***Update: I changed up how I make my yogurt. It's so much quicker and results in a thicker consistency. If you want to make yogurt at home quickly and have the attention to babysit it in the beginning follow these instructions. Below I have how I used to make it in my crock pot.
Ingredients:
1/2 gallon milk (any percentage will work)
1/2c. Plain yogurt (I always freeze a half cup from my previous batch. The 1st time I made yogurt I used Dannon)
Instructions:
-Pour milk into a large stock pot.
-Over low heat, scald the milk, stirring occasionally & removing any skin that forms.
{Scalding milk is to bring just before boiling. Several ways to know your milk is scalded. Temperature should be around 185, milk smells sweet, & the top get frothy} Stay close to kitchen during this process. You do NOT want it to even simmer & the bottom will burn if you do not stir, scraping the bottom!
-Once the milk is scalded, turn off the heat and bring the temperature down to 115.
-Once milk is at 115 degrees add the 1/2 c. plain yogurt.
-Put a tight fighting lid on pot and wrap in several kitchen towels. {Keep it wrapped. No peeking!! I put my pan in a Pyrex travel case w/ the hot pack heated up! I also recently got a heat pad that I put underneath}
-Let sit on the counter for 8 hours.
-After 8 hours. Remove towel and stir yogurt. Place in refrigerator overnight. If whey forms just stir into yogurt. It's normal for it to do that.
-The next morning: Reserve 1/2c. for your next batch of yogurt. You can freeze this! This way you won't need the Dannon next time.
-I wanted Greek style yogurt so I strained mine in cheese cloth over a colander. Do this in the morning after its sat in fridge over night. This process is quick, about 20 minutes. You can let it sit longer or shorter depending on the consistency you'd like.
-Now is when you can add flavors!!! I've tried several different ways. Ken & I like it w/ just honey. Miss Mae likes it w/ a strawberry or blueberry sauce.
 |
| Scalding milk |
 |
| Showing how I wrapped it during incubation. The blue on the bottom is the heat pad it was on low for the first 5 hours. After this picture I zipped up the carrying case and put 2 more towels on top. |
 |
| My breakfast the next morning: Homemade yogurt, homemade blueberry sauce, homemade granola :) |
