Incubating Yogurt and Infusing Vinegar

It is Friday evening and I'm trying to get a jump on my "to do" list for the weekend.  I bought some fresh milk and it had been in refrigerator for a couple of days allowing the cream to come to the top so I could skim it off.  Now that I have the time I have skimmed off the cream (to be used later for ice cream making).  I have got the yogurt in my homemade incubator doing its thing for the next 12 hours.

It really is easy to make yogurt at home.  All you need is milk, plain yogurt with active cultures and a place for the yogurt to stay warm for 12 hours or so undisturbed.

8 cups milk, I use whole but it works with skim or low fat as well

1 cup plain yogurt with active cultures.  I find the one with the least amount of other additives.  The next time just save a cup of the yogurt you are making now.  It becomes the starter for the next batch.

Heat the milk in a saucepan on low heat to between 150-170 degrees.  Spoon plain yogurt into a bowl at least 4 cups in size and allow to come to room temperature while the milk is heating.  Heat the milk in a saucepan to between 150 and 170 degrees turn off heat.  You will need a thermometer for this, a candy thermometer will work but I have several of the instant read ones and they work great.  Allow milk to cool to 110 degrees.  Take around 3 cups of the 110 degree milk and stir it into the container with the yogurt in it, this will temper the yogurt.  Wisk the milk and yogurt together then pour that mixture back into the rest of the warm milk.  Pour this mixture into a two quart container or two quart canning jars.

Now for the place for the yogurt to incubate undisturbed.  For yogurt to its thing it must remain as close to the 110 degrees for as much of the next 12 hours as possible.  While there are commercial yogurt incubators on the market I prefer my homemade, no electricity needed, method.  I simply use a Styrofoam ice chest and towels.  Place the container(s) into the ice chest and fit towels around them for additional insulation.  The ice chest and yogurt need to be left undisturbed during the incubation time.  I place mine on a out of the way spot on my kitchen counter.

After the 12 hours is up place the container(s) in the refrigerator immediately.  Do not stir or further disturb the yogurt until it is fully chilled.  No you have 1/2 gallon of yogurt to enjoy.  You may add the sweetener of your choice and a dash of vanilla to make a nice vanilla yogurt.

Beautiful fresh raspberries infusing in white vinegar
Beautiful fresh raspberries infusing in white vinegar

I found a recipe today that calls for raspberry vinegar so I thought that I would make some since I picked raspberries off our bushes yesterday.  I simply washed the raspberries put them in a clean pint canning jar and poured white vinegar over them.  In less than an hour the vinegar is already a beautiful color.  I will let it infuse for 24 hours or so then I will give it a little taste.  If I want it stronger I will strain out these berries and replace them with fresh ones and let it infuse for another 24 hours.  When it is the flavor I desire I will once again strain the berries out and put just 3 or 4 fresh berries in the jar so everyone will know what type of vinegar it is.

Well the weather is supposed to be great tomorrow and I have to work on more of the "list".  Sunday looks like it might rain and when it rains I take that opportunity to work in the kitchen.  I think it is time to make another batch of granola.  After all granola is great mixed into homemade yogurt!!

 

 

 

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