seeing things I should have never seen. Understand, I was not raised in a Christian atmosphere. So, my parents weren't necessarily being cautious to shield me from those things. BUT, in all honesty, I don't think any parent can truly protect their child from experiencing things of that sort in that environment. You have no way to filter that kind of stuff.

Here is the biggest problem: once it is seen, heard or experienced; it can't be taken back. Innocence is stolen.

Now, let's talk about the intent and the spirit of the Mardi Gras celebration

When Moses went on the mountain to talk to God, the people of God got together and made a golden cow and worshiped it and joined in revelry. Not only was Moses angered, but God was too. God has said that He is a jealous God, and he will accept no other gods before Him (and rightfully so!). He also gave us direct instruction not to make images of heavenly things or idols, and definitely not to worship foreign gods or idols.

The bible also gives account of a situation where all the citizens were ordered to bow down in reverence to an idol and three men of God refused to bow down before any idol, even if it cost them their life.

Being that the whole idea of Mardi Gras is that people stand with raised hands, while floats in images of gods and goddesses pass by to receive valueless trinkets, being that the people in attendance, for the most part, indulge themselves in unbridled drunkenness, revelry and lewd behavior; I cannot find a good justification to join in the fellowship of this celebration. I fear I will offend God. I cannot reason my way out of the obvious: those floats fit into the category of making idols, that God states so clearly He despises.

Party Today: Repent Tomorrow

The philosophy behind the idea of 'partying it up' with total uninhibited indulgence for one day in, with the intent to "repent" the next day is in total conflict with our Christian walk. We are told to walk rightly, live above reproach and to be of sober mind. For us to even give the smallest hint of an inclination that we approve of purposing to sin for a day, knowing that tomorrow we can do penance not only is a disgrace, but can be a stumbling block to our children and to others watching us. In Paul's words, "Should we just sin more, that more grace abound? God forbid!!!" God tells us where there is no true repentance, there is no forgiveness. We know that! But does our neighbor know that? Certainly the mobster who regularly kills for a living and goes back to the priest for forgiveness the next day does not get it. What do kind of a philosophy do our actions proclaim?

1 Peter 2: 11.Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the
world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.12. Live such
good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they
may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

Romans 13: 13.Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and
drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and
jealousy.14.Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not
think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.

Is there any possible reason that we as Christians should be at Mardi Gras?

The surprising answer to that is, YES. We might be called by God to be there as a witness."A light in the darkness!"

Some of us will be called to go to Mardi Gras, not to join in the revelry, but to carry the gospel!

You have to answer these questions: Have you been called by God to go? Are you REALLY going with a mission to reach the lost? OR are you going under the guise of being on a mission, but really going to have a fun time and to FELLOWSHIP with the world?

We are called to be a light in the darkness (a city on a hill). But we are not called to FELLOWSHIP with the world. We must recognize the difference, or we will suffer loss.

If you are not called to go, and your children are too young to process such a mission, you have no protection for what they will experience; NOR the impact it may have on their lives. We as adults must provide protection for our children. We are the gatekeepers to what enters into the gates of their senses until they are old enough to make those decisions for themselves.

I guess it all boils down to this: if God has called you and your family to do this, God will not only direct your paths to be where you are supposed to be, and see what you are supposed to see; but everyone in your family will be mature enough to understand the mission at hand and will be able to handle what they see and hear without being scarred.

"What fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has
light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a
believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with
idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: 'I will dwell
in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people.'
"Therefore 'Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not
touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and
you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.' Therefore, having
these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the
flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God" (2 Corinthians
6:14–18; 7:1).

When we have children, we are accountable to God as to what we do with them. In a more real sense, our kids are not our own, but ultimately belong to God. We just have them "on-loan." The scriptures, "I will set no wicked thing before my eyes." and "Raise a child in the way of the Lord. When they get older, they will not depart." come to mind. In the old testament, God directed us to teach our children as we carry out our day to day activities, and to keep the word of God in our conversation to them all the time. We have to be sure that we don't cause more confusion to our children by saying one thing and doing another. When we read the bible to our children about how God despises idolatry and the casting of any idols or foreign Gods, and then bring them to a parade named after gods/goddesses; with floats cast in images of those gods/goddesses (with, in some cases, giant sized bare breasted goddesses), to share in the fellowship of an environment where there is such blatant drunkenness and indulgence, how can we expect them to come away from that any less than confused at the least OR scarred at the most?

Before I had children, I would go to Mardi Gras with the purpose to evangelize. I didn't go to join in the celebration. I didn't stand with the crowd and wait for floats to pass by to get beads. In fact, I didn't get any beads or trinkets. I spent the whole time talking to those as God directed me. I had opportunity to pray with many and lead some to salvation. In fact, some of those stories are some of the most memorable testimonies to me still today.

Do we act like we really believe that God is a jealous God? How many times did he tell us to not make idols??? I counted 172 references to His anger against the worship of idols.

OBEY what you know God is telling your heart,"to obey is better than sacrifice." "Trust in the Lord with all of your heart, lean not on your own understanding. Acknowledge the Lord in all of your ways, and He will guide your steps."

A Funny Video about What is in the Vaccine?

click on the above site from Dr. Mercola to watch the video. Have a great day!!! Barbara

Cheese & Kefir Making Workshop in New Orleans

Cheese & Kefir Making Workshop in New Orleans
by Karron on October 12, 2009
in Cheese, Kefir, New Orleans

Delicious Homemade Cheese
I recently had the pleasure of attending a delightful Cheese & Kefir Making Workshop that was sponsored by the Latino Farmers Cooperative of Louisiana, the Canal Blvd Baptist Deaf Church, and the Weston A. Price Foundation. It was held at the Canal Blvd Baptist Deaf Church in Lakeview. I learned about the workshop from Barbara Lovas who graciously invited me to her home last year and taught me how to make kefir. I made delicious dairy and aqua (water) kefir for months until the hot summer temperatures became too high in my drafty old kitchen. Now, with cooler fall weather not too far away, I was more than happy for the opportunity to start up my kefir-making ways again. The cost of the two-hour workshop was $10 per person, a bargain by any standard.

