Easy Healthy Homemade Yogurt

Here is a recipe that is super easy and is super healthy for you and your family, Homemade Yogurt! Yes, it is so easy to buy yogurt, but the problem with commercially produced yogurt is that the fermentation period is so short, usually less than an hour. For yogurt to be truly beneficial, a longer fermentation is needed. This recipe uses a crock pot to let the yogurt ferment and grow all those healthy probiotic cultures.

Homemade Yogurt
8 cups organic or raw milk (I use 1%, but you can use whole or skim)
4 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt as starter (once you've made yogurt, you can keep this amount of your homemade yogurt for the next batch as your starter)
A slow cooker/crock pot

1. Pour milk into a pot and heat on the stovetop until temperature reaches 185 degrees F. You can use a kitchen thermometer if you have one, but if you don't, the milk will be slightly bubbly and frothy but not boiling.
2. Let milk cool down until it reaches about 100-110 degrees F. Again use the thermometer, the milk will be warm to the touch.This takes about 8-10 minutes. While milk is cooling, turn your crock pot to low.
3. Add the plain Greek yogurt to your crock pot and stir in 1 cup of the cooled milk. When it is completely mixed in, add the rest of the milk from the pot. Stir.
4. Put the lid on the crock pot. Turn off the crock pot. Cover with a thick towel and leave at room temperature for at least 8 hours. You can leave the yogurt to ferment for up to 24 hours.
5. When time is up, set crock pot in refrigerator for a few hours to help the yogurt set. (Do NOT stir! It's important for the yogurt to not be disturbed for this time so it will properly set.)

A yummy berry, pineapple, yogurt smoothie!

The yogurt will keep in the fridge for up to 14 days. You can stir in honey or agave to sweeten and it's delicious with fresh or frozen fruit and in smoothies! You can try different kinds of milk or half and half to find the consistency that you like. And you can strain the yogurt through cheesecloth to make a thick Greek style or yogurt cheese!

Enjoy!
Angela from Windy City Knits

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