Become a Milk Maid in Your Kitchen!

The darling image above is a "Milk Maid Vintage Linen Tea Towel" by Big Yellow Taxi Vintage. Please check out this lovely Etsy shop!
My sweet sister, Andrea of Storybook Artifact is now selling Milk Maiden Heirloom Kefir Grains...You can become a milk maid in your own kitchen with these babies!

She explains the wonderful benefits of kefir in her item description as follows:
Kefir is full of beneficial bacteria that aids as a natural probiotic for your intestinal flora, and thereby builds up your body's immunity. It has been found that kefir is an effective immune stimulant and antimicrobial against a wide variety of harmful gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Composed of around 400 strains of beneficial bacteria found in the intestines, kefir's microbes serve as a natural clean-up crew for your intestines, and are essential for the proper absorption of many vitamins and minerals. Kefir also has an abundance of vitamins, minerals, amino acids and enzymes. Some of the more noteworthy of these are calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, vitamin B2, and B12, vitamin K, A and D. Tryptophan, an essential amino acid found in kefir, has been found to have a relaxing effect on the nervous system.
Please check out Andrea's cozy little Etsy shop "Storybook Artifact" filled with delightful vintage finds, original paintings and sketches, and yes...probiotic heirloom kefir grains!!!Also speaking of Storybook Artifact's Milk Maiden Heirloom Kefir Grains, these healthy little cultures along with her Antique Rabbit Tea Pot Set are featured in this pleasantly pink STAT Team treasury created by CALLACosmetics titled "Vintagely Pink".My hand-painted, upcycled decoupage canister "Little Miss Cupcake" is also featured in this adorable treasury!

My Dream of Being a Milk Maid!

The peacefully humble image featured above is a Butterick sewing pattern for a beautiful Milk Maid dress, bonnet, and apron. This item is titled "Milk Maid Little House on the Prairie Dress Bonnet and Apron Costume Butterick 4570 Sizes 8-10-12-14" by OhSewCharming. Please check out her Etsy shop to view her other delightful and inspiring sewing patterns...she also has a large variety of vintage ones!

My husband, Joe, and I purchased some REAL raw cow's milk and cream from a local farm lady "milk maid" and it is amazing how delicious and absolutely perfect it is! This particular raw milk comes from grass-fed Jersey cows and it is spectacular! We have had raw cow's milk for over a year now and we are captivated by it once again. Not only is raw "straight from the cow" milk incredibly creamy and tasty it is also VERY HEALTHY for you since you receive nutrients from it that you can not get from store bought milk...plus you also don't get the hormones, anti-biotics, and who knows what else that is in mainstream cow's milk. Please check out these two informative articles about why raw cow's milk is the way to go!

http://www.naturalnews.com/023083_raw_milk_benefits_food.html

http://www.naturalnews.com/021986.html

As the second article listed above mentions fermented raw milk is very beneficial for you; Joe and I are also making probiotic kefir out of our raw cow's milk. We also plan on making homemade ice cream with the raw milk and cream soon! I suggest everyone to give healthy and delicious raw milk a try; you can probably find a local dairy farmer in your area by searching the internet or going to your local farmer's markets. I can't wait to have a small dairy farm of my own someday and be a true milk maid!



If you would like to make your own probiotic kefir from raw cows milk, you can find the organic, probiotic kefir grain cultures in my etsy shop...all you need to do is purchase them once and you can make healthy and delicious kefir indefinitely!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/54411910/kefir-a-cultured-dairy-product-full-of

Bananas and Kefir for Healthy, Beautiful Hair!

Bananas are rich in potassium, an ingredient that temporarily gaps in hair's cuticle, so strands feel smooth. Vitamins B5, A, E, and C in the fruit preserve hair's natural elasticity, lessening breakage and split ends over time.

The lactic acid in kefir helps maintain your hair and scalp's pH balance, so they stay moisturized and shiny naturally; fatty acids coat and soften hair. If you would like to make your own kefir for your hair, you can find the organic, probiotic kefir grain cultures in my etsy shop...all you need to do is purchase them once and you can make healthy and delicious kefir indefinitely!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/54411910/kefir-a-cultured-dairy-product-full-of

Banana and Kefir Hair Treatment

1 banana
1/2 cup - 1 cup kefir

In a blender, whip the banana and kefir until they have a smoothie-like texture (about 45 seconds). Work the hair mask into wet hair, wrap a wet towel around your head and let the mask soak in for 10 minutes. Rinse, shampoo, and style!

