Search Results: kefir

The Magic Of Kefir

By Donna Schwenk / June 14, 2025

✨ The Magic of Kefir – A Fermented Elixir That Transforms Health Kefir isn’t just a food-it’s a living, breathing ecosystem of health-supporting microbes. Revered for centuries in Eastern Europe and the Caucasus mountains, this tangy, effervescent drink has found its way into modern wellness circles for one simple reason: it works. 🌿 A Personal…

Read More

Yogurt Kefir Cheese Strainer

By Donna Schwenk / May 8, 2025

Product Description Ultra-Fine Mesh Yogurt and Kefir Strainer Set – Perfect for High-Protein Yogurt and Kefir! Make rich, creamy, high-protein yogurt and kefir effortlessly with this convenient strainer set. Each set includes two ultra-fine mesh strainers, crafted with durable nylon mesh and sturdy PP handles, designed specifically for efficient straining. Product Highlights: Perfect Size:Overall size:…

Read More

Kefir Soda – Bubbly Probiotics That Heal Your Gut

By Donna Schwenk / April 26, 2025

What Is Kefir Soda? 🍹 I’m so happy to have my Kefir Soda Starter back in stock! It was unavailable for a while as we waited on one of the special bacteria strains-and I missed it so much. Now that it’s here, my fridge is filled with so many bottles of kefir soda, all bubbling…

Read More

Kefirko Yogurt and Cheese Strainer

By Chris Johnston / April 23, 2025

Description Yogurt and Cheese at Home! This is my favorite yogurt and cheese strainer-I use it all the time, and it even fits perfectly in the door of my refrigerator! 💚 With it, you can easily turn kefir and yogurt into thick, high-protein goodness by simply draining off the whey. ✨ Straining the whey not only…

Read More

Cultured Kefir Butter

By Donna Schwenk / April 12, 2025

 Reasons To Have More Vitamin K2 🧈Jump to the recipe & video! 🧈 I occasionally hold classes and speak at 123 Farm; and honestly, one of the big reasons I go is to get their cultured butter made with kefir. It is so crazy good that it inspired me to make my own kefir butter. Certain cultures…

Read More

Is Kefir the Answer for Acid Reflux?

By Donna Schwenk / March 22, 2025

One of the first things I noticed when we started drinking kefir was the help my husband received with eliminating his acid reflux. It was quite surprising to me since he popped antacids like they were candy. . .

Read More

Natural Remedies That Work: Kefir Whey, Cultured Veggies, Baobab, and Ginger

By Donna Schwenk / February 23, 2025

Our bodies are designed with an incredible ability to heal and restore balance – especially when we give them the right tools. Over the years, I’ve discovered that fermented foods, along with a few natural remedies, can be powerful allies in this process. From using kefir whey to ease pink eye, to calming an upset…

Read More

Second Ferment Your Kefir – Your Taste Buds Will Thank You

By Donna Schwenk / February 15, 2025

Many years ago I discovered a way to make kefir not only taste better but also increase the nutrients in it. It is the only way that I make my kefir now because it is so delicious. The process is called second-fermenting. I have to admit that the reason I second fermented my kefir is that it tasted so much better. […]

Read More

Whey – The Liquid Gold in Kefir

By Donna Schwenk / January 4, 2025

Don’t throw out your kefir if it separates into whey and curds. Your whey, although less appealing to many individuals, is a superfood which contains a lot of healing properties. There is something known as “The Whey Cure” which was used throughout history. In fact, Hippocrates and Galen, two founding fathers of medicine, frequently recommended whey to their patients to heal them. This whey was often referred to as “liquid gold.” […]

Read More

The 12 Days of Kefir

By Donna Schwenk / December 21, 2024

I made a series of videos for my Biotic Pro Members called The 12 Days of Kefir. These 12 videos are all about making holiday Christmas recipes with kefir. It was super fun (and crazy) trying to film it all in a couple of days. It was so intense filming these videos that my video guys nicknamed it “The Beast”! It was an adventure for sure. . .

