By LifeWayKefir LifeWayKefir on 5/20/2013 9:07 AM
With The Office ending after 9 hilarious seasons on NBC, you might find yourself longing for your friends, I mean fictional characters, that are no longer in your life. Luckily, if you look around, you might start thinking that these characters were based on the characters you interact with every day. Who doesn’t know a Phyllis? And when you think about it your cubicle neighbor has a Creed-like penchant for mischief, doesn’t he?
But if you have ever worked in an office, you’ve already played that game! To shake things up, let’s take a peek in your fridge. What kefir flavor do you love and which character from The Office embodies its spirit?
Is your BioKefir just like a pint sized, probiotic packed Angela?
Does your Ryazhenka root you to the old world as strongly as Dwight?
Do you let your kefir hang out in the refrigerator until it gets extra bubbly like Erin?
What flavor of kefir will you use to fill the void in your heart that a Dunder Mifflin employee once occupied?
By LifeWayKefir LifeWayKefir on 5/16/2013 10:05 AM
“Since our Nation's founding, women have given their all to expanding opportunity for their families and for future generations. Decade after decade, that fierce dedication has been rewarded with remarkable progress in nearly every part of society; yet all too often, advances in women's health and well-being have lagged behind. During National Women's Health Week, we recommit to changing that reality and increasing access to health services that help women and girls get the care they need.” – President Barack Obama
Go POTUS!
We love our President’s attitude of girl- and woman-power. The above statement is part his
proclamation for National Women’s Health Week, which is happening as we speak.
All too often, women put their health on the backburner, even while actively scheduling doctor’s appointments for their husbands and kids. But if mom isn’t healthy, she won’t be happy, and if momma ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy.
Check out this list of must-have checks for women of all ages, recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. From blood pressure to bone density, dangers are lurking behind many corners – dangers that can be prevented and avoided with proper screening.
By LifeWayKefir LifeWayKefir on 5/13/2013 9:37 AM
When we were kids there was no sweeter sound on a hot summer day than the jingle jingle of the ice cream truck. We’d rush inside to beg some change from mom and dad, and then go tearing down the street to get a Fat Frog with gumball eyes or maybe an ice cream sandwich.
Fat Frogs are our little secret these days, though, as we try to steer our kids to make healthier, more natural food choices. So how cool is it that a slew of natural, organic ice cream trucks have popped up across the country?
Take Ziggy’s Ice Cream Truck, for example, a fashionable little truck in Bend, Oregon that specializes in natural, organic and even vegan ice cream options for kids and adults alike. Ziggy’s is so modern and cool that they even carry Lifeway Frozen Probugs, our all-natural frozen kefir creation just for kids.
While we’re talking trucks, did you know that Lifeway has it’s own awesome food truck right here in Chicago? That’s right, the Kefir Truck has been on the road now for a couple of years, serving soft-serve frozen kefir with a smile. If you find yourself in our fair city follow @StarfruitCafe on Twitter and look for the #KefirTruck hashtag to see where the truck is roaming that day. Want the ultimate summer experience in Chicago? Book the Starfruit #KefirTruck to cater a private party!
By LifeWayKefir LifeWayKefir on 5/10/2013 8:37 AM
Here's another gorgeous pie from Stephanie at
Angel Food Bakery! Apple pie is already just about as good as it gets, but top it with an almond ginger streusel and you've got yourself a blue ribbon winner. You'll be the king or queen of the cookout when you present this fine pie.
Check out the end of this post to see how you can enter to win our amazing pie-themed giveaway!
Ingredients For the pie
- 2c. sliced Granny Smith apples
- 1/2c raisins
- 1/2c. Lifeway Farmer Cheese
- 1t. lemon juice
- 1/4t. cinnamon
- 1/4t. nutmeg
- 1T vanilla
- 2 eggs
- 1/4c. sugar
- 1/8c flour
- 1/4t. kosher salt
- prepared pie crust
For the almond ginger streusel
- 1c sugar
- 1c. brown sugar
- 2c.flour
- 3T ground dry ginger
- 1c. chopped toasted almonds
- 1c. cold cubed butter
InstructionsFilling
Combine all the wet ingredients, cheese, juice, eggs, and vanilla with the sugar and mix well. Stir in the flour, spices, and salt.
Fold in the sliced apples and raisins.
Pour into prepared pie crust.
