Monday, November 14, 2011

Homemade Yogurt



Bam!!! That JUST happened!!

Did you see the movie Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby? If you did then you know what I'm saying. If you didn't well, then never mind. Its not really relevant. A funny movie for sure, but not relevant to this particular post.
I do find myself thanking the baby Jesus a lot after seeing that movie. Again, sorry for the reference if you haven't seen it. So just go see it already. In fact....don't go see it. Its not at the movies anymore. Go rent it or better still, download it from Netflix and watch it right now. Then, come back and read this post about yogurt.

Okay. So you're back! Funny movie, huh?

I made my own yogurt!!!

It worked!!!

Okay, so here's how I did it so you can make your own yogurt too. I bought some raw milk from a local dairy. Let me send a shout out to ma homies at the Dry Valley Dairy in Forestburg, TX. Their milk is from Jersey cows so its full of grass fed, fatty goodness. And they're great people too. And the milk is only $4/gallon. Can you believe it?? There is another dairy in town too. They're closer to me and also great people but their cows are Holstein and not quite as fatty and its $6/gallon. Its called the Neu Dairy. I like me some fatty milk, yo.

 Sorry, Robbie and I have been watching Breaking Bad on Netflix and I find myself talking like a Madskills Drug Dealer. I can't help it. A drug dealer that likes raw dairy...without drugs in it...whatever.

Anyway, I also have some yogurt starter that I got from our local co-op. Its called Yogourmet. I also have a kefir starter. In each box there are 6 packets of probiotics ready to be made into yogurt. When I ordered it, I said "I want one of each yogurt and kefir starter" thinking I was going to get a box of each. But, no....I got a CASE of each!

So, if you want some, leave a comment with your email. I will email you to get your mailing address and send it to you for FREE!!! Then, you can make your own yogurt or kefir if you'd rather. I'll tell you that kefir making is much easier. I'll share later in another post.

Okay, so here's how it works. I took a quart of milk and heated it up to about 150 degrees F over a medium, low heat stirring occasionally. Then, I filled my sink about halfway with ice water and carefully lowered the pan into the sink to cool it off. Once it reaches about 78 degrees F, remove about 1 cup. Mix in the yogurt starter (you can also use yogurt you have on hand as a starter. I wouldn't use any yogurt thats full of sugar and junk. Kind of defeats the purpose I think.) Mix it in really well and add it back into the pot.
Then, pour your yogurt into clean jars.

This is the cool part. I got this idea from laurelofleaves. She's right. Its almost so easy its scary.
I filled up a hot water bottle, put it on the bottom of a regular, old Igloo cooler (any insulated cooler will do.) placed my yogurt on top of it. I wrapped a couple of big towels around them to keep them from tipping off  the water bottle. I placed an old pillow on top of them, tucked them all in, shut the cooler and went about the rest of my day. You can let it stay there as long as you want. I started mine at about noon yesterday and pulled it out this morning at about 8:00. I put two of them back in, because they seemed a little too liquidy.

I put this little jar of awesomeness in the fridge to stop the process. You have to do that. But, before I did, I took a teeny, tiny, little taste of it. Guess what it tastes like.

Go on, guess!

It tastes like YOGURT!!! Yay!!!

Go try it. Its fun!

This post is linked to Barn Hop and Monday Mania

14 comments:

  1. I would love to get some of your free yogurt and kefir starters.
    My email is: illyag@yahoo.com

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  2. I'd be happy to send them to you! I have WAY more than I will ever need! :)

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  3. I just started making my own cheese and butter and would love to have some of your yogurt and kefir starter. When we visited relatives this summer in Texas my sister in law taught me and I will be thanking her forever for teaching me this wonderful skill. I live in Ill and get my fresh cows milk from an Amish farmer at $2 a gallon. I know that is a steal. I take in my containers and they fill them up as I watch and learn about his animals and his life. I get milk and learn about a life some only dream about. Thanks
    paulaannsmith@yahoo.com

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  4. Wow!!! That is a fantastic deal!

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  5. I would love to get some yogurt and kefir starter. I've been wanting to make both and this has encouraged me to do so. Thank you! sarah.hilton06@gmail.com

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  6. Misty - reading your post always cracks me up. You left out of your profile you are a comedian too. Who else could make reading about making yogurt so entertaining. I would like to try this if you have any left. I'll message you on FB....

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  7. I really want to make my own yogurt, but it's a struggle to get my hands on raw milk in Canada.The search is on! I have to say..I'm a little jealous.

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  8. OH man, I bet!! That's too bad. :(

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  9. I've been very curious about kefir & would love to get some of your extra starter! The yogurt also sounds interesting. I have been using plain yogurt as a starter & wonder what the difference would be. Thanks. kurt.lori.larson@gmail.com

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  10. I don't know what the difference would be. I wouldn't think much. I did read, however, that every 5th batch or so you should stop using your yogurt as a starter and buy a fresh one. But, Im not sure why. But, I'll be happy to send you some!

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  11. I was just about to comment and tell you I made my own yogurt for the first time recently, too. But you already know that! :-P Seriously so easy it's scary, huh?
    If you have any yogurt starter or kefir grains lying around looking for a home, my sister-in-law and I would both love love love some! We were just talking about it last night! (lori@laurelofleaves.com)

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  12. Lori, I would love to send you some! I tried yogurt before but I tried to do it without cooking it. Not so great. This is the first time I've actually gotten it to work. You inspired me!

    I'm not sure of the fridge life. I've heard 10 days.

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  13. Congratulations on making your own yoghurt. I've never done that but from time to time have thought about it. Well done!

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