Doubling Up

How do you get twice the organic yogurt for the same price?  By fermenting it yourself.  Stoneyfield is the only organic yogurt option at the store down the street.  Their 32 ounce tub is $ 3.79.  I can buy 64 ounces of Nature's Promise organic milk for $ 3.69.  All I have to do is add some heat, then chill and ferment.  There is how:

You'll need some jars, some yogurt, some milk, a thermometer, a insulated cooler and hot water.

First . . . and this is the tricky part . . . don't finish your yogurt!  You need some to work on the new milk.  I've read you need to start with non-flavored yogurt with live active cultures.  This is important if you have people with food allergies and need to watch what additives are introduced by the flavoring.  When just beginning, I used Vanilla flavored yogurt and it worked just fine.

Second, measure out your milk into a pot.  Pictured are 5 12 ounce jars, so I put the whole half gallon in the pot.  The easiest way to measure the milk is to almost fill the jar[s] that you'll be fermenting in and pour it in the pot and heat the milk to 170 degrees F.

While the milk is heating, put 2 tablespoons of yogurt in each jar.  This is probably more than necessary, but I like to give the little buggers a fighting chance!  If you like sweeter yogurt, now is a good time to squeeze in some honey.  Keep an eye on the pot, it's about to boil over!

Next, let the milk cool.  I set the hot pot inside a bigger pot that has some ice in it.  Keep checking, you want the milk to be between 110 and 105 degrees F or you'll kill those little buggers!

While the milk is cooling put some hot water, not hotter than 120, into your cooler.  Make sure it is in a spot where the cooler will not get moved or jostled about for 6 hours.

Next, divide the 105 degree milk into your jars, stir, close and place in the cooler.  Pour more hot water in to fill to the tops of the jars, close the lid to give those little buggers some privacy while they are munching away on the milk.  After six hours or so you have a nice soft set yogurt.  What? You like the more expensive Greek yogurt?  No problem!  After you've fermented your yogurt you can drain away some of the whey and you'll have your own thicker version of Greek yogurt.

Lastly, mix in some of your homemade raspberry preserves and get ready to hand it over to your little one.  Once my little man sees me mixing fruit in he asks me for 'some' and I get an empty jar back.  Yogurt is also a nice substitute for the higher calorie sour cream on top of your homemade black bean soup!