Real Food Fermentation is a great book for anyone interested in the preservation of food at home. Sure you can throw your groceries in the fridge when you get home from the store, but why not take it a step further?
Mr. Lewin runs the gauntlet in this book, helping up to get our feet wet with lactofermentation in his sauerkraut making, then moves right into yogurts and kefirs. Once you’ve gotten a handle on the magic that is using whey as a starter to ferment fruits and vegetables, he takes us to vinegar production and kombuchas. If all the healthy eating is not your thing, don’t despair! The next few chapters talk about yeast fermentation to make the hard-core stuff: hard-ciders and mead, a fermented honey drink invented by the Romans–and we all know how those Romans could party!
Rounding out the experience in the final chapter, he guides us through fermenting meat. Now that you’ve figured out how to ferment everything in the refrigerator, Mr. Lewin suggests a recipe for fermented corned beef. Pickling spices, whey, sugar, and brisket in a jar in the fridge for a couple of days. Interesting… I’m still working on the ginger ale. Luckily, having read this book, you can prepare these foods with the food safety procedures that are throughout this pleasant read.
This book has a lot of discussion in every chapter about real food as compared to processed food. He makes a compelling argument for finding a local farmer or trusted source of unprocessed food. For example, the US government has regulated the food industry in this country to the extent that everything is processed. Whole milk is pasteurized which kills all the enzymes that help us digest it. Cows are feed corn which makes them more susceptible to disease, so the farmers dose them with more antibiotics, which are then found in the milk. Fruits and vegetables are genetically modified so farmers can make more money to be able to pay to stay in compliance with the USDA. Where does it stop?
The pictures and instructions are simple and clear enough for the most rank-beginner to pull off some amazing new deliciousness. Click the book to grab a copy!
Thank you for the lovely review! If anyone wants to ask questions here, please ask, and I’ll answer.
Best,
Alex
(author)
Alex,
I made the ginger ale as described in the book. It’s been a week and I’ve got no carbonation. I used my own fresh whey from the latest batch of yogurt and the mixture still smells great, but no tiny bubbles. I’m keeping it in my kitchen on the counter near the range, so it’s not too cold (71 degrees F) and it’s way in the corner so it’s not too bright. Maybe the antiseptic properties of the ginger killed the bacteria?
Help?
I’m sorry to hear about your ginger ale. 🙁 If there’s mold growing, it’s time to dump it.
So you could try again… Or you try a different method, like the “ginger bug” method described here: http://nourishedkitchen.com/ginger-bug/
These fermentation things aren’t always consistent. That’s one of the cool things about them, but it can also be a little frustrating!
Alright! I’m on it. I’ll be at the Asian market today so I’ll pick up some more ginger and try again. Thanks for checking in!
Would you consider adding me to your mentions list on your website?
It hasn’t been updated in a while….