Kefir tastes very similar to yogurt. The ambient temperature it ferments at will contribute to it being more tart or mild. The curd is smaller and breaks up easier than yogurt (but it's also easier to digest). Depending on how long you ferment it, you can end up with a liquid similar to buttermilk, or a stiff/thick curd. Shaking the curd will quickly liquify it. You can also drain the curd, which separates the whey (liquid) from the curd. Depending on how long you drain it, you can get curd that's similar to yogurt, or as thick as cream cheese - even something similar to cottage cheese. This is the same process used to drain yogurt for yogurt cheese. The best way to make it is to get some "real" kefir grains, from someone else who already has them, but they are also available off the Internet. I usually culture kefir using 2 cups of milk (of choice - cold from the refrigerator) + kefir grains (approx. 1/4 c. of them) in a quart canning jar. Place a plastic storage lid tightly on the jar. Allow to sit at room temperature for 12-24 hours until it thickens to any stage you desire. THAT'S IT! For a little smoother kefir, you can swirl them in the jar several times throughout the day (which helps to redestribute the good bacteria). When the grains are not in use, I put them in 1 c. of milk in a pint canning jar in the refrigerator. I make kefir at least once a week and make 2-4 consecutive batches, then rest the grains. We use kefir 50/50 with some sort of 100% fruit juice (blueberry/pomegranet is a favorite), plus flax meal and a powdered supplement, mixed in a malt-maker as a smoothie every day. Or with 100% grape juice as a grape cow. I also add kefir to most of my breads and have a file of recipes I use it in (you can find lots on the Internet). I also use the whey from drained kefir in quick breads, pancakes, soup, or as a thirst-quenching lemonade in the summer. You use the grains (which look like little heads of rubbery cauliflower) over and over for each batch of kefir - literally forever. They grow, and when they get large enough to split (I divide them when they get to the size of a quarter), you pull them into 2 or 3 pieces. That's how you get enough to share. Check the link below for expert information. -Grainlady Here is a link that might be useful: Dom's Kefir In-Site

The one thing I would be concerned with is mold (aflatoxin), and that can be dangerous if ingested. So if your wheat smells moldy or has black mold spores on it, then I'd be sure to destroy it. You may also want to contact your County Extension Ag Agent for further information. The fact that it is 12-years old isn't a concern. I'm using wheat that was purchased and placed in storage in 2007, and most wheat sold for commercial or home milling is generally 2-3 years old before it's sold. Wheat has already been stored in temperature extremes, so that isn't an issue with me either. Because it was in oxygen-free storage, it is possible that a lower percentage of them will sprout than normal. You can find more information at the link below in the article by Rita Bingham (my food storage guru). -Grainlady Here is a link that might be useful: Sprout Seeds for Cheap Nutrition

I'll have to disagree with Linda on this one - but she's at a bit of a disadvantage not having the entire recipe. The recipe is designed for dry wheat berries and the amount of hydration is designed for that in order to give the kernels of wheat a chance to absorb water during the 24-hour rest in the refrigerator. What you could do instead is to sprout, then completely dry the wheat before adding it to the recipe. I don't think sprouting will be necessary or will contribute all that much because the fermentation during the 24-hour rest in the refrigerator will accomplish much the same thing. Be sure to let us know how this recipe works out. I may need to flake some rye and give it a try myself. Ironically, I just stirred up a 1/2 recipe of "Whole Grain Rye" from the same book and I added a little whey from my homemade kefir. The lactic acid and lactobacilli from the whey will help break down complex starches, irritating tannins and difficult-to-digest proteins found in whole grain and whole grain flour. PLUS, the soaking (during refrigeration) increases vitamin content and makes all the nutrients in the whole grains and whole grain flours more available. About adding apricots.... Vollkornbrot traditionally doesn't include dried fruit, not saying it couldn't be added.... A recipe for Hutzelbrot would be a better choice for that. -Grainlady

