Traditional Homemade Yogurt Food

AUTHENTIC HOMEMADE YOGURT

Steps:

• On a work surface, lay four clean cotton towels in a cross pattern, each with one end overlapping a few inches in the center. Position a large baking dish or glass mixing bowl in the center of the towels.
• Set the plain yogurt on the counter to warm to room temperature while preparing milk mixture.
• Combine milk and half-and-half in a large, heavy, non-aluminum pot. Heat over low to moderate heat, stirring constantly, until mixture just comes to the boil. Immediately remove from heat and pour mixture into the waiting bowl. Add 1 pint whipping cream, if desired, for added richness.
• Allow mixture to cool to 112 degrees F (44 degrees C). Gradually pour 1 cup of the warm milk into the yogurt, whisking constantly. Return the yogurt-milk mixture to the bowl and stir well. Cover bowl with plastic wrap; wrap kitchen towels up and over bowl, covering completely. Let stand at room temperature until firmly set, 8 to 12 hours.
• Refrigerate yogurt several hours or overnight to chill completely.

EASY YOGURT

Steps:

• Evenly coat the bottom of a medium Dutch oven or other heavy-bottomed pot with a thin, 1/4-inch-thick layer of water. (This will prevent the milk from sticking to the bottom of the pot.) Set the pot over high heat. Add the milk and heat until it just comes to a boil, watching closely: As soon as you start to see bubbles forming, take the pot off the heat. Let the milk cool until it reaches 130 degrees, 30 to 35 minutes. If you don't have a thermometer, the milk should be warm enough that you can comfortably stick your (clean!) finger in it - it should feel hot, but not so hot as to scald your finger (think of a Jacuzzi).
• While the milk is cooling, smear the bottom of a 1-quart lidded glass, plastic or stainless steel container with 1 teaspoon of the yogurt. (A dab in the center is fine; you needn't spread the yogurt evenly to coat the bottom.)
• When the milk has cooled to the proper temperature, add the remaining yogurt to the milk and whisk until the yogurt has completely dissolved into the milk, about 3 minutes. Pour the mixture into the prepared container and loosely set the lid on top, leaving a little room for air to get out.
• Place the container inside an unheated oven. Shut the oven, turn the oven light on and let sit for 2 hours (see Note). Check the yogurt: When it is done, it will be set (not liquid) but still jiggle like Jell-O. If it's not yet set, leave it in the oven for 1 hour more. Depending on the temperature and humidity outside, the setting process can take up to 5 1/2 hours, so don't fret if the yogurt isn't done the first time you check.
• When the yogurt is done, top it with the lid to seal, and transfer the yogurt to the refrigerator to chill and fully set overnight before using. The yogurt will keep, covered, for 4 to 6 weeks. (It'll start to get pretty sour after 2 weeks, which, depending on your tastes, could be a good or bad thing. You can also freeze a few tablespoons to start a later batch.)

HOMEMADE YOGURT

Steps:

• In a Dutch oven, heat milk over medium heat until a thermometer reads 200°, stirring occasionally to prevent scorching. Remove from heat; let stand until a thermometer reads 112°-115°, stirring occasionally. (If desired, place pan in an ice-water bath for faster cooling.), Whisk 1 cup warm milk into yogurt until smooth; return all to pan, stirring gently. Transfer mixture to warm, clean jars, such as 1-qt. canning jars., Cover jars; place in oven. Turn on oven light to keep mixture warm, about 110°. Let stand, undisturbed, 6-24 hours or until yogurt is set, tilting jars gently to check. (Yogurt will become thicker and more tangy as it stands.), Refrigerate, covered, until cold. Store in refrigerator up to 2 weeks.