Tester Tip: You might want to try making kefir cheese (or "labne") for this hair mask because it has a thicker consistency that won't slide off wet hair. Add a few drops of vanilla or lavender essential oil to de-stress while you wait. ;-)

Pamper Your Face with a Kefir Mask

Kefir is wonderfully beneficial for your skin; it naturally contains Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA) that is said to reduce wrinkles or the signs of aging, and improve the overall look and feel of the skin. In kefir, alpha hydroxy acid is in the form of lactic acid.

Lactic acid naturally harmonizes with the slight acidity of our skin and hair. The lactaic acid in kefir softly dissolves the lipids that hold old skin cells together and helps to remove dead skin particles so that new skin can emerge into new radiance. Other miracles of alpha hydroxy acid found in kefir include reducing the appearance of wrinkles and scar tissue, and fading aging spots and freckles (pigmentations from sun exposure).

I put home-brewed kefir on my face all of the time and I love the way that it makes my skin feel; slightly tightened and soft. You can put kefir alone on you face for a therapeutic mask or you can follow this wonderful kefir-oatmeal face mask recipe below.

Kefir Honey Oatmeal Mask

½ cup uncooked oatmeal
¾ cup of kefir
2tbsp of warm liquid honey

Mix kefir and oatmeal and refrigerate for ten hours. Strain, keeping the liquid and discarding the oatmeal. Add the honey and mix well. Apply the mask and leave on for twenty minutes. Rinse well and apply a moisturizer to the face. This is a great mask for oily skin.

If you would like to make your own kefir for a calming and therapeutic facial mask, you can find the organic, probiotic kefir grain cultures in my etsy shop...all you need to do is purchase them once and you can make delicious, healthy kefir indefinitely!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/54411910/kefir-a-cultured-dairy-product-full-of

Watermelon: A Natural Viagra!

During this hot summer season, men should try eating watermelon to boost their libido! Check out these articles about Watermelon's Viagra-like effects:

http://www.webmd.com/erectile-dysfunction/news/20080701/watermelon-a-natural-viagra

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/07/01/why-watermelon-is-the-new_n_110200.html

http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2008/07/03/watermelon-viagra.html

My husband, Joe, made this delicious watermelon spritzer by fermenting watermelon juice with organic, probiotic water kefir grains (converted from milk kefir grains):

Aromatherapy Kefir Bath

Relax and escape into a soothing and floral paradise with an aromatherapy kefir bath! Kefir is wonderfully beneficial for your skin; it naturally contains Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA) that is said to reduce wrinkles or the signs of aging, and improve the overall look and feel of the skin. In kefir, alpha hydroxy acid is in the form of lactic acid.

Lactic acid naturally harmonizes with the slight acidity of our skin and hair. The lactaic acid in kefir softly dissolves the lipids that hold old skin cells together and helps to remove dead skin particles so that new skin can emerge into new radiance. Other miracles of alpha hydroxy acid found in kefir include reducing the appearance of wrinkles and scar tissue, and fading aging spots and freckles (pigmentations from sun exposure).

If you would like to make your own kefir for a calming and therapeutic bath, you can find the organic, probiotic kefir grain cultures in my etsy shop...all you need to do is purchase them once and you can make delicious, healthy kefir indefinitely!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/45802218/kefir-a-cultured-dairy-product-full-of

I love to add 1/2 to a cup of kefir to my bath with some of my favorite essential oil combinations like Frankincense and Rosewood; or I will add my favorite bath oil: Plantlife's Ylang Ylang Body Oil "For Soft and Silky Skin". It has all natural ingredients; only pure essential oils (like Calendula, Chamomile, and Ylang Ylang) and carrier oils (like Apricot, Jojoba, Grape Seed, Sweet Almond and Olive). Ylang Ylang is an aphrodisiac...this silky skin aromatherapy bath would be a pleasingly arousing experience for you and your lover!

Kefir and Currant Cheesecake!

This decadent, smooth, and delightfully rich cheesecake is absolutely delicious and healthy for you too! Made with a homemade kefir pie crust, this completely "from scratch" kefir cheesecake will blow away everyone's expectations and taste buds!