We've been gone on a little fall trip, so I hope you didn't think I was ignoring your post. Glad you were able to find some information. Here's my 2 cents... -Grainlady SPELT - the ancient form of the wheat we have today (fyi - kamut, is the ancient form of todays durum wheat). Spelt has enough gluten to make a fairly good loaf of bread, and is good as a substitute for all-purpose flour in most baked goods, especially things where low-gluten is beneficial, such as quick breads, cakes, cookies, etc. If making a loaf of 100% spelt bread, don't expect a nice lofty loaf of bread, like you would get with high-protein bread flour, unless you also add some vital wheat gluten. The gluten in spelt is much less than all-purpose (or other wheat flour). It has 5,000 parts per million; compared to wheat which begins at 50,000 per million and goes up. Therefore, it takes much less kneading (when making a yeast bread) to develop the gluten. Due to the reduced amount of gluten, you may need less hydration if you substitute spelt flour for all-purpose wheat flour. Spelt is also called dinkel. A good cookbook on the subject is "The Spelt Cookbook" by Helga Hughes. All kinds of useful recipes. I mill spelt berries and use spelt almost as much as I do wheat, but usually in combination with wheat flour for yeasted or naturally-leavened breads. You'll find spelt flour readily available at most well-stocked health food stores. You can usually find it in wholegrain and white spelt (the bran and the germ removed). There is also sprouted spelt flour, which makes it easier to digest - available from Summers Sprouted Flour Co. OAT FLOUR: can be milled from the whole grain (2/3 c. oat groats = approx. 1 c. oat flour), or you can mill your own from oatmeal. It can't be substituted 100% for all-purpose flour due to lack of gluten. To make your own ground oat flour (yield: approx. 1 cup): 1. Place 1-1/2 c. oatmeal (quick or old-fashioned, uncooked) in a blender or food processor. 2. Blend or process for about 60 seconds. 3. Store in tightly covered container in cool dry place up to six months (keeps best refrigerated or frozen). 4. Use for baking, bread, thickening or dredging and browning. When used in baking, substitute up to, but not more than, 1/3 of the all-purpose flour called for with oat flour. Oat flour has a slightly sweet taste, and the crumb of foods will be more moist and crumbly (due to lack of gluten). SORGHUM is a flour I've developed a number recipes with. We have a mill outside of town that mills sorghum, and I developed the recipes for a tour of the mill. Once again, it is gluten-free and will not substitute for all-purpose. You will often find it used in glute-free baking. Sorghum Flour Information A. Problems substituting gluten-free grains. - You may need to use additional ingredients to reduce dryness, increase volume and tenderness, and enhance flavor. - Sorghum Flour tends to be gritty, so use with a mixture of other textures, like oatmeal. You can also use a soaked flour technique. - Add 1/2 to 1 tablespoon of corn starch to every cup of sorghum flour to improve smoothness and moisture retention. If you are allergic to corn, arrowroot flour can be used measure for measure where corn starch is used. Guar Gum, a binding agent, can be used in place of xanthan gum for corn sensitive individuals. Use HALF as much guar gum to replace xanthan gum. Guar gum contains fiber and can irritate very sensitive intestines. - Use xanthan gum as a binder and for moisture retention. Add 1/2 t. of xanthan gum per cup of sorghum flour for cookies and cakes; or 1 t. per cup for breads. [Xanthan gum helps to prevent gluten-free "goodies" from crumbling, a job normally performed by gluten. Xanthan comes from the dried cell coat of a microorganism called Zanthomonas capmestris. Though it sounds like a chemical, it is actually an all natural ingredient. Xanthan gum is derived from the fermentation of corn sugars, all corn sugars are removed in the processing os xanthan gum. Xanthan gum contains NO corn protein and is considered to be corn-free.] - Add a little extra oil or shortening if you feel your recipes are too dry. - Add an extra egg or egg white for improved smoothness and crumb structure. - Add a little extra baking powder and/or soda to boost rising properties. - Mix recipes longer. - Sorghum flour works well combined with other grain/seed/bean flours. It cuts the bitterness of bean flour. When using bean flour, the small white beans provide the least amount of "bean" flavor. It can't be substituted for all-purpose flour due to lack of gluten. ---------------- Nutella White Sorghum Flour Cookies 1/2 c. Nutella Chocolate Hazelnut Spread 1/2 c. butter 1/4 c. white sugar 1/4 c. brown sugar 1 egg 1/2 c. white sorghum flour 1/2 c. dried potato flakes 1/4 c. flaxmeal 1/2 T. cornstarch 1 t. baking powder 1 t. baking soda 1/2 t. salt Preheat oven to 325F. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper. In a large bowl, beat Nutella and butter with an electric mixer until light and creamy. Add the sugars and beat until fluffy. Beat in the egg just until mixed. In a medium bowl, combine the white sorghum flour, dried potato flakes, flaxmeal, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Mix, BY HAND, only until ingredients are incorporated. Using a portion scoop, make dough into 1-inch balls. Place on prepared cookie sheets. Bake about 12 minutes. Remove cookie sheets from the oven and allow the cookies to rest on the sheets for 2 minutes then remove to a wire rack to completely cool. (These cookies are very soft when they come out of the oven, but get crispy when completely cool.) Makes 65, 2-1/2 to 3 inch cookies. ------------------ Sorghum/Spelt Banana Bread 1 c. mashed banana 1/4 c. agave nectar (or honey) 1/2 c. kefir (OR plain yogurt, buttermilk, or milk) 3 T. coconut oil (or butter), melted 1 egg lightly beaten 1 c. white sorghum flour 1 c. white spelt flour (OR wholegrain spelt flour) 2 T. flaxmeal 1 T. cornstarch 2 t. baking powder 1/2 t. baking soda 1/2 t. salt 1/2 t. cinnamon 1. Mix liquid ingredients (including bananas) in a small bowl. 2. Mix dry ingredients in a large bowl. 3. Make a well in center of dry mixture; add liquid ingredients, stirring until moistened. Do NOT use an electric mixer for this. 4. Spoon into two Junior loaf pans (7-1/2x3x2-1/4-inches) coated with cooking spray. 5. Bake in a preheated 350°F oven for 30-35 minutes or until a pick inserted in center comes out clean. 6. Cool in pans 5 minutes. Remove from pan and cool on a rack. 7. Yield: 2 small loaves, 13-14 slices each loaf. --------------- I have other recipes for cookies and one for brownies, if you are interested in them.