yogurt

Coconut Milk Yogurt

March 14, 2012 by KerryAnn 39 Comments

Finally, the recipe so many folks have been asking for. Coconut milk yogurt with all real food ingredients! The CTF Facebook page has been excitedly waiting for this one while seeing my multiple posts and pictures on the progress of the recipe.

This recipe is from the Menu Mailer, Volume 4 Week 29. Please consider supporting our blog by making a purchase of a Menu Mailer subscription or buying some of the issues of the Back to Basics Menu Mailer series. Mailers contain the recipes, shopping list and prep schedule for 6 meals and one dessert every week. We add extras such as this coconut milk yogurt as we develop the recipes. The Mailer runs as low as $1 a week. You can receive a free Menu Mailer that was published in January, 2011 if you sign up for our mailing list.

Coconut milk yogurt from the recipe as written, unstirred, incubated 20 hours.

The slightly tan color comes from using rapadura as the sweetener to feed the beneficial bacteria. If you need a white yogurt, use honey.

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More Evidence on the Benefits of Probiotics

September 20, 2011 by KerryAnn 3 Comments

Note: I am neither a dietitian nor a doctor. I do not dispense medical advice nor do I offer any information on treatments nor cures for any medical condition. Always consult a physician before proceeding with any treatment. Our full disclaimer is at the bottom of this page.

A recent study by Javier Bravo at the University College in Cork, Ireland looked at the response of rats fed Lactobacillus rhamnosus, a commonly available probiotic. The study showed that feeding this strain of probiotic to mice changed their behavior to the better; the mice showed less anxiety, depression and stress response. The study was entitled Ingestion of Lactobacillus strain regulates emotional behavior and central GABA receptor expression in a mouse via the vagus nerve.

Discover Magazine says of his study:

Bravo found that his mice, after regularly eating Lactobacillus, were more likely to spend time in the exposed parts of a maze (a common test for anxiety symptoms) than those who ate bacteria-free meals. They were also less likely to drift motionlessly when plopped into water (a common test for depressive symptoms). And during stressful situations, they built up lower levels of stress hormones.

The Wall Street Journal had an article about Bravo’s study entitled The Yogurt Made Me Do It. The article states:

How did the (probiotic) induce these changes? The answer involves GABA, a neurotransmitter that reduces the activity of neurons. When Mr. Bravo looked at the brains of the mice, he found that those fed probiotics had more GABA receptors in areas associated with memory and the regulation of emotions. (This change mimics the effects of popular antianxiety medications in humans.)

More and more studies show the benefit of probiotic bacteria to heal your gut, strengthen your immune system, keep your bowels regular, help control emotions and stress and much more. I don’t think science has touched the tip of the benefits probiotics have on our bodies.

Four Sneaky Ways to Add Probiotics to Your Kid’s Diet

April 5, 2011 by KerryAnn 7 Comments

Probiotic intake is one of the cornerstones of traditional foods, but many kids balk at the zip and tang most probiotics have. As a mom, I’ve found many creative ways to get large and small amounts of probiotics into my kids. This was critical while we were all going through gut healing and we continue with consuming probiotics daily now that we have healed. While some of these ideas don’t represent a large amount of probiotics at one time, little bits here and there definitely add up. Here are some easy ways to get probiotics into kids while disguising the zing. [Read more…] about Four Sneaky Ways to Add Probiotics to Your Kid’s Diet

No Condemnation

February 14, 2011 by KerryAnn 3 Comments

I have taken both heaps of praise and heaps of criticism for the coconut milk yogurt recipe since it was published. Praise from those who are dairy-free and looking for ways to expand their probiotic intake or are happy to have a replacement for the expensive coconut yogurt that their kids love. I have received criticism from those who are unhappy I wouldn’t push raw milk consumption over coconut milk, even for those who are dairy allergic, and that the recipe would use canned coconut milk instead of directing people to first make their own.

First, to address those who come here for help and support- I understand that you do not have an unlimited budget and all of the time and resources in the world. You will not receive any condemnation from me for not being able to source and use the best ingredients possible for everything that you do. You do not have to be a food snob to be accepted here and on the CTF forums. We welcome you, as you are, wherever you are on your traditional foods journey.

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Cocoyo… again

January 28, 2011 by KerryAnn Leave a Comment

Such a nice bowl of happiness, don’t you think?

The blog has been a little quiet this week since I have been testing this recipe nine ways to Sunday. I haven’t had time to blog. Look for the recipe for the coconut yogurt to be posted next week.

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Coconut milk yogurt

January 26, 2011 by KerryAnn Leave a Comment

I’ve been working on making a thick and rich coconut milk yogurt. As soon as the recipe is done, I’ll be putting it into the Menu Mailer. This was one of my last rounds.

It’s coming out creamy and nicely thick. I’ve also tested a yogurt cheese made into cheesecake recipe, and we enjoyed that. Look for these recipes in the Menu Mailer in the coming weeks.

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KerryAnn Foster runs Cooking Traditional Foods, the longest running Traditional Foods Menu Mailer on the internet. KerryAnn has over nine years of traditional foods experience and is a former Weston A. Price Foundation chapter leader. Founded in 2005, CTF helps you feed your family nourishing foods they will love. Each mailer contains one soup, five dinners, one breakfast, on dessert and extras. You can learn more about our Menu Mailers at the CTF website. For a free sample Menu Mailer, join our mailing list. You can also join our forum to chat with other traditional foodists and learn more.