Pictures from 3rd Soft Cheese Workshop

Sorry, this is long overdue.  Here are the pics from last week's workshop.    Next workshop is on Sept. 22. check out our announcement at www.yogurtstation.blogspot.com.

The workshop started off with making cheese per se.  We needed to do this because we wanted to let our attendees bring home the cheeses they had made.

Our students getting a hands-on activity at making cheese.

New products - Kimchi and Vinegars from Kefir

Kefir Kimchi

You've got to try our new products - kefir vinegar and kefir kimchi.  

Still packed with the same powerful microorganisms found in our water kefir or tibicos, our kimchi is our healthier alternative to the Korean version.  Imagine to goodness of cayenne, ginger, garlic, malunggay and kefir.  Now that's a powerhouse.  As if those are not enough, we also  have introduced muscovado, and blackstrap molasses in our fermentation process. Vegetables are organically grown at some traditional farms in the Northern Luzon.   We are excited to offer this as we not only give customers another healthy dish but we are also able to help the farmers who actually do the hard work.

Kefir kimchi is sold in 250-gram and 1 kg microwaveable containers.  Soon we will try to bottle them.

The kefir vinegar is a probiotic vinegar that may be used for a lot of things such as for cooking,  facial toner, hair rinse, deodorant, vaginal wash, foot soak, clothes deodorizer, vegetable wash, etc. etc. etc. I can go on and on and on.  That's on top of its already potent health benefits.  The vinegar come in  500 ml and 1 liter non-toxic bottles.  Check out our products at http://yogurtstation.blogspot.com/2011/11/yoggies-kefir-products.html.

Budwig Diet and Yoggie's - Aiming to Help

I've just recently discovered the Budwig Diet which claims to help people with cancer even in the worst stage.  They seem to have about 90% success rate in their treatment while the 10 percent is attributed mainly to those that do not strictly adhere to the program.  This diet was made and prepared by a German Biochemist, Physicist Dr. Joanna Budwig.  Dr. Budwig was the top European Cancer Research Scientist who has earned a Nobel Prize for her work.

The diet combines flaxseed oil with either quark or cottage cheese.  According to the research, the combination of the cheese and the oil creates a chemical reaction that actually stops cancer cells from multiplying.  If you're interested, here's something to read.

We  know how hard it is to follow the budwig as there is hardly any fresh cottage cheese around.  Certainly not at the supermarkets.  Here at Yoggie's, you'll find the freshest cottage cheese - we deliver it to you within 24 hours of preparation.  We don't just want it that way, we insist on it.

We have cottage cheese and quark made from plain milk and from kefir too.  The kefir makes those type of cheese healthier.  One of our customers who does the Budwig Diet attests that she felt better.

My First Mozzarella

We had a great time during the cheesemaking class last weekend (March 24 to 25, 2012).  There were only 5 of us and we had Dr. Susan Mercado to ourselves.  Now, after learning how to make mozzarella, here's a pic of mine which I made into deep fried balls and had for dinner.  It was fresh and really good!  Did I mention that it stretches like it should?

Anyway, we were taught how to make white cheese and mozzarella on day 1.  On our second day, I got to teach about the soft cheeses which I am really very familiar with - feta, ricotta and yogurt and breezed through cream cheese.  We opted to do the mozzarella again because it did require some practice.  Except for some salt preferences of those who tasted our "creations", the comments we got were very good.

There'll hopefully be another Soft Cheese Workshop in April.  Then in May, we hope to come up with the 2nd part of the Artisan Cheese Workshop - specialty cheeses such as brie, blue cheese, and cheddar plus edam so we can prepare for the christmas season.  Yup, for the yuletide as it takes 6 months to make an edam cheese.

For those interested to attend, please let me know.  We are limiting the slots to a very small number as we do want everyone to learn and enjoy.

Yoggie's at the Cheesemaking Workshop at Center for Asian Culinary Studies

It had been a busy week last week.   Hah!  Glad that's out. hahahaha

Anyways, we were at the Center for Asian Culinary Studies at P. Guevarra and boy did we have a blast!  Chef Ellen who conducted the  Cheesemaking Workshop was so animated in her lecture that everyone and I mean everyone enjoyed the time there.  We provided the supplies - milk, rennet, starter. Soon we will be conducting our own workshop as I have dreamed of it several years back - hopefully. 

Here are some pictures for you to see:

 The collection of cheeses made and garnished by the attendees.

 This one's the nuefchatel. 

They were garnishing this cheese.  I think Chef Ellen was putting some cherry tomatoes on top of mozzarella cheese.

Chef Ellen and Chef China making their own magic.

 Busy Chef Ellen while the attendees including Chef Gino and Chef Junjun and a student observes.

Attendees of the workshop busy adding their secret ingredient.

 Future iron chefs attended. Ok guys? 