Kefir and Currant Cheesecake

8 oz (1 cup) fresh kefir cheese (labne)

2 Tablespoons fresh milk kefir-grains

4 oz (1/2 cup) Sugar

2 oz (1/4 cup) Currants

1 large (or 2 small) Eggs, preferably organic and free-range

1 oz butter, melted

A pinch of nutmeg

A pinch of cinnamon

Finely chop kefir grains with sharp knife on cutting board. Mix the chopped kefir grains with the kefir cheese (labne), currants, and spices. Beat the egg and stir in with the sugar and butter. Line the dish with the homemade kefir pie crust pastry (recipe listed below) and put in the kefir cheese (labne) mixture. Bake in a moderate oven (350°F) for 20 minutes or until set. Delicious hot or cold; serves approximately six people.


Homemade Kefir Pie Crust Pastry

2 cups flour (preferably organic spelt and organic pastry flour; I used organic whole wheat flour)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup kefir
2/3 cup oil (I used peanut oil)

Combine the flour, salt, kefir, and oil. Stir only until the dry ingredients are blended in. Roll the dough between two pieces of wax paper. Remove the top layer of the was paper and transfer crust into desired pie plate with the bottom wax pap still intact and on top. Remove the wax paper from crust and shape the edges as desired...simple and delicious!

You can chill your completed pie shell in the freezer for 1 to 2 hours before baking for extra crispness.



If you would like to make your own Kefir Cheesecake, Kefir Pastry Crust, or any of my other scrumptious kefir recipes you can find the organic, probiotic kefir grain cultures in my etsy shop...all you need to do is purchase them once and you can make delicious, healthy kefir indefinitely!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/45802218/kefir-a-cultured-dairy-product-full-of

Here are a couple of my most recent wonderfully sweet kefir grain reviews:

"Stellar transaction! Well packaged plump and healthy grains arrived quickly from a caring individual." - Mauricio

"These little fellas are in great shape! Nice packaging and fast shipping time. Thanks again!" - Eliza

Mommy's Memorandum Feature and Kefir Grain Giveaway!

Woo hoo! Check out the lovely feature Julee from the Mommy's Memorandum posted for my organic probiotic kefir grain giveaway today on her blog! You can find out more about my kefir grains here:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/45802218/kefir-a-cultured-dairy-product-full-of

Also, I have some yummy recipes using probiotic kefir here on my blog:

http://ecofriendlyfreckles.blogspot.com/search/label/probiotic%20kefir



http://jonbonjovious.blogspot.com/2010/05/giveaway-ecofriendly-freckles.html

How to Make Your Own Kefir Cheese or "Labne"!

This delicious and versatile kefir cheese or "labne" is so much fun to make and very addictive...in a wonderful way! You can add fresh herbs for an exquisite, easy homemade cheese, stuff it in your french toast, or make a scrumptiously decadent kefir cheesecake.


This recipe is delightfully simple! I just took a big flower vase of mine (you could use a big jar or just suspend a cheese cloth over a big bowl) and I placed a cheese cloth on the top of the vase and poked it down about half way down the vase and secured the sides of the cheesecloth with a rubber-band. Then I just poured in my homebrewed, slightly aged kefir and let the curd separate from the whey...drip, drip, drip and before you know it you have whey at the bottom and all of the curd (kefir cheese or "labne") suspended in the cheese cloth. Now all of you have to do is scoop out the cheese and VOILA!


If you would like to make your own Kefir Cheese or other scrumptious kefir recipes you can find the organic, probiotic kefir grain cultures in my etsy shop...all you need to do is purchase them once and you can make delicious, healthy kefir indefinitely!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/45802218/kefir-a-cultured-dairy-product-full-of

My First Giveaway - Organic Probiotic Kefir Grains!

Yippee! It's Time for My Very First Giveaway!


Emmy from Emmy Boos and Rawrs has kindly offered to host my first giveaway! I will be giving away an order of my probiotic kefir grains that are very delicious and beneficial for you health. You can check out and enter the giveaway on her blog:

http://emmysboosandrawrs.blogspot.com/2010/04/eco-friendly-freckles-etsy-shop.html

Once you have these kefir grains, you can use them to create wonderful kefir indefinitely! I have some delicious recipes using probiotic kefir on my blog that are very nutritious and delicious! You can check them out here from this link:
http://ecofriendlyfreckles.blogspot.com/search/label/probiotic%20kefir

Chocolate Euphoria!

