Homemade Infant Formula

I feel so organically domestic as I pull this stuff out of the fridge. It takes more work than the powdered formula, but it feels so much better to feed raw, whole, clean milk to my baby than processed white powder.

Don't get me wrong. I hold no judgment against the powdered white stuff. In fact, Jackson was supplemented with store-brand nonorganic formula until a year. He even got (dang it!) soy formula in spurts. Rebecca occasionally got organic formula, when I was given the "OK" to spend an extra $4.00 a week. But after considering the cost of money and time, I finally committed to making raw milk formula for Roman. There are opponents of raw milk, and I have read considerable research on both sides of the issue, but the conclusion I have arrived at is the same conclusion I have made when it comes to everything (well, most things) that goes into my family's mouth:

If the Good Lord did not make it, it is not worth eating.

This will hang in my kitchen when I finish my needlepoint. Maybe. No, I'm kidding.

Anyways, first allow me to reiterate- I never want to make anyone feel uncomfortable or anxious over different eating habits. As Scripture says, "All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable". That definitely pertains to food. Eat whatever the heck you want, and don't feel bad about it. But if you are interested in making baby formula some day, here be the recipe:

• 2 cups whole raw cow's milk, preferably from pasture-fed cows
• 1/4 cup homemade liquid whey (See recipe for whey, below) Note: Do NOT use powdered whey or whey from making cheese (which will cause the formula to curdle). Use only homemade whey made from yoghurt, kefir or separated raw milk.
• 4 tablespoons lactose
• 1/4 teaspoon bifidobacterium infantis
• 2 or more tablespoons good quality cream (preferably not ultrapasteurized), more if you are using milk from Holstein cows
• 1/2 teaspoon unflavored high-vitamin or high-vitamin fermented cod liver oil or 1 teaspoon regular cod liver oil
• 1/4 teaspoon high-vitamin butter oil (optional)
• 1 teaspoon expeller-expressed sunflower oil
• 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
• 2 teaspoons coconut oil
• 2 teaspoons Frontier brand nutritional yeast flakes
• 2 teaspoons gelatin
• 1-7/8 cups filtered water
• 1/4 teaspoon acerola powder

You have to put all this in the blender and blend really well. Coconut oil solidifies when chilly.

Here is why it is cost-effective for me: I already have on hand raw milk, cod liver oil, homemade whey, extra virgin olive oil, nutritional , and infant probiotics. I had to purchase lactose, gelatin, and sunflower oil. So the cost, per week, is about $15.00, compared to the $20.00 I was spending on store-brand organic formula. And you know I love a deal!

So feel free to comment or email if you have any questions about the formula. I will be in the kitchen with bare feet, wrapped up in my muslin apron, smelling of lavender.