Home Made Yogurt...Delicious!

Home Made Yogurt

So easy and so delicious!

Here is the recipe first:

8 cups of whole milk

1/2 c. of good plain yogurt

Place the 8 cups of whole milk in a crock pot on low heat for 2.5 hours. Shut heat off and leave alone for 3 hours. After the 3 hours put in the good plain yogurt (once you have made some you can use 1/2 cup of your own yogurt as the starter), mix gently, leave for 7-8 hours. I usually start it in the morning and by 9-10:00pm I put it in the containers and refrigerate for the morning.

Milk getting all warm and delicious for the starter.

The milk I used, you can use any kind, but sometimes it is nice to know.

Cutting up fresh strawberries for the yogurt. You can use frozen, but these were on sale and so red and ripe, I couldn't refuse.

Mmmmm. Strawberries.

All cut up waiting for their sugar bath.

The sugar...I added a little more than I would because personally I am not a fan of sour plain yogurt, so to sweeten it up a bit I added a little more sugar.

This morning as I was making parfaits. Mmmm.

And here is the finished product. Now I would have shown you what I looked like eating it, however, I didn't really want to embarass myself with the drippings down the face. But it was absolutely delicious and I will definitely be making this more often in our home. I made 1/2 gallon of yogurt for about $1.50. That doesn't include the strawberries or any other fresh fruit or the granola. But for yogurt that is a great deal, especially for a large family that loves yogurt.

I will be hopefully posting our home made bread tomorrow. Later on this week I will post our home school schedule. I get a lot of requests on how we do it, especially with little ones on our feet, and I will share how it works for us.

Have a blessed day!

Best French Bread Ever!!

Here is the recipe first:

2 1/2 c. flour

1 c. warm water

1 tblsp yeast

1 tblsp sugar

1 tsp salt

The secret to really great bread is making sure it has a safe place to rise. So I always preheat my oven to 200 with a pan of water and then turn it off.

So here are all the ingredients getting ready to get yummy. Remember to proof your yeast by placing the warm water, sugar and yeast together in a cup, if the yeast is frothy then you know it is ready, if it isn't, well, try again using warmer water, or your yeast might be old.

Once the mixture has been kneaded. I usually just place it in the same bowl with a quick spray of Pam around the bowl.

Cover it with a damp towel and in the oven it goes...see my pan of water? It works wonders. Also, for this recipe, keep it in the oven even while baking, it will make the crust extra crispy and the inside just delicious and chewy.

Once the bread has risen. I didn't get to take a picture of my loaves rising, however, here is another secret. I use a large cookie sheet and then my small loaf pans in the middle between them to help keep the shape of a loaf. Otherwise you might end up with misshapen loaves. Score the tops with 1/4" diagnal slits.

So this is the finished product, ready to be devoured with dinner. Tonight home made bolognase with garlic cheese bread. It will be delicious.

Also, I always double this recipe and make 2 loaves. If I start it at 3:30pm it is ready by about 5:30pm to eat. Just to give you an idea as to how easy it is.

I hope you enjoy making it.

Baking Fun

After, just because it looks better. :)

The before. I am so excited to try my pie. If it isn't good, I didn't make it. :) That is what I always tell my kids.

I love baking. I love baking for my family. I have never been a great pie maker, however, I am striving to be a great pie baker. So here is my second attempt to making home made crust and a mixed berry filling.