Breastmilk Yoghurt for Babies

For those mothers with over supply or who have a lot of milk in the freezer which may not be used before potentially going off...here is one way to make use of the excess.

• Ready In: 9 hrs
• Yields: 1 quart

Ingredients

•  breast milk
•  yogurt starter

Directions

1. Sterilize milk by heating it in a pan (not in microwave, though this can cause"hot spots" and cold spots where bacteria survive) until small bubbles form and is *almost* boiling, around 180-185°F.
2. Cool to about 112°F.
3. Meanwhile, if using purchased yogurt as starter, set it out at room temp to warm up.
4. Add yogurt starter.
5. You can buy the powder at a health foods store, or use 2 tablespoons of plain yogurt with live and active cultures.
6. Look for some "fresher" yogurt with a very distant expiration date for stronger cultures.
7. Pour milk mix into a *warmed* quart jar, Pyrex bowl, custard cups, etc--preferably something with a lid!
8. Incubate it for 4-8 hours, depending on how tart you like it, by putting the container of milk mix into a picnic cooler and pouring very warm water in around it.
9. Or if you have a big cooler, set the yogurt container into a big pot of hot water, inside the cooler.
10. Don't cover the top of the container with water!
11. You need to keep the water between 90-120 F, as close to 112 as possible.
12. You really don't have to check it or change water much--you'd be surprised how well it holds the temperature, and the more you open it, the more heat you lose.
13. Lower temps or shorter time make milder, sweeter yogurt.
14. Temps closer to 120 or longer times make tarter, firmer yogurt.
15. Also it gets firmer the longer you let it incubate--can go up to 12 hours or so.
16. Remove a small amount as starter for your next batch, and add any flavorings or anything to the rest of the batch *after* incubating.
17. Refrigerate.