My kids LOVE yogurt. It’s an understatement to say that she likes it.  She nearly lives on it. So it adds up when I’m buying organic yogurt on a constant basis. Someone suggested making it myself so I gave it a try. After 2 tries, I got the hang of it and I now think it’s going to be a regular occurrence.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 gallon or 1 gallon (depending on how much you want to make)
• 1-2 tbs Starter yogurt (can be left over from a previous batch or from store bought yogurt)
• Crockpot
• Thermometer
• Cheese Cloth/Fabric

Instructions

1. Place milk into crockpot and cook on low till 180*. Usually between 1-3 hours.
2. Cool to 120*. Usually takes about 1-3 hours.
3. Skim off the thin layer of crusted milk along the top and discard.
4. Remove 1 cup or so of milk and mix in 1 tbs of starter yogurt.
5. Return this mixture to the crock pot and stir back and forth softly.
6. Put crock pot into safe place (I recommend an oven), wrap with towels, and allow to ferment. Usually about 8-12 hours. The longer it ferments, the more sour it will become.
7. You can then eat your yogurt. OR, you can strain it with fabric. The thicker the fabric, the thicker the yogurt.

What do with the whey?

As a product of making the yogurt, you’ll end up with whey. If you are like me, you’ve never used whey before I started making yogurt. It took a little to figure out ways to use it. I haven’t done all of these but have done a few.

• Feed it to your animals (chickens, dogs, etc.). Its a good source of enzymes and protein.
• Use it in recipes such as pancakes in place of water or milk
• Add to soups or broths
• Make protein shakes or smoothies
• Dilute and spray on plants to kill or prevent powdery mildew
• Dilute and add to the soil of your acid loving plants (like blueberries or azaleas)
• Soak grains, beans, or nuts
• Some have claimed to use it as a face toner, face mask, or hair conditioner
• Freeze it and use for later