Top with an almond ginger streusel:
Combine all ingredients in stand mixer or using an electric hand-held mixer and blend until crumbly, and just starting to come together. Crumble over top of pie. (Leftover streusel may be kept in a zip loc in the freezer for future use.)
Bake at 350 for about 40 minutes. Serve warm or room temperature.
Lifeway Recipe Swap Giveaway
Do you want to make your own luscious pies at home? Of course you do! To help make pie magic happen in your kitchen, we’re giving away a fabulous prize pack featuring 5 VIP coupons good for free Lifeway products, a Lifeway chef’s apron, an adorable hostess apron from
Cupcake Provocateur and a gorgeous pine PieBox, courtesy of
PieBox.
To enter:
Share your favorite kefir-centric recipe in the comments on this post (or, if you'd like to share a photo, email it to us at info@lifeway.net). It doesn't matter if it's a pie recipe, a recipe for your favorite smoothie, etc. As long as it contains Lifeway Kefir, it's a good recipe in our book.
We'll choose our favorite recipe by May 17th, and send our prize package off to the author. (Make sure you enter your email address so we can get a hold of you if you win!)
By LifeWayKefir LifeWayKefir on 5/9/2013 10:15 AM
Today we have another mouth-watering pie recipe from Cynthia Lagudi, owner of Cupcake Provocateur. A creamy raspberry filling is topped off with fresh berries and a chocolate drizzle to make this a tempting treat that’s almost too pretty to eat!
Be sure to check out the end of this post to see how you can enter to win one of Cynthia’s hostess aprons along with several other fun pie prizes!
Raspberry Chiffon Kefir Pie
Ingredients
Filling
1 & 1/2 cups heavy cream
1/4 cup Lifeway Greek Style Plain Kefir
1/4 cup confectioners’ sugar
8 ounces raspberry preserves
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Crust
1 1/4 graham cracker crumbs
3 tablespoons brown sugar
5 tablespoons softened butter
Topping
1 cup dark chocolate chips
3 tablespoons Lifeway Greek Style Kefir
1 tablespoon butter
Fresh raspberries (to garnish)
Instructions
Crust
Preheat oven to 350°F
Combine graham cracker crumbs, brown sugar and butter in food processor until a sand like constancy. Press mixture evenly into a 9 inch pie pan. Bake for 8 minutes, set aside to cool.
Pie Filling
Beat heavy cream in medium bowl on medium high until stiff peaks form, set aside. Combine cream cheese vanilla in medium bowl, beat until light and fluffy. Mix kefir, raspberry preserves and confectioners’ sugar till smooth. Fold yogurt mixture into cream cheese till combined. Fold whipped cream into mixture. Spread into cooled pie crust. Chill for 2-4 hours.
Topping
Melt chocolate, butter in double boiler. Add kefir and stir until combined. Drizzle chocolate over chilled pie, garnish with raspberries.
Lifeway Recipe Swap Giveaway
Do you want to make your own luscious pies at home? Of course you do! To help make pie magic happen in your kitchen, we’re giving away a fabulous prize pack featuring 5 VIP coupons good for free Lifeway products, a Lifeway chef’s apron, an adorable hostess apron fromCupcake Provocateur and a gorgeous pine PieBox, courtesy of PieBox.
To enter:
Share your favorite kefir-centric recipe in the comments on this post (or, if you'd like to share a photo, email it to us at info@lifeway.net). It doesn't matter if it's a pie recipe, a recipe for your favorite smoothie, etc. As long as it contains Lifeway Kefir, it's a good recipe in our book.
We'll choose our favorite recipe by May 17th, and send our prize package off to the author. (Make sure you enter your email address so we can get a hold of you if you win!)
By LifeWayKefir LifeWayKefir on 5/8/2013 8:37 AM
If you're a Food Network fan you've probably seen our next pie maker. Stephanie Samuels is the owner and head chef at Chicago's
Angel Food Bakery, a cute little bake shop famous for from-scratch versions of classic snack cakes. This decadent recipe pairs bittersweet chocolate with tangy kefir for a grown-up flavor just begging to be paired with a cup of coffee.
Stick around at the end of this post to find out how you can enter to win our pie-tastic giveaway!
Silky Chocolate Kefir Tarts
Ingredients
- 1 & 1/2 c. bittersweet chocolate chips 1 & 1/2 c. sugar
- 1/4c. flour
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 6 eggs
- 1c. Lifeway Organic Whole Milk Plain Kefir
- 1 & 1/2 T vanilla
- 1 - 9" pie shell or 5-6 - 4" tart shells
Instructions
Let all of the ingredients come to room temperature. Using a double boiler, melt the chocolate.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, Kefir and vanilla.