EASY HOMEMADE YOGURT

Steps:

• Pour the milk into a pot and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. Reduce heat and simmer, about 10 minutes; do not let it boil over.
• Remove pot from heat and allow to sit for 30 to 60 minutes. Dip your finger into the milk every once in a while to determine when you can leave your finger in the milk for 10 to 15 seconds without burning. Pour in the yogurt; there is no need to stir.
• Put the lid on the pot and carefully wrap a blanket around it. Place the wrapped pot in a slightly warm place where it will be undisturbed for 6 to 10 hours; overnight is best. Transfer to the refrigerator to allow the yogurt to continue to thicken.

HOMEMADE YOGURT

Steps:

• Combine milk and half and half in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over low heat. Remove from heat and transfer to a clean bowl. Set aside to cool to 115 degrees F. Add yogurt and vigorously whisk.
• Cover bowl with plastic, then wrap well with heavy towels or a blanket. Set aside in a warm place for 6 to 8 hours, or longer according to taste. The longer yogurt sits, the more acidic it will become. Store in sealed containers in refrigerator.

HOMEMADE YOGURT

Steps:

• Place milk in a large saucepan over medium-high heat; cook until it reaches 180 degrees, stirring occasionally to prevent scorching, 5 to 7 minutes. Let cool to 115 degrees.
• Whisk together 1 cup milk and the yogurt. Stir into remaining milk.
• Transfer to a 1-quart mason jar. Wrap jar (without lid) in 2 clean kitchen towels, completely covering sides and top. Let stand undisturbed in a warm place until yogurt has the consistency of custard, 4 to 5 hours.
• Refrigerate uncovered jar; when it's cool to the touch, about 30 minutes, screw on a tight-fitting lid.

FROZEN YOGURT ICE POPS WITH LEMON CURD

Steps:

• Grate the zest of the lemons, then juice them. Place the zest in a bain-marie or double boiler. Pour the juice through a strainer into the bain-marie, add the sugar, then stir to combine. Cut the cold butter into small cubes and add to the bowl.
• In a separate bowl, beat the eggs and the additional yolk with a fork. Gently heat the butter, sugar and lemon mix in the bain-marie or double boiler until the butter has just melted then add the beaten eggs.
• Cook for 10-12 minutes, stirring with a silicone spatula until the mixture thickens and coats the spatula. A line drawn with a finger through the mixture on the spatula should remain visible for several seconds.
• Pour the lemon curd into a storage container and leave to cool in the refrigerator. Extra lemon curd can be served with berries, over yogurt, or on biscuits.
• Pour the cream into a small saucepan, then add the agar agar. Mix with a hand whisk and bring to a boil over medium-low heat. Cook for 1 minute, then remove from the heat. Pour the warm cream into a bowl, add the yogurt, and stir to combine.
• In a separate bowl, mix half the measured lemon curd with one-third of the cream and yogurt mixture.
• Pour a layer of the plain cream and yogurt mixture into the base of each ice-pop bar mold, followed by a layer of the lemon curd mixture. Continue alternating the two mixtures until the molds are almost filled. Ripple the remaining lemon curd through the surface of each ice pop. Insert a wooden ice-pop stick into each mold.
• Transfer the ice-pop molds to the freezer and chill for 6 hours or until frozen. To unmold, dip one ice-pop mold at a time into boiling water for 20 seconds, then remove the ice pop from the mold by gently pulling on the stick. Serve immediately.

HOMEMADE YOGURT

Steps:

• Bring milk to just a boil and then set aside to cool.
• Cool just enough not to bite the finger to touch, (about 120°F).
• Pour warm milk in a glass or pyrex bowl and add the Mahdzoon starter (or store bought"live culture" plain yogurt).
• Mix well by stirring the starter in, and cover.
• Completely cover the bowl with towels top and bottom to maintain an even temperature.
• Keep covered at room temperature until mahdzoon has set, about 3-4 hours.
• Refrigerate for 8 hours before serving.
• To store, keep in refrigerator.
• If you like, you can add a spoonful or two of fruit preserves/jam and a bit of vanilla before serving.