Read More

Kefir and Respiratory Health

By Donna Schwenk / September 7, 2024

Benefits of Kefir Kefir has long been used for its ability to support respiratory health, especially during the cold and flu season. I have seen this personally work well after respiratory infections and also through those who shared with me through many emails that they have gotten off of their asthma inhalers. It was one…

Read More

Kefir Soda FAQs

By Donna Schwenk / August 31, 2024

Super Soda Imagine sipping on a refreshing, bubbly drink that’s not only delicious but also brimming with probiotics, enzymes, and vitamins. That’s the magic of Kefir Soda! At Cultured Food Life, we’re all about bringing the incredible benefits of fermented foods into your everyday life, and Kefir Soda is one of our favorite ways to…

Read More

10 Reasons I Have Kefir Every Day

By Donna Schwenk / August 24, 2024

Lots of articles are popping up about reasons you should have kefir, but few of the people writing the articles have actually drunk kefir every day for 14 years. This post is specifically talking about milk kefir and not water kefir. My reasons for drinking kefir are very personal and specific to me. […]

Read More

10 Tips for Summer Kefir

By Donna Schwenk / July 6, 2024

Kefir is a living food that tends to have a mind of its own. It ferments differently in the winter than the summer, so understanding the process can make a huge difference. I’m sharing seven tips to help you make great summer kefir. . .

Read More

10 Reasons Kefir Soda is Your Perfect Summer Beverage

By Donna Schwenk / June 29, 2024

Why Kefir Soda is a Summer Must-Have for Your Health Summer is the perfect time to enjoy the light, refreshing taste of kefir soda. I drink a lot of kefir soda in the summertime. Not only is it delicious and bubbly, but it’s also packed with amazing health benefits that make it a fantastic addition…

Read More

9 Ways to Use Extra Kefir Whey!

By Donna Schwenk / June 15, 2024

If you’re making kefir, and especially kefir cheese, you’re going to wind up with a lot of whey. Whey has been called liquid gold, and it has been used throughout history to help with many diseases. In fact, Hippocrates and Galen, two founding fathers of medicine, frequently recommended whey to their patients to heal them. […]

Read More

Kefir for Breakfast ~ My Favorite Four

By Donna Schwenk / May 11, 2024

I learned a long time ago that if I wanted to feel good, I had to have kefir every day. It seems to work best for me to have kefir in the morning, but sometimes I have it other times too. I’ve kind of played around with different ways to have it and found these four breakfasts give me lots of energy. . .

Read More

Yogurt Versus Kefir – Which Is Better?

By Donna Schwenk / April 27, 2024

So, what is the difference between kefir and yogurt? Which is better? Kefir is far superior, but yogurt has its benefits too. I read once that yogurt is like wine and kefir is more like champagne. It has more pizazz! […]

Read More

The Tale of the Disappearing Kefir Grains

By Donna Schwenk / March 30, 2024

We make a lot of kefir. We drink it every day along with making kefir cheese and kefir sodas, so we make it daily. As usual, my husband and kids were helping me make kefir on April 1st, 2014. As I poured out the jugs into the strainer, no kefir grains appeared. . .

Read More

Kombucha vs Kefir Soda: What Is the Difference?

By Donna Schwenk / March 16, 2024

Kombucha & Kefir Soda Kombucha and kefir soda are both fermented probiotic drinks, and boy, are they delicious and good for you. They are bubbly, living, raw beverages that tend to have minds of their own. They ferment differently in the winter than in the summer, so understanding the process can make a huge difference.…

Read More

Kefir Chia Puddings

By Donna Schwenk / February 17, 2024

Kefir the Immune Booster This is one of my more popular recipes, and I love it because I can make several of them ahead of time to have a fast and easy breakfast. Kefir is a necessity for my family and me during cold and flu season. Whether you are trying to keep colds and…

Read More

8 Ways To Second Ferment Water Kefir

By Donna Schwenk / January 29, 2024

There are a million reasons why you shouldn’t drink regular sodas that are laden with high fructose corn syrup, dyes, and chemicals that are hard on the body. Water kefir can provide minerals and probiotics, and they are easy and fun to make. Replace your drinks with water kefir or kombucha, and you will have…

Read More

The Thick and Thin of Kefir

By Donna Schwenk / November 21, 2023

I have had my kefir grains for over years and have made kefir every day since. Let me tell you – these kefir grains have a mind of their own. When I make kefir, my kefir grains will start to float to the top of the jar like they have a life jacket on. They make…