Do you need the ultimate cure for your chocolate attacks and cravings? Are you yearning for a cocoa delicacy to fulfill your deepest chocolate desires?! Well, I have found the answer to our crazed chocolate frenzies! This is a recipe for my favorite decadent dark, moist chocolate cake; I use my homebrewed organic probiotic kefir in this cake to give it that perfect moist, rich texture. If you would like to make your own Captivating Chocolate Kefir Cake or other scrumptious kefir recipes, you can find the organic, probiotic kefir grain cultures in my etsy shop...all you need to do is purchase them once and you can make delicious, healthy kefir indefinitely! This chocolate kefir cake is amazingly euphoric!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/45460962/kefir-a-cultured-dairy-product-full-of


Captivating Chocolate Kefir Cake

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup raw cacao (baking cocoa will work too)
2 cups granulated sugar (I use 1 - 1 1/2 cups)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract (I use 2 teaspoons rum!)
1 cup kefir
1/4 cup melted butter
1/4 cup coconut oil
1 tsp. white vinegar
1 cup hot water

Heat oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit. Butter two 8 -inch-round cake pans and line bottoms with parchment paper. Combine flour, cocoa, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt together in a large bowl. Add eggs, vanilla (or rum), sour cream (kefir or yogurt), butter, oil, vinegar (for leavening and a more tender cake), and 1 cup hot water, and mix with a wooden spoon until batter is smooth. Pour batter into prepared pans and bake until a toothpick comes out of the cake clean; 35 - 40 minutes. Cool cakes in pans for 20 minutes. Enjoy!

Lemon Balm Kefir Dressing and Review

Isn't she lovely?! Our thriving lemon balm plant is flourishing in our backyard and comes back every year after planting it two years ago...these roots have a strong foundation that are here to stay! Lemon Balm is used for nervous agitation, sleeping problems, functional gastrointestinal complaints, menstrual cramps and urinary spasms. It is thought that the volatile oils in lemon balm contain chemicals that relax muscles, particularly in the bladder, stomach, and uterus, thereby relieving cramps, gas, and nausea.

I collected some of my generous plant's crisp and very fragrant leaves, brought them inside and made a refreshing spring salad dressing made with our probiotic kefir! I made this delicious and nutritious kefir from the magnificently organic kefir grains I sell in my etsy shop:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/44415490/kefir-a-cultured-dairy-product-full-of-n



Lemon Balm Kefir Dressing

1 cup kefir
4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh lemon balm
1 finely chopped garlic clove
1 teaspoon raw, local honey
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon mustard powder
1/8 teaspoon sea salt, or to taste

Combine all ingredients. Cover and chill for half an hour until all the flavors have blended. Serve over green salad of your choice!



I poured this wonderful dressing over a bed of spring salad greens, sun-dried tomatoes, pecans, dried currants, and feta cheese...mmm, scrumptious!



Lori purchased some of my kefir grains last week and here are her sweet comments:

"Thanks! Grains arrived as planned and were very well packaged. I made my first batch of kefir and kefir soft cheese. Yum."

Apple Cider Vinegar Is Saving My Cat's Life!

Update: Our sweet boy, Buster, is sick. Buster is about ten years old and has been in my family since he was a young cat; he has lived with my grandparents and even my great-grandparents and has been over-weight most of his life. Joe and I have had Buster a little over three years and since living with us he has lost a little weight and now has a nice clean, shiny coat. Recently, he hasn't been able to urinate (although, at first we thought the problem was constipation); he growls and hisses at himself; the poor boy hasn't been feeling well. With Joe and I always turning to "natural health" remedies for ourselves, we do the same for our cats.

 

We have this wonderful book, called "The New Natural Cat: A Complete Guide for Finicky Owners" by Anitra Frazier that we turn to for advice (pictured above is our affiliate link of the latest edition of this book; it details the latest advances in holistic care for cats, updated statistics, new diet guidelines, and health care recommendations, including the latest on vaccines, updated resources section with suggestions for finding a holistic veterinarian and advice on how to deal with conventional veterinarians). First thinking that the problem was constipation, Joe and I went to Akins Natural Foods Market right down the street (which is where I work part-time) and we picked up some all-natural canned cat food with chicken, wheatgerm, and other healthy ingredients and we picked up some Yerba Prima Psyllium Husk Powder and Oat Bran (which our natural cat book advised to use). When we got home, we combined the three ingredients (about half of a cup of canned cat food with 1/8 tsp. psyllium husk and 1/8 tsp. oat bran) and then added some finely chopped organic carrots, golden flax seeds, and a tad bit of fresh garlic; along with a teaspoon of probiotic kefir (friendly bacteria should help get things moving)! Since Buster loves to eat dried catnip from our catnip plant, we have been feeding it to him as a treat with dried nettle leaf mixed in which is "good for digestion and rich in minerals". (Frazier, 257) I have also made a cold infusion tea with catnip and nettle and Buster lapped it up a little.