Mix the dry ingredients together in a medium bowl, and stir into egg mixture. Whisk until combined. Slowly add the melted chocolate and whisk until smooth.
Pour into pie crust or tart shells. Bake at 325 for about 30 min, until top is crackled and custard jiggles slightly.
Serve warm or cold with vanilla whipped cream!
Tip: If mixture "curdles" slightly after adding the chocolate it just means that the mix was too cold for the chocolate to blend in, just place the mixing bowl into a bath of warm wather, and whisk until it comes together.
Lifeway Recipe Swap Giveaway
Do you want to make your own luscious pies at home? Of course you do! To help make pie magic happen in your kitchen, we’re giving away a fabulous prize pack featuring 5 VIP coupons good for free Lifeway products, a Lifeway chef’s apron, an adorable hostess apron from
Cupcake Provocateur and a gorgeous pine PieBox, courtesy of
PieBox.
To enter:
Share your favorite kefir-centric recipe in the comments on this post (or, if you'd like to share a photo, email it to us at info@lifeway.net). It doesn't matter if it's a pie recipe, a recipe for your favorite smoothie, etc. As long as it contains Lifeway Kefir, it's a good recipe in our book.
We'll choose our favorite recipe by May 17th, and send our prize package off to the author. (Make sure you enter your email address so we can get a hold of you if you win!)
By LifeWayKefir LifeWayKefir on 5/7/2013 8:37 AM
Sure, they assigned us boatloads of homework and wouldn’t let us talk during class, but teachers deserve way more praise than they get. Without them, we wouldn’t be able to count our change, identify all 50 states on a map or hold a discussion on Martin Luther King, Jr., and this blog would read like gibberish. Add to that the fact that they function like substitute parents, mentors, therapists and peacekeepers, all for a salary that amounts to a tiny fraction of the average NBA star's, and it’s obvious that teachers need to be showered with a little love and gratitude.In honor of National Teacher Appreciation Day, we asked Lifeway CEO to recall some of her favorite teachers from throughout the years:
Mrs. Puccini (now known as Mrs. Iris Kerbis)
Mrs. Puccini was our Homecoming committee sponsor in high school.
She taught me great leadership and team building skills. One of my favorites: Don't pick your friends to run your teams -- pick qualified people who can do the work well.
Señor Rosenzweig
Muchos gracias to Señor Rosenzweig! Even thought I am fluent in Russian and English, for some reason, I just could not get the hang of Spanish and French. Señor Rosenzweig was my high school Spanish teacher and he was so patient, very understanding. He worked with me to make sure I passed. To this day, he's a good friend and he lets me know he is proud of my accomplishments.
Miss Murphy
My high school counselor. She was really ahead of her time in terms of leadership programming. So many kids passed through her office and we all came out better students and people. She paid me so much individual attention and was someone to talk to; a true mentor.
Professor Norma Moruzzi
In college at the University of Illinois-Chicago, Dr. Moruzzi was my women's studies teacher. I was always fascinated with her stories of women throughout history – stories which were excluded from my high school history books. Suddenly, it just clicked for me and I realized I did love history; and it's more about the way the story is being told. Now with my girls [daughters Misha, 2, and Leah, 4], I want their education to be all about teaching in the best way for each unique student.
My father
Michael Smolyansky was not very patient, but he was incredibly knowledgeable on many subjects – art, politics, history. No matter what city we were in, he would take us to the museum and tell us all about the artists. I wish I could have soaked in all of his knowledge before he passed away but, like many kids, I wasn’t ready to be taught. But today, my love for art comes from him, as does my passion for news. CNN was always on in our house growing up, and the same thing goes for our current home.
My girls
My daughters have taught me patience - to let go of plans and go with the flow; to look at things through a fresh pair of eyes, with a new lens and childlike wonder. They teach me the amazement of discovering something new. It's like being reborn through them. They are two of the most awesome teachers you could ever ask for.
By LifeWayKefir LifeWayKefir on 5/6/2013 7:37 AM
We thought we'd give you a little something different for today's pie recipe. This savory tart features
Lifeway Farmer Cheese, our own tangy, low-fat alternative to cheeses such as ricotta and goat cheese.