Read More

A Love Affair With Coconut Kefir Soda

By Donna Schwenk / September 23, 2023

Coconut Water  Coconut water makes fabulous kefir soda. I love how it tastes, and how easy it is to make.  It has 10 times the probiotics and 5 times the probiotic yeasts that kefir sodas made with fruit juices have. You can have 236 billion good bacteria in a cup! (See our lab results below.)…

Read More

Kefir and Cholesterol

By Donna Schwenk / September 16, 2023

One of my good friends told me her cholesterol had gone up since drinking kefir, and then she said, “That’s my good cholesterol! It went through the roof and my doctor is very pleased.” I got a few emails this week from people expressing to me that since they’ve been consuming kefir […]

Read More

Kefir And Your Blood Pressure

By Donna Schwenk / May 27, 2023

In 2001, I was battling hypertension and diabetes. It was then that I started drinking kefir and I noticed an interesting occurrence. It seemed that when I drank a glass of kefir every day my blood pressure would go down; and not just a little, but quite a bit. It would put me in the normal range. . .

Read More

How to Make Kefir Soda

By Donna Schwenk / February 11, 2023

Kefir Soda Starter Fizzy Fermented and Fun! Kefir soda . . . oh, how I love this probiotic bubbly drink. I’ve been making it in different ways using culture packages for over twenty-one years. For many, many years I have wanted to make my own kefir soda culture with good yeasts and bacteria. After testing…

Read More

Winter Kefir

By Donna Schwenk / February 4, 2023

I love winter kefir! It’s often creamier and thicker than summer kefir. Kefir acts differently in the winter than in the warmer months of the year, due to cooler temperatures that make it ferment more slowly. […]

Read More

Kefir Soda Starter

By Chris Johnston / January 18, 2023

Introduction Drink probiotic sodas and nurture your microbiome! Nothing pleases me more than to introduce you to our Kefir Soda Starter made by Cutting Edge Cultures. I’ve been making kefir soda using culture package for over years. For many many years, I have wanted to make my own culture with good yeasts and bacteria that…

Read More

Easy Kefir Eggnog

By Donna Schwenk / November 26, 2022

Admin Notice:This is the placeholder for your Snow module. Visitors will not see this. Making New Traditions Staying Healthy During the Holidays I love eggnog. It was an exciting day when we discovered how to make Easy Kefir with a little eggnog to give it festive flavors. You just put a little eggnog  (get a…

Read More

7 Reasons I Drink Coconut Water Kefir

By Donna Schwenk / October 8, 2022

Coconut water is one of my favorite drinks! It is fast and super easy to make and wow is it good for you. Water Kefir Crystals make fantastic coconut water kefir. It’s bubbly, tangy, and delicious! All you need are water kefir crystals (which are different from milk kefir grains) and some coconut water and 24 hours. . .

Read More

Kefir Soda Starter

By Chris Johnston / October 7, 2022

Outside the USA? Our Kefir Soda Starter is one of the best ways to have your soda and fizz without all the harmful additives and unhealthy sugars and sugar replacements. This soda contains beneficial bacteria strains and good yeasts to help you make a fun bubbly, and healthy replacement for soda! Each package can make…

Read More

How To Make Water Kefir

By Donna Schwenk / September 17, 2022

Water kefir grains, or we call them kefir crystals, are unlike milk kefir grains as they thrive on sugars and not lactose. The special probiotic yeasts and beneficial bacteria in the water kefir crystals consume the sugar in the sugar water. They produce probiotics, new enzymes, organic acids, and antioxidants which may have many beneficial…

Read More

Make Probiotic Cottage Cheese With Yogurt or Kefir

By Donna Schwenk / September 3, 2022

Cottage Cheese with probiotics I love cottage cheese but I didn’t always love this soft cheese. I used to think it was awful as a kid and wouldn’t touch it. Then when I got older, I started making it myself after a good friend who had a raw milk dairy farm showed me how to…

Read More

Don’t Rinse Your Kefir Grains and More!

