You Too Can Make Yogurt!

It is easy to make homemade yogurt! You dont need a fancy yorgurt maker, just a simple crock-pot will do. This recipe is not as sweet as the "junk" you buy in the store, but you can add your own sweetner to suit your taste. The great thing about making your own yogurt is that it's cheaper than the "junk "in the store. And to make it even better you can spell you ingredients. Nothing that takes a scientist to recite.

First you need a crock-pot. Next you need 2 quarts of milk. I used 2% milk. You can use whatever type of milk you like. When I measured my milk I used a quart size canning jar. You are free to use a measuring cup too. You start by pouring your milk into your crock-pot. Set the dial to high and your timer to 2 hours. Now this is what works for my crock-pot, it may take yours a little shorter or longer time but you need to reach 180 degrees. No need to stir, just let it heat up. At this point you may add 1/2 cup of dry milk to the milk. This will make for a creamier yogurt. The choice is yours.

Now cool the milk to 116 to 118 degrees. It needs to be at this temperature. Now add 1 cup of yogurt, you know the" junk" from the store. Once you make your own you wont have to buy the "junk" anymore, YEAH! You will need to keep the crock in the pot so to speak, with a bath towel over the whole unit. Now I live in an old farmhouse and it is always cold and drafty, so I put a large pot of water on the stove on low so it will just release steam. The milk mixture will need to stay warm, I put mine next to the stove so it can benefit from the warm steam. You an place it on a heating pad or even in the oven. I would not use the warm setting on your crock-pot if you have one. I tried it the first time I made yogurt and it almost carmelized it. Chickens enjoyed it. Now leave this alone for 6 hours, maybe longer depending on how warm your home is. It needs to set up and be somewhat firm. Go do something else or do this at night while you are asleep.

You did it! You made yogurt. Now put your yogurt into a container and fridge it overnight. It will be ready for you for breakfast. Dont eat it all! You need to save a cup to start your next batch. It will last for a week or two in the fridge.

We like ours, kids included, with diced peaches, bananas strawberries, blueberries, and all types of jams. The kids like theirs a little sweeter so I mix in either honey or vanilla. The sky is the limit to what you add to your yogurt. My sons girlfriend said to add a teaspoon of cocoa to it for chocolate flavored yogurt. I have to say I did not like it one bit.

Now go get your crock-pot and put it to work. Enjoy the fruits of your labor. It is so easy, I promise. You will never have to buy the "junk" again.

Getting Serious about blogging

I am going to get serious about this blogging thing. I want a blog. I read blogs. I dream of my blog. It is time to get with the program and get serious about my blog. I have belonged to groups and some of the commitments they require are just about impossible to fill. I dont have alot of time to sit read everyones blog and leave a comment. So here I go.............

Right now the homeplace is getting ready for winter. We live in an old drafty farm house. That means covering the windows and closing off the basement door for the season. I need to get the garden closed up and the greenhouse buttoned up too. The yard needs racked . OHHH too much to do.

I am wanting to get the Christmas tree up and the house decorated before Thanksgiving. I have done that forever. This will be the first year in 23 years that it most likely will not be up. Worse things can happen.

I have been knitting slippers for the boys girlfriends for gifts. I am also making my girls slippers. I crocheted a blue and gold afghan for my college son( school colors). I want to get a set of dish towels done for his girlfriend too. She asked me for a set this summer. I think it should make a nice gift. I am going to help my girls make fleece blankets for 2 of the boys for gifts as well. I wish all our gifts could be homemade. It would be more heartfelt.

I got some shopping done yesterday on the internet. I would much rather do it that way than in a store. I am not a big crowds person and I always have kids with me. Makes it hard to shop when they are always with you.

My hubby is home today and tomorrow. He has been helping Kait with a homeschool co-op project. She had t0 make a ferris wheel out of pasta. It is almost done and is super cool. They have done an awesome job on it. I will have to put pics up of it. Kait has the presentation tomorrow, so it has to be done.

Well I think I will go knit some slippers before dinner. The girls have dance class tonight..

Getting serious!!

My new blog!!

This is my new blog. It will take a little to get used to.

Let me introduce myself.

My name is Camilla ,I go by Cami.
I have been married to my highschool sweetheart for the past 21 years.
We have 6 kiddos. The ages are 20,19,16,11,8 & 4.
We have been homeschooling for 14 years.
We live on a small farm in Northwest Iowa for the past 1o years.
We have a horse, goats, chickens,ducks, dogs and cats.
We have a very large garden.
I like to sew, knit, crochet, cook, bake, read, go to thrift stores and garage sales.
We like to be outside, camp, hike,fish, and picinics.
We go to our kids games and activites; they keep us busy.
There is so much of me I would like to share;but that will come.

So lets have a cup of tea and get to know eachother.

Cami