Homemade Yogurt

I was on a cooking kick yesterday--I also made homemade yogurt along with the muffins, homemade turkey/veggie meatballs, salad and homemade ranch dressing--I told you I was on a kick! I have a sink full of dishes this morning and I did them 3 times yesterday! I guess that is what happens when you cook all day--Dirty Dishes!

Anyway I thought I'd share this fabulous way to make homemade yogurt--it's really easy and you don't need a yogurt making machine--though they do have those. All you do is scald some milk--that means you heat it up in a pan on the stove and let that skin layer form on the top and little bubbles form around the edges--without letting it come to a boil. Just poor the milk in the pan, put the heat on med. and let it sit--you don't even stir it! Then after that pour it into some glass mason jars--or any glass container and let it get to room temperature. After it gets to room temp. turn your oven on for about 2-3 min. and then turn it off. Stir in about a 1/2 cup plain yogurt from the store (no flavors or sugar added) put a lid on and then place in the oven (that was heated for 2 minutes and then turned off--make sure you turn it off!) Then let it sit for 8 hours. Just don't forget about it and turn your oven back on--I can see myself doing that at some point! After that refrigerate it.

If you've never tried plain yogurt--its not sweet--the problem with the store sweetened yogurts is they put a lot of sugar or high fructose corn syrup in them. So I add a little honey, stevia, or agave nector to mine. Or you can just add some fruit--I think that sweetens it enough. Also I use the plain yogurt for baking in place of oil or butter (like in the muffins). I also use it in my homemade ranch dressing which is fabulous (I'll share that recipe later). I use organic milk a lot--but you don't have to. Skim milk works fine but it's a little runnier yogurt--I usually use 1% or 2% plus my girls can use a few extra calories and fat.