By Donna Schwenk / August 13, 2022

Kefir Grains Never Rinse Them in Water I get so many emails from people who, in an attempt to help their kefir grains, will rinse them in cool water. You should NEVER, EVER, EVER do this. It damages them and rinses off the protective bacteria that make them thrive. So many times they will either…

Read More

My Kefir ~ L. Reuteri Super Smoothie

By Donna Schwenk / July 30, 2022

Superfood Smoothie Nine times out of ten, I have a kefir smoothie every morning. A cup of coffee and a smoothie has been the norm for me for over years. It’s super fast and it tastes really good, but since early March I’ve changed it up a lot with spectacular benefits. I’m kind of shocked…

Read More

Kefir Benefits For Your Heart

By Donna Schwenk / May 7, 2022

Keep Your Heart Healthy Just recently, my dear friend’s husband died at a young age of a heart attack and nobody saw this coming. It can be so devastating to families to feel the hurt of losing someone they love. Your heart is certainly one of your most important organs, and since heart disease is…

Read More

Living Longer on Yogurt and Kefir

By Donna Schwenk / April 9, 2022

Yogurt And Kefir Yogurt and Bifidobacterium I love to eat and make kefir as well as yogurt. Lately, I’ve had yogurt turn my world upside down. I love kefir with every fiber of my being and have it every day, but there were bacterial strains that kefir didn’t have that I wanted. Bifidobacteria is a…

Read More

43 Ways to Use Kefir Cheese

By Donna Schwenk / April 2, 2022

I make a lot of kefir cheese. I use kefir cheese in place of any recipe that calls for cream cheese, sour cream, or Greek yogurt. It’s very versatile, and the length of time you strain it will determine how thick it becomes. . .

Read More

Kefir and Diabetes

By Donna Schwenk / February 26, 2022

I remember that day quite vividly. It was over fifteen years ago. It was February and bitter cold outside. I made myself a breakfast that I thought was healthy – high-fiber cereal and skim milk. Thirty minutes later a terrible feeling came over me […]

Read More

Easy Kefir

By Chris Johnston / February 15, 2022

Introduction Do you want to get started making Kefir? Contains live strains. Gluten-free. Non-GMO. Cultures at room temperature! Kefir is a cultured drink, traditionally made by adding kefir “grains” to some type of milk, including non-dairy milks. We have gone a step further and freeze-dried the kefir grains into a powder and made the process into…

Read More

How to Make Kefir Cheese and Whey

By Donna Schwenk / October 5, 2021

Kefir Cheese and Whey Making kefir whey and cheese is something I do many times a week. It doesn’t take long, and the whey will culture a multitude of foods. The whey in kefir has many benefits, so don’t throw it out! One of the things I hope to accomplish with this blog is to…

Read More

Water Kefir or Kefir Soda? Two Different Ways to Make Probiotic Soda

By Donna Schwenk / September 25, 2021

Which Is Better? Kefir Soda Versus Water Kefir I love kefir soda, but this is a slightly different process from making water kefir that is made with water kefir crystals. When you make water kefir with crystals, you make your first ferment and then you ferment it again to flavor it. This is a two-step…

Read More

Why People Fight Over Kefir

By Donna Schwenk / August 28, 2021

The Many Legends of Kefir One of my favorite things about kefir is the many stories, legends, and history behind it. It has been around for thousands of years and the stories are many, as are the mystics behind this food. It would make a great documentary! One of the first stories I heard dates…

Read More

Kefir Mousse

By Donna Schwenk / August 14, 2021

Staying healthy can be a daunting challenge for most people. Life gets crazy at times, but most of the articles I write are meant to give you little things you can do that can make a big difference. […]

Read More

How Many Calories in Kefir?

By Donna Schwenk / July 31, 2021

Kefir can be made with many different kinds of milk, be it non-dairy or dairy milk. It differs in calories and nutritional differences depending on which type of milk you use. Kefir is far superior to regular milk. Fermentation is the alchemy of milk. […]

Read More

7 Ways to Use Your Extra Kefir Grains

By Donna Schwenk / July 24, 2021

I love my kefir grains and they love me. It’s true! We’ve been in a long relationship for over twenty years and they never cease to amaze me with everything they can do. […]

Read More

Fifteen Kefir Ice Creams

By Donna Schwenk / July 10, 2021

I’m always looking for ways to enjoy my kefir, and kefir ice cream can be enjoyed anytime – even for breakfast! If you don’t have an ice cream maker that sits on the counter, you may want to consider owning one as they are a great investment. […]

Read More

What Kind of Milk Do I Use To Make Kefir?

