Answer to yogurt question, our method...
Start with a gallon of whole RAW milk, unpasteurized. Use a good heavy pot and slowly bring it to a boil, stirring to prevent the bottom burning, turn it way down and just let it pasteurize. The idea is to kill off all bacteria, this will not work with milk that has already been processed. Give it about a half hour, and stir that bottom, very low heat. Remove from heat and let it get to room temp.
At this point I like to put mine in a big bowl so there is more surface area. For each cup of milk, then add 1 tablespoon of organic Greek yogurt, more or less. Just make sure that milk is at room temp or you will not get yogurt, the heat will kill off the yogurt bacteria. Anyway, appx 1 tablespoon yogurt to one cup milk. Give it a good stir, put some saran over it, put it in the back of the oven closest to the light, close the door, leave the light on.
Usually do this overnight, perfect by morning. You will have very thin yogurt. Then take a clean white cloth, like a muslin dishtowel, white pillow case, even a clean white T shirt. Put the fabric over another large bowl and dump the thin yogurt in. Make sure you have enough fabric around the edges to be able to tie it all up.
Gather the edges and as tight as you can get it, tie up all the edges so you have a big ball of goo. I just recycle old hay bale tie ups, knot it well and lift it from bowl, letting some liquid drain out (which is buttermilk by the way). If you have a sturdy cabinet knob on your upper cabinets, tie it to one with the bowl under and let it drain. You can give it a little squeeze to help it along every now and then, but not necessary. Give it a couple hours and voila, you have Greek yogurt. Save the liquid for baking or give it to your birds. If it's too thick for your taste, just add some of the liquid back in.
That's the finished plain yogurt and at that point you can add any fruit you want, like to cook my fruits just a bit so they are a little syrupy, let the fruit cool before adding. Store mine in one pound or 8 ounce plastic recycled containers. This method works like a charm every single time and so super easy.
NO, you do not need a machine!!! Also use the yogurt to make yogurt popsicles, you can buy the little plastic popsicle forms in any dollar store or reny's, they come with reusable little handles. Good luck and have fun!!!
I swear I am not holding them tight hahaha, after looking at the pics I was thinking geesh looks like I'm squeezing the poor things! You think #4 might be a mille sebright... do those exist? And any idea on the sex of my mille fleur? Thanks everyone!