However, last night Buster was in agonizing pain and was constantly licking his bottom and bladder; so we took him to the emergency veterinarian and discovered that he had formed crystals in his urethra which was blocking the flow of his urine, causing his bladder to swell and therefore pain. The vet said that he needed surgery and needed to be hospitalized for three days; they gave us a long list of treatments that we felt were over-priced and invasive that would cost us around $1100...instead we wanted to take a more natural approach in our own home (a very comfortable environment for Buster)...and we ended up spending just a few dollars to cure Buster! So we decided since now we know that Buster may have a constipation problem and that the main issue is that he is having difficulty urinating, that we want to do our own research into natural remedies that can help ease his pain and get him urinating again.

We discovered this entire website that talks about this urinary problem common in older male cats that have been neutered (which is Buster's category) and a "Miracle Cure": APPLE CIDER VINEGAR!

 

With 44 kitty success stories with this natural treatment we think Buster is number 45! After returning from the vet, in tears and afraid but still determined to help our sweet friend we discovered this remedy and fortunately we had a really good quality Apple Cider Vinegar with the "mother culture" in our kitchen cabinet. It can be purchased by clicking on the image above (affiliate link).

 http://www.earthclinic.com/Pets/cystitis.html

Joe and I gave Buster the Apple Cider Vinegar diluted with a little water in a dropper by mouth and added it to his natural spring drinking water; we also added some crushed vitamin C to his all-natural chicken and wheatgerm dinner along with Slippery Elm (that is soothing for inflammation), Echinacea (which is antiseptic), and Burdock Root (soothing to stomach and intestines and high in vitamin C). We stayed up late last night with him and locked him in the bathroom so he could get some rest and privacy from the other cats...we also laid down plenty of towels and paper bags in case he urinated anywhere (which we didn't care where he urinated, we just want our sweet boy to pee)! Joe and I caught some sleep and by morning Buster looked much better! He had a big wet spot on his right side and it smelled like pee! :-D He then ate plenty of healthy food and drank lots of water (we haven't seen him drink this much in days)! He looks interested in playing with the other kitties and hasn't complained one bit! Joe and I have been giving him lots of love and he is currently taking a nice nap; we are going to continue his treatment...we are so relieved to see him looking back to his old self!

Kefir Sourdough Pizza!

Today I sold some more of my organic probiotic kefir grains! To celebrate this great success, I am posting another delicious kefir recipe: Kefir Sourdough Pizza!

Our kefir sourdough starter for our pizza crust:



My husband, Joe, and I got the idea from Dom's magnificent and very informative kefir website



You can view how to make the sourdough pizza starter and crust here (the recipe is located near the bottom of the page):

http://users.sa.chariot.net.au/~dna/kefir_cheese.html

My sweet husband Joe kneading the kefir pizza dough:



If you would like to make your own Kefir Sourdough Pizza or other scrumptious kefir recipes you can find the organic, probiotic kefir grain cultures in my etsy shop...all you need to do is purchase them once and you can make delicious, healthy kefir indefinitely!

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=44278796

Time to Celebrate!

Hurray! Thank you to everyone for following my Eco-Friendly Freckles blog and spreading the word to get me to 100 followers! I really appreciate all of your support.

To celebrate reaching 100 followers, I am sharing a recipe on how to make a home-brewed, fermented red wine spritzer using organic, probiotic kefir grains that I sell in my Etsy shop!

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=42030245

This refreshing and stimulating cocktail is slightly carbonated and "bubbly" and has a delicious taste...although, this recipe has many variations of flavor depending on the type of juice you choose to use. This time my husband, Joe, and I selected Old Orchard's 100% juice Blueberry Pomegranate with no added sugar, since the natural fruit juices themselves contain enough sugar for us and for the kefir grains to consume and convert into vitamins.

This is how you can easily transform the milk kefir grains I sale in my Etsy shop into kefir grains that you can use to make fermented herbal and fruit beverages, as well as the recipe for a no-alcohol red wine kefir fermented spritzer!