By Donna Schwenk / June 12, 2021

There are many ways to make kefir with many different types of milk, and believe me, I’ve tried them all. Mostly to try to help you. I have some of my favorites, but I will explain which ones you can use and let you know my favorites too. […]

Read More

Kefir Made Easy

By Donna Schwenk / May 29, 2021

When your feet hit the ground in the morning are you pumped about the day? Do you feel appreciation and love for others? Do you have energy that will last all day? Did you know that you are supposed to feel this way? […]

Read More

The Most Probiotic Kefir Dip

By Donna Schwenk / April 17, 2021

This recipe has only two cultured ingredients (cultured veggies and kefir cheese) and has more probiotics than any other dip recipe and it’s crazy delicious. […]

Read More

Milk Kefir FAQs

By Donna Schwenk / March 27, 2021

Kefir is my favorite cultured food. It has the most probiotic strains of any cultured food (over 50 strains) and is also super easy to make. It was the first cultured food I tried and it made me well in so many ways that I started on a journey to learn all I could about this magical food. […]

Read More

Kefir Sourdough English Muffins

By Donna Schwenk / October 24, 2020

Get extra Minerals from your Food Making Cultured English Muffins There is a famous bakery in Kansas City called Wolferman’s that sells their gourmet baked goods to many distributors (like Harry & David’s) and has been around since 1888. Every fall I used to drive thirty minutes to get their legendary super-delicious English muffins that…

Read More

How to Make Your Kefir Creamy Again

By Donna Schwenk / August 22, 2020

“Kefir is worth the trouble of making. Like all things virtuous, you have to struggle to gain the reward. Trust me, the rewards are many.” Donna In these summer months, has your kefir been fermenting faster and turning  into curds and whey before you know it? In the summertime, kefir can change and many people…

Read More

Kefir Ranch Dressing

By Donna Schwenk / May 16, 2020

When I was growing up, my mom had a big garden. We would help her pick the green beans, broccoli, and tomatoes; and without fail, I wouldn’t want to eat the veggies. […]

Read More

Now is the Time to Start Making Kefir Cheese

By Donna Schwenk / April 25, 2020

If you love cheese then you really need to learn to make kefir cheese. It’s crazy easy, filled with probiotics, and you can use it in a million different ways. I make kefir cheese in big and small batches and I want to show you how you can do it too. […]

Read More

Dairy-Free Kefir – Every Kind You Can Imagine

By Donna Schwenk / April 4, 2020

I have seen many people benefit from kefir, and this includes non-dairy kefir. So many people need a dairy-free version, so we created just about every kind of non-dairy kefir we could think of. […]

Read More

Everybody’s Favorite Kefir Dip

By Donna Schwenk / February 1, 2020

I’ve been eating cultured foods for two almost two decades and this recipe has been on the blog almost from the very beginning. I’m always scrambling to make recipes that my family would enjoy and eat that have probiotics and prebiotics. […]

Read More

My Kefir Is Too Sour!

By Donna Schwenk / January 4, 2020

Perhaps you’ve seen this happen, and it even happens to me from time to time: My kefir will get really sour. This can happen for several reasons. During your first ferment, you let your kefir ferment too long on your counter, or your house might be warmer than usual. […]

Read More

How To Second Ferment Your Water Kefir

By Donna Schwenk / December 7, 2019

Water kefir tastes pretty plain unless you second ferment it. You can choose your favorite juice and make a delicious bubbly drink that is loaded with probiotics. Here is an easy recipe to give you an easy guideline to follow. […]

Read More

Reasons To Love Almond Kefir

By Donna Schwenk / October 26, 2019

I love almonds and they make wonderful kefir. Some people call almonds the healthiest food in all the world and they have tons of health benefits. But I know a thing or two about almonds that perhaps you do not know. […]

Read More

How To Make Kefir Donut Holes

By Donna Schwenk / March 30, 2019

I’m always looking for recipes that give us healthy foods that are fun to eat and also help feed our good bacteria. It’s also important that the recipe be easy to make and not time-consuming. These donut holes are gluten-free and have lots of healthy fiber-rich ingredients. Not only do these treats have probiotics from the kefir, but they have lots of prebiotics too. You’ll be changing your microbiome with every bite. . .