Thanks so much to Chef Jerry Korab, Lead Instructor and Kitchen Manager at Chicago's
Give Me Some Sugar for this recipe. Be sure to pay them a visit if you'd like to learn to make more tasty recipes like this one, and check out the end of this post to see how you can win our awesome prize package!
Rustic Garlic and Tomato Tart
Makes one 11-inch tart
Ingredients
For the pastry
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
- 1 egg, lightly beaten
- 2-3 tablespoons ice cold water
For the filling
- 6-7 pounds (about 24) vine-ripe tomatoes, peeled, seeds & juice removed
- Olive Oil
- 8-10 sprigs thyme
- 2 heads garlic
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 container Lifeway Farmer Cheese
Salt and pepper
Instructions
Into the bowl of a food processor, add flour, sugar, salt, and butter. Pulse until coarse crumbs form. Add the egg and pulse until just combined. Add water and pulse until dough just begins to form. Transfer to a large piece of plastic wrap and compress dough into a disk. Chill in refrigerator for a half-hour.
On a lightly floured work surface, roll the dough into a circle, about 1/8-inch thick. Fit into an 11-inch tart pan; trim. Chill for 20 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Prick the base of the pastry shell. Line with a piece of parchment paper, then fill with dried beans or pie weights. Blind-bake the shell for 25 minutes. Remove the parchment and beans. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees and return shell to oven for 10 to 15 minutes, or until golden brown. Transfer to wire rack and let cool.
Roasted Tomatoes
Preheat oven to 275 degrees. Arrange tomatoes on a parchment-lined sheet tray. Drizzle with olive oil and scatter with thyme. Season with salt and pepper. Slowly roast, about 2 to 2 1/2 hours. Remove from oven and let cool.
Roasted Garlic
Remove tops from garlic. Place garlic on a piece of parchment-lined foil. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil. Repeat with other head. Gather parchment-lined foil so that the garlic is completely covered. Roast garlic until tender, about 45 minutes to 1 hour. Remove from oven and let cool to room temperature.
Assembly
Season Farmer Cheese with salt and pepper to taste. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Smear baked shell with roasted garlic and then spread the cheese mixture on top. Top with roasted tomatoes. Lightly season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with remaining cheese and scatter with thyme. Bake 10 minutes, until the tart is warm. Cool slightly and serve.
Cooks Note: Feel free to chop different fresh herbs to mix in with the Farmers Cheese.
Lifeway Recipe Swap Giveaway
Do you want to make your own luscious pies at home? Of course you do! To help make pie magic happen in your kitchen, we’re giving away a fabulous prize pack featuring 5 VIP coupons good for free Lifeway products, a Lifeway chef’s apron, an adorable hostess apron from
Cupcake Provocateur and a gorgeous pine PieBox, courtesy of
PieBox.
To enter:
Share your favorite kefir-centric recipe in the comments on this post (or, if you'd like to share a photo, email it to us at info@lifeway.net). It doesn't matter if it's a pie recipe, a recipe for your favorite smoothie, etc. As long as it contains Lifeway Kefir, it's a good recipe in our book.
We'll choose our favorite recipe by May 17th, and send our prize package off to the author. (Make sure you enter your email address so we can get a hold of you if you win!)
By LifeWayKefir LifeWayKefir on 5/3/2013 10:37 AM
Today we’re sharing another fabulous pie recipe from Adrienne Blumthal, creator of
Piebox, handcrafted, raw pine boxes designed to safely transport your precious homemade pies anywhere! Be sure to check out the end of this post to find out how you can enter to win a Piebox of your very own.
Photo By Steven Karl Metzer
Ryazhenka Rhubarb Pie
Makes one 9-inch deep dish pie.
Ingredients Pie Dough
1 & 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
4 oz. (1 stick) unsalted butter, chilled and cut into small cubes
4 tablespoons ice cold water
Filling
4 cups rhubarb, chopped into 1/2-inch pieces
4 oz. (1 stick) unsalted butter
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup all purpose flour
1 cup
Lifeway Ryazhenka Traditional Kefir
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 eggs
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Pie Crust
Combine flour and butter in a food processor. Pulse 7 to 8 times, until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add the cold water, one tablespoon at a time, pulsing after each addition. If dough seems too dry, add additional cold water by the tablespoon. Remove pie dough from food processor and mold into a circular disk. Cover and let refrigerate for at least 25 minutes.
