Let's make yogurt!

As promised...let's make yogurt. The ingredients are simple... milk and yogurt to use as a starter. You can use whole milk, 2% or non fat. Whole milk makes creamier yogurt. Start with 1/4 cup of plain yogurt. Here I use Dannon and 1/2 gallon of milk. I have measured out the yogurt into a measuring cup to demonstrate the amount.

Step 1: Measure out 1/4 cup of plain yogurt. Pour 1/2 gallon of milk into a pot. Heat the milk until it froths. Do not let it boil and try not to let it overflow ( a mess!)

Step 2: Let the milk cool down until it is a little warmer than baby bottle temperature

Step 3: Skim the skin off the top of the milk

Step 4: Mix some of the warm milk into 1/4 cup of the plain yogurt and whisk until smooth. This is now your starter.

Step 5: Mix starter into large pot of milk. Mix well

Step 6: Pour into container and cover. The yogurt needs to stay warm. I usually just put it in my oven and it stays warm enough overnight. You can also put it in a warm spot in your kitchen and wrap towels around the container but I don't like the mess on my counter so I put it in my oven mainly to keep it out of the way.

Step 7: Leave overnight. The longer you leave the yogurt out, the more tangy the taste.


Step 8: Pour off excess whey (watery liquid on top of yogurt)

Once you have the perfect taste, refrigerate. If you prefer thicker yogurt you can drain off some of the liquid by straining the yogurt through a coffee filter placed in a colander over a bowl in the refrigerator or through cheese cloth.


Step 8: Enjoy!


We have been making yogurt in our kitchen for more than twenty years. Don't be intimidated by this as yogurt has been made since ancient times and ancient people did not have electric yogurt makers. A great treat served with fresh or dried fruit. This is a very budget friendly endeavor.

Let me know how it goes for you...I look forward to reading your comments.

Peace,

Julia