 Chef Gene Gonzales creating another gourmet dish.



Oh, and did I mention, I took the pictures myself?  It was a great opportunity for me. Thanks Chef Ellen.  :)

Water Kefir - The Vegetarian Elixir

"Oooohh so good!"  That was my daughter's comment about our kefir. 

I have and on several occasions. But, I love healthy food and beverages that I sort of force my self (and my family too, much to their dismay) to gulp down the biodegradable, invigorating and all around health boosting liquid called tea or coffee or juice and learn to like it. It's just so fortunate that my palate easily adapts and accepts what my mind commands it to do but my family hates it when I force them. 


Here's a delightfully healthy drink that's available in our menu - the water kefir. Water Kefir, aka kefir d' acqua is a drink that is made from water kefir grains (aka tibicos mushroom), is made up of good bacteria that ferments anything that it is mixed in. Our water kefir is made with muscovado sugar that tastes more like sweet wine.  Taken cold, it is a refreshing health drink that can  My daughter says it tastes like wine without the woozy feeling.  As claimed by many, there are several benefits from taking it. According to another site, water kefir is said to do the following: (the comments in parentheses are mine as I or a member of my family have experienced them)


PREVENTIVE AND CURATIVE PROPERTIES:

* HEAD:  It cures migraine and pains on the head. (I do not experience any migraine anymore.  Occasional headaches once in a while but which go away without any medication.  just rest.)

* MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEM:  It combats rheumatism, arthritis and muscular pains.  (my father drinks water kefir and says the chronic pain on his back and leg has since been gone)

* RESPIRATORY SYSTEM:  It strengthens bronchial tubes and the lungs. It cures asthma, reduces phlegm and removes cough. (my daughter used to have cough every so often.  Now, it only comes back when she's not able to drink kefir regularly.  I don't get any cough anymore.)

* DIGESTIVE SYSTEM:  It improves the function of the liver, pancreas, bile ducts. It cures diarrhea, it helps in the process of digestion and helps to avoid gastritis and ulcers. (My mother-in-law says it helps her with her bowel movement.  She's no longer constipated.  I used to have upset stomach quite a lot before.  Not anymore.

* CIRCULATORY SYSTEM:  Controls cholesterol, softens hardened arteries and veins, lower sugar levels, controls arterial blood pressure; corrects hemorrhoids. (I love chicharon.  You know, those pork cracklings.  But when I have my blood pressure taken and my cholesterol level checked, they are both normal despite my age.  I'm in my mid 40's already)

* RENAL SYSTEM:  Prevents in the formation of gall stones and if they are present it dissolved it little by little. It cures different illness of the bladder, helps one to urinate regularly and well.

* NERVOUS SYSTEM:  It cures insomnia and dizziness. Removes pains produced by the nerves.

* OBESITY:  Burns fat. It keeps those who are thin in good health. For these, it is recommended that one should take 3 glasses of TIBICOS before breakfast.

*AGING:  It avoids pains associated with aging. It reduces the effect of hormonal changes.

*OTHERS: Cures herpes, cataracts in the eyes, prevents some types of cancer in the skin.

* ALCOHOL: If taken frequently, it lessens the desire to get drunk, versus to take wine.

The Amazing Kefir - A Personal Testimony

After much internet research, I found that Kefir is good for those who have food allergies. My daughter has had it since her infant days when we had to change milk several times because she reacted to them. In fact, she had been admitted to the hospital for allergic reactions that resulted in difficulty of breath. You could not really control it very well with her having 36 allergens at that time. Nearly impossible or so I thought.

It was after I had read so many books and researches that I found a way to manage this condition and bring her allergens down to 6. It was down to that number alright but her reactions were still the same her airways would narrow and she would have upper respiratory tract infection. Much to our disappointment, she is allergic to shellfish and crustaceans among others.

During a recent trip to Singapore though we noticed that she had no reaction whatsoever. This was despite her daily consumption of crabs and shrimps for the duration of our stay. She was so happy that she said she wished the allergies would never be back again. I asked if she had taken her allergy medicines and she promptly answered she didn't take anything but the kefir that I asked her to drink. She had taken kefir constantly for a month prior to our trip. That to me is amazing. You should have seen her reaction to her allergens before to truly appreciate what I mean. Being a nurse, I know that an allergic reaction could be life threatening.

Kefir Protects Against Radiation?

Well, what do you know? just when there's a radiation scare, I find a study that Milk Kefir actually protects against the effects of this cell damaging event(?) done by a group of Japanese researchers. This means that Kefir indeed is good for everyone specially during these times.

You can find it at http://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jrr/44/2/111/_pdf entitled "The Protective Effect of Fermented Milk Kefir on Radiation-induced Apoptosis in Colonic Crypt Cells of Rats".

If you need to buy some, get them fresh from us - Yoggie's Yogurt. We deliver.