Wednesday, February 03, 2010

EASY-PEASY HOMEMADE YOGURT

Homemade yogurt with blueberry sauce

After being spoiled with my friend and neighbor Michelle's homemade yogurt after coming home from the hospital, I knew I needed to make this on my own.
Michelle's simply cannot be topped, as she is using raw milk from grass fed cows, and there is NO comparison. Hers was so, so good!

So...with her disclaimer, she sent me the link for her recipe and, except for the raw milk, I started my own batch yesterday.
SO easy!
And the whole thing, from start to finish, is done in your handy dandy crock pot!

Thickened yogurt in my crock pot

I have linked to the original recipe, above, but here is my simplified version...

8 cups whole milk
1/2 cup store bought natural, live/active culture PLAIN yogurt (I used Stoneyfield's Organic)
crock pot
large, thick bath towel

Turn crock pot on low.
Add your 8 cups milk.
Cover and cook for 2 1/2 hours (on low)

Unplug crock pot, but leave it alone, cover on, and let sit for 3 hours.

After 3 hours, scoop out 2 cups of the milk and put in bowl.
Add your 1/2 cup store bought yogurt and whisk till combined.
Dump back in the crock pot with the other milk and stir gently.
Put the lid back on, and wrap the heavy towel all the way around the crock pot for insulation.
Let it sit for 8 hours minimum, but up to ???
I left mine sit all night, which gave it a total of about 16 hours with it's towel turban.

When done, the yogurt will have thickened to the consistency of a low fat yogurt.
Not so thick that your spoon stands upright all by itself, but not so thin that it's soupy either.
Just right!

Also...the longer it sits covered with the towel, the tangier it will taste.
Tho, after sitting for the 16 hours, mine is just right.

I made a simple blueberry sauce using some frozen berries from our "you-pick" this summer and was enjoying my very own homemade yogurt for lunch today.

Rumor (the recipe) says it will last in the fridge for 7-10 days, but mine will be gone before the weekend is up.
And make sure to set aside 1/2 cup for your next batch.

We like this plain, or topped with some homemade granola. Or Farmboy likes to peel and dice an orange and stir it in.

And you can't beat the cost!
My quart of Stoneyfield's Organic was, I believe, over $3.
(not altogether sure as Farmboy has been doing the shopping for nearly a month now)
My homemade yogurt....Less than $2.50 for TWO quarts!

No fancy schmancy equipment needed either.
(who needs yet another appliance to try to find room for?)
And who doesn't own a crock pot these days???
And, if by chance you don't, high tail it to your nearest thrift store...they usually have 2 or 3 on the shelves!

Thanks Michelle!
This is a keeper!

xoxo,
Cindy
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26 comments:

Old Time Cindy said...

Hmmm...I'm going to try this. My daughter makes her own yogurt, but using the crockpot method sounds more appealing to me!
Cindy at Lakewood

Michelle (She Looketh Well) said...

So glad you loved it! So easy, isn't it? Next week my milk starts back up (stopped for elimi. diet)I can't wait to make more yogurt!! I usually make two crockpots at a time. Yes, I have two crockpots, actually, three I think!

Love ya

Donna said...

We love greek yogurt! I bet this tastes pretty similar except a little runnier. Would you believe that we don't have a crockpot? LOL! Maybe I'll find a used one sometime!

Lola Nova said...

Oh my! I love yogurt and will definitely try this, I am surprised I had never heard of the crockpot method. Yay. I'm just wishing I had some raw milk, I bet that it is divine.
Just stared making smoothies again and this would be great for that.

savvycityfarmer said...

this, my dear is going to become a staple here ... just like the organic red I squish with own tootsies ...


went junkin today and thot of YOU

Cheryl said...

This sounds so easy and good. Going to town tomorrow will be picking up some yogurt so I can try this. Thanks for sharing!

Camille said...

Now this is cool ~ thanks for posting Cindy! And thanks Michelle for the inspiration! :)

Unknown said...

looks fabulous..and that blueberry sauce makes it look like dessert...YUM!
glad to see you back on your feet

A Big Bowl Of Cherries said...

Oh, I'm so glad it turned out for you! I'll have to try this one. Thanks for sharing it!
Jen

Maria said...

homemade yogurt
C'est bon!

~smiles~

Maria

Farmchick said...

I am going to have to try this one of these days! Hope you are doing well and feeling well too! Stop over for a visit. :)

Pam said...

Wow - I am so impressed with you! Homemade yogurt is a great idea.

debylynne said...

hello my dearest girl
what a GREAT IDEA!!!! i cannot wait to try this. the only problem will be "making my crockpot available" for that long because I USE IT SO MUCH! a side note...i have 3, of assorted sizes - one large, one medium and one small. the large one is a rival crockpot with a wonderful HEAVY ceramic lift-out bowl that i have been using for...drumroll please.......THIRTY FIVE years plus. what a wonderful crockpot! i did have to replace the lid, but, other than that - i just love that old clunker! love you, too!! (does that makes YOU an old clunker, too????...naaaaa! surely not!!)
deb

Holly said...

I hope your knee is healing well. I've made goat milk yogurt but with a yogurt maker, a cast iron dutch oven but never a crockpot. I've got to try this. Thanks for the inspiration.

commoncents said...

We are all over the Friday-Saturday blizzard that is bearing down on the East Coast.

http://www.commoncts.blogspot.com

KathyB. said...

I have to make this. My husband eats a lot of yogurt and this would not only save us a bundle of money, it looks and sounds tastier. Thank-you.

Louise said...

I love your recipe, hope the fact that you are doing things in the kitchen means you are feeling much better! I don't have a crock pot...yet! Love Louise xx

Louise said...

I forgot to ask earlier - would you mind sharing a recipe for hand made soap- I remember you made some before Christmas and I would like to have a go ?
Louise x

Unknown said...

wow...how exciting to have made your own yogurt!! I had no idea it was so simple.

Louise said...

Ive never been so far back in your blog as I only discovered this particular world recently. Thankyou for the link and the most helpful photos on your blog as well. I am nervous of the lye too, but I am going to buy the other ingredients and that will spur me on !
Louise x

Donna said...

I'm sorry to hear that back pain is interferring with the knee rehab. Just do the best you can. It's important to get a certain degree of bend within the set time frames. If you can't get there on your own, don't be surprised if the doctor recommends a manipulation procedure. It worked wonders for me and I got an additional 20 degrees in just a short week!

Homemaker's Heart said...

Thanks for sharing the recipe. I have the yogurt maker, but thought it was going to be a hassle (I have to use goats milk) but turns out that is just as easy.

Gina said...

Cindy, I haven't been to your blog in some time.I cambe back to it one day next week and it was like coming back to an old friend. Now I am back on today and wanted to pop in and say how much I love your blog, your home and your family, but most of all your faith. Thanks for keeping up such a beautiful blog. It inspires me to work on mine more.

Jenna said...

Okay, I'm THRILLED to see this SUPER EASY recipe!!! With our cow now giving a delightful 6 gallons of fresh, raw milk PER day, I need to find more recipes to use it up:)

Thanks!!!
~Jenna

Lisa Carroll-Lee said...

Yummm! What a great technique!

maggie said...

Yes!!! Easy peasy yogurt directions that don't require buying more stuff! Thank you for posting this. It is just what I needed. What goes in the blueberry sauce? My mom makes one with blueberries and sugar- so good!