Read More

Donna’s Live WATER Kefir Crystals

By Donna Schwenk / December 3, 2018

Discontinued After much thought and contemplation, I’ve decided to stop selling my water kefir crystals. I’m sorry if you have been looking forward to purchasing them, but there are several things that I took into consideration. Over the years I have noticed that they are just getting less and less consistent. They can be problematic…

Read More

History of Kefir, Kombucha, and Fermented Vegetables

By Donna Schwenk / December 1, 2018

We all have trials and struggles throughout our lives and often these struggles have brought me to my knees. But without fail, each and every one of them has been a blessing in disguise. The pain turned to wisdom and I found myself so grateful for the struggle that brought me so much pain. . .

Read More

Which is Better – Water Kefir or Milk Kefir?

By Donna Schwenk / August 4, 2018

People often ask me about water kefir and milk kefir and which type of kefir I think is more beneficial. Water kefir is a non-dairy kefir that is gaining in popularity. Many people start with this method of making kefir because it’s so easy and fun and they want a non-dairy option. . .

Read More

Cocoa Kefir Krunch Puff Breakfast Video! 📹

By Donna Schwenk / May 19, 2018

This is my daughter Holli’s favorite breakfast. I make extra servings of the crunch topping and store it in a jar for her to use whenever she makes her morning smoothie. This was the recipe that really changed her more than any other recipe. My family is like everybody else. . .

Read More

Probiotic Kefir Nut Butter Video! 📹

By Donna Schwenk / May 12, 2018

This recipe is in my new book Cultured Food in a Jar. I only make recipes that are easily incorporated into my life because I’m crazy busy and I want recipes to care for my body and busy microbes. This recipe fits the bill. It has only two ingredients and it’s so easy to make. […]

Read More

Learn How To Make Water Kefir

By Donna Schwenk / April 7, 2018

Water kefir grains, or we call them kefir crystals, are unlike milk kefir grains as they thrive on sugars and not lactose. These special probiotic yeasts and beneficial bacteria in the water kefir crystals consume the sugar in the sugar water, and they produce probiotics, new enzymes, vitamins, and help repopulate your gut flora. . .

Read More

Your Kidneys Might Need Some Kefir

By Donna Schwenk / February 17, 2018

I’ve received several emails from people who have been greatly helped by cultured foods in regards to kidney health. More and more medical research is showing great benefits to using probiotics for kidney health […]

Read More

I Am Having Difficulty Straining My Kefir 📹

By Donna Schwenk / February 3, 2018

I love kefir that is thick like yogurt. However, it can sometimes be difficult to strain out the kefir grains. There is a super easy remedy for this. Enjoy the benefits of kefir and find an easy and quick way to strain it. Check out the video for tips. […]

Read More

7 Reasons to Make Goat Milk Kefir

By Donna Schwenk / January 27, 2018

Goat milk was a godsend for my tiny daughter, Holli. She was born eight weeks premature and this little one rocked my world. I became a woman on a mission to help her be well. Nursing this tiny infant was a challenge […]

Read More

🎄 Twas the Night They Made Kefir — 📹 Video 🎄 🥛

By Donna Schwenk / December 23, 2017

Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house,
no creature was stirring not even a mouse. When out from the kitchen there came such a clatter, a bubbling, and hissing . . . and even a splatter. […]

Read More

Kefir Blueberry Pecan Pancakes

By Donna Schwenk / October 14, 2017

We love pancakes at our house. I mostly make sourdough pancakes, but I made a new pancake recipe this week, and switched out my sourdough starter (which I love) and replaced it with kefir. Oh my, they were wonderful, fluffy pancakes. […]

Read More

Kefir Class Giveaway

By Chris Johnston / September 9, 2017

The giveaway is over. Congratulations to Susan VanDusen!!!