Red Wine Kefir Spritzer (a.k.a. "Kefir D'Uva")

1 large Mason jar with lid (any desirable size)
1 bottle of blueberry, pomegranate, acai, grape, cherry, aronia berry, raspberry, cranberry juice (single fruit juice or juice blends can be used in any desirable size)
Organic, Probiotic Milk Kefir Grains

Remove the milk kefir grains from the milk kefir and lightly rinse them off will cool water. It is okay if you rinse off the kefiran (nutritious slime) because much of the kefiran is from within the kefir grains and it will reproduce once it consumes more sugar. After lightly rinsing off the kefir grains, add them to a Mason jar (size of your choice) that is filled up ½ - 2/3 of the way full of juice. Now it is time to put on the lid…DO NOT SCREW THE LID ON TIGHT! Since a fermented kefir beverage is carbonated and bubbly, it will build up pressure over time and if there is no place for the pressure to escape then the glass Mason jar will explode…Joe and I have learned this lesson the hard way. So when you screw on the lid, screw it on loosely: not to tight, but also not too loose; just enough for some of the pressure to escape. Let the fermenting kefir juice sit on the counter for 1-2 days, depending on how fermented you would like the spritzer to be. I like to go 2 days, but if this is your first time, you might want to do a taste test after day one to see how you like it…the longer you ferment your beverage, the less sweet and more carbonated it will be. Also after you have made one batch of Kefir Spritzer, if you leave a little residual fermented kefir juice in the bottom of the Mason jar along with the kefir grains, the next batch of kefir spritzer that you make will ferment faster and can be ready to drink in one day!

Eco-Friendly Freckles Review and Coffee Cake Recipe!

My first review on my Organic Probiotic Kefir Grain Cultures!

"Thank you! I just received the package last night and am already in the process of making my first batch of yummy kefir. :) (I can't wait to try the banana bread recipe from your site)" - Iszlette



This scrumptious, moist, and soft coffee cake is spectacular! The homebrewed kefir used in this recipe provides the perfect texture and moisture for this very comforting coffee cake! This is one of my favorite recipes...it is simply divine! ;-)

Comforting Kefir Coffee Cake

Topping:
1 cup pecans, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup flour
1/4 cup butter, melted
2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. vanilla extract

Cake:
2 cups flour
2 tsp. baking powder (with no aluminum)
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
2 tsp. vanilla
2 large eggs, at room temperature
1 cup of kefir

Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter and flour the desired baking pan or pans.

For the topping: stir together the pecans, sugar, flour, butter, cinnamon, and vanilla in a medium bowl.

For the cake: sift the flour, baking powder (with no aluminum), and salt into a medium bowl; set aside. In a large bowl, beat the butter, sugar, and vanilla with an electric mixer at medium speed until creamy. Add the eggs, one at a time, until blended. With the mixer on low speed, beat in the dry ingredients, alternating with the kefir. Spoon half of the batter into the desired pan (or pans) and sprinkle with half of the topping; repeat. Bake for 55-65 minutes.

Now sit back and savor a delicious piece of coffee cake!

Delicious, Moist, and Perfectly Textured Banana Nut Bread Made With Kefir!

Have you ever had the "BEST Banana Nut Bread"? Well here it is! I have made this treasured recipe many times with my home-brewed probiotic kefir! This banana nut bread is so delectable and I always get praises for it; I like to make it in small loaves and give it to friends and family wrapped up in cello polypropylene bags printed with elegant ivory lace that I sell in my etsy shop:

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=33925332

I also sell the organic kefir grain cultures in my etsy shop if you would like to make your own...all you need to do is purchase them once and you can make delicious, healthy kefir indefinitely!

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=41926790



Blissful Banana Nut Bread

1/2 cup butter
3/4 cup sugar
1 large egg
1 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/4 cup mashed ripe bananas
1/4 cup kefir
*You can add chopped walnuts or pecans if desired (I do!)

Preheat oven to 350°F. In a medium sized bowl, cream the butter and sugar together until light and creamy. Beat in egg and set aside. In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, bananas, and kefir; stirring just enough to mix. Add the first mixture to the banana mixture; stirring enough to combine well. Turn into greased 9x5 inch loaf pan or mini loaf pans. Bake for 50-60 minutes at 350°F. Cool in big loaf pan or mini loaf pans for 10 minutes. Remove and finish cooling on a rack. Enjoy!