Homemade Vanilla Yogurt (Easier then You Think)
"I use this recipe and method at least once a month. You can leave out the sugar and vanilla extract to just have a plain yogurt. Any % milk can be used, I use fat free.
You'll need a method of incubation. I use a medium sized styrofoam cooler with lid, and a couple of dish towels. Any cooler will work. Make sure when you put your jars inside that the lid will close,and there isn't to much extra space. The warm jars themselves will maintain the temperature.
You'll also need containers to pour your yogurt into. I prefer glass jars (mason/canning jars) But old glass mayo jars etc. would also work great. Sterilize your containers before you begin, or while you're heating the milk mixture. Do this by boiling the jars for about 10 minutes in a large pot OR washing them and placing them right side up on a cookie sheet. Place in the oven and set to 350. bake for 20 minutes."
- Ready In:
- 6hrs 30mins
- Ingredients:
- 5
- Yields:
-
4 cups
- Serves:
- 4
ingredients
- 1 quart skim milk
- 1⁄2 cup nonfat dry milk powder (optional but definately use with skim milk!)
- 2 -3 tablespoons plain yogurt (with live active cultures, check labels. Most yogurt has them)
- 1⁄4 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
directions
- In a saucepan - bring your milk, dry milk and sugar to just below boiling (aprox 180 degrees) Don't let it actually come to a boil.
- Turn off heat and let cool to luke warm.
- Meanwhile put your yogurt in a small bowl and let come to room temperature.
- When your jars are sterilized quickly place the empty jars into the cooler and close the lid. This will keep the jars warm and warm up the incubator.
- When the milk has cooled down remove 1/2 cup and whisk it into the yogurt.
- Return the mixture to the pan.
- Add the vanilla and stir to distribute.
- Take your jars out of the cooler and replace the lid.
- Transfer yogurt to jars and put their lids/caps on.
- Place them into the cooler and wind a kitchen towel around the jars to hold more warmth.
- Replace the lid and forget about the yogurt for 5 hours.
- If after 5 hours your yogurt still seems a little runny just let them sit another hour.
- During that time don't fiddle with the cooler.
- It seems long winded, but it really is simple.
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RECIPE SUBMITTED BY
My rating system (Which I stole from HeatherFeather, I think she put it perfectly) --
5 Stars: Outstanding,a special find that I will make over and over again.
4 Stars: Very good, something I highly recommend others to try, I would make this again, although I might make minor changes to suit my tastes.
3 Stars: Good, but not something I will make again often. Might need some slight changes, but in general the recipe works and others might enjoy this more than I did.
2 Stars: Fair, recipe did not work out well for me and I cannot recommend it. Not what I was expecting.
1 Star: Poor, recipe did not work at all and I would caution others to consider another recipe.
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Well, obviously I love to cook since I'm here on Zaar! Besides that (in the food dept) I've got my hands in a little of everything. I do a lot of canning these days. As well as drying and freezing. I do a lot of berry picking in the summer as well as other wild foraging. I'm just learning, but I'm coming along fast. I love plants and botony so learning about local eatables and herbs has always been an interest. Plus home gardening ofcoarse :) But I don't have much room right now.
I've just started experimenting with home brewing (trying some basic and easy wines and meads) Hopfully I'll eventually become adept at that and be the family's Merry maker lol Any tips are welcomed!
Ideally I spend most of my time trekking around the woods and mountains here in PA looking for adventures and hidden treasures, old ruins, and historical trails. ( I may have an overactive imagination :). I love backpacking and camping. If there wasn't anyone around to drag me home I'd probably just disppear into the wilderness never to return.
I have a major interest in Mythology and History (focusing mainly on Ancient Greece, but I'm enthralled by all ancient history and interested in anything up until the second half of the 20th century)
I really enjoy learning the old ways of doing things. I'm definitely not suited to this cellphone infested, computer run, digitalized existence we're living, it all just hurts my head and makes me wonder if anyone has any original thought or imagination left.
Halloween (Samhain) is another of my favorite things in the world. I wait for it all year and make a full week out of it. Building props and setting up yard displays keeps my head spinning strait through Sept and Oct. I admit I still go trick or treating some years. Other years I try to organize scavenger hunts or treasure hunts etc. Wish I could get more people interested though! Usually just 3 or 4 of us. I also do all the traditional things for a proper Pagan New Year so it's a very busy week!
I love summer and I live for the heat. 90 degrees is when I feel the best. I hate the cold! Despite that Autumn is my favorite time of year though! Fairs, festivals (anyone who lives in PA knows we have some of the most crazy, odd and fun festivals!), Harvest feasts, Fall foraging and gathering, corn field fights, haunted hayrides, pumpkin patches, crafts, all the fresh veggies! The leaves ,the trees, the colors, dressing up, popcorn balls, candy apples, apple picking, apple cider, Mabon and Halloween, the smell of fires, and herbs.... I could go on and on here.
My dream in life is basically to live off the grid. To own a large piece of land in the middle of nowhere surrounded by forest. Enough room to grow the majority of our own food ("our" is still up in the air) To have a little cabin, some chickens, a couple of horses, my cats and a barn big enough to accommodate a small wildlife rehab center (I'm hoping to become certified in the next couple of years.
I've rambled on enough I think. I have a dreaded myspace page (link below) if anyone wants to know anything more.
<img src="http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg271/MrsTeny/Permanent%20Collection/PACSpring09Iwasadopted.jpg">