Roll out dough on a floured surface and transfer to 9-inch pie pan. Trim any crust overhang, fold under and crimp the edges. Prick the bottom and sides with a fork. Place a large piece of aluminum foil on top of dough and fill with dry beans or use pie weights. Par-bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes. Remove the aluminum foil/beans or pie weights. Add the filling (prepared in next step).
Filling
While the crust is par-baking, prepare the filling.
Clean and chop rhubarb, set aside. In a large saucepan over medium-low heat, whisk the butter and sugars until the butter is fully melted. Add the flour and continuing whisking until incorporated. Remove from heat and whisk in the Ryazhenka, vanilla extract and eggs. Continue whisking the mixture until all ingredients are incorporated.
Place the chopped rhubarb into the bottom of the par-baked pie shell, then pour the filling directly on top. Return to the oven and continue baking for 40-45 minutes or until filling has set.
Remove from oven and chill in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours before serving.
Lifeway Recipe Swap Giveaway
Do you want to make your own luscious pies at home? Of course you do! To help make pie magic happen in your kitchen, we’re giving away a fabulous prize pack featuring 5 VIP coupons good for free Lifeway products, a Lifeway chef’s apron, an adorable hostess apron from
Cupcake Provocateur and a gorgeous pine Piebox, courtesy of
Piebox.
To enter:
Share your favorite kefir-centric recipe in the comments on this post (or, if you'd like to share a photo, email it to us at info@lifeway.net). It doesn't matter if it's a pie recipe, a recipe for your favorite smoothie, etc. As long as it contains Lifeway Kefir, it's a good recipe in our book.
We'll choose our favorite recipe by May 17th, and send our prize package off to the author. (Make sure you enter your email address so we can get a hold of you if you win!)
By LifeWayKefir LifeWayKefir on 5/2/2013 10:37 AM
We’re thrilled to share this tasty cream pie recipe with you, courtesy of Cynthia Lagudi, owner of
Cupcake Provocateur. Not only is Cynthia a talented apron designer, but she’s also a gifted pastry chef who sells her cupcakes-in-a-jar online.
Be sure to check out the end of this post to find out how you can enter to win one of Cynthis'a aprons along with lots of other fun pie prizes!
Coconut Kefir Cream Pie
Ingredients
Filling
- 15 oz cream of coconut
- 13 oz coconut milk
- 3/4 cup Lifeway Greek Style Plain Kefir
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon coconut extract
- 5 large egg yolks
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 1/2 cup sweetened shredded coconut
Crust- 18-20 shortbread cookies
- 5 tablespoons softened butter
Topping- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 3 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon coconut extract
- 1/2 cup sweetened shredded coconut
DirectionsCrust
Preheat oven to 350°F
Crush shortbread cookies and butter in food processor until a sand-like constancy. Press mixture evenly into a 9 inch pie pan. Bake for 8 minutes, set aside to cool.
Pie Filling
Heat cream of coconut, coconut milk, coconut extract and kefir in a medium sauce pan until a simmer.
Beat egg yolks and corn starch in a small bowl until yellow ribbons form. Add 1 cup of heated milk mixture, whisking till eggs are tempered. Add egg mixture to sauce pan and simmer for 5-8 minutes till thick and bubbly. Stir in shredded coconut. Pour into pie crust and cool for 4-8 hours.
Topping
Toast shredded coconut in small frying pan until light golden brown, set aside in small bowl to cool.
Beat heavy cream, confectioners’ sugar and coconut extract until stiff peaks form. Garnish cooled pie with whip cream and toasted coconut.
Lifeway Recipe Swap Giveaway
Do you want to make your own luscious pies at home? Of course you do! To help make pie magic happen in your kitchen, we’re giving away a fabulous prize pack featuring 5 VIP coupons good for free Lifeway products, a Lifeway chef’s apron, an adorable hostess apron from
Cupcake Provocateur and a gorgeous pine Piebox, courtesy of
Piebox.
To enter:
Share your favorite kefir-centric recipe in the comments on this post (or, if you'd like to share a photo, email it to us at info@lifeway.net). It doesn't matter if it's a pie recipe, a recipe for your favorite smoothie, etc. As long as it contains Lifeway Kefir, it's a good recipe in our book.
We'll choose our favorite recipe by May 17th, and send our prize package off to the author. (Make sure you enter your email address so we can get a hold of you if you win!)