What's Cookin?

4 more lbs of gouda...
BTW, we did the math for homemade vs store bought gouda and the price difference is pretty ridiculous. Plus, homemade cheese tastes pretty incredible. We'll be cuttin' the cheese up in here on Valentine's Day!

and homemade greek yogurt!

I was pretty shocked at how easy, delicious, and frugal this is. Click here for full details, but here's the basic recipe:

1) Mix 8 TBS plain store bought greek yogurt (1 single serve container) in a small bowl with 8 TBS cold milk. Set aside.

2) Heat 1 gallon of milk (1% or 2%) in a heavy bottom stock pot on the stove.
3) Remove just before it reaches 200* (begin stirring constantly once it reaches 180* to prevent scorching).

4) Set the pot in a sink that is filled halfway with cold water, and watch the temperature of the milk drop.

5) If you want to sweeten the yogurt, stir in 1/2 - 1 cup of sugar now, while the milk is still hot.

6) When the temp of the yogurt reaches 105* - 100* stir in the yogurt/milk mixture. Then, put a lid on the pot, and wrap the entire pot with a large bath towel and place it in the oven with the light on.

7) The light in the oven + the towel should keep the temp in the oven around 100*. (it helps to warm the oven for 3 or 4 min before you add the yogurt, but don't let it get over 105* or the temp could kill your yogurt cultures!
Keep the yogurt in the 100* oven for 16 hours.

8) Remove pot from oven, and strain the yogurt in a colander lined with cheese cloth in the fridge for 6-8 hours (or until desired yogurt thickness is reached.
9) Add nuts, granola, jam, fruit, chocolate, whatever, and enjoy!

10) Make more when you run out. I'm going to add vanilla beans to the next batch.

Don't forget to pat yourself on the back for saving a load of cash. The cost of one little serving of store bought Brown Cow or Fage greek yogurt is how much it costs to make 10-12 servings at home, and you can control the flavor, thickness, and amount of sweetener in it.

Worth it? YES.