About this item
A full-color, illustrated, and first-of-its-kind cookbook featuring more than 100 inventive, globally inspired recipes to cook and bake with kefir (pronounced keh-FEAR) - the popular probiotic and nutritious superfood, from the daughter of the immigrant couple who first introduced kefir to America who is now the CEO of their company, Lifeway Foods Inc.Derived from the Turkish word "keif" meaning "feeling good," kefir is a tart, tangy cultured milk that is low in sugar, lactose free, and an excellent source of protein, calcium, and B vitamins. Originating from a grain that dates back 2000 years to the Caucasus Mountains of Europe, it is also one of the most healthful natural foods available - scientifically shown to help boost immunity, improve gut health, build bone density, fight allergies, and aid the body's natural detoxification. It's no wonder kefir is quickly becoming a staple of daily diets - growing from a little-known regional treat into what the Huffington Post has called "the next Greek yogurt."In 1986, ten years after they emigrated from Kiev, Michael and Ludmila Smolyansky introduced kefir to America and created a food empire, Lifeway Foods, Inc., the top-selling kefir brand in the nation today. Now, their daughter Julie, Lifeway's CEO, shows kefir lovers and those new to this exotic superfood how to incorporate it into every meal with The Kefir Cookbook. Bringing together treasured family stories of their early days in America and traditional recipes from behind the Iron Curtain with new family favorites, The Kefir Cookbook helps you add a dose of healthy goodness to everything you eat, from soups and dips to marinated meats and baked desserts.While kefir can be drunk straight from the bottle, whipped into smoothies, or used in parfaits and smoothie bowls, Julie reveals in more than 100 recipes how it can also be blended with your favorite comfort foods to add tang, boost creaminess, and elevate their nutritional properties. Try Huevos Rancheros with Kefir Crema for brunch, Raspberry Chocolate Chip Kefir Scones with coffee, Tomato Avocado Salmon Burgers with Tzatziki Dressing for lunch, Cod with Creamy Garlic Kefir Herb Sauce for dinner, and Red Velvet Cake for dessert. You can also whip up a batch of Chocolate Chip Zucchini Muffins for snacking (or giving) , and much more. Practical, original, and delicious, many of the recipes use contemporary flavors and textures - think chia seeds, agave syrup, coconut oil, turmeric - which offer a delectable spin on classics. Julie also includes innovative substitutions for dishes that traditionally utilize other dairy products.Featuring a beautiful, sophisticated design using a cool, modern palette, The Kefir Cookbook is illustrated with inviting color photographs that will inspire you in the kitchen every day.
About the Author
JULIE SMOLYANSKY is CEO and president of Lifeway Foods Inc., the company her parents founded to introduce kefir to the U.S. Named the nation's youngest female CEO of a publicly held firm in 2002, she was recently named to Fortune's "40 under 40" and Fast Company's "Most Creative People in Business 1000." Julie lives in Chicago, Illinois.