Read More

Nut Milk Kefir That Looks and Tastes Like Thick Yogurt

By Donna Schwenk / August 12, 2017

We went to a nut farm this weekend and found just about every kind of nut you could imagine. Nuts are prebiotic foods and your gut loves them. I love my kefir, but nut milks don’t always make thick and creamy kefir as much as cow’s milk — until now. […]

Read More

Kefir is Your Ally Against Toenail Fungus

By Donna Schwenk / July 15, 2017

So, do you want to know why you have certain persistent problems with things like ringworm, toenail fungus, and athlete’s foot? All of these are caused by a fungus that can spread and grow like crazy and last for years and years. […]

Read More

When Are My Kefir, Kombucha, and Veggies Done Culturing?

By Donna Schwenk / March 18, 2017

Do you wonder when your kefir, kombucha, and cultured vegetables are done fermenting? I have a few tips to help you understand how and when they’re at the perfect place with lots of probiotics and will taste the best. […]

Read More

Probiotic Mocktails! Kefir, Kombucha, and More!

By Donna Schwenk / June 5, 2016

A recent study, published in the journal PNAS, suggested that bacteria in the gut may play a role in alcohol addiction and the risk of relapsing after rehab. The study was done on 60 alcohol-dependent individuals. […]

Read More

The Secret According to Kefir Ice Cream

By Donna Schwenk / February 7, 2016

Somebody asked me the other day how I come up with recipes for cultured foods. Many times they come suddenly into my brain. This will often make me miss my exits while driving on the highway because I am thinking about the specifics of how to make it. […]

Read More

Water Kefir Recipes

By Chris Johnston / January 9, 2016

Water Kefir Recipes

Read More

Easy Kefir

By Donna Schwenk / January 3, 2016

Description Outside the USA? Do you want to get started making Kefir? Try Easy Kefir. Kefir Made Easy! Kefir is a cultured drink, traditionally made by adding kefir “grains” to some type of milk, including non-dairy milks. We have gone a step further and freeze-dried the kefir grains into a powder and made the process into…

Read More

Dairy Free Kefir

By Donna Schwenk / January 1, 2016

Many people have found that even though they can’t consume regular dairy products, they can eat milk kefir no problem. This is because kefir eats the lactose in the milk and makes it 99% lactose free. So those who are lactose intolerant aren’t actually consuming the lactose in kefir, because it’s already been consumed by…

Read More

Dairy Free Kefir

By Chris Johnston / January 1, 2016
Read More

Donna’s Live MILK Kefir Grains

By Chris Johnston / December 31, 2015

Description These are Live Milk Kefir grains that have been cared for by me and are ready to come live with you! I love these grains and I hope you will love them, too. They will make gallons upon gallons of delicious kefir from the moment you receive them. Take care of them, and they…

Read More

Foolproof Kefir

By Donna Schwenk / November 15, 2015

I love kefir grains, but I didn’t start my journey making kefir using kefir grains. I started with the powder kefir and was very glad I did. I was pretty much a wreck at that time in my life and I needed something easy and foolproof or it wasn’t going to happen. […]

Read More

Non-Dairy Kefir Wants a Date

By Donna Schwenk / April 12, 2015

Kefir grains love to eat the sugars (lactose) in milk. These sugars are the primary food for this culture. Fresh milk kefir is only 1% sugar and live kefir grains contain over 50 different types of yeast and bacteria existing in a symbiotic relationship. […]

Read More

Video: How to Make Kefir

By Donna Schwenk / February 8, 2015

A few weeks ago I had a dream about kefir. I was watching TV in my dream and heard a newscaster say that kefir had swept the world and there was now kefir in every kitchen. I woke up and carried that dream with me for weeks. If everybody drank kefir, the world would be a better place. I am convinced of this. […]

Read More

Cashew Kefir

By Donna Schwenk / November 15, 2014

This is a cashew apple tree. Cashew nuts are actually the kidney-shaped seeds that adhere to the bottom of the cashew apple grown mostly in Brazil. Interesting, isn’t it? Cashews are all the rage these days and used in all kinds of health food dishes – and for good reason. They’re delicious and good for you. […]

Read More

Video: Is Your Kefir Separating?