Barbara Lovas
Barbara Lovas led the kefir portion of the workshop and Kathia Duran, executive director of the Latino Farmers Coop of Louisiana, taught us about cheese making. The workshop was originally targeted for 20 people but 52 people signed up and over 30 people showed up. The goal of the workshop was to share the techniques of making homemade yogurt, kefir, creme fraiche, and creole cream cheese using store bought cow milk.

Workshop attendees were invited to bring the following items if they wanted to make some cheese rather than just listening and learning about how it’s made. Almost everyone chose to make cheese and glass jars were available for a nominal fee for those who needed them.
four one-quart glass Mason jars (or equivalent)one gallon of whole milktwo pints of heavy cream
We filled each of our four, one-quart jars with the necessary ingredients for the dairy products as instructed by Barbara and Kathia. As it turns out, the cultures needed to make yogurt and creole cream cheese are readily available in any local grocery store. The cultures for the creme fraiche were given to us by Kathia along with information about where to obtain them online. Barbara provided everyone with the live active kefir grains, as they’re known, that are needed to make fresh kefir. Kefir grains aren’t always easy to obtain and the most common way to get some is to have them gifted by someone who makes kefir on a regular basis. I can only imagine how long it took Barbara to cultivate and maintain enough grains to share with each participant! Both teachers exhibited generosity of spirit by sharing their skills, personal resources, and enthusiasm with us. They are clearly invested in empowering people with quick, easy, and inexpensive ways to produce quality dairy products at home. I’ve provided information about where to buy Kathia’s dairy products at the end of this post if you’d prefer to do that.

Kathia Duran
While the afternoon workshop was instructional and fun, it was the next 24 hours after the workshop that were truly rewarding. I took my four jars home from the workshop and left them out on the countertop, as instructed, for the cultures to work their magic. Creme fraiche only takes 12 hours to ferment so the next morning when I woke up I had one quart of creme fraiche ready to eat. What a treat – rich and creamy and luxurious! By early evening I had one quart each of homemade yogurt, creole cream cheese, and kefir. In just 24 hours I was enjoying and sharing a smorgasbord of delicious cheeses and kefir – a very joyous and bountiful experience! I highly recommend this workshop to anyone interested in making kefir and simple cheeses at home. I’ll keep you posted about when it will be presented again.

Word to Barbara, just today someone asked me when the Aqua (Water) Kefir Workshop you’re planning might take place?

Marlon Calero and Pam Girod also assisted in the workshop. Photos taken by John Lovas and Marlon Calero.

Click Here To Contact Barbara Via Email

Click Here To Contact Kathia Via Email or visit the the Latino Farmers Coop of Louisiana website

You can find the Latino Farmers Cooperative of Louisiana’s products including Cotija and Quesillo cheeses, fresh vegetables, Mexican style tamales and backyard double-yolk eggs at the following markets in New Orleans:

Broad Street Flea MarketEvery Second Saturday11am – 4pm300 North Broad – Broad at BienvilleOld Robert’s Grocery Parking Lot

Holy Angel Convent (Bywater)Every Tuesday and Thursday3pm until3500 Saint Claude Ave at Gallier Street

Treme Under the Bridge MarketplaceEvery Third Saturday11am – 3pmI-10 Bridge at Esplanade Ave and N. Claiborne Ave

All proceeds go to the programs and services in urban agriculture and human services.

-->

Flax Seed Benefits: Kitchen Secrets

Every morning I eat freshly ground flaxseeds in homemade cottage cheese w/ flaxseed oil (whipped up) with a pinch of honey and fresh fruit. It is called FOCC. The benefits of flaxseed oil and freshly ground flaxseeds for lignens are endless.

IMPORTANT TIP: don't just eat the seeds whole. They will pretty much come out looking the same way they went in. It is very important that you grind up the flaxseeds before consuming them. You can just throw them in a coffee grinder like I do. It is really easy! Preferably, you want to eat them less than an hour after grinding them in order to get the most nutritional benifits.

If you are interested in learning more about the benifits of flax, I would be glad to send you the resources I have gathered. Also, you should be able to find my recipe for my FOCC in the archives .
Have a great day!!!
Barbara

Flax Seed Benefits: Kitchen Secrets
9/17/2009 3:39:18 PM
by Ariel Tilson
Tags: Baking, Tips, flax, Flaxseed, Egg Substitutes, Ground Flaxseed

No matter how many times I check my cupboard before I bake, it seems I’m always missing an ingredient. However, next time I’m out of eggs I won’t have to worry because I’ve found an even healthier substitute: flaxseed. You only need to add 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseed to 3 tablespoons of water (or 1 tablespoon of whole flaxseed to 4 tablespoons of water) to get the same baking benefits as you would with eggs.

I already knew that flaxseed had a myriad of benefits, from protecting your colon to preventing heart disease, but I wasn’t sure whether I'd like how it tasted until last night. Eggs have always seemed like a baking staple to me, so I decided to do a taste test and see if my picky taste-buds could really enjoy egg-less baking.

I started with a small batch of traditional chocolate chip cookies and for the next batch I substituted my flaxseed replacement for the water. Amazingly, I actually liked the flaxseed batch better! The flaxseed chocolate chip cookies had a softer, chewier texture and a richer, nutty flavor. In fact next time I decide to bake I’m going to use flaxseed, even if my fridge is full of eggs.