Post 3 

How To Make Yogurt Without a Yogurt-Machine

You don’t need a yogurt machine to make yogurt.  This such a great recipe!  All you need is an oven with a light bulb and you have the best yogurt machine out there!  You cannot buy this yogurt at the store. No commercial yogurt can surpass this recipe for quality and probiotic content.

The recipe is so easy it is laughable.  You don’t need another piece of expensive equipment to make this and best of all, it is the highest probiotic content possible.  It is better than any store brand and contains NO lactic acid in this process.  People who are lactose intolerant can eat this yogurt so long as they are not casein intolerant (which is high in cow milk).  If you are casein intolerant, use goat milk.  Cow milk is better for this yogurt because it creates a dense and superior product.  You can eat this as a plain yogurt, make any dip, use it in place of sour cream, add it to smoothies, or serve with fruit, honey and nuts.  If you make it with goat’s milk, it will be thinner but it still has the same probiotic qualities. If using goat’s milk yogurt, add it to any smoothie or blend with fruit for a kefir style preparation. Without additives to either of these yogurts, it has a 2 week shelf life. Once fruit is added, about 5-7 days.  So don’t mix anything into it unless you are ready to use it.  Set aside some of this prepared yogurt for your starter for the next batch.

Here is the recipe-

1. Take 1/2 gallon of whole organic milk.  Using a stainless steel or ceramic pan, heat the milk to 180 degrees.  You will need a thermometer.
2. At 180, remove it from the heat and set it aside to cool to 110 degrees.
3. While this is cooling, set the preheat on your oven to 300 degrees for 2 minutes and then SHUT IT OFF and turn ON the oven light.  Place a fry pan in the oven with about  (1) inch of warm water in it.
4. Take about 3 heaping tablespoons of PLAIN GREEK YOGURT or one of the small containers, and place it in a small bowl for mixing.  When the heated milk cools to 110 degrees, add some milk to this yogurt and gently stir to combine it until creamy and a bit runny.  Optional- add your favorite probiotic capsules to this to help propagate a greater colony of friendly bacteria. Do not over agitate this yogurt-milk combination, just stir to smooth.  Now mix this into the milk.  After mixing it thoroughly, you will have combined the milk with the yogurt to act as your “starter”. Save some of the end product each time to start your next batch and you will never need to buy commercial yogurt for a starter again.
5. Take this mixture and pour it into mason jars.  Before pouring it into the jars, remove the skin that forms on top of the surface and discard it. The pint sizes are more convenient but it you need more room in your refrigerator, use the quart size. Fill them to the rim or neck of the jar and place in the fry pan water bath in the oven that you have pre-warmed.  THE LIGHT BULB MUST BE ON AT ALL TIMES.  It must be left ON and the oven door SHUT.
6. That’s it, your yogurt is now processing.  You do not need any other starter, or any other action.  Just let it set.  Check your time and process this simple method for 24 hours.  At 24 hours, remove the jars and put the lid on them.  The milk will have turned into yogurt.  Put the jars in the fridge.  Yogurt will continue to thicken as it cools. For a richer body product, you can also substitute half n half in place of the whole milk. Shelf life is 2 weeks.

The average yogurt purchased from the store, has a probiotic culture of 2 to 7 hours. This 24 hour yogurt has the highest probiotic content possible.  It is simply the best Greek yogurt on the market and it comes directly from your kitchen without the use of a machine or any fussiness.

If you are recovering from a round of antibiotics or if you are on antibiotics currently, eat 2 oz. of this yogurt 4 times a day BETWEEN meals all by itself for a probiotic.  Eat it directly before going to bed as well and it will pass from the stomach into the small intestines where it will propagate while you sleep.

POINTERS

While processing the yogurt, DO NOT add fruit, vanilla, or any other ingredient to the yogurt.  Keep it plain until AFTER it is prepared.  At this point you can add anything you want to it.

I have used this yogurt to make ranch dip or dressing using the Organic Ranch Dip/Dressing or Onion Dip Powder at my store.  You will just love it!  Be sure that whichever product you buy that is has no MSG or Gluten, and is organic of course.

If you are using this yogurt as a medicinal food after antibiotics such as from a cold or flu, I also have a few teas you will like.  Ask about  “Colds & Flu (chest colds), Colds & Sinus (head colds, throat, sinus congestion), Immune Tea, Chinese Tonic, Sinus Tea (sinus congestion, allergies), and Rebound” (a follow-up recovery tea). All of these are proactive for both acute and chronic problems.

If you are somehow experiencing yogurt that is not thick enough, you can also let the milk sit on the stove at the lowest heat for about 2 hours. Periodically remove the skin that forms on the top and discard so that more water can evaporate. Do not boil or burn, just keep hot. I never have to do this, my yogurt following this recipe works for me every time. It could be that I live in a high altitude place (6300) but I am unsure if it has any effect. But if you are having trouble try this to remove some of the water.

Last tip;  after you have processed the yogurt, you can also pre-load pint jars with a layering of yogurt-fruit-nuts, etc, for easy use. You can use the 1/2 pint jars as well. If you make it easy you will likely, and your kids will likely, make this a healthy choice for a quick snack or lunch. These keep so well that it is easy to take to work or school.  I like to use frozen berries in the layer and it keeps it cold without refrigerating longer, such as when taking it to work. If adding fruit to the top is your choice, leave some head room in your jars for later additions. If prepping your yogurt, this will result in about a 1 week shelf life. Enjoy!

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