By Donna Schwenk / November 9, 2014

Is your kefir separating into whey and curds? Is your kefir thin and runny? Most of the time this is because it is over fermenting and you need to add more milk or remove some of the grains. It also might be warm in your home and this will make it separate faster as well. […]

Read More

Kefir

By Donna Schwenk / August 19, 2014
Read More

How to Travel With Kefir and Be a Pioneer

By Donna Schwenk / May 7, 2014

This last month my husband and I had our 30th wedding anniversary. Ron and I and our three kids are a tribe and we’ve always done everything together. This was the first vacation we have had alone since our honeymoon which we spent on a houseboat in Lake Powell, Utah. […]

Read More

Coconut Almond Kefir Ice Cream

By Donna Schwenk / June 23, 2013

Probiotic Ice Cream If I had to choose only one cultured food, which would it be? If I were banished to a desert island, which one would I take to live with me, leaving the others behind? I really love them all, and it kills me to think about choosing just one. But if I…

Read More

Walnut Kefir & Chocolate Fig Pudding

By Donna Schwenk / April 13, 2013

Have you tried making your own nut milks? Walnut milk is delicious and easy to make. I have been trying a lot of different recipes using different nut milks and I am really enjoying them. Kefir is easy and fun to make using nut milk, and is a great dairy-free alternative to regular kefir. […]

Read More

Pumpkin Kefir Cheese Ice Cream

By Donna Schwenk / September 9, 2012

Pumpkin Kefir Treat My dad’s (Don) birthday is coming up in a few days. Several years ago he died suddenly. Three months before he passed, my mind was filled with loving and joyful thoughts about my dad. He died suddenly so I had no idea at the time that in a few months he would…

Read More

Popeye and Olive Oyl Kefir Ice Cream

By Donna Schwenk / March 10, 2012

This is a wonderful smoothie that can be made into kefir ice cream This is probably one of the things I make at least once a week. I love it, and so does my family. Kids will never know that this has spinach in it. I have disguised this by saying,” this is a shamrock…

Read More

The Dog That Kefir Saved

By Donna Schwenk / January 16, 2012

Some of the best friends I have today came to me through cultured foods. I meet people who are looking to be well – they either come to one of my classes or they find me through friends to purchase kefir grains. […]

Read More

Kefir Sourdough Waffles

By Donna Schwenk / May 11, 2010

I love sourdough bread. I love that it takes time to develop the bread and turn it into something warm and crusty from the oven. So many people are struggling with gluten allergies but to really understand this you need to go back in time. What if you knew the bread you were eating had…

Read More

What is Kefir?

By Donna Schwenk / January 24, 2010

What is Kefir? “What is kefir?” You’ve probably asked yourself this before. Pronounced “KEE-fuhr,” kefir is a tangy, slightly fizzy, FANTASTIC fermented milk beverage. It can be made with all kinds of different milks, dairy and non dairy. It looks similar to yogurt, but is far superior. Click here to learn more on the difference between kefir…

Read More

How to Make Kefir

By Donna Schwenk / January 19, 2010

Gather Your Materials Milk or Non-Dairy Milk Most milk types are acceptable, including whole milk, fat-reduced, non-fat, pasteurized, and homogenized. Fresh raw whole cow’s milk is delicious too and goat kefir is one of my favorites! Please don’t use ultra-pasteurized milk when making kefir. Your kefir won’t do well. Many times organic milk that you…

Read More

Non-Dairy Milk Kefir FAQs

By Donna Schwenk / January 11, 2010

Frequently Asked Questions About Non-Dairy Milk Kefir Why is my non-dairy kefir is separating into whey and curds? This is actually normal for non-dairy kefir. Since most nut milks are made with mostly water it separates quite easily. This doesn’t diminish the product in any way. Stir or shake it up, or blend it into…

Read More

Water Kefir FAQ’s

By Donna Schwenk / January 11, 2010

Frequently Asked Questions About Water Kefir My water kefir has changed and smells yeasty or funny? If your water kefir has a yeasty aroma you may be over-culturing, which can cause an imbalance. Make sure to reduce the culturing time in warmer temperatures, to keep the crystals well-fed and in balance, and feed them every…

Read More