Ask Allie!
Ask Allie is our food-related advice column, where you can ask all your fermenting, cooking, baking, and pantry-related questions to get digestible answers! No question about food is off limits!
Most of you will receive an emailed reply prior to your question hitting the blog, since I frequently think you need a more immediate answer. You should anticipate 1-2 weeks between submitting your question and its appearance on blog. Although emailed replies normally take between 1-3 days, it can take up to a week.
To have your question answered in Ask Allie posts, please use the form on our website. If you prefer to be anonymous, just say so in the form and we’ll leave your name out when we answer it in the blog! Note that some submissions may be edited for clarity.
For troubleshooting active issues with a culture you’re working with, please check the FAQs or write us at support@positivelyprobiotic.com - you’ll get your answer faster that way! Please also take advantage of our Facebook group for troubleshooting, conversation, and getting to know more members of our community!
Do you have an updated gluten free sourdough bread recipe you could share?
— Justin
You’re a good egg for calling me out on this, Justin. I do not. I am working on it, but it’s really, really slow going since GF baking is way outside my expertise. Please be patient with me. I promise I will get y’all more of these as soon as I can! <3
Can I use whole milk rather than half and half for my sour cream start? Also, will creme fraiche culture milk or does it require cream?
— Hilary
Yes, though it won’t be as thick. If you have to pick between half-and-half and milk, go with the half-and-half. I believe Sabrina always uses this for her sour creams instead of cream. Crème fraiche is cream, not milk. It’s a French sour cream.
I am using a goat-based kefir. I also give it to the dogs. Would kefir induce gas or help to expel it? If it acts as a probiotic, it should be good, yes? Would it help with gastritis? Thanks.
— Starla
I don’t think it either induces gas or helps to alleviate it. Or rather, I’ve not seen research specifically indicating such. But yes, milk kefir is a healthful probiotic! That said, milk kefir is the most potent culture, full stop, so if you’re new to probiotics you should go slowly with introducing it to your diet so it doesn’t overwhelm your immune system. Some people do see improvement with gastritis with probiotics, yes, but definitely consult your physician before adding them, or any other big change, to your diet!
