does anyone here...

Very Valuable Member Joined : 12 Oct 2006 Posts : 457

...make their own yogurt?

I thought I remembered Gayla saying she did, but now I'm unsure~ Very Happy

If someone here DOES make their own yogurt, is it hard? easy? do you have a yogurt-making-machine? how often do you make it?
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My attempt failed and it uses a lot of milk so I didn't want to try again and waste more milk. Instruction always make it seem really easy so maybe I started with bum yogurt.
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Very Valuable Member Joined : 12 Oct 2006 Posts : 457

did you use a yogurt making machine, escarscha? if so, which kind?

I decided to give this idea a whirl & just purchased a salton ym9 (?)...it makes 1-quart, no little containers & was VERY inexpensive. I eat yogurt everyday. Small amounts, only 4 oz. a day, but if I make it, my hubby will eat it, too...and perhaps my 16 yr. old daughter & my oldest son. I like the idea of it being fresh, and I don't know, it just sounds appealing to me to make my own. It doesn't seem like the instructions are very hard. I was just wondering about everyone else's experiences with this.I found an older post of gayla's on this subject & she said she didn't have success with it either...now I'm getting a little scared!! pale

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No I didn't use a yogurt maker, I put it in a thermos and wrapped it with a heating pad in attempts to have the constant warm temp it needed. I may have failed. A machine would probably make it easier.
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Yes Cheapy I make mine . I have a salton maker .. I make up small batches Frank really like it he eats it almost every day .
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Gayla

"They take great pride in making their dinner cost much; I take my pride in making my dinner cost so little."

---Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)

Very Valuable Member Joined : 12 Oct 2006 Posts : 457

Do you use a machine, & if so, what brand? (Kind)?

Easy, or hard? worth it? details, please! Very Happy

Enquiring minds would like to know! Laughing

(that would be lil ol' me!)
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Very Valuable Member Joined : 12 Oct 2006 Posts : 457

oops, sorry, I think our posts "clashed"! Laughing

A Salton? maybe it's the same one I am getting. is it easy? any tips or tricks I should know about?
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active culture .. I buy mine at the health food
store ..

patience .... I can make a dozen times and then it wont work for a while ......

you know you dont have to have a yogart make you can make it in the oven.
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Gayla

"They take great pride in making their dinner cost much; I take my pride in making my dinner cost so little."

---Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)

Very Valuable Member Joined : 12 Oct 2006 Posts : 457

Do the active cultures you get have sugar in it? I read that some do, and the ones that I saw online that listed their ingredients had it. Do you ever use a starter that is from yogurt that's already made? or from your previously made batch?
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I use a starter from pre made alot .. I do use stater from a batch , if they didnt eat it .

I think most starter have sugar in it
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Gayla

"They take great pride in making their dinner cost much; I take my pride in making my dinner cost so little."

---Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)

I sometimes blog on myspace (LOL I know Very Happy

) Anyway here's one on my yogurt adventures.....hope it helps!!! Very Happy

The Yogurt Adventures!!!
Current mood: creative

I grew up in the 70's.......my dear Mom went through the granola crunching, sprouts, homemade whole wheat everything...earthy back to the land sort of deal movement. For a time we had the most interesting lunches around at school. Some things were WAY out there and just plain BAD....like pizza flavored bean sandwhich spread with sprouts ....I'm sure it was mega good for us....but like My old family Doctor used to say ( Dr. Cook.....I miss you )....if you can't get it down their throats....it does not matter how good it is....it has ZERO nutritional value....let me tell you, I dumped a lot of lunches back then....LOL....Sorry Mom, I knew you ment well!!!!

There was a bright side...some things she made were GOOD!!! Homemade bread was a hit as were some sweets like zucchini bread/ pumpkin bread and carob brownies...and her homemade yogurt.....YUMO!! So since I use a lot of yogurt and it's $$$, I thought I'd try my hand at it. Mom had a fancy smancy yogurt maker.....I do not...nor do I ever plan to PAY for one...cuz I'm too cheap....SO, Internet to the rescue!!!. You can use a Crock pot! WOOHOO !! One of my favorite kitchen tools ever! It turned out great !!! Here's the recipe w/some pictures of the adventure

Crock Pot Yogurt

4 cups Milk (I used 1 % since that's what we drink and have in the fridg always)

1/2 cup powdered milk (you don't need this part but it adds extra calcium and makes it a bit thicker....I used it this time)

1/2 cup starter (unflavored PLAIN yogurt with active cultures from the store- this is a one time purchase since you can get starter from your next batch.)

that's it for plain yogurt.....to make it sweet add 1 T vanilla and 4 to 6 tablespoons sugar, splenda, honey, or maple syrup.

Directions-Pour milk into crock set to low and leave for 2 hours. Turn crock off/unplug and let sit for 3 hours (this will cool it to a warm state that won't kill the cultures) Mix in your 1/2 cup starter plus powdered milk (and vanilla and sweetener if you are using them) Put lid back on crock and cover with large towels to keep heat in. Let sit 6 to 8 hours or overnight. You have yogurt!! Chill it till cold before eating for best flavor. It is a little thinner than store bought kind but tastes good!!

I made it sweet this time because we use it in smoothies or over fruit in the mornings.....but plain is good too as a substitute for sour cream or to make cream cheese with ( I haven't tried that yet, but will soon )

Ingredients:

After Heating & cooling , adding powdered milk, sugar, vanilla & starter:

Finished product: That's how I eat it a lot...peaches ( any fruit) with vanilla yogurt over top with cinnamon.

Trying to show the texture: a little thinner than store bought.....I suppose you could use unflavored gelatin to thicken it more if you really wanted too but I liked it just the way it came out. Took me back to the kiddle days with Mom's yogurt....I always used to eat hers with sliced grapes in it or as a dip for apples...she would stir in brown sugar for the apple dip...not normal brown sugar but that unprocessed/unbleached/coarse cane type natural sugar .....YUM!!
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Wow jen,,I am impressed!

Great directions Jen!
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Wow Jen. This great!! Thanks. I will have to try this. Wish I read it before I went to the grocery store as I purchased 10 containers. I will be trying this and hope my crock pot doesn't burn it.
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